Preggo Updates – 23 Weeks

Posted in Pregnancy and Baby.

Happy 23 Weeks Pregnant to me! Can you tell it’s getting harder to think of new ways to introduce these posts that aren’t just ‘I am 23 weeks pregnant now’?

uk pregnancy blog

Baby vest, eBay | Hanging planter, RAD Studio (similar)

23 weeks has been great for baby wriggles and bump growth, but not so great for under-eye circles and my immune system. Basically, I’ve been poorly. I caught one of those ‘summer colds’ people talk about – something I’d never get normally, because I have an iron-clad immune system. But apparently I’m more susceptible to such things while growing a baby, and for the past few days I’ve been consumed with the classic runny nose/sore throat/hacking cough combo. Delightful.

Being ill during your first pregnancy is fine really, because you’re just looking after yourself and you can lie on the sofa whimpering softly while your partner brings you hot water with honey and two GU pots. But it really made me think about how tough it must be to be ill when you have children, and how it must be even tougher to be ill when you have children AND you’re pregnant. It’s the first time I’ve really thought about how different life will be come November, and how I really need to work on being less selfish. One for next week, maybe.

body con leopard print maternity dress

Dress, ASOS | Trainers, Adidas Stan Smiths | Bag, Michael Kors | Jacket, Primark | Sunglasses, CélineNecklace, H&M

The main excitement for 23 weeks was the return of my nesting instinct, which made its first early appearance a few weeks ago and is now back and looking for action. Last weekend we hired a carpet cleaner and spent far too much money on Farrow & Ball paint in an attempt to start tackling the nursery – so far we’ve got a clean carpet and one coat of paint on the walls, so progress is definitely being made!

I’m planning on an entire re-do of the house before Baby Allison makes her appearance – we’re having a new kitchen fitted along with new carpets downstairs and I’m hoping to repaint our bedroom, too. I also want to do a carboot sale to cleanse me of all my useless clutter (will be following Hannah’s top tips for this) and generally just welcome our baby into a house that’s organised and serene. Like the calm before the storm (the storm being a newborn baby, obvs) if you will. 

A final update from 23 weeks – I’ve started shopping with wild abandon. This week I’ve bought the Snuzpod, the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus car seat and 2Way base, a GroEgg, Ewan the Dream Sheep and what appears to be a mountain of sleepsuits. If you have any ‘couldn’t live without it/saved my sanity/stopped my baby from hating life’ recommendations, leave ’em in the comments while my debit card’s still hot. 

PS – Happy Yorkshire Day!

18 Comments

Elena

We’ve just ordered in a Sleepyhead for round-the-house naps and transition from Snuzpod to cot, plus if we go away anywhere that only has a big cot before she’s used to one. Other than that our key buys are the same as yours! I love the Pebble Plus, it’ll be so much easier to switch to the Pearl. xx

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Eleanor

We had a wooden swinging crib which a friend lent us (it went right round the group think about ten babies slept in it). Depending on the size of you baby Moses baskets don’t last that long and some babies just don’t like them. When the wee guy was tiny we put the Moses basket inside it and then when he got a bit bigger he slept in that. Lasted up until he was about five months and then went into a cot in his own room. Sadly my friend had sold it by the time daughter came along but we were in a much smaller house by then and after about a week of us not sleeping because of the creaking moses basket and terror that we’d wake her and she’d wake her big brother we put her in her own room and she was alot happier in there (second child very different thank goodness we didn’t have a third would probably have left him in the pub). Something to look out for if anyone has one you could borrow.

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Eleanor

Couple more things I remembered. My pair were very wriggly and I found it hard to get things like dungarees and all in ones of and off. I bought loads of little soft tshirt material trousers (think M&S sold them) and they were so much easier to whip on an off for the numerous nappy changes. Something else that was really useful was what I called a nappy wrap which was a changing mat with pockets for a few nappies, nappy sacks and a packet of wipes. When you were past the first stage of lots of clothes changes I just used to take that with me in a normal bag and save my shoulders carting a huge changing bag. Another tip from a friend was to not carry a handbag just to put your bits and pieces in your changing bag as she was terrified of leaving it somewhere.

