The birth plan? To have no plan!

Minor life update since my last posts in...hang on...2014?? Surely not. Anyway, big development in the shape of a small, squidgy human being. Yes, that's right, I've had a baby.

I thought I'd ease myself back in gently with a look back over the birth, and share with you my thoughts and opinions on birth plans.

From the minute I fell pregnant, I was determined to try and not be influenced by the reams and reams of information online and in print about what's 'right' when it comes to the birth. Don't get me wrong, I went to antenatal classes and read my fair share of books, but I wanted to draw my own conclusions and not feel pressurised into behaving a certain way when it all kicked off. Easier said than done.

Are you going to have pain relief? Are you having a home birth? What about hypnobirthing? As the impending due date drew closer, I suddenly felt immense pressure from everyone and no-one in particular to shun any kind of intervention and turn the whole thing into an 'experience'; something to be enjoyed and savoured. As someone who cares about healthy living and who had taken particular care of themselves through pregnancy, it seemed like this is what I should be doing. This is what would be best for my baby.

So, as a result, I sat down with my midwife at my birth plan appointment and stoically claimed I would be rejecting all pain relief.

But, as a first-time mum, how could I possibly know what my birth was going to be like? I thought I had a high pain tolerance but, equally, I'd never gone through anything like childbirth before, so how did I know how I would react? Not particularly well, as it turns out!

My contractions started on a Wednesday evening in January. Throughout that night they progressed rapidly, and were soon three minutes apart. My husband and I got out of bed and had the bags by the door. And then, everything stopped. My contractions started slowing down, to the point where they were 10 minutes apart, then 20, then 30! I guess adrenaline had kicked in and interfered with the oxytocin (see - I did listen in the antenatal classes!)

All through Thursday and Friday I battled on with, on average, contractions every 10 minutes. A trip to the hospital revealed I was 1cm dilated (a low point, tbh, as I could imagine being in labour for the next couple of weeks at this rate!).

By Friday evening, I'd made the decision to be induced; something I had categorically said I wouldn't do, as it would most definitely result in having to use pain relief. However, by this point I hadn't slept a wink for two nights and was exhausted. I couldn't risk the labour tipping into another day, as I just didn't think I'd have the energy to cope with that.

So, at about midnight, I was wired up (again, something I didn't want, as it meant I couldn't move freely around the room anymore). But, by this point, I honestly didn't care. I just wanted to get this baby out safely, and as quickly as possible.

As the drugs started to work, the contractions reached a whole new level. I tried gas and air, but really didn't like the drunk feeling it gave. I wanted to feel in control, and I didn't on gas and air.

Feeling drained from the exceptionally long labour, I suddenly had an overwhelming urge to take the pain away so I could focus on the task in hand. I reached a point and I didn't think I could carry on. I guess my pain tolerance isn't as high as I thought. And that's ABSOLUTELY FINE. All this pressure I had put on myself to go pain-free suddenly felt so silly and irrelevant. At that moment in time I needed pain relief to continue, it's as simple as that. There is no shame in accepting what's on offer. It's what's right for you at that moment, not what felt right in the comfy doctor's surgery three weeks previously.

I chose to have an epidural. I had read a lot about epidurals, and made an educated assessment that it was what I wanted to do. My advice to anyone not considering pain relief would be to still read about and fully understand all your options, in case your plan changes, like mine did.

I had my epidural at about 2am. It took longer than usual to work on one side of my body, for some reason, so I was advised to shift positions to allow it to move through my body. As a result, the epidural peaked just as I was fully dilated. I don't think this is usually the case, as it is good to be able to have some feeling as you are pushing.

As things had progressed so quickly, the midwife actually suggested I rest for an hour to prepare myself for the final push. This is something that most definitely was not in my birth plan! A little sleep once I was fully dilated?! I didn't even know that was possible!

So, that's what happened - my husband and I dozed for an hour and were then woken up to have the baby!

Despite not being able to feel a thing (literally, not a single twinge!), I somehow knew what to do. The midwives counted me down to each contraction and, with my renewed energy, I pushed like crazy (something I know I wouldn't have been able to do without my power nap).

And after just 20 minutes, at 4.29am, our beautiful baby girl was born.

My memories from those moments are so clear. I was actually enjoying pushing and think I even cracked a couple of jokes. I remember everything; my husband's tears, my daughter being lifted onto my chest, stroking her hair for the very first time.

Those final moments were a far cry from the images I've seen on TV, of animalistic women, screaming and hallucinating as their babies are born. Please don't judge me for saying that; I honestly have so much respect for anyone who does it pain-free. But, for me, an epidural was the best decision I could have possibly made. It allowed me to savour every moment of that unique experience and take in every little detail. It wasn't on the plan but I wouldn't change a thing. My advice? Make a plan but don't be scared to change it if you feel it's right at that moment in time; you know you better than anyone.

Josie x

Summer lovin' tag

Can you steal a YouTube tag and use it on your blog? Who knows! Hopefully I'm not committing some sort of social media faux pas...

Wish you were here?? I was, but not any more :-(

Anyway, this tag was started by the lovely Fleur de Force. Check out her video here.

1. Summer lipstick you're loving?

Chubby Sticks - my new obsession

I usually go for a very nude lip but for summer I wanted something with a little bit more pink, to compliment my tan. I'd heard loads about the Clinique Chubby Sticks, but had never given into the hype. However, when in Boots a few weeks ago, I decided to test Woppin' Watermelon. And I was hooked!! I find some lipsticks quite drying, and most lip balms are too sheer. However, the formula of the Chubby Stick is perfect - it gives great buildable colour, is really moisturising and gives lips a lovely sheen, too. Needless to say, a few more shades may have *cough* slipped into my basket that day!

