pregnancy Archives - Megan Taylor

WHAT HAPPENS DURING YOUR THIRD TRIMESTER

Welcome back for the third instalment of my “What Happens During…” series. My first trimester instalment is over here and my second here. The wait for your baby is nearly (sort of) over. Everything is getting serious, real, draining and seriously exciting too and if you are reading this right now (August 2020) in your third trimester you are probably quite hot and uncomfortable. I am here to share some of the things I went through in my third trimester which may be of some help to you.

GROWTH SCANS

I was booked in for growth scans which meant that I was given two extra scans. At first I was worried as I was given this because of a minor issue I had but actually it was a blessing. I loved being able to see my baby on the screen for an extra couple of times. It felt reassuring and exciting too.

HYPNOBIRTHING

I am just mid writing a blog post on what hypnobirthing is and if it worked for me after doing a lot of classes of practice. In brief though I would say you should 110% do some hypnobirthing classes with your birth partner. You learn so much about the birth process itself which you don’t learn from your midwife appointments.

BIRTH PLAN

During my hypnobirthing classes I was taught about birth plans, how to write them and what to include. Liam and I had initially planned a homebirth so wrote our birth plan accordingly. I would suggest if you’re doing the same to add in your hospital plans as well such as what drugs you’re interested in, if you’re happy with a student nurse etc. Maybe I should write up a blog post on how to write one?

KICKS OR THUMPS

Oh goodness, the kicking and thumping gets quite aggressive at times. One night he was kicking so much that I actually felt suffocated for my baby and thought he needed to get out so googled info on excessive kicking! Turns out I needn’t have worried. There was one day where I didn’t feel any movement and that is when you should ask for help. I did ring triage when this happened and was called in for monitoring. It turns out that my bay had moved to behind my placenta which in turn dulled any baby movements I was getting. It is always best to ring in if you have any worries, they’re always lovely and helpful on the phone.

Week 36, when my baby was the size of a watermelon

EXERCISE OR LACK OF

You might be slowing down on your amount of exercise soon but it’s really important to keep moving. I was going for a walk every night with my hubby and dog for about an hour. I believe 20 minutes a day is recommended. I also went for long bike rides up until my 37th week. A lot of people told me I was being too risky but as it was the beginning of lockdown and there were so few people on the road I actually felt incredibly safe. If it weren’t lockdown I think I would have tried to go swimming a lot. I am so pleased I worked out a lot before birth because I am now seven weeks postpartum and not yet signed off to start exercising again but only just starting to feel sluggish and like I need to get back out there.

SLEEP AND WEEING

So many people say, “get your sleep in now before your baby arrives”, well, let me tell you now…sleep in your third trimester isn’t too fabulous! You will have your baby jumping around on your bladder so you will likely be waking up for a wee a fair few times during the nights sleep. Also, however much sleep you “clock up during your third trimester”, you aren’t necessarily going to feel super rested from when your baby arrives and you’re only getting 1 hours sleep a night! Just do your best and enjoy the fact your adorable baby will be in your arms soon.

TRICKY JOBS

Don’t be too freaked out by this but perineal massaging and colostrum harvesting are something you may want to read up on. Colostrum harvesting is basically getting some special golden pre-milk out of your boobs by hand expressing. It is known as liquid gold as the nutritional value of it is fantastic for your baby. Watch some videos online and ask your midwife for some advice on it and ask for them to give you some pipettes. You shouldn’t start trying to harvest until I believe 37 weeks as it can sometimes initiate your labour! I personally didn’t have any luck with harvesting pre labour but on the day of the birth of my son I managed to harvest right away before I managed to get him to latch on to breast feed. Perineal massage…well, this is something you may want to google for yourself ;).

To sign off I’d like to say, good luck for your delivery and thank you so much for reading. I’ve heard a lot about the illusive “fourth trimester”, so, who knows, I may be back sooner than you think with my thoughts on that time.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING YOUR SECOND TRIMESTER

Welcome back for the second instalment of my “What Happens During…” series. My first trimester instalment is over here. I feel my second trimester was much easier than my first for a few reasons, although my morning sickness didn’t disappear as many people had suggest and sometimes promised.

SHARE YOUR JOYOUS NEWS

Wahoo…you can finally tell your news to the world. Some people tell friends after the 12 weeks scan, some after their 20 week scan. Whatever works for you, enjoy every moment. It is such a lovely time. Everyone will be so excited. I spent many hours watching pregnancy reveal videos on YouTube with happy tears in my eyes haha. Just make sure you tell everyone close to you before putting in out on social media.

