THE ONE WITH THE ULTIMATE PREGNANCY FOOD QUIDE

Classic scenario when you get pregnant is that you start hearing about DOs and DON'Ts, especially regarding foods. Some of these chitchats are myths, some are true. So, here is ultimate food guide through your pregnancy.
There are some foods to avoid or take care with when you're pregnant, because they might make you ill or harm your baby. Make sure you know the important facts about which foods you should avoid or take precautions with when you're pregnant.

1) CHEESE:

A) Cheeses to avoid in pregnancy:

I) Soft cheeses with white rinds:

Don't eat mould-ripened soft cheese (cheeses with a white rind) such as brie and camembert. This includes mould-ripened soft goats' cheese, such as chevre. These cheeses are only safe to eat in pregnancy if they've been cooked.

II) Soft blue cheeses:

You should also avoid soft blue-veined cheeses such as Danish blue, gorgonzola and roquefort. Soft blue cheeses are only safe to eat in pregnancy if they've been cooked.
The advice to avoid some soft cheeses is because they are less acidic than hard cheeses and contain more moisture, which means they can be an ideal environment for harmful bacteria, such as listeria, to grow in.
Although infection with listeria (listeriosis) is rare, it is important to take special precautions in pregnancy, because even a mild form of the illness in a pregnant woman can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or severe illness in a newborn baby.

B) Cheeses that are safe to eat in pregnancy:

I) All hard cheeses are safe in pregnancy:

You can eat hard cheeses such as cheddar, parmesan and stilton, even if they're made with unpasteurised milk. Hard cheeses don't contain as much water as soft cheeses, so bacteria are less likely to grow in them. It is possible for hard cheese to contain listeria, but the risk is considered to be low.

II) Soft cheeses that are safe to eat in pregnancy:

Other than mould-ripened soft cheeses, all other soft types of cheese are OK to eat, providing they're made from pasteurised milk. These include: cottage cheese, mozzarella, feta, cream cheese, paneer, ricotta, halloumi, goats' cheese, processed cheeses, such as cheese spreads.

III) Cooked soft cheeses that are safe to eat in pregnancy:
Thorough cooking should kill any bacteria in cheese, so it should be safe to eat cooked mould-ripened soft cheese, such as brie, camembert and chevre, and cooked soft blue cheese, such as roquefort or gorgonzola, or dishes that contain them. It's important to make sure the cheese is thoroughly cooked until it's steaming hot all the way through. 

2) EGGS:

Eggs are a healthy source of protien of course.

However, make sure they are thoroughly cooked until the whites and yolks are solid, to prevent the risk of salmonella food poisoning. Salmonella food poisoning is unlikely to harm your baby, but it can give you a severe bout of diarrhoea and vomiting.

Avoid foods that contain raw and undercooked eggs, such as homemade mayonnaise. If you wish to eat dishes that contain raw or partially cooked eggs, consider using pasteurised liquid egg.

3) MEAT:

A) Raw or Undercooked Meat:

Do not eat raw or undercooked meat, including meat joints and steaks cooked rare, because of the potential risk of toxoplasmosis. Cook all meat and poultry thoroughly so it's steaming hot and there's no trace of pink or blood – especially with poultry, pork, sausages and minced meat, including burgers.  

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite that can be found in raw and undercooked meat, unpasteurised goats' milk, soil, cat faeces and untreated water. If you are pregnant, the infection can damage your baby, but it's important to remember that toxoplasmosis in pregnancy is very rare.

Toxoplasmosis often has no symptoms, but if you feel you may have been at risk, discuss it with your GP, midwife or obstetrician. If you are infected while you're pregnant, treatment for it is available.

Wash all surfaces and utensils thoroughly after preparing raw meat to avoid the spread of harmful bugs. Wash and dry your hands after touching or handling raw meat.

