Guest blog: Ali Mills on the trials and tribulations of pregnancy
Guest blog: Ali Mills on the trials and tribulations of pregnancy 2017
Hi everyone, a quick intro before I launch into pregnancy stuff ... I'm Ali a full-time mum to Jasmine a very cheeky but awesome two and a half-year-old, a part-time massage therapist and a wife to Andy, my very patient, and loving husband.
I can wholeheartedly say even though I've been through one pregnancy already this time it's completely different! Both conceptions have been through fertility treatment which in itself brought challenges not to mention a rollercoaster of emotions. So worth it though.
Second time around, when we found out we were pregnant I think both myself and my husband were amazed. I'd been umming and arguing about whether it was gonna be successful as my physical feelings, not to mention emotional ones, were all over the place. Then when we actually got the results, I couldn't believe it. My husband, on the other hand, was over the moon. Even though the blood test was accurate I still had to scurry home and do a home test myself!
We didn't tell Jasmine straight away as we wanted to get to the 12-week marker first. Now she knows, she likes to rest her head on my tummy and tell me that the baby's heart is going boom, boom, boom! Our next thing to tackle will be telling her if it's a girl or boy. She's adamant she's going to have a sister, and my inklings are it's gonna be a brother (watch this space). Why do I think that?
Well, it's mainly down to the way I've been feeling. My first pregnancy was hunky dory. Yeah, I felt tired but carried on as normal, working full time, no sickness, no cravings, no sore boobs, no heartburn, nothing. This time I've had nausea running throughout the day for three months, afternoon exhaustion, a heightened sense of smell to the point I couldn't wear perfume, sore boobs, no appetite for food unless it was carb based and difficulty in drinking unless it was icy cold! I felt pretty glum and sympathise with all you ladies out there who've gone through it or are going through it now. It really tests your sanity, wellbeing, and relationships with those close to you.
My husband has been a rock and I'm glad to say, 18 weeks on I'm just about over nausea and am ready for baby number two. Yoga, swimming and online shopping here I come!
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Ali's next blog will be after they have been for her 20-week scan - eeek!
Thanks Ali :)
Yoga Mini Retreat Norfolk -for beginners?
Yoga Mini Retreat Norfolk -a beginners guide! 2017
I started this blog on the evening before my very first Yoga Mini Retreat in Norfolk, with Jackie from Yogabuds or also know for her wonderful co-owned business The Orange Grove clinic. I am feeling a little nervous because despite it being on my list of things to do this year I haven't been to many yoga classes.
I am feeling a little nervous because despite it being on my list of things to do this year, I haven't been to many yoga classes. I think I can count on one hand how many yoga classes at my local gym i actually went too. I wanted too, but something came up or it was fully booked by the time i knew i could go.
So why did i book onto the Yoga Mini Retreat ? Well firstly Jackie! I had attended Pregnancy Yoga with her about 4 years ago now (yikes time flies as a mum of 2) and i loved her approach and attitude . I know it will be relaxing it is set at stunning Caistor Hall in Caistor St Edmunds Norfolk . I have been before to chat to some of Jackie's ladies, and loved the tranquil setting.
Photo by Jess Wilkins Photography (me)
Jackie knows her stuff, I wanted this retreat to kick start my yoga and know i will find it informative, challenging (well for me) but also fun! And she promised me it is suitable for total beginners. It means I can see what I am signing up for when I start her weekly YogaBuds class in the new year. She teaches at various locations across Norwich and Norfolk.
I need the break! November and early December is my busiest time, and with the holidays approaching i wanted some 'me' time . A Yoga Mini Retreat including lunch made by someone else really really appealed to me!
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I went along and had an amazing time! I met lots of lovely ladies of all ages . A real genuine mixture of lovely warm people.
Some like me had not really tried yoga before and some ladies were more experienced. It was not intimidating as everyone could go at their own pace, no one was looking at you. And I didn't feel being a beginner, that I was lagging behind. As everyone quite rightly, is focusing on themselves and enjoying the day.
