uk parent

How to make a cast of your baby bump

When I was pregnant with Autumn, I saw lots of photos on the internet of women who had made plaster casts of their pregnant bellies. I thought it would be a lovely reminder of my bump and thought it would be amusing to wear in the future to see how big my bump was, (it was HUGE, I can barely believe it when I place it against myself now). Lots of women online also paint beautiful designs on theirs. Mine is still just plain at the moment, but I’d like to do something with it in the future.

Lots of places online sell kits for doing this and they often retail at around £15, but you can do it much more cheaply! All you need to do is buy some plaster of paris bandage rolls and some petroleum jelly. We managed to get these rolls from our local craft shop for a little over £1 each roll. I’m petite and two rolls just about made a cast of my bump, so for most women I’d probably recommend getting three rolls – you’ve still probably saved about £10!

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Postpartum body – a husband’s perspective

After having a child, I think many women have body confidence issues. Even if you fit back into your pre-pregnancy jeans soon afterwards, it’s unlikely that you’re the same body shape. I’m not convinced anyone goes back to being just the way they were. That’s okay though, we’ve delivered our babies, which is a wonderful thing. However, when we look at extra pounds and stretchmarks in the mirror, it can still make you feel rather down! Often, though, the men in our lives don’t seem to mind too much. I asked my husband to write me a letter about my postpartum body and his thoughts about it. All being well, I can read this in the future if I’m ever looking at my reflection and tearing myself to shreds again!

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Baby's Easter Outfit

A letter to my daughter at 7 months old

Dear Autumn,

I say this every month, but time is going much too fast! It seems barely any time has passed since I was writing a letter to you at 6 months old! You’re so big now, it hurts my back to carry you. Nanny found my book from when I was a baby and you weigh around 3lbs more than I did when I was your age!

What a good girl. When you came out of hospital after being seriously ill, I kept telling you to drink your milk. I told you that it would make you grow big and strong! Here we are almost half a year later and you’re doing so well.

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Sudocrem Care & Protect

Sunday Review: Sudocrem Care & Protect

When I was offered the chance to review Sudocrem Care & Protect cream, I was intrigued. I’ve only used normal Sudocrem before and found it brilliant. It’s been around for over 80 years. In fact, my mum used it on my brother and I when we were babies and swore by it. I’d been using it for spots for years before I used it on Autumn’s nappy rash. Recently, she’s been teething and this seems to have made the nappy rash situation worse!

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Are young parents bad parents?

When I found out I was pregnant last January I’d just turned 24 years old. I was the same age in September when I gave birth to Autumn. I thought that was probably quite average, I didn’t think it was that young to become a mum for the first time. However, when I started going to baby groups I usually found that I was the youngest there. In one of the groups, a first time mum was only a few months younger than my mum!

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