B) Cold Cut Meats:

Many cold meats, such as salami, Parma ham, chorizo and pepperoni, are not cooked, they are just cured and fermented. This means that there's a risk they contain toxoplasmosis-causing parasites. It's best to check the instructions on the pack to see whether the product is ready to eat or needs cooking first.

For ready-to-eat meats, you can reduce any risk from parasites by freezing cured or fermented meats for four days at home before you eat them. Freezing kills most parasites and makes the meat safer to eat.

If you're planning to cook the meat (for instance, pepperoni on pizza), then you don't need to freeze it first.

If you're eating out in a restaurant that sells cold cured or fermented meats, they may not have been frozen. If you're concerned, ask the staff or avoid eating it.

C) Pre-packed Meats:

Pre-packed meats such as smoked turkey, ham and corned beef are safe to eat in pregnancy.

D) Liver:

Don't eat liver or liver-containing products such as liver pâté, liver sausage...etc. as they may contain a lot of vitamin A. Too much vitamin A can harm your baby.

4) FISH:

You can eat most types of fish when you're pregnant.

Eating fish is good for your health and the development of your baby, but you should avoid some types of fish and limit the amount you eat of some others.

A) Fish to avoid:

When you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant, you shouldn't eat shark, swordfish or marlin.

B) Fish to restrict:

You should also limit the amount of tuna you eat to:

no more than two tuna steaks

a week (about 140g cooked or 170g raw each), or four medium-sized cans of tuna a week (about 140g when drained).

This is because tuna contains more mercury than other types of fish. The amount of mercury we get from food isn't harmful for most people, but if you take in high levels of mercury when you're pregnant, this could affect your baby's developing nervous system.

When you're pregnant, you should also avoid having more than two portions of oily fish a week, such as salmon, trout, mackerel and herring, because it can contain pollutants such as dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Remember, fresh tuna is an oily fish, so if you eat two fresh tuna steaks in one week, you shouldn't eat any other oily fish that week.

Tinned tuna

doesn't count as oily fish, so you can eat this on top of the maximum amount of two portions of oily fish (as long as it's not fresh tuna or swordfish). But remember not to eat more than four medium-sized cans of tinned tuna a week when you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

C) Fish that's safe to eat:

There is no need to limit the amount of white fish

and cooked shellfish you eat when you're pregnant or breastfeeding, apart from shark, swordfish and marlin.

Shellfish in pregnancy

Always eat cooked rather than raw shellfish (including mussels, lobster, crab, prawns, scallops and clams)

when you're pregnant, as they can contain harmful bacteria and viruses that can cause food poisoning. Cold pre-cooked prawns are fine.

Smoked fish

in pregnancy is safe which includes smoked salmon and smoked trout, is considered safe to eat in pregnancy.

Sushi and pregnancy

Raw or lightly cooked fish is fine to eat in dishes such as sushi 

when you're pregnant, as long as any raw wild fish used to make it has been frozen first. This is because, occasionally, wild fish contains small parasitic worms that could make you ill. Freezing kills the worms and makes raw fish safe to eat. Cooking will also kill them.

Certain farmed fish destined to be eaten raw in dishes like sushi, such as farmed salmon, no longer need to be frozen beforehand. This is because farmed fish are very unlikely to contain parasitic worms because of the rearing methods used..

Lots of the sushi sold in shops is not made at the shop. This type of sushi should be fine to eat – if a shop or restaurant buys in ready-made sushi, the raw fish used to make it will have been subject to an appropriate freezing treatment. If you're in any doubt, you might want to avoid eating the kinds of sushi that contain raw fish, such as tuna.

The safest way to enjoy sushi is to choose the fully cooked or vegetarian varieties, which can include:

*cooked seafood – for example, fully cooked eel (unagi) or shrimp (ebi)

*vegetables – for example, cucumber (kappa) maki

*avocado – for example, California roll

If a shop or restaurant makes its own sushi on the premises, it must still be frozen first before being served. If you're concerned, ask the staff.