BUMP WATCH

My bump grew very slowly. The retorts I received were commonly, “there’s nothing in there”. While this may be their way of saying you look slim, it can definitely play on the mind of a pregnant woman so try your best not to judge her bump size. I have a long torso and was thought to have a tilted uterus so the way I started off growing my baby was rather discretely I guess. As I write this at 39 weeks and 6 days I can tell you I have definitely “popped” now. We all develop at different times.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING YOUR SECOND TRIMESTER | Megan Taylor — (Baby the size of a melon)

MORNING SICKNESS

Oh how I wish I could say morning sickness disappears after the first trimester…mine definitely didn’t and it was awful. I didn’t have the dreadful Hyperemesis gravidarum I did experience being sick about 4/5x a day. It was incredibly isolating, upsetting and debilitating. I spent many days researching ways to stop morning sickness with no real result. I did find a way to a survive though and wrote about it here. I hope it helps you if you too are suffering.

PREGNANCY TABLETS

I used these Pregnacare vitamins throughout my pregnancy. I was advised to take them by the nurses at the hospital when they found out how little food I could keep down as a result of my morning sickness. They are filled with all the fabulous nutrients you need to keep your baby growing healthily. The huge bonus to these tablets is that my nails and hair have never looked so incredible. They make my nails grow at an alarming rate. I even booked a big hand modelling job during my second trimester which I put down to these vitamins 🙂

MIDWIFE APPOINTMENTS

Your midwife appointments get far more interesting in your second trimester. You get to hear the baby’s heartbeat at every session which feels like a lovely window into your baby’s life. I didn’t understand the noise at first but the midwife let us record the sound and then I constantly played it at home with hubby explaining where the heartbeat noise was. It is so so so much faster than ours, it’s like horses galloping.

20 WEEK SCAN

Yay, it’s time for your 20 week scan. You will most likely have a good half an hour in the room with the sonographer. They check your baby to every little millimeter. As soon as the scanner spied my wriggling baby I felt chilled and excited to see more. Make sure you say if you want to know the sex or not as soon as you walk in the room. The pictures we got from our scan were our best yet. They were incredibly detailed and showed all the bones.

AN ETERNITY

Shock horror…the second trimester is not 12 weeks!! It is longer!! It felt sooo long…enjoy 😉

FLUTTERS AND KICKS

The NHS suggest that most women feel their baby start to move between 16 and 24 weeks. I felt a strange sort of bubble in my stomach around 20 weeks but didn’t feel full on kicks until a lot later. My placenta lays at the front of my stomach so all the kicks are dulled a little. If you are the same as me do not fret, the third trimester will be filled with violent kicks to make up for it :P.

How was your second trimester? Did your morning sickness continue?

THE SAFE WAY TO HAVE A BATH WHILST PREGNANT

Bathing is meant to be super relaxing, right!? Well, sadly that can be wrong if you’re an anxious first time mum like me. I am now 34 weeks pregnant and whenever I have had an achy and tired body or feeling the woes of morning sickness people suggest I have a bath. Yet, the problem with that is that I’m scared I’m going to boil my baby! I have always loved a scorching hot bath. I love bubbles, I love oils, I love body scrubs, I love candles, the lot! Yet, which oils are appropriate and what temperature should the water be at for a pregnant woman and another thing…black smoke from candles, is that a thing and if it is, what on Earth is it? There’s so much to think about that I end up avoiding baths all together. I put out an Instagram story asking what temperature is appropriate and so many mums and mums to be were also in the dark to what was correct, so like me avoid(ed) a “relaxing bath” altogether. I have asked some industry professionals what the actual answers are so you don’t have to worry anymore. Happy bathing…

THE PROFESSIONALS

GLENDA TAYLOR

Glenda is first and foremost my gorgeous mum and according to Vogue UK, “an Aromatherapy Guru”. Mum knows everything there is to know about aromatherapy and beauty products. Having created and sold many beauty companies over the years she knows an inci listing inside and out. Make sure you ask her a question over on Instagram if you are at all worried about beauty, beauty products, ingredients or aromatherapy.
INSTA @angelicolife
WEB Angelico

LAURA STOCKS

Laura is a doula and a hypnobirthing instructor. I am currently taking her classes every Wednesday evening over Zoom with a couple of other expectant parents. I’m learning so much and whenever I have a pregnancy question Laura has the answer straight away. Give her a follow if you have any pregnancy questions, are looking for a hypnobirthing class or need a doula.
INSTA @birthmotherme
WEB Stripped Back Birth

