Never mind the election, how's' Kate getting on?

What a week last week... with the general election.. (I'm not airing my views) and it was also the Duchess's first week with Princess Charlotte. 

Now whatever your view on the manner in which the Duchess of Cambridge left the hospital, there is one thing she definitely has in common with the rest of us other new mums... she will be using BREAST PADS!

Now you might think it is a dull life, that of a breast pad but you'd be wrong. I doubt you've ever thought about it much. You might be reading this and have no idea what one is ( mainly used by nursing Mum's). 

The breast pad starts out snugly packed layer of plastic and depending on its manufacturer this will happily split in two when pressure is applied to pull apart. This isn't always the case if you come from Mothercare or Pure Baby however - oh no, you behave like that irritating packed of in flight peanuts served when you decide to fly BA, rather than Easy Jet. You know how you get a little too excited when served your complimentary G&T and pack of nuts... but even your teeth won't open them! The breast pad, like the pack of peanuts ends up a little worse for wear.. The pad doesn't  manage to a safe entrance into the world, instead its already 'dog eared'. 

Now there are the more robust pads, brands whose outer wrapping seems to split neatly in two when earlier mention pressure is applied,thank you Boots and Lansinoh so the first view of the soon to be 'breast' friend is a whole one! Then there is the adhesive strip, how easy to remove can help or hinder. Also whether it is on both sides of the pad seems to differ - why limit the amount of stickiness is beyond me!

A breast pad is normally going to be thrust into the cup of a bra, whilst it's wearer is juggling a baby on one shoulder, probably half dressed with the possibility of the hair dryer going to save time all at once. Meanwhile baby goes from a slightly agitated state to one of hysteria. For this very reason insertion should be simple. sadly, if the sticky tape isn't enough, the pad can move / fall as soon as the bra is slung onto the body. Grrr!

I becomes very apparent that where pads are stored is also an important consideration, for maximum usage they need to be in the nursery, the nappy bag, the loo and the bedside drawer at least.

Throughout the day, a breast pads role is pretty straight forward, which is why your mischievous pad thinks its much more fun to move slightly just to keep its presence known . A favourite trick is to move under the boob only to be discovered in the shower, once the soap has been applied! Other places of interest can be inside tops, or peeking out to get a good view when that removable bra strap hasn't been replaced.

I'm yet to get to the end of a pad's life without it being scrunched up and not as it should be..

Will Kate have this struggle.. I believe she will... no amount of hairdressers, stylists or even having a Prince for a husband can fix the rogue breast pad

Marks out of 10:

5/10 due to poor wrapping 

3/10 impossible to open and scrunch far too easily 

7/10 easier to open but only have sticky on side!

9/10 neatly perforated to pull apart with ease, have sticky on both sides and don't scrunch easily.. 

Moved to the couch...

Having reached 33 weeks of being pregnant and completed our #NCT classes the countdown really is on for the upcoming arrival of our first baby!! Excitement, fear - lots of emotions running as I get ready to leave work as well.. 

Now, I confess I was slightly nervous about the whole NCT class. Everyone tells you it's where you make 'friends for life'. However the weekend before a pal told me over lunch how she knew instantly at her class, that there wasn't a single couple her and her hubby would gel with.. eek. I purposely didn't mention that to my other half and put it to the back of my mind. 

We went to a weekend intensive course and...it was good. The lady taking the course told us all we needed to know using various quirky methods. We saw some graphic pics, drank lots of tea and  we have a great group. The emails are flowing, the facebook and what's app group are being set up and it all feels rather lovely to have access to folk in the same boat as us. 

This Wednesday night was our breast feeding session and another opportunity to share tips, including one new friend - saying she'd slept on the couch the night before and had the best night's sleep ever.

So as I woke at 1.24am this morning, ahead of my 4.00am weekly alarm , with all the aches and pains of being weeble shaped. I thought - enough is enough (my pillow den all around wasn't cutting it) plus there's only so many times I can keep my husband awake this side of the baby arriving... 

Of I went to the couch and OH MY, a lovely deep slumber for the few remaining hours I had left. I know sleeping on the couch isn't anything revolutionary, but comfort and sleep get less and less the more pregnant you get and when like me you have to get up early for work - such a simple revelation is worth writing about!  

So I'm writing this all sprightly and optimistic that my sleep tonight will be as good and as a tip to any other preggars ladies,  - get on that couch!