If you're pregnant - don't smoke. SIMPLE!

I'm so maddened with the news today that pregnant women who smoke are to be given financial incentives in the form of shopping vouchers to stop smoking!

It's not enough for the expectant mother to be given the information that smoking is the cause of around 5,000 miscarriages a year, as well as more than 100 still births and more than 100 infant deaths.

Oh no, because of their reluctance to stop there has been a trial of more than 600 women in Glasgow. It found that smokers who were paid up to £400 in shopping vouchers were more than twice as likely to quit! This is meant to be an alternative to the £87.5m it costs the NHS to treat the after affects of smoking during pregnancy in babies and mothers.

At 9 months pregnant with my first child maybe I'm more sensitive to this. The responsibility when carrying a child is massive and as a former smoker I'm fully aware of how addictive the fags can be. 

But my incentive to stop was trying to conceive.. that to me was so important as I wanted to be as healthy as possible. 

Then when it took longer than expected and being more complicated that we'd hope,  to fall pregnant - trying to keep my health at an optimum was such a priority. 

I'm just filled with disdain for women who smoke during pregnancy and have been guilty of throwing evil looks when I've seen them - because it exasperates me! I smoked from aged 15, it was such a part of me - but I couldn't have ever imagined smoking whilst pregnant.

There is JUST NO excuse. 

I'm currently binge watching Call the Midwife where everyone smokes and it's bizarre to think how it was so accepted in the 50's but NO more. Your willpower and your future child's well being should be the only incentive you need and I don't think i'm being naive here. 

What kind of message are we saying in society 'Hey pregnant lady who smokes, here's £400 shopping vouchers to help you quit' 

Not even once you've quit. 

What about all the women who don't smoke or have managed to quit, nah, you don't get the vouchers - which could really help prepare for you baby, because you are responsible adults it's just the bloody idiots who have the likes of Kerry Katona speaking out on their behalf. 

As I've already had a rant on my facebook about this a fellow pregnant friend has informed me that Kerry has said something along the lines of the 'stress' of quitting the fags would cause to the mum would harm the baby. 

Get that woman a gag!

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!

Pregnancy drinking - pass the Bumbleberry juice!

Earlier in the week I had a lovely belated birthday lunch with my pal at The Sun Inn, Kislingbury, in  Northamptonshire  and as normal, there's the slight wonder as you approach the bar to order a drink.. will there be anything other than sparkling water for me to imbibe for a change.. and lo and behold there was.

I'm not a big fan of fruit juice, unless I've squeezed it because to be honest it's full of sugar and I'd prefer the sparking H20, but it does get boring though. I'm out tonight for a new bar opening in St Albans, and hoping they have some ideas for the non drinkers! Bring on the Mocktails. 

Yesterday of course there was constant discussion in the media about alcohol during pregnancy being a crime, with the tragic case of a seven year old girl being taken into care as her mother drank 'an enormous amount' during pregnancy. 

Sometimes I think I fancy a drink but until Baby S is as fully formed as possible, I'm trying to be toxin free. Personally  I feel, I've got a responsibility to do the best I can to grow this person inside of me, so it doesn't make sense to put it at any risk. It's been challenging, as there as social situations like weddings, parties that it would be great to have a drink but to be honest, I've had a sip and it's tasted off. Plus, my husband has been well briefed that I expect a bottle of Verve waiting for me, post birth 
(I know, I know... breast feeding - a girl can  dream)

So back to the pub. There were some interesting looking bottles in its fridge that caught my eye and I asked the ever so friendly landlady about them.  She explained they were a new edition that they sourced at the The Northampton Food and Drink show earlier this year. 

A brand called Frobishers and my main reason for going so far as to blog about them, is because there was one called  Bumbleberry juice. It was delicious. What a great name! It was pretty rich, so I couldn't have more than one but such a treat to have something different in a pub.

I wish more pubs would think about their non-drinking customers. Surely it's not a surprise to know that just not all non-drinkers are happy with Diet Coke / J20 uggh!  Please if you are responsible for stocking any boozer shelves, think of those of us who for whatever our reason aren't boozing!

I will however now be drinking Gaviscon (on prescription thanks to the pregnancy NHS card)! However I first received a thorough talking by the Dr about how there's no proof that it's safe in pregnancy, but I dutifully explained I won't be glugging it down like Hermione Norris's brilliant character in 'In the Club'  - which caused much debate on Mumsnet! I just wanted it to hand, as I do seem to be suffering from indigestion more than before.

I've found hot water and honey is a good cure plus, these Licorice tablets are a more natural way to combat the wind! 

It's constantly fascinating how the body responds to all these changes going on and I can't help but think why not try and help it along by being as clean as possible - why hinder how things are working by reaching for the vino?