If you make your own sushi at home, freeze the fish for at least four days before using it.

5) PEANUTS:

You may have heard that peanuts should be avoided during pregnancy. This is because the government previously advised women to avoid eating peanuts if there was a history of allergy (such as asthma, eczema, hay fever and food allergy) in their child's immediate family.

This advice has now been changed, because the latest research has shown no clear evidence that eating peanuts during pregnancy affects the chances of your baby developing a peanut allergy.

So bottom line, you can eat peanuts or food containing peanuts (such as peanut butter) during pregnancy, unless you are allergic to them, or a health professional advises you not to.

6) MILK and YOGHURT:

Stick to pasteurised or ultra-heat treated (UHT) milk – which is sometimes called long-life milk.

If only raw (unpasteurised) milk is available, boil it first. Don't drink unpasteurised goats' or sheep's milk, or eat foods made from them, such as soft goats' cheese.
All types of yoghurt, including bio, live and low-fat, are fine. Just check that any home-made yoghurt is made with pasteurised milk – and if not, avoid it.

7) ICE CREAM:

Soft ice creams should be fine to eat when you're pregnant, as they are processed products made with pasteurised milk and eggs,

so any risk of salmonella food poisoning has been eliminated.

For homemade ice cream, use a pasteurised egg substitute or follow an egg-free recipe.

8) CAFFIENE:

Don't listen to people saying cut out coffee at all. You can still enjoy your morning cup of joe. 

You don't need to cut out caffeine completely, but don't have more than 200mg a day. High levels of caffeine can result in babies having a low birth weight, which can increase the risk of health problems in later life. Too much caffeine can also cause miscarriage.

Caffeine is naturally found in lots of foods, such as coffee, tea and chocolate, and is added to some soft drinks and energy drinks. Some cold and flu remedies also contain caffeine. Talk to your midwife, doctor or pharmacist before taking these remedies.

The approximate amount of caffeine found in food and drinks is:

• one mug of instant coffee: 100mg 
• one mug of filter coffee: 140mg 
• one mug of tea: 75mg
• one can of cola: 40mg 
• one can of energy drink: 80mg 
• one 50g bar of plain (dark) chocolate: around 50mg
• one 50g bar of milk chocolate: around 25mg

So, if you have one bar of chocolate and one mug of filter coffee, for example, you have reached almost 200mg of caffeine. Don't worry if you occasionally have more than this amount – the risks are small. If you wish to cut down on caffeine, try decaffeinated tea and coffee, fruit juice or mineral water instead of regular tea, coffee, cola and energy drinks. 

9) HERBAL and GREEN TEA:

There's little information on the safety of herbal and green teas in pregnancy, so it's best to drink them in moderation.

The FSA recommends drinking no more than around four cups of herbal or green tea a day during pregnancy, and to seek advice from your GP or midwife if you are unsure about which herbal products are safe to consume.

10) LIQUORICE:

You can eat liquorice in pregnancy

– there is no recommendation to avoid it.

That is it for today lovely mommies to be. Have a safe pregnancy. xxx

THE ONE WITH OOTD OF A SWOLLEN PREGGO

My 1st outfit of the day post on the blog. Weird timing since I am 38 weeks pregnant and ballooned up an inflating ball. Just yesterday I almost had my ring finger chopped of cause I slept with my wedding band and woke up in the middle of night with sausage fingers and couldn't remove the ring. But the heart wants what the heart wants :D . After all, pregnancy blues can pretty daunting and I try and do all I can to make myself feel better.

GOD I miss when i had ankle and knees and of course a waist.

                              

                      

                      

                                 

as you can see. my legs are so swollen up that you cant tell the ankles from the feet from the knees any more. LOL

Outfit details: Shirt: H&M/ Vest: Primark/ Pants: Promod/ Boots: Pull&Bear/ Bag: Burberry/ Shades: Prada./ Hair: Foxy locks hair extentions

                                     

THE ONE WITH THE EXCEPECTATIONS WHEN YOU ARE EXPECTING - PART 2

Today I continue with my post about my personal experience with pregnancy, (check PART 1 to be updated).