THE TEMPERATURE

Laura says that the temperature you should have your bath at whilst pregnant is the same as it would be if you were in a birthing pool. It would also be the same if you were bathing your newborn child. The temperature you can have the bath at is 37°c. This is the same as your core body temperature. I advise that you buy a bath thermometer. I had so many people recommend this one from Tommee Tippee so I bought it right away for both myself and for when my baby arrives. It also lets you know the temperature of your room and has an ambient light that shows when the bath or room is too hot. My first bath with the bath thermometer was an interesting moment…I’ve 110% been having baths that were too hot for me whilst pregnant! 37° is not that hot at all for a steamy bather 🧖🏻‍♀️. The light flashed a lot whilst I was initially running my bath. This recommended temperature is also the temperature that you would have your birthing pool at so I would advise you to try a long bath at this temperature before you make it part of your birthing plan. I personally think I would get a little bit too chilly sitting in a pool of 37° for a few hours but you can always make your room warmer and mums I have spoken to have said you get quite warm during birth anyway so it doesn’t actually feel too cold.

THE OILS AND SCENTS YOU HAVE TO AVOID

Clary Sage is an essential oil that you must stay away from for most of your pregnancy. That being said, once you are 37 week plus you are considered full term and Clary Sage is then allowed and can be incredibly beneficial. Clary Sage is considered a very powerful essential oil that can help trigger labour. The reason it can trigger labour is because it can stimulate uterine contractions triggering the start of labour. It can also help boost your oxytocin and endorphins which after many hypnobirthing classes I have learnt is great to keep adrenalin at bay.
Even though Clary Sage is often recommended for labour, Glenda prefers recommending the use of Frankincense during labour. As an essential oil, Frankincense can promote deep meditative breathing which will keep you calm and in control. By simply placing a few drops on a cloth and inhaling it from time to time it can be really helpful.
Other oils that you must avoid during pregnancy (especially in your first trimester) would also include, juniper, black pepper, cinnamon and geranium.

ESSENTIAL OILS TO HELP YOU RELAX AND SLEEP
Lavender, Camomile and Benzoin

ESSENTIAL OILS TO HELP YOU BALANCE AND GET READY FOR THE DAY
Grapefruit, Mandarin and Lavender
(Lavender is balancing and can refresh or relax you according to which other oils you combine it with).

HOW TO USE YOUR OILS

You can use between 6-10 drops of essential oil in total. Put your oils in your bath after the water has finished running. Make sure you drop the oils in at the other end from where you’re sitting so you don’t sit on the oils if they haven’t fully mixed in to your water. It’s not dangerous to sit on them but you could aggravate your skin like a stinging nettle. The ratio of the oils is up to you, but use the above oils I mentioned and have fun mixing them together to create your own blend. Babies baths are a whole other story, so maybe I will write another blog post on that, for example you wouldn’t use any more than 3 drops of essential oil and it must be diluted.

BLACK SMOKE CANDLES

Black smoke in candles are caused by the wick being too long, so make sure you always trim your candles. This will also stock too much flickering of light from your candles which is never relaxing. Trimming you candles will stop the black smoke but also prevent too much fragrance dispersed at any one time. If too much fragrance is released it could be far too “heady” and overwhelming for you. The safest option is for you to purchase fragrance free candles. Use this lovely trick that Glenda has taught me…When your burning candle has produced a little puddle of wax, you can drop in one or two drops of one of the essential oils we have discussed above. You can do this each time you light it. This way you will avoid any artificially fragranced candles and create the loveliest most naturally bespoke scented candles.
You must not use candles which are made from paraffin wax as they are carcinogenic. Soy wax candles are great but avoid candles which are artificially fragranced and look for natural oil blends only.

SHOPPING LIST:

An essential oil starter kit for both your pregnancy and for your baby (make sure you get full guidance before using oils on your baby before the age of 2).

• Lavender
• Mandarin
• Camomile
• Grapefruit
• Benzoin
(Comes from the word Benzoic which means calming.
It is a resin which is sold alongside essential oils)
• Clary sage or Frankincense
(37 weeks plus only)
• Bath thermometer
• Fragrance free candles

THE SAFE WAY TO HAVE A BATH WHILST PREGNANT | Megan Taylor

I hope this can help you have a safe and relaxing bath now. Feel free to leave any questions in the comments and I will get them answered for you.

