our nicu journey week two

Our NICU Journey- Week Two

One week has passed in NICU and so much happened that it was all a whirlwind. We had the elation of your arrival, the relief of you doing so well but also the sadness of leaving you behind as we went home each day without you. I’m not sure what to expect this week but I have a funny feeling it’s going to be even more emotional as time goes on.

Today (Tuesday) you would have been 33 weeks if you had still been inside me. You are still teeny but still doing so well. After one week you have come out of your incubator and today I can’t find you! I walk into intensive care and there is a space where your cot is. A nurse spots me looking a little bewildered and she tells me that you have been moved to your very own room! How have you come so far in such little time? You are now in one of the cubicles as the four cot room– which should be the next step– is completely full. You are still on monitors to check your heart rate, pulse, and respiration but you are proving to us that you are such a little fighter. You are also off the caffeine which was being used to regulate your breathing. You will have to be closely monitored to ensure this remains the same but I am so happy that it’s another step in the right direction.

Continue reading “Our NICU Journey- Week Two”
Related Posts:
5 Lessons about Inclusivity That Young Kids Should Learn in Preschool
kids laying on a floor looking up

The modern world is more interconnected and culturally diverse than ever before. Consequently, inclusivity and respect for diversity have never Read more

How to Support Your Partner After a Difficult Birth
baby being born

Childbirth can be a joyful experience for new parents, but it can also be physically and emotionally challenging, especially if Read more

The Minefield that is Weaning!
baby food for weaning

Ahhh, weaning, that time of babyhood that you either love or hate. It's funny when you see people who just Read more

Digital Marketing Mums on Finding a Balance Between Family and Business
digital marketing mums interview

*Guest Post How many times have you been described as a “budding businesswoman and loving mother?” I can venture a Read more

our nicu journey

Our NICU Journey- Week One

So, you arrived early. I expected it, I just knew my body hadn’t felt right, I’d been saying this since week 24 and after my waters broke early I mentally prepared myself for your premature entrance into the world. We had the tour of Neonatal during my first hospital stay… it took me aback. We were shown the incubators and told that was where you would go straight after birth if you came early, it took all my strength not to cry. As a blogger, I have read many stories from others I follow of their premature babies being in NICU and I have been moved by what has been written but nothing can prepare you for for the reality of it all. To see tiny babies lying inside what is essentially a plastic box, being helped with their breathing via ventilators or under UV lights for jaundice is something that makes your heart sink. We were shown the two types of ventilators and the nurse explained why you may be on them and how they work… I couldn’t really take that information in because I didn’t want to picture you on one. We were told how the unit worked and how you would be under 24/7 care. I was shown the expressing room, where I would have to go and sit to pump breastmilk for you to be fed through a tube. Not the image I had for you to start your breastfeeding journey. I think I nodded along and tried to take the information in but it was a bit too much to process at once.

Continue reading “Our NICU Journey- Week One”
Related Posts:
5 Simple Tips to Design a Nursery Room That Both You and Baby Will Love
pregnant lady in a nursery

Welcoming a new baby is thrilling, and designing the perfect nursery is a highlight for many parents. It can be Read more

3 Things You Should Stop Saying to Your Child
a mum cuddling her two children

As we all know, young children are impressionable. As they grow up, they’ll look to us as parents on how Read more

The Importance of Getting Kids Gardening
child gardening

Gardening, for me, has developed into a big hobby over the last 5 years or so. Once you get the Read more

Will My Breastfeeding Journey Be Different With My Next Child?
breastfeeding journey

I've been thinking a lot recently about how this baby will differ from my first and one of the biggest Read more

my pregnancy, the first trimester

My Pregnancy- The First Trimester

I was really organised when I found out I was pregnant and thought it would be a nice touch to write a diary. I imagined it being funny, helping other pregnant Mums and being a nice keepsake to look back on… Then the morning sickness started. Unfortunately, my writing went out of the window as just looking at a phone or laptop was making me feel dizzy and sick. So I have a little bit of my diary from my first trimester that I can share with you but after that you will just have to imagine me laying on the sofa and having my head over the toilet!

Continue reading “My Pregnancy- The First Trimester”
Related Posts:
13 Natural Teething Remedies to Help Your Baby
teething baby with finger in his mouth

Are you in the throes of teething? I am, for the second time... sigh. He only has 2 at the Read more

Choosing the Right First Foods for Your Baby: A Guide to Starting Solids
food being prepared for a baby

Embarking on the journey of introducing solids to babies is a significant milestone, brimming with anticipation, excitement, and naturally, a Read more

Teething: It’s Just as Bad The Second Time Around!
teething baby with finger in his mouth

I may have previously mentioned my hate of teething in my blog posts... and in my book! I remember during Read more

How to Create Memorable School Holidays on a Budget
a family on a beach in the summer

School holidays are a special time for families, offering a break from the usual routines and a chance to make Read more

inspirational stories week 8 written on a book

Inspirational Stories Week Eight: Five Little Doves- Surviving Baby Loss

Inspirational stories: Many of us have them but may not even realise how important they truly are or are too modest to shout it from the roof-tops. Successes should be shared and enjoyed, especially when certain hurdles or obstacles have had to be overcome to get there. Your story could help others reach their full potential. For this reason, I wanted to find some truly inspiring people who have a story that needs to be told. Each week I will bring you a different story with a different angle but one that you will just have to read.