Month 4:
This month was kinda monotonous for me, my morning sickness was still there but to a lesser degree. My depression continued a bit as well, my belly started to show a bit but only in tight clothes. Also constipation started to get a little better. On the other hand, I noticed that my hair stopped shedding completely and it was growing fast like crazy.
The weird thing with this month was I started having this terrible headache that wouldn't go away by sleep or pain killer or anything, along with unexplained nasal congestion. It was horrible even to move my head at some point. It was difficult to breath and the headache could stay for hours or days constant.
I thought it was my sinusitis acting up again, so I called an ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor friend of my father's and asked him about it. He told me that what I am suffering from is "Pregnancy Rhinitis"

The diagram illustrates sinusitis which resemble rhinitis, but rhinitis includes nasal congestion as well.

 which is quite common in early pregnancy and its caused by a specific hormone secreted by the placenta (which I can't remember the name of right now) that causes the severe nasal congestion and sinus inflammation that causes the headache that I am suffering from. He then prescribed to me a nose spray called "French seawater nasal spray" , he told it had many brand names, just go to the pharmacy and ask for the French seawater nasal spray and get any brand name you find.Then sniff it at each passage as hard as I can several times a day for a few days, plus paracetamol for pain (paracetamol is the only pain killer allowed in pregnancy a.k.a Panadol) . It's a solution made of 100% natural isotonic seawater that help irrigate nasal passages and sinuses and relives the congestion. It's 100% safe and honestly it worked WONDERS !! By the 3rd day the congestion along with the headache were absolutely gone. 

Month 5:

Ah finally some peace. This month was nice. I started to feel energetic again, my sickness was completely gone and I regained my appetite. My mood was up lifted, and we were moving to the UK, I felt my 1st baby kicks around that month and by the end of It we found it out that it's a GIRL <3. So everything was peachy. ^_^

This is a picture of me 5 month pregnant.

Until I cough a bad cold that lasted about 10 days (which never happened to me before) and a 2 weeks later I caught another one !! Before I got pregnant, I used to get sick once every 3 years, now I got it twice in a month !! 

That's when I found out that pregnancy does mess up your immune system.
Another thing I started to notice around that month, is that my memory and concentration isn't as sharp as it used to be. My thinking felt a bit sluggish. I know what you are thinking.. "MOMMY BRAIN". Yes, the rumours are real.

Month 6:

My belly started to look all round and cute. Health wise I was very well, until at the middle of it I started to feel this dull aching pain between my legs that I couldn't point to or locate. The pain was not felt by touch, but it was just there when I move. I started searching and found about what is called "Round ligament pain". That what I thought I was suffering from at 1st but later It turned out to be something else which I will discuss in the Part 3 of this blog.

However, regarding "Round ligament pain" here is a few 

information you might want to know about it. 

It is a sharp pain or jabbing feeling often 

felt in the lower belly or groin area on one or both sides. It is

one of the most common complaints during pregnancy and is

considered a normal part of pregnancy. It is most often felt 

during the 2nd trimester.

Several thick ligaments surround and support your womb

(uterus) as it grows during pregnancy. One of them is called

the round ligament.

The round ligament connects the front part of the womb to

your groin, the area where your legs attach to your pelvis. 

The round ligament normally tightens and relaxes slowly.

As your baby and womb grow, the round ligament stretches.

That makes it more likely to become strained.

Sudden movements can cause the ligament to tighten

quickly, like a rubber band snapping. This causes a sudden 

and quick jabbing feeling.

Read more about it here.