HOW TO SURVIVE MORNING SICKNESS

Morning sickness is VILE and I should know, I had it incredibly badly for 14 weeks (week 6-19) and at week 22 I am sadly still experiencing it, but finally only a little bit. I felt debilitated for 14 weeks and cried A LOT! I just couldn’t believe that “the miracle of life” was causing me quite so much Hell. I learnt a lot in that time and worked out some survival tips that I want to share with you. You will of course have bad days but you will have some good days too. Just make sure you make the most of those good days. Even though you want to have an amazing good day, do not over do it. On my first non-sick day I jumped for joy and went for a run, did house work, met up with friends…the next day I was sicker than ever, all because of sheer exhaustion.

On my bad days I was throwing up anywhere between 2-7 times. Some days I couldn’t even have a sip of water without being sick. I think if you are being sick 7 or more times a day regularly you should probably phone your midwife just in case you have hyperemesis gravidarum (that is the morning sickness that Kate Middleton experienced and made a bit more widely known about). I am fairly sure I didn’t have this because the severity of my sickness went back and forth between unbearable and bearable. That being said I did speak to a nurse about my worries when I went for my 12 week scan and she said my hydration was ok but I should make sure I was taking a pregnancy vitamin in case I wasn’t getting enough vitamins with my newly limited diet (I had gone off pretty much all foods and only stomached potato rostis!). I started taking and am still taking these vitamins which have made my nails grow sooo long! (Bonus!) and as soon as I stopped being sick so much I made sure I upped my healthy food choices and consciously ate loads of dark greens to up my iron levels.
Just know that, one day this shall pass and you will have a bundle of joy in your arms…that’s what I keep telling myself anyway. Here are my top tips on how best to survive morning sickness.

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD

Eat Eat Eat. Just keep eating, seriously! (of course, only if you can- some days I definitely couldn’t put food in my mouth and keep it there- I’m making up for that now though). I was in total disbelief when I read that regular eating was a good thing. When I have been sick in the past because of some illness, I wouldn’t want to go near food and you are often suggested to starve for 24 hours. Yet, when you have morning sickness it seems to be completely different. If you eat food, your body is preoccupied with digestion and it somehow helps nausea and sickness pass by or at least wane for a little bit. Find the perfect snacks that work for you. If I had even a penny for every time I was told to eat ginger biscuits I would be hundreds of pounds richer right now! Ginger really isn’t as good as people say when you are throwing up all the time, it burns coming back up!!! Maybe if you are solely suffering with nausea then ginger could work for you but for me when being sick, it was dreadful.

SLEEP IS GOOD

Of course wake up when you have to, but go to bed at a decent time. If you are sleepy and have the opportunity to go to bed, then do it because you are likely to be up a lot in the night for a wee or because of discomfort if you are at the beginning or end of your pregnancy. I found that I suffered with sickness mostly when I was tired. My best time to go to sleep was by 10pm and then to wake up 7/8am.

GET SOME AIR

I hated the smell of parts of my house. My bathroom upstairs, the kitchen and the downstairs toilet which is located through the toilet were all my nemesis. I couldn’t smell them without throwing up. This meant I couldn’t be in the kitchen at all for a really long time. I am insanely lucky that my hubby took over everything kitchen based. If he worked late I ordered a Deliveroo or Uber Eats as a treat to him so he didn’t have to cook or clean up. I began to feel insanely lazy but as soon as I tried to help and go in the kitchen, my head was down the toilet! I found that getting outside and away from the smells of my house often helped. I love going for a run but at my worst moments the jiggling up and down of running made me sick so I named my “runs” a jaunt instead, which was basically a run/walk and whatever I could manage really. My mental state was far better if I got a tiny bit of exercise.

FOOD & PRODUCTS THAT WORK

Here are a list of products and foods that worked for me when I was at my worst. My biggest recommendation that I can give you is to buy fragrance free beauty products such as body wash, hand wash and deo. I stayed away from perfume until last week! I also switched to an electric tooth brush so that I didn’t have such a big toothbrush in my mouth and didn’t have to brush back and forth so vigorously.
Here are the body wash and hand soap that I changed to in my house
• Fragrance Free body wash
• Fragrance Free hand soap
These are some of the foods that I managed to stomach:
Salt and Vinegar crisps, chewy sweets such a Haribo strawberries, M&S Percy Pigs and Skittles, potato rostis, peanut butter on toast, grapefruit, refrigerated red grapes, FROZEN grapes (yep, pop your grapes in the freezer and then when you eat them they are like little balls of grape sorbet).
Yet, anything that you throw seems to get scratched off the list very quickly!

Have you experienced morning sickness or are you currently going through it? If you are currently going through it, I really hope it gets better soon x