Last pregnancy my bed seemed to resemble Hadrian’s Wall as I added pillow after pillow in an attempt to get comfortable.  This time round enough is enough and I have splashed out on a pregnancy pillow.  Now there are quite a few around but this one by Dreamgenii ticked my boxes as it has bump, leg and back support too.  It might feel a little strange at first but give it a couple of nights and I promise you won’t look back.

Last week one tired pregnant lady was granted an hour and a half of bliss, by decamping to the new spa cocoon that is Skin Retreat on Wandsworth Bridge Rd.   Under the amazing hands of beautician Mercy, my aches and pains were soon eased away with an indulgent Holistic Back, Face and Scalp treatment.  The brand of choice is ESPA and all the products not only felt amazing but smelt divine too.  Not just the perfect pit-stop for the weary mummy, the Skin Retreat menu covers all the routine finishing touches one would expect, from nail treatments to hair removal.  If hubbies get jealous you can always book them in for a massage too.

This weather has not been kind to Little A’s skin and I have noticed that it has been getting very dry and bumpy.  I swear by adding Oilatum Junior to his bath every night and usually follow this with a good dousing of moisturiser.  Now I might be a fan of a full body massage but Little A certainly is not.  Getting the moisturiser slathered onto him usually involves wrestling with a bout of hide and seek thrown into the mix. However, change is in the air thanks to my new friend Sudocream Moisturing Mousse. Seven nights in and he is still taking delight in his new post bath ritual.  Whether the clever people at Sudocrem have realised this or not, the power of a fluffy white mousse zooming out of a canister is enough to delight even the most rambunctious of toddlers. In essence its rubs in super quick, intensively moisturises for up to 12 hours and has certainly captured Little A’s attention.  Delighted to see there is also a suncream variety (factor 50) I will be trying out on the next holiday.

Ever wondered how just why Fulham is currently so full of yummy mummies?  It could be down to the fact that a new Hypoxi studio has just opened minutes from Fulham Broadway.   Apparently Cheryl has one, Tamzin Outhwaite’s used one to shift her baby weight and no doubt a whole host of  the A lister have them tucked into a corner of their gyms.   The machines may look space age but they certainly seem to deliver results.  I am off to check it out.

Hitting the news this week are the Government’s plans to provide mothers with one-to-one care from a named midwife during labour and birth.  If these plans come to fruition this is welcome news indeed. One thing I couldn’t quite get my head around when I found out I was pregnant was that I would have no relationship whatsoever with the midwife who would be delivering my baby.  As Little A was destined for an NHS birth I was so concerned by the media hype of overworked midwives and crowded wards, that a friend recommended that I look into the arena of Private Midwifery and put me in touch with a fantastic duo called Annabel and Mary-Rose of Kensington Midwives.  Both mothers of three, Annabel and Mary-Rose set up their practice with clients like me in mind and offer a private touch to an NHS experience.

Alongside my NHS appointments I regularly met with Annabel and Mary-Rose which ensured not only did I get to know them but they also monitored mine and Little A’s health every step of the way.  They offer various packages and as well as antenatal care I opted for them to be present at the birth. Their presence during the differing stages of labour was invaluable and when I declared to my husband that I was “simply not enjoying a single second of this” he also had someone to lean on.  When the ‘meconium hit the fan’ and  I needed an emergency C-section they gave an excellent pep talk to my bewildered, scrubs-wearing husband and provided a sea of calm amongst the flurry of the nurses .  Postnatally they visited us daily for ten days, which was a massive comfort given the sleepless nights and the endless questions that arose on bringing Little A home.   Private Midwifery might not be for everyone but given the stresses put upon today’s busy NHS midwives it is certainly an option to consider.

Let me let you in on a little addition to your London address book.  Along with Little A’s arrival I soon came to realise that gone were the days of spending leisurely hours at the manicure counter of Fenwicks and leaving the house with just a small handbag.  Swiftly I became aware that if I wanted to retain any element of my former beauty regime things had to change.  Hello mobile therapist Rebecca Thomas.

With over 6 years experience in the Beauty industry Rebecca comes to your home and covers a myriad of beauty treatments that you won’t need to book a babysitter for.  My preference or cheats way to looking groomed is a Shellac mani (sometimes known as the 2 week manicure).  In the early baby days, my friends and I would gather at each other’s houses and take turns baby-cooing whilst Rebecca worked her magic.  Now Little A has finally worked out that he needs to recharge his batteries with a lunch time sleep I can get through a pedi and mani uninterrupted.  Competitive with spa prices but in the comfort of your own home, for a little bit of luxury give her a call.