That's it for today lovelies, I'll be writing the 3rd and final part soon

so stay tuned. Also my due date is in 2 weeks, wish me luck ^_^

                                                                     to be continued....XXX


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THE ONE WITH THE BABY HOSPITAL BAG

I talked in a previous post about what you need to pack in your hospital bag and what your partner needs to pack with him. Today I am going to tell you what to pack (I packed) in my baby's nappy bag for the hospital.

As I mentioned before, its advised that you start preparing for you and your baby's hospital bags starting from 36 weeks and make sure its fully packed by 38 weeks, as starting from that week you are liable to go into labour at any moment.

Here is the list of the basics must have for your baby:

1. Under shirts:
   Get these in short sleeves and long sleeves. It's advised that a newborn should wear a basic of a short sleeve and a long sleeve as basic layers even in summer, then you add on layer as a sleep suit for example for summer babies and several layers for winter babies.
   That means you need a basic of one each and double it for each day for number of nights you are planning to stay in the hospital or birth centre. Babies are well-known to spit a lot and other baby business that will require to change their clothes a few times.
   
2. Nappies:
   Pack of these as much as you can carry, newborns require up to 12 changes of nappies a day for the 1st month, so you do the maths. For this month there is a special type of nappies called "new born" as they are very light and thin and have a special belly button depression so not to interfere with the stump.
   And as I said because they are very thin, you can pack quite a number without them taking much of a space.
   
3. Sleep suits:
   All in one sleep suits are the best. They are comfy and easy to dress and undress and honeslty it the best baby clothes for the 1st few month in summer babies and the best under layer for winter babies.
   
4. Bibs:
   To try and minimize the damage from your baby's constant burping and spiting. Pack a bunch of these as well. The ones with cotton front and plastic lining are the best. 
   
   
   
5. Muslin Squares:
   Your baby needs a bib around his neck and you need these for your shoulder. You don't want to be walking around smelling like digested milk now, do you?
   Get a few muslin square and put them in your baby's nappy bag all the time and don't burp your child or carry them a round right after a feed unless you have one of these on your shoulder or lap (depending on the position you are burping him/her in).
   Otherwise, trust me, you are going to end up with a wardrobe smelling like milk.
   
6. Blankit:
   Well, the type of the blanket whether its a thick furry one for winter babies or the light cotton one for summer babies depends on the season, but in either cases a blanket is a must have for the 1st couple of month cause babies feel more secure when they tightly raped up and cosy.
   
7. Pacifier or teats:
   DO NOT listen to anyone advising you against pacifiers.
   Let me explain why. Suckling for babies is a reflex, which means sometimes they need to do it even if they are not hungry. And if they don't find something to suck on, they either suck on their hands or fingers, or will get fussy and you will be forced to give them your breast to satisfy this reflex, even though they are not hungry, which is one of the ways that lead to sore or cracked nipples. *ouch*
   So giving them a teat will fulfil this reflex and if they are really hungry they will spit it out and cry to be fed.
   
8. Hat & socks:
   Either your baby is born in winter or summer it doesn't matter. Newborn have lower cold tolerance, i.e. they feel colder than we do, so they need to be secured. The only difference from a season to the other is the type of fabric. Cotton caps and socks for the summer (also all in one sleep suit will do for the socks) and knitted wool hats and socks for the winter.
9. Going home outfit:
   As I said all in one sleep suits is the best, but feel free to dress up your baby however you like ^_^
   
10. Car seat or Push chair:

If you are driving home from the hospital, you will need the car seat, as some hospitals won't let you leave by car without one.
In my case, my birth centre is just 10 mins walk so I am taking my push chair with me. (I will talk about our pram/push chair of choice in a separate post soon ^_^).


