Your first midwife appointment, what to expect.

Firstly sorry this wasn't up yesterday, I'm currently feeling really tired but can't get comfy at night so not sleeping properly.

Your first midwife appointment is largely the same whether you are presenting early in pregnancy or are classed as a late booker like me. The purpose of the first appointment is to establish your ante-natal care and start some of the many screening tests available in pregnancy. Below is a brief run down of my appointment.

• Height and weight, these are recorded in your pregnancy notes and used to asses some risk factors.
• Blood pressure measurement – for my degree projected I measured the minifootsteps daddy’s blood pressure over 200 times and now feel really sorry for him!
• Your pregnancy history - i.e. previous pregnancy, miscarriages etc 
• Family disease history
• Blood tests - this is usually 4 samples, to asses your blood type, haemoglobin level, ferritin and infectious disease (if you consent) and a urine test
• Where you intend to have the baby 
• Whether you wish to attend anti-natal classes 
• Maternity benefits 
• Discuss any questions you may have 
• Follow up appointment booking, when these appointments will be largely depends on the NHS trust which covers your area with your first pregnancy you will likely have an appointment to see the midwife at 16 and 25 weeks then every three weeks until 34 weeks and every other week after that. 
• Your midwife will also arrange your ultra sound scan dates and for the late bookers like me a consultants appointment. 
• I am aware the consultants appointment is normal for late bookers however as mine is not for another few weeks I do not know what it entails so will post back later.

Hope that helps anyone who is wondering what is going to happen to them at that all important first appointment like I was. 

P.s if your petrified of having your blood taken (like I am after previously passing out whilst having it done) talk it over with your midwife. In my case almost as soon as the needle went into my arm little man started kicking reminding me why I was having the samples taken and calming my nerves. 

Only 11 weeks until we get to meet our little prince charming!

Vicky x

Celebrity inspired changing bags

Everyday we see pictures of celebrity mummies carrying changing bags that cost the same as my house deposit! As a young mum I desperately wanted to find a changing bag that didn't well look like a changing bag but also didn't break the bank. Below is my top celebrity inspired picks for all budgets, which you may notice are mainly black so will go with any outfit or pram.

1. Designer Chic O Bello Baby Changing Madrid Tote Bag   £19.99
2. Koto Leatherette Baby Changing Bag  £29.99

3. Monique Buckle Bag £48.75

4. Babymel Amanda Quilted Diaper Bag £52
5. Babymel Ella Quilted Black Designer Baby Changing Bag £65 

6. OiOi Faux Leather Studded Hobo Baby Changing Bag  £80

7. Yippydada Bella Baby Changing Bag  £89.99

8. Timi & Leslie Charlie Changing Bag  £160

Out of all the brands I have researched to find my bag BabyMel has come out as my favourite so far with a range of styles, size and colours, no doubt that will be the brand I eventually settle on when finally picking my bag in the coming weeks. If anyone has any other suggestions or has found a bag they love let me know below.

Vicky x

Wait. Stop. Don't judge. I'm 23 and pregnant.

Finding out your unexpectedly pregnant is hard enough, yet when your living at home and only find out at 26 weeks it is a whole different shock.

*How will we afford this?

*What will people think?

*What will my mam think?

Is just some of the questions which went through my head on that evening (which also happened to be my birthday). Yes my mam hit the roof but by morning she was advising us on what we needed to do, ringing the doctors and being a star. 

Looking back on that day just over two weeks later, it was a massive shock for both me and my partner however we are now really excited and looking forward to meeting the little man in just over 11 weeks time. 

We are in the fortunate position that at 23 we have both finished university, have good jobs and a house deposit (still need to find that perfect house for our little family over the coming months). 

This is our storey!