Jackie was very good at explaining what moves to do, why we were doing them and the benefit too. For me, this was great to make sense of it and helped me coordinate my body better. she also reminded you to 'breathe' which may sound silly to some but I need to be reminded.
We had a yummy lunch and everyone was chatty and friendly. The afternoon focused on more gentle yoga with some fab relaxation, which again is all new to me. It was sooooo good for me to quieten my busy mind and chill/ breathe.
I came away totally calm, relaxed and recharged. I loved it and really believe anyone wanting to try yoga should attend a class with Jackie or get on the next retreat. It is great for total beginners and for any ablity . As Jackie said on the day , having some 'me' time is not selfish. It was very much needed , and I cannot wait for the weekend retreat - yes 2 whole days child-free& full of yoga eeeek!
Jess x
What is the Positive Birth Movement? Norfolk - Guest blog
What is the Positive Birth Movement Norfolk - Guest blog 2017
Happy New Year everyone! Thank you, Jess, for inviting me to let you all know about the Positive Birth Movement.
In 2012 the founder (amazing writer and campaigner Milli Hill) had a free meet up in her living room to chat about pregnancy and birth. This has now become a global network of over 400 groups!400 groups!
We believe that every woman deserves a positive birth in which:
· Women are where they want to be · Choices are informed by reality not fear · Mothers are empowered and enriched · Memories are warm and proud
We aim to:
· Challenge the culture of negativity and fear that exists around birth · Share positive birth experiences · Share information about choices and rights in childbirth · Encourage women to raise their expectations of childbirth
I’m Chloe, I run the Norwich group at Silver Road Community Centre, which is a lovely space with a relaxed atmosphere, toys and a cafe area. There is also a second monthly meet up in NR12 at the home of Joanna Collins.
I'm also the pbm regional representative for the East of England you can read a bit more about me and team pbm here http://www.positivebirthmovement.org/team-pbm.html
Meetups are free and informal. A safe space to chat about birth and share stories. It’s ideal if you are pregnant or have given birth, like the sound of our aims and want to surround yourself with positivity and support 
♥
You can also hire great quality maternity clothes from the 'waddling wardrobe' for just £1-3 per item. There are lots of great quality jeans and work clothes, saving you the expense as you bloom! We also have x2 birth pools which you can hire for free! (Just a security deposit needed).
Hope you can make it to our next meet up: Sunday 15th January at 3.30pm. Our topic will be ‘Choice in Birth’. There is free parking too! Really looking forward to meeting some of you soon,
Chloe xx
Contact: chloe-willis@thedaisyfoundation.com or 07905 936 960
More info/ where to find us online:
The Norwich and Norfolk Positive Birth Movement is on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/pbmnorfolk/
I'm also a birth and baby mentor for the Daisy Foundation, running pregnancy and baby classes from the same venue.
9 life lessons from a year of professional photography - Norfolk Photographer
9 life lessons from a year of professional photography - Norfolk Photographer 2016
2016 has been a really exciting year of professional photography for me at my Norfolk home studio. I expanded my newborn photography packages, built relationships with lots of wonderful business women across Norfolk, had a shiny new logo designed and even gave my website a tweak or two!
Now that the year is coming to a close, lots of people are talking about goals for 2017. And although I’ve got BIG plans for my Norwich photography studio next year, I like to take some time to reflect on the year gone by.
There have been highs and lows and plenty of life lessons learnt along the way!
Here are my 9 life lessons from a year of professional photography
1. You can never start planning Christmas photoshoots too early!
My special Christmas photography sessions sold out really fast this year. I was thrilled, but in retrospect, had I started marketing the shoots just a little earlier I might have been able to squeeze a third shoot day in and welcome even more gorgeously festive families to my studio.