That's it for today, all you need to do once you are done with your packing is to remind yourself with the 1st signs of labour , relax and rest until your baby arrives safely ^_^

Good luck mommies. xxxxxx

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THE ONE WITH THE EXPECTATION WHEN YOU ARE EXPECTING - PART 1

Today's blog is a flashback to a 3 part post about my personal experience with pregnancy. I know that there are hundreds of websites that talk about pregnancy and the changes that women go through during this period, to try and make it a more understandable experience to you. So, what else would be new with my post here today that would tell you something any different from what you here from your mother's or mid-wives' tales? Well, probably not much to some and maybe plenty to others, but I just would like to share the process of what happened to me personally, and how I coped with it as it might be of help to any woman out there. And also, sometimes the knowledge that a real person has been or is going through what you are experiencing right now is sometimes much more comforting than hearing about it from old timers or reading about it from books. In my writing I'm gonna mix up science with real experience, cause that is how pregnancy actually is. After all, it's nothing but biology and I'm a doctor :D. But don't worry, it's still going to be more personal than being a biology class :D.

So, getting to the point, this post is about the 1st 3 months of my pregnancy.

Month 1:
Al-right, this month is where it all beings and usually you never know until at least 2 weeks had passed from hitting the jack pot i.e. fertilisation, which is the process of the sperm fusing with the ovum and BANG!! the 1st seed of your baby. As this all happens outside the womb, and it takes 5 days for this seed to move and be implanted into the womb then about another 10 days for it to keep duplicating until it produces enough of the hormone, which appears in the blood and urine that tells the good news "YAAAY, YOU'RE PREGNANT", to be traceable. Therefore, no symptoms can  be felt at this period. 

Then comes the next 2 weeks of the month which can be symptomatic if you are really eager to notice. For me, it was textbook. The thing is I was taking a medication to regulate my periods and wasn't really thinking about getting pregnant at that point. All I was waiting for was my next period and will the medication work and make it arrive on time. Well, we all know that didn't happen :D, and I was worried sick cause I never thought that was because I was pregnant. All I could think about was "what the hell is wrong with me?? Even western medication can't find a way with my body!!!!". On the other hand, I was feeling symptoms but again because early pregnancy symptoms can be very close to an approaching period, I kept expecting a period.

The symptoms started by unbelievable breast soreness, LOTS of trips to the loo, and something extra that I didn't correlate at the time which was this weird craving for berries! I remember I even posted on my facebook at the time that I was in the mood for a mix of berries. :)

So I called my doctor who prescribed the medication for me, and told him that I am worried sick, my breasts hurt like hell and it's has been 4 days now past the expected date of menstruation and WHAT ON BLOODY HELL IS WRONG WITH YOUR MEDICINE ???!!!!!!
So, he told me and I remember specifically "Today is Monday, wait until Saturday and go do a blood pregnancy test"...................................................... after a few moments of silence I answered surprisingly "Is it possible I could be pregnant?!!" and he laughed "Yes, very possible".

Next day, I was very exhausted for no obvious reason, my breathing felt like a workout and I was nerve wrecked. So I told Ahmed that I couldn't wait until Saturday and lets go and do the test now.

We were a week or so ahead in Ramadan, so we waited after breakfast until the city starts running again, and we went and did the test and it came out +ve !
For some reason I don't know, my mind couldn't believe the news and I asked the guy with the results a few times before I sobbed into tears :D ..tears of joy of course, and why?? again I don't know, it's not like I was child barren or anything :D , but that's just what happened :)

Month 2:
It started peacefully to some extent. A few trips to the loo with a little soreness of the breast and a bit of easy fatigue. I was so excited that I downloaded all the apps that keeps track of pregnancy and blah blah blah. Then came the magical moments of being pregnant a.k.a MORNING SICKNESS.