In our final week of the inspirational series we hear from Laura who blogs over at Five Little Doves. Her story is of loss and gain and how her dream of having a big family finally came true…

Continue reading “Inspirational Stories Week Eight: Five Little Doves- Surviving Baby Loss”
Related Posts:
Essential SAHM Boredom Beaters
mum and baby sat on a beanbag

*Collaborative Post Before you had your baby, you may have thought it would be impossible to feel boredom when staying Read more

The Baby Show Experience
The Baby Show

*Gifted Tickets On Sunday I was invited along to The Baby Show at London Olympia. When I was pregnant with Read more

7 Simple Tips To Help You To Achieve Your 1000 Hours Outside Challenge
2 boys in water, one balancing on a log and the other paddling

This year we decided to take part in the 1000 Hours Outside challenge. The idea behind this being that we Read more

Toddler Tantrums? The Solution is Actually Simple
toddler tantrums on the floor

Toddler tantrums are all fun and games, aren't they?! We have been through the pre-stages of the well-known 'terrible two's' Read more

inspirational stories week seven written across a book

Inspirational Stories Week Seven: Just Average Jen- weight loss journey

Inspirational stories: Many of us have them but may not even realise how important they truly are or are too modest to shout it from the roof-tops. Successes should be shared and enjoyed, especially when certain hurdles or obstacles have had to be overcome to get there. Your story could help others reach their full potential. For this reason, I wanted to find some truly inspiring people who have a story that needs to be told. Each week I will bring you a different story with a different angle but one that you will just have to read. 

This week Jen Mellor talks about her amazing weight loss journey and how she achieved her healthier weight and lifestyle.

I first remember thinking I was fat when I was about 7 years old, looking back I was actually pretty average

Continue reading “Inspirational Stories Week Seven: Just Average Jen- weight loss journey”
Related Posts:
5 Steps You Can Take To Improve The Inside Of Your Home
inside the hallway of a home

The look of our home and how happy we are with it can make a big difference to boosting our Read more

SpeedBump Maternity Activewear Review
speedbump activewear worn by me whilst working out. A review

*Gifted Items Staying fit and healthy during this pregnancy was something I had decided upon even before I fell with Read more

Training for The Three Peaks – Month Three
Training for the Three Peaks month Three

I'm not sure where that last month went, but it absolutely flew by, and that means I am a little Read more

Animals Are Purrrfect For Our Wellbeing
white dog

*Collaborative Post Did you know that most households have a pet living in them? Even though owning your very own Read more

inspirational stores week six written over a book

Inspirational Stories Week Six: Bell and Bear Blog- Being a Mother without a Mother

Inspirational stories: Many of us have them but may not even realise how important they truly are or are too modest to shout it from the roof-tops. Successes should be shared and enjoyed, especially when certain hurdles or obstacles have had to be overcome to get there. Your story could help others reach their full potential. For this reason, I wanted to find some truly inspiring people who have a story that needs to be told. Each week I will bring you a different story with a different angle but one that you will just have to read. 

Today Rose from Bell and Bear blog talks of how losing a Mum to Cancer affects not only herself but also her children. Continue reading “Inspirational Stories Week Six: Bell and Bear Blog- Being a Mother without a Mother”

Related Posts:


Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Long-Term Foster Carer?

foster carers

Choosing the path of a long-term foster carer is both rewarding and filled with responsibilities. It requires resilience, dedication, and Read more


Wherever The Train Takes Us: Visiting Hythe

sunset across the sea at Hythe

Visiting Hythe was a last-minute decision for my birthday this year but I am so glad that my husband suggested Read more


Nursing Box Ideas To Keep Your Toddler Entertained

nursing box ideas

*Affiliate Links Preparing to bring a new arrival home from hospital is an important task and one area I have Read more


My Picture Photobook Review and Giveaway

our photobook

*Gifted Product Our journey with William has been an interesting one, to say the least. Born at just 32 weeks, Read more

inspirational stories week five written across a book

Inspirational Stories Week Five: Rachel Ridler- Mum on a Mission

Inspirational stories: Many of us have them but may not even realise how important they truly are or are too modest to shout it from the roof-tops. Successes should be shared and enjoyed, especially when certain hurdles or obstacles have had to be overcome to get there. Your story could help others reach their full potential. For this reason, I wanted to find some truly inspiring people who have a story that needs to be told. Each week I will bring you a different story with a different angle but one that you will just have to read. 

This week I was contacted by Rachel Ridler from Mum on a Mission blog and heard of her heartbreaking story of how the new HS2 railway is set to destroy her home. Continue reading “Inspirational Stories Week Five: Rachel Ridler- Mum on a Mission”

Related Posts:


Making Christmas Magical for Your Kids: Fun, Creative Traditions Every Family Will Love

christmas drinks and candy cane

Christmas is that special time of year when everything seems a little more magical – especially for young kids. From Read more


Key Benefits of Learning From Home

a lady learning from home

Remote learning has been an established method of education for a while and it has been gaining popularity for decades. Read more


5 Things Everyone Should do Before and After Moving into their First Home

to do list

Buying and moving into a first home is an exciting moment for most people. But, once the excitement settles in, Read more


The Benefits of Sending Group Greeting eCards and How to Get Started

person on pad making ecard

In today's digital age, sending greeting cards has become easier and more convenient thanks to the rise of eCards. eCards Read more