Good planning meant that I was fully prepared for my little cherubs with lots of Christmas themed props and accessories for them to play with. I actually started shopping in July! Alongside super cute Christmas rompers, cards and the obligatory reindeer horns, were some fab-yule-ous decorative blocks from Missy Dunning of Sweet Dreams Art.
2. Cake smashes bring out the stereotypes in parents!
Almost every mum asked me if I needed them to help clean up the mess after a cake smash shoot, whilst pretty much every dad was eyeing up that giant cupcake and looking for a way to get involved with the chaos! It’s lovely seeing parents have fun with their children and it makes for great photos too!
P.S. Don’t worry mums; I do all the cleaning up! Your job is to enjoy yourself!
3. But it takes less time to clean up after a cake smash photoshoot than you might imagine!
I have to admit, at the start of this year cake smash shoots made feel a little nervous. I’d heard horror stories from other photographers about babies having a meltdown in front of their cake, screaming at it in angst and terror! I was wondering if my luck would run out and babies would not find it fun anymore!
Norfolk babies must be a little hardier than the rest of the UK because each and every one of them was a little photo star! They tend to fall into one of two categories, they either demolish the cake face-first (literally), or poke gently at it until curiosity finally gets the better of them and they grab themselves a big spongey chunk!
And of course, for afterwards I’ve got my totally cute miniature bathtub for them to wash off in if they so wish. My yummy cakes are made by local mum and bakery Vanilla Cloud Bakery.
4. Networking makes a real difference
Being self-employed can be a lonely experience, especially when you need advice or want to share your successes with like-minded people. So with a bit of trepidation, I dipped my toe into the networking pond, making time to attend the monthly meeting of Her Business Brew in Norwich. I’d heard mixed views about networking and although I was keen to give it a try I was a little nervous too, as a photographer, I’m so not a suited and booted type!
I’m really glad I gave it a try as I’ve met some exceptionally nice and very talented women, made new friends and met some great contacts for my business too! The highlight though had to be having cuddles with organiser Serena’s newborn little boy, Alfie whilst I learnt about Search Engine Optimisation… now there’s a sentence I never thought I’d say!
I’m really keen to support other local businesses and thanks to the networking community I am now able to source many of my props and accessories locally. Hurray! The giant cupcakes for my cake smash photoshoots come from Rachel at Vanilla Clouds Bakery, whilst many of my oh-so-adorable hairbands come from Sonia at Purple Stars Baby Hair Clips.
5. Clients come from the most unexpected places
When I agreed to do a photoshoot for Jackie of YogaBumps pregnancy yoga and YogaBubs baby yoga in Norwich I thought it would be a great opportunity to refine my on-location skills. In fact it’s been a great way to meet new clients and Jackie and her team at the Orange Grove Clinic have been really supportive, sharing my posts on social media and telling their clients about my maternity, newborn and family photoshoot offerings. I attended her pregnancy yoga way back when I was pregnant with my first born. I love her energy and commitment to all things bump and mum related.
I was really thrilled when the organiser of Her Business Brew, Serena Fordham booked me to do a photo session of her beautiful son Alfie and her family. We had a great shoot and the photos looked amazing. Funnily enough, Serena and Alfie are now doing regular YogaBubs Baby Yoga classes together! It just goes to show that recommendations are pretty powerful.
6. I discovered I love toddlers too!
I’m a total sucker for newborn babies. I love everything about them, from their curled up little hands to their little button noses. I adore older baby and toddler photoshoots too. I thought I would ensure people knew I photographed babies of all ages and toddlers by offering ‘baby studio sessions’ and I also relaunched my baby plan to An awesome ‘Watch me Grow’ package.
And I have loved these sessions! Babies are just as super cute at four months, six months and eight months too! I’ve loved doing my 'Watch Me Grow' package this year and will continue to offer it next year alongside some new family photoshoot packages. This will be perfect for families with toddlers who are on the move, and families with older children.