I can't really say that I had the worst morning sickness, cause I have seen and heard worse, but mine wasn't a piece of cake either.
The thing you need to know about morning sickness is, it's not necessary how you see it in the movies. The classical case scenario is, especially in old Arabic movies, a woman all the sudden while setting peacefully, a puke urge arrives where she holds here mouth and runs to the toilet to complete the journey. Well, the truth is, this is the odd case not the common. Morning sickness ranges from feeling sick most or all of the time, to the sudden urge to vomit. And usually the latter is provoked by a strong stimulant like an irritative smell or seen. Plus, it a healthy sign that all is going well. Aaah, I guess there is a silver lining after all.

yup, this picture pretty much sums up my state at the time

Back to my case, it was mostly feeling sick and nauseated most of the time that wouldn't be relieved until I stick my finger down my throat to get things started. The thing was that even water sometimes was nauseating me. I wasn't repealed by the ideas of certain foods but after a few experiments, I found out that the only thing stayed in my stomach was potatoes, and also helped with the constipation which is very common in pregnancy. So I spent almost the next month asking my mom to cook nothing but potatoes as I wasn't in the mood for cooking. So, I raged their dinner table everyday :D.

Month 3:
UNBELIEVABLE DEPRESSION !!! adding to my sickness and my fatigue, the unbelievable low mood I suffered through this month. Seriously at a point I lost the will to get out of bed for 10 days. Even getting dressed to go to my mom's for dinners was too much. And if you know me, I love nothing more than getting dressed. It always managed to up lift my spirit, but at that time... Nothing !.

What added to my misery was at the time I hadn't announce yet, only a very few close friends knew, which for my luck were busy with their own lives at the moment and so I had so suffer in silence. It was so bad that I can't remember the number of times I cried for no reason, and ahmed was so helpless that he couldn't do anything but to hold me and shush me :D (oh the poor thing, I've put him through alot, haven't I?? :D).

YUP, pretty darn close.

Meanwhile, physic wise NOTHING, even I couldn't tell I'm pregnant if I saw me. which was kinda nice actually, considering I was able to get away with not wearing maternity clothes, yet !!

                                                                                                              ..........to be continued xxxx


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THE ONE WITH THE NAPPY CHANGING STATION

A portable changing station is an essential when you have a baby. When you are on the go with your baby, and they need a nappy change (which they will definitely do, cause babies do nothing but eat and poop) you don't want to put your baby on a yucky surface, that GOD knows what else has been in touch with it. So, obviously you will need a change station, we choose the "Skip*hop pronto changing station".

Its extra-wide changing pad wipes clean, and the head area is cushioned with an innovative "pronto pillow." The pad is also removable, allowing the body to become an independent diaper carry-all. The Pronto also includes a translucent wipes case, a mesh pocket that fits up to four large nappies and ointments, and a front zipper pocket for personal items.

• Perfect for shopping or errands
• Keep one in the car or attached to the stroller
• Great for anti-diaper bag dads (and moms !) or if you are going for a quick errand and don't feel that you're going to need the whole heavy diaper bag with you.
  
  We got ours off e-bay but here is the link to the website skiphop pronto .
  
  Here are some pictures of the product, they are not of me obviously, but to give you an idea ;D

The last photo is the design we've got. They have many others designs to suit your taste.

Good luck mommies. XXX

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THE ONE WITH THE HOSPITAL BIRTH BAG.

Well, It's said that I might have my baby any day starting form the 37 th week and so now is the time to gather together all the essentials I'll need during labour and birth and for after my baby is born. In general, even if you're not planning a hospital birth, you may need to go in unexpectedly, so the advice here is to try to have a bag packed by the time you are about 36 weeks pregnant.Hospitals vary in their policies about what you are allowed to bring with you when you have your baby. You may want to take a few items from home, such as your own pillows, to make the environment more personal. But be aware that hospitals can be short on space.

If you want, pack two bags: one for labour and the hours immediately after your baby is born, and another for a stay on the postnatal ward.

If you're driving to hospital, you could leave the second bag in the car. If you have a straightforward birth, you may leave hospital on the same day and not need the second bag at all.

As for me, as I plan to stay in my birthing centre for at least 24 hours after delivery for support, I will pack all the things I need with me except for my going home outfit, which I'll send Ahmed to fetch for me cause we live 10 mins walk from the centre anyway.