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Becky

Hi Jen, we got a baby monitor with a screen as a present. I remember thinking how silly it was and how a normal ‘sound only’ baby monitor would have been just fine. But actually being able see her was great, especially when she was choked with a cold. P.s discovered your blog etc when on mat leave, 3 1/2 years ago now and lovely to see you expecting a baby x

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mel

Sleepsuits and vests are all you need clothing wise for them. They grow so quickly and trying to fight a wriggling baby to get them into those super cute tights you picked up, really isn’t worth the effort, especially after nappy leaks, milk throw ups etc etc! Stock up on muslin blankets, they’re the one thing that I wouldn’t have been without (and aged 8 & 9 my little girls still take one to bed each night as a comfort blanket!) xx

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Jen

Amazing, thank you! Good shout on the muslins – I have one pack already but will stock up! x

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Sarah

Just bought the sleepyhead grand for my almost 6 month old, after finding the smaller one indispensable – great for naps and nights away from home, but my little one has slept in it in the crib almost every night since we bought it. I’d also recommend an angelcare bath seat, makes bathing a newborn so much easier and we’re still using it too, as well as an apron towel for you to wear. I know this might sound daft, but if you’re redoing your kitchen – any room for a tumble dryer? We got one when baby was 4 weeks old and it has been an actual godsend. Best of luck, being a mum is amazing – you’ll love it xx

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Jen

Amazing tips, thank you! Noting all these down. We have a tumble dryer and it’s already a lifesaver – imagine it’ll only get MORE amazing with a baby in tow! 🙂 x

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Cathryn - Little Paper Swans

A wrap or carrier. I don’t think I could have survived without having one. Perfect for a clingy baby and means you can get on with things. I had a Mobi stretchy wrap for newborn and we’ve currently got a Connecta. I can’t recommend them highly enough. Baby wearing really can save a stressy day!

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Bee

Are you still renting the house? If so that is really lucky that you can make it so personalised:)

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Laura

Definitely the sleepyhead!y, my little girl is just out of hers at ten months. A bouncer is obvious maybe, but so useful as you can carry baby from room to room in it. I’m just finishing my maternity leave after having my first baby. I can hardly remember what life was like this time last year. It’s a life changing and amazing thing, and time goes so fast. My top top is to never feel guilty for holding your baby too much, you will not form bad habits or spoil them. I spent too much time worrying during the first few months. She just wants to crawl everywhere now and will not sit still for cuddles! X

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Adelle

How cute is that baby vest! The baby monitor is a must have. There are a model that counts the breath and movements. If the baby stop breathing or moving it sound an alarm. Also the humidifier monitor is good to have.

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Kim

I second the sleepyhead! At first it seems expensive for what is essentially a big cushion but I swear it’s the only reason my son sleeps through the night – he hates being put down otherwise. It fits great in the snuzpod.
All the best for the rest of your pregnancy, you look amazing!
Also, if it suits you, try hypnobirthing for pain management in labour.
Oh and if you end up bottle feeding (for whatever reason) the tommee tippee perfect prep machine is a life saver.

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Amber

Those triangle dribble bibs are brilliant, sleep suits with built in scratch mits, also a shade for the pushchair which I never thought about beforehand. Ewan the Dream Sheep is a lifesaver!

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Maria

Aww it sounds like things are all going swimmingly! You will be a great mum Jen, I just know it!

Maria xxx

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Laura

Definitely a sling/carrier of some sort but don’t just buy without trying, go to the West Yorkshire Sling Library or book a one to one with Nicola who runs it either before baby arrives or when she is here, definitely worth it to see what works for you and how they work before buying one.

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