7. Parents-to-be will always be slightly superstitious
Throughout 2016 my newborn shoots continued to be my most popular package. To secure your spot I advise mums-to-be to book in after their 20-week scan. Babies can come early or late and booking your date in advance means that you’re much more likely to capture those gorgeous first few days before your baby starts to ‘uncurl’. For some pregnant mummies though, this can feel like they are ‘jinxing’ their pregnancy… almost assuming that everything will be just fine, from bump to baby! And of course, most of the time it is, but as a mother of two children, I get it… and whilst I still advise parents to get booked in as early as possible, I’ll always try my best to accommodate last-minute requests.
8. Sometimes you just need to pay a professional
I’ve always been quite proud of running the majority of my business myself, but I found that during my busy times I was neglecting my marketing, which potentially meant periods of quiet too. I really wanted refine my brand, update my website and get a grip on my content marketing so that I could rely on a steady stream of leads. It was time to bring in the professionals!
I hired Kerry at Write to Win Business to review my website, my SEO and all my social media channels and report back to me with her recommendations. It was a super enlightening experience and revealed lots of areas on my website where I needed to be clearer and stronger with my messaging. I was pretty pleased with the initial SEO report; I was already on page one for most of my keywords, but Kerry said there was room for improvement so I let her loose on my website copy! Just a few months later I’ve got a shiny online shop and I’m ranking at position one on page one of Google for all but one of my keywords (we’ll get that one next year!) my site is being ranked for double the amount of keywords it was back in the summer and my traffic is on the up. hurray!
I also hired the lovely Laura at Pen and Mouse Design to create a new logo for me, which I love! It’s much more representative of my brand and takes pride of place on my website. Now I just need to update the logo on all my images… oh dear!
The big lesson for me here was that getting outside help is one of the most important things you can do when growing your business. As much as we may want to, we simply can’t do everything alone and if it’s not your area of expertise, it’s usually quicker and cheaper in the long run to pay someone else to do it for you.
9. And finally… competition doesn’t exist!
Like most people when I started out, I spent many an hour stalking other people in my industry and the surrounding area; comparing my website, social media and images to theirs and worrying about how I could compete. It’s exhausting isn’t it?
This year I finally shook off my comparisonitis. I’ve come to realise that people choose to work with you because of you and that by simply being yourself; you set yourself apart from everyone else. My style is very clean and classic so my work probably doesn’t appeal to those parents who want more of a staged shoot. That used to worry me but now I’m feeling more confident than I ever have about my business and the services I offer, I can’t wait to get stuck into 2017!
Look out for my new Outdoor photoshoot Package, launching early spring and running from April to October.
I’d love to hear what life lessons you’ve learned in your business over the last year, did any of mine sound familiar? Leave a comment and let me know!
Want to book a photoshoot with me ? Get in contact with me today: info@jesswilkinsphotography.co.uk
Legoland is it worth the money?
Legoland is it worth the money? 2016
Legoland is it worth the money? Oh yes!
We booked a great deal back in January for a June visit to Legoland Windsor. We wanted to go for 2 days as we heard you need 2 days to get around and do it all. We treated our family to a 1-night stay at the hotel there. It cost us just over £300 for 2 days visit, 1-night hotel stay and tea/ breakfast. I know lots of people who have brought day passes and stayed in hotels nearby.
We arrived on Wednesday morning and checked into the hotel. It was amazing outside and in - for our little ones it must have just been WOW! I really was like a big kid, this was the entrance - the dragon puffed smoke out! The staff were super helpful and took our luggage which they hold onto for the day and then take to your room when it's ready.
We parked in the hotel carpark which is a very short walk to the hotel, once you have checked in you can go out and enter the park through the hotel entrance , the next day we were allowed in the park 30 minutes early which was handy as we could get on the boat ride we had missed the day before with no queuing.
The foyer is brilliant, lots for the children to look a while you check in, and an area full of Lego for them to build whatever they choose. There is also a small shop too.
Here are some snaps of the hotel family room - the kids were amazed by it when we walked in and so excited they had 2 bunk beds and tv all pirate themed. The hotel also left a birthday card, balloon and big badge for Lucas too.