Here is a list of the thing you and your partner could pack, it's not a strict list, it's just a guideline so feel free to add or dismiss any stuff you thing necessary or unnecessary. As for the baby bag, I will make a separate post later regarding that.

What should I pack for labour?

• Your birth plan and maternity note.
• Dressing gown. This will be useful if you end up pacing hospital corridors in early labour. You'll also need one on the postnatal ward. Hospitals can be very warm, so a lightweight one may be better. A dark colour or a busy pattern will help to hide any stains.
• Backless slip-on slippers, that are easy to get on and off.
• Socks. Believe it or not, your feet can get cold during labour.
• Old nightdress or T-shirt to wear in labour. It will probably get a bit messy, so don't buy anything specially to wear in hospital. Or A Bikini top if you are planning a water birth.
• Massage oil or lotion if you would like to be massaged during your labour.
• Birth ball. This can help you to labour effectively. Check whether the hospital has the right size for you. If not, take your own. Remember to bring a pump so your birth partner can inflate it for you.
• Lip balm. Your lips can dry out quickly on a warm labour ward.
• Snacks and drinks for you while you are in labour. Isotonic sports drinks are good, or take some glucose tablets to keep you going.
• Things to help you relax or pass the time, such as books, magazines, or a tablet computer.
• Hairbands or a clip. If you have long hair, you may want it tied up.
• Pillows. The hospital might not have enough to make you really comfortable. A nursing pillow can give you extra support when breastfeeding your baby.
• TENS machine., if you are planning to use one. But this wont be applicable if you are planning on a water birth.
• Music. Take your i-pod. Some hospitals provide their own CD players, but check first.
  

  What shall I pack for after the birth?

  • A going-home outfit. You'll need loose comfortable clothes to wear while you're in hospital and for the journey home. It will take a while for your tummy to go down, so you'll probably still need your maternity clothes when you get home.
  • Belly belt. Bamboo belly bandit
  • Handouts about how to get breastfeeding started, which you received at your antenatal classes. If you have a contact card for a breastfeeding counsellor or specialist, take that with you too.
  • Nursing bras. Bring two or three.
  • Breast pads.
  • Maternity pads. Bring a couple of packs.
  • Nightshirt or T-shirt. Front-opening shirts are useful in the early days of breastfeeding.
  • Toiletries. Decant these into smaller bottles, or buy travel versions, to save on space in the postnatal ward. You may sweat more after birth, so take a deodorant.
  • Towels, hairbrush, toothbrush and toothpaste.
  • Old or cheap knickers, or disposable knickers. Don't bring your best ones as they will get messy. Big cotton knickers can be useful if you end up having a C-section, as they won't rub your wound.
  • Arnica cream. Although there's no conclusive evidence that it works, some women report that arnica cream helps to reduce bruising and helps the healing process. Don't apply the cream to broken skin.
  • Eye mask and earplugs, to help you sleep on a brightly lit, noisy ward.
    

    What should my birth partner pack?

    • Water spray or a hand-held fan, to cool you down while you're in labour.
    • Comfortable shoes. They may be pacing the corridors!
    • A change of clothes. Your birth partner might not get the chance to have a shower for quite a while!
    • Bendy straws, to help you to have a drink during labour.
    • Swimwear, if they want to join you in a birth pool.
    • Mobile phone and charger. If their mobile has a stopwatch/timer function, they can use it to help time your contractions. Or if they have a smartphone, there are apps available that can do the job for them.
    • Digital camera or camera phone to take photos or a short film of the birth and early moments with your baby.
    • Snacks and drinks. You don't want a dehydrated, hungry birth partner looking after you. If they bring some snacks and drinks with them, they can stay with you, rather than leaving the room to search for food!
    
    Well, that is all for today. Mommies everywhere good luck for you and wish luck for me.
    
    From Salma with love. XXXX
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