Caught in the wave of bronchiolitis

TW: Hospitalisation of baby, mention of anxiety¦ Well, this is a first. I’m beginning to write this post from a hospital bed. Thankfully, I’m writing in the knowledge that everything seems to be fine now. Bronchiolitis is really common in babies in the autumn and winter. However, the nurses here have told me that thanks to lockdown last winter, the usual wave of cases coming in didn’t really happen. I actually read a news article last week saying that due to a combination of that and people now mingling, lots of babies are now catching respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the virus responsible for it and hospitalisations are rising. According to Public Health England, over 60% of children have been infected with it by their first birthday. This rises to over 80% by 2 years of age. For most, it is a mild illness but some require hospitalisation. Unfortunately for us, Reuben was one of them.

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Baby #2: My hypnobirth pandemic birth story

Trigger Warning: This is a positive birth story. However, as a birth story it is fairly graphic at times.

As my due date approached, I was getting more and more restless. It probably didn’t help that only 5 days before my due date, my birth plans had to change. The South East Coast Ambulance Service was struggling due to the new Coronavirus strain in Kent and Medway and were waiting up to 10 hours outside hospitals with patients. As such, I couldn’t have the home birth I had planned as they would be unable to assist the midwives should an emergency happen. After an afternoon of crying, I brought things back into my control. I focused on the things I could have and do at Darent Valley Hospital, where I’d had a waterbirth with my daughter.

Part of my restlessness was because I find it really difficult not knowing when I’m going to go into labour, as I like to be prepared for things! Not only that, but I was so uncomfortable. Walking was incredibly painful and rolling over in bed was agony thanks to my pelvic girdle pain. However, I knew it would all be worth it when I got to meet my little boy. On the evening of 5th January, his due date, labour finally began!

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Wongs Jewellers x Alder Hey Children’s Charity Collection

Collaborative Post¦ Alder Hey Children’s Charity raise funds for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. With 330,000 patients and families every year, they are the busiest children’s hospital in the UK. Being a Mum who has had a seriously ill baby in hospital, I am more appreciative than ever for the hospitals that take care of our little ones. As such, I am keen to show you the super cute collaboration between Alder Hey and Wongs Jewellers!

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This time last year

This time last year, I was facing the toughest experience of my life. Sometimes it still amazes me that I got through it, but I did. I feel like I’m a completely different person to the one I was before Autumn fell ill and had her operation with Dr. Zahid Mukhtar. I feel different and I look at life somewhat differently. Hopefully one day I might be a stronger person for it all.

I’m certainly stronger than I was this time last year, but I don’t feel completely healed yet.

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Head injury – baby’s first visit to A&E

At 6 months old, Autumn is now into everything! Unfortunately, accidents happen, even if you are supervising your baby or child. Here is what happened to us on Wednesday when Autumn fell on her head, resulting in our first visit to Accident and Emergency (A&E) with her. I felt so guilty!

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