In our room, we found a treasure chest and we had to find the answers to the clues in order to open it - I won't tell you what was inside in case you stay - to look prices look here.
The park itself is awesome !! Hubby and I loved miniature land it is very clever how they have built replica cities. Lila is 3 and could go on pretty much every ride we wanted. She was just over 90cm, I think had she been shorter, Lila would have been upset to miss out.
There are still lots of rides for little ones but for our kids aged 3 and 5 it was perfect.
We got so much done on Wednesday it being term time, we hardly queued at all! I have heard during the holidays its madness and the queues take hours! We did all the water rides last as we knew we could go straight to the hotel to have a shower and change for the yummy buffet dinner.
We brought a digi pass for the 2 days for £40 this meant we got all photos from the rides instead of individual prices. I knew i'd want them all. I try and restrain myself from taking lots of photos when on family days and just enjoy the moments. Having some images of the 4 of us is really important to me and worth it.
The kids loved the water splash park, there is nowhere for parents to sit which is a bit annoying as we couldn't get them off it for ages.
The second day at Legoland we walked past, and it was very busy this was later on in the day. We choose this area first thing on the second day it was so warm we knew they would dry out! There are lockers at this section too but it takes £1 every time you use it so just remember this if you plan on popping back to it lots to have lots of pound coins.
My kids favourite rides were :
Fairy Tale Brook - a little boat ride for all the family
Atlantis Submarine Voyage
The Dragon - it starts off inside the castle and then goes outside
Laser Raiders - we got quite competitive shooting lasers
L- Drivers - the kiddies drove electric cars, at the end they get their own LEGOLAND Driving Licence - this costs £10 if you want a lanyard or £5 each with a digi-pass
see the rides listed here
The staff were very friendly and helpful throughout our 2-day visit to Legoland, they let us bring a cake and looked after it for us until the evening meal. They sang to Lucas too! If you are staying in their hotel and give them 2 weeks notice they will make a cake for you.
There are plenty of shops to buy sun hats & waterproofs if the weather suddenly changes and of course lots of Lego & toys. We especially loved the Stars war exhibition and star wars shop!
There are cafes and restaurants about which were manic at key times. We saw plenty of organised people eating picnics! It is amazing we loved it, and had a blast.
We will be going back for sure! Lucas and Lila's teddy bears enjoying the hotel view over the park.
Jess
Marsham Holistic Therapy Guest blog : Story Massage
Marsham Holistic Therapy Guest blog : Story Massage 2016
Hi I'm Leanne from Marsham Holistic Therapy and I am a Story Massage instructor here in Norfolk.
Story massage is a blend of 10 simple but effective massage moves blended with favourite stories and rhymes to promote creativity, fun, relaxation and family time. Suitable for all ages and abilities Story massage is extremely adaptable and there is no right or wrong way to blend the moves once you have learned them.
Story massage can bring the stories alive and aide with concentration while relaxing and promoting respect. It is a great calming tool that can be used with the whole family. Siblings and even grandparents love to get involved in sharing the massage and writing stories.
I trained in story massage to help my daughter who has ADD. Some of the many symptoms include lack of concentration, sleeplessness and anxiety. For us Story massage has created a way for us to help our daughter focus better and enable her to concentrate for longer periods of time. It has also strengthened her self confidence by giving her tools to express her self and learn about the world around her using stories that she has written herself or that we have written together. It's also a great tool when we are out and about for battling boredom and anxiety which otherwise would have led to tantrums and upset. You can use Story Massage anywhere in the car, supermarket or at the park and it does not have to be confined to the back.
Top Tips
- You can use the Massage anywhere why not try it waiting in line at the supermarket or while in the doctors surgery keeps children of all ages engaged and calm.
- If your on the bus or in the car and can not get to your child's back try Incy Wincy spider up their arm using the massage moves.
Marsham Holistic Therapy is all about promoting relaxation and family time. Another treatment that is suitable for the whole family is Indian Head Massage. A seated holistic treatment that is suitable for adults and children of all abilities and ages. There are many benefits including stress relief, relaxation,sinus problems, aches and pains, sleeplessness. Indian Head Massage promotes a feeling of well being
Leanne can be found over at Facebook and her website here.
To book a shoot with me contact me here.
The Norfolk Bump, Baby and Toddler show 2016 - win tickets
The Norfolk Bump, Baby and Toddler show 2016 - win tickets:
India is the lady behind The Norfolk Bump, Baby and Toddler show 2016 - please read her guest blog below, and find out how you can win a pair of tickets to this years show!
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Hello There!
For those who are not aware, I run the Norfolk Bump, Baby and Toddler show. This year will see the show going into its fifth year and it’s looking set to be bigger and better than before!
How did I get into Event Planning? Well, it turned out to be a wonderful accident! I’m little obsessed with organising other people and being a bossy older sister probably also helped! I started out by working with the lovely Lucy who previously ran The Norfolk Bump, Baby and Toddler Show as it was going into its third year. She decided to sell it and how could I refuse, it was such a fantastic opportunity!
Now after my baptism of fire last year and running such a successful event, I couldn’t wait to get started on this year’s show. With so many fantastic businesses and services in Norfolk, here are a few of this year’s show highlights
- The Harmummies, a local singing group will be opening the show with their beautiful vocals.
- Fantastic FREE taster areas where children can take part in activities on the day, including Tinytalk, Baby sensory and Toddler Sense, all showcasing the best of their business.
- A FREE of charge Disco dome!! (I know, so exciting!!) Supplied by the lovely people at Cribs and Bibs, children will be able to have a bounce on this wonderful new addition to the show.
- The super duper Dave Doughnut will also be in attendance, entertaining your little ones with fantastic balloon creations. He is a very popular, so be sure to make time to find him throughout show day.
- Information and advice sessions are back for the second year after a very successful launch last year. The timetable for these includes a wide range of experts from local businesses talking about what they know best. These include the Orange Grove Clinic and also the Norwich Sling Library, a must visit for any parent. Best of all, these sessions are FREE of charge to enter, just make sure you show a valid ticket upon entry.
- A large soft play area with FREE sessions run by Mini Monkey Gym, limited spaces so please get there early!
- A performance from everyone’s favourite princess in the afternoon, including a meet and greet! Imagine the face on your little one when they get to meet her!
- There is also a dedicated feeding and changing room.
- And of course lots of wonderful local businesses showcasing their products and services all aimed at those expectant parents or those with under fives!
So just a few reasons to attend Norfolk’s Largest and Longest running baby and parenting show and I know that as a mother to a 19 month old I will be certainly trying my best to take a look around!!
For more information on all the fantastic exhibitors and how to purchase tickets please visit www.norfolkbump.co.uk
India :)
If you fancy winning a pair of tickets all you have to do is tag a friend who you think would also like to enter this giveaway, on the pinned status on Jess Wilkins Photography page here , if you are not on Facebook please comment your name below.
I will pick a winner at random on Sunday 28th February you have until 7 pm that night to enter- please get sharing and tagging this is going to be a great show with lots of local businesses. Please check out the Show's page for updates to information.
Jess xx book a shoot with me here!
Back pain and pelvic floor pre & post pregnancy guest blog
Back pain and pelvic floor pre & post pregnancy 2016
Guest blog by Emma from Stay Active Physiotherapy based in Norwich on pre & post pregnancy she welcomes babies & children to appointments, perfect if you struggle to sort childcare.
Pregnancy and giving birth puts tremendous stress on a woman’s body. Many elements are affected, due to the changes in posture, biomechanics (the way we move), hormones and of course increased weight. The back, pelvis, hips and pelvic floor take a huge amount of strain which can cause problems well after the baby is born. This article mainly focuses on pelvic floor problems, the pelvis, and the lower back.
What is the pelvic floor?
The pelvic floor is put under considerable strain in the antenatal and postpartum periods of pregnancy. Contrary to popular relief, most damage is done during the antenatal period. Hormones and the gradual weight gain from the growing baby, uterus, and fluid retention stretch muscle fibers, making them weak. The pelvic floor is an important group of muscles that acts as a kind of sling to prevent prolapse. It is an essential muscle group that helps to avoid leakage from the bladder and bowel, whilst also being an important part of your sex life and of course, helping to assist the delivery of your baby during childbirth. It can experience damage no matter what type of delivery you have. Even ladies who have delivered through cesarean section are likely to have difficulties postpartum. The pelvic floor is still a subject that most ladies are reluctant to talk about however problems with it are more common than we think. It is estimated that following childbirth, a staggering 50% of women suffer from symptoms of bladder and bowel dysfunction, resulting in incontinence and prolapse.
What can be done to help?
Many of these problems are preventable if basic exercises are done during pregnancy. The most common type of incontinence is urinary, this falls into many categories however the most common are stress (leaking when you cough, sneeze or jump) and urge incontinence (when you are unable to control the urge to go to the toilet). There are two different types of exercises to prevent or help these problems; one set is fast contractions of your pelvic floor muscles and the other are slow holds of your pelvic floor. These are too specific to cover in this article and you should get a Chartered Physiotherapist to talk you through them. I cannot stress enough how important it is to do pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy; some easy and basic exercises can prevent problems that will affect your body and quality of life later on in pregnancy, following the birth of your child and in your future life.
Back pain.
The pelvic floor muscles also help to prevent back pain ante and postnatally. All the pelvic floor muscles work to control the pelvis and work with the lower back and abdominal muscles to support the spine. Back, pelvic and hip pain is common during pregnancy and can range from a mild ache to debilitating pain. If not treated during pregnancy, it can continue well after giving birth and may re-occur with future pregnancies. In brief, a woman’s posture changes considerably during pregnancy. The increase in weight around the abdomen shifts the lower body forwards, causing the lower back to arch. Changes at the pelvis also take place, particularly depending on how the baby lies and how well the woman’s body can cope with the weight of the baby and uterus. Growing breasts will cause the upper back to lean forwards and this may become sore and stiff.
What can I do to help my back?
It is important that you keep a check on your posture and try to do some form of low impact exercise-walking, swimming, yoga, and Pilates are all excellent and safe activities. Try and look for antenatal yoga and Pilates. There are even some antenatal aquafit classes about which are also very good. If the pain is severe, you may need to see a Physiotherapist for more specific exercises and manual treatment. Many elements of being a Mum, such as picking up a heavy and wriggling baby/toddler, lifting car seats and pushing a buggy, can put extra strain on your back, pelvis and pelvic floor, even if you had no symptoms during pregnancy. It is important to look after yourself and keep yourself strong and fit so you can enjoy your new bundle of joy to the maximum and pain-free. May I say congratulations on your pregnancy or birth of your baby.
Emma
HCPC, MCSP, ACPSM, APCP.
BSc. (Hons) Physiotherapy.
Tel:
E-mail: physioem@hotmail.com
Web: www.stayactivephysiotherapy.com
Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StayActivePhysiotherapy
Twitter: @stayactivephys
To read some other blogs find lots of topics here.
The year through your kids eyes : guest blog
The year through your kids eyes: guest blog by Sam James Coaching 2015
As a mum of two children, and having worked on family programs in previous roles. I think it is really important to introduce ideas from a young age about positive thinking and well being. It can be great fun to do , some activities involving your kids about looking back over the year and planning the next one.
Two of my favourite ones, that we've been busy doing in our house (and are still a work in progress!) have been:
Celebrating the great bits of the year.
We have done this in a few ways:
- looking through our happy jar entries. We decorated a jar a few years ago, and we write out happy memories/achievements on little cards and then place them in the jar throughout the year
- looking through our photos/videos of the year
- looking through my diary at the column I use to note down memories, the gratitude list, and the monthly achievements.
All of these acted as great prompts for laughter and 'awww' moments! We now each have our own 'great things of 2015' list and a family one! We are now working on a photo collage to go with it.
What do we all want the next year to look like?
- I showed the family one of my vision boards and talked it through, and then just asked what they wanted lots of in our year together....our list includes things like family hugs, nature, sea, film nights, swimming.
- Once we had a list started we collected images to represent them, so that we can make our family vision board for 2016! I did have to stop my eldest including a picture of a shark eating someone - 'I don't think we really want that happening do we?!' To which lots of giggles followed.
- You can either stick, cut, draw, paint etc or I've found an app success vision board for iPad and it's simple to use.
These can be great fun to do together, as well as doing for yourself. Kids have a great simplicity about their dreams. And it is so refreshing to plan the year with them at the heart of it. The 1st January has been and gone but don't let it stop you getting started now. Go and create a brilliant year, and start great habits in your kids.
Have a brilliant, healthy, happy year,
Sam x
Please head over to Sam's Facebook page & hit like and check out her website too !
For all things photography related contact me!
The ins and outs of Waxing
The ins and outs of Waxing, Faye at Sage Therapies 2015 guest blog
Intimate waxing, whether it's a Hollywood, Brazilian, Back, sack and crack or bikini, the same applies to all of them. Discretion, professionalism, a sense of humour, specialist training, a good wax and care and consideration are all qualities a specialist intimate waxer needs. Of course it’s not just intimate areas that can be waxed, any area of the body can be, with eyebrow shaping being another very popular and time saving treatment. There just has to be enough hair length for the wax to grab on to, with two weeks’ worth of hair growth being fine for most people. Step away from the razor, tweezers or hair removal cream and let it grow, saving you both time and money in the long run.
There are two different types of wax, strip wax and peelable (also known as hard, or hot) wax. Strip wax is used for large areas such as backs and legs. Peelable wax doesn’t stick to the skin, but grabs tightly to the hairs so it’s perfect for intimate areas, facial waxing, underarm etc. It’s strong on hairs, but gentle on even sensitive skin types. The brand I use is full of botanical ingredients and isn’t perfumed so it’s great for men, women and sensitive skin.
Most clients get waxed 3-6 weekly with the majority coming at about 4 weeks. When first getting a wax you’ll find that some hairs “appear” to come back quicker, because hairs grow in different cycles. After around 4 regular waxes the hairs will be growing at the same time and so can be removed all together. You then get smoother skin for longer. First time waxing can feel uncomfortable as the wax is removed, but it doesn’t take long, and with the right technique, professional wax and plenty of chatting its over very quickly.
Pretty much anyone can be waxed, whether your pregnant, have your period, male, or at any age from 16-75 and beyond! Come with clean, well moisturised, hairy skin and leave feeling smooth, clean, hair free and having spent a few well deserved minutes to yourself. The amount of hair removal can be tailored to suit you; from all pubic hair being removed, to just a tidy up around the knicker line. Lots of women have a wax just before their due date, a reminder that if you’re not a regular waxer hormones in your body can make it slightly more uncomfortable at this time.
It’s nearly impossible to give a thorough intimate wax with knickers or pants on (ever had a haircut with a hat on?) So leave any embarrassment behind and let me do the best job I can. By the time you’ve had your first wax you’ll find we are chatting away and you’re actually look forward to the next appointment; there’s not many points in the day when you get to lay back and do nothing!
With more than 8 years waxing experience, you’re in safe hands.
For Waxing in Norwich visit Faye at Sage Therapies.
For more information visit www.sagetherapies.co.uk, my business page on Facebook is www.facebook.com/1sage.therapies or telephone 01603 486538. I’m always happy to have a chat about your requirements with waxing so just get in touch. With easy parking and late evening and early morning appointments I usually have a time to suit you.