2. Summer nail polish you're loving?

The perfect shade for tanned tootsies

Anyone who follows me on Instagram will know I've been banging on about this next item all summer. It's the Rimmel Salon Pro nail polish in 244 Goddess, from the Kate range. It's the perfect shade for tanned tootsies and, like all Rimmel nail polishes, it lasts for absolutely ages without chipping (to the point where you have to take it off because your nails have grown so much and it looks weird!)

3. Bikini you're loving this summer?

River Island bikini

I bought this animal print bikini back at the beginning of the year, as I was going to a spa for my friend's birthday, but it's also been my most worn bikini this summer. I like bikinis with a strong pattern, as I find them more flattering, and strapless is always easier when trying to get a tan. Because I bought it a while ago I'm pretty sure it's no longer in the shops, unfortunately.

4. Favourite summer Frappuccino from Starbucks?

Very refreshing on a hot summer's day

Living in such a small town, we don't have a Starbucks (boo!). So, instead, I'm going to take the class level down by about two million percent, and talk about a Lidl product instead. All summer I have literally been obsessed with these Espresso Macchiato drinks. When I lived in Australia I just got used to the fact that you could buy bottled iced coffee pretty much anywhere and when I moved back to the UK I had serious withdrawals! This little gem from Lidl is by far the closest (and cheapest) version I've found over here.


5. Favourite fake tan?

No more streaky legs!

I've had some proper fake tan disasters in my time, thanks to poor planning and little knowledge about the types of products on offer. However, armed with a mitt, I've so far had pretty good results with the St Moriz instant self tanning mousse in medium. I find it's easy to apply, isn't streaky and develops into a pretty natural looking tan. The only down side is that it's a bit drying on the skin, so you have to make sure you slather on lots of moisturiser for a few days after you've applied it.

Favourite summer song?

Crazy Stupid Love by Cheryl Cole (feat. Tinie Tempah) has been on repeat for the past few hours in my house, so I have to say that! I'm obsessed and Cheryl looks blinkin' amazing in the video, too!

Favourite summer accessory?

Loving these earrings

Again, anyone who follows me on Instagram will have already seen these earrings. They're from Accessorize and I've been wearing them loads over the summer, as they seem to go with everything. I've dressed them up with a crisp white top for nights out, but they look equally as at home paired with a loose summer top and straw hat.

8. Favourite summer fragrance/perfume?

Yum!

I adore Si by Georgio Armani. I'm not going to say too much, as I've already done a full review here. But, let's just say, this scent is heavenly.

9. Summer book you're loving?

Awkward moment dot com. I'm ashamed to say I haven't read a single book this summer. Usually I power through a few on holiday but, as I'm doing the whole stay-cation thing this year, I haven't even done that this summer.

10. What are you most excited to do this summer?

The terrible two

As mentioned above, we're stay-cationing this year. So, I'm really looking forward to taking these little cherubs for long, evening strolls along the shoreline, followed by a naughty bbq and a few G&Ts!

The perfect summer fragrance: Si by Giorgio Armani

When I first tested this perfume I think I sniffed the small strip of card so much I made myself slightly dizzy. That is how moreish this scent is.

After a nasty allergic reaction to a cheap 'celebrity' scent I decided to bite the bullet and treat myself to a proper, grown-up perfume. Plus I had a £5 fragrance voucher for Boots!

I've always been a sucker for sweet yet musky scents. I was literally obsessed with the Spice Girls Impulse body spray when it came out (showing my age now) and also wore the Original Ghost perfume all through my early twenties.

I'm not saying the incredibly sophisticated Si falls into the same category as either of those (God, Giorgio would have a fit, I'm sure, at the mere thought of the three appearing in the same sentence). But, for some reason, they all conjure up the same feeling for me - hot, sultry summer evening strolls, lounging by the pool sipping cocktails and swanning around elegant garden parties. Not that I do any of those things, really, but whilst wearing Si this idealistic world suddenly seems within reach.

Apparently Si belongs to the Chypre family of perfumes, meaning its fresh citrus tones contrast with the woody, mossy base notes. I don't know much about the ins and outs of perfume, but I guess this is what makes it sweet without being sickly.

As with all high end perfumes, Si lingers on the skin for hours, releasing bursts of fragrance throughout the day. It really does smell quite delicious on skin that has been warmed by the summer sun.

I would say this is a daytime fragrance, with its hints of rose and vanilla, but it is elegant enough to carry you through to the evening, if the mood takes you.

For those of you who are interested, here's the official breakdown:

Top notes: Sicilian Bergamot, Mandarin Oil, Liquer de Cassis
Heart notes: Rose de Mai Absolute, Neroli Absolute, Egyptian Jasmine Absolute
Base notes: Patchouli Oil, Blond Woods, Amber, Orcanox, Vanille Absolute

Si by Giorgio Armani is currently on offer at Boots for £79.50 for 100ml (save £9).

Until next time.

Josie x


This post is not sponsored

'Hit pan' beauty favourites

To 'hit pan' (i.e. use so much of a product you can see the container at the bottom) means I really like something. Being a bit of a makeup junkie, I buy a lot of beauty items and rarely use what I've bought enough to even scratch the surface, let alone think about repurchasing. That makes these next five products even more special*.

First up is the Nivea Lip Butter in Caramel Cream. For years, since travelling in Australia, I've used the Lucas' PawPaw Ointment (which I still adore, btw).  However, this little pot of creamy deliciousness was among my stocking fillers last Christmas and it hasn't left my handbag since. It has a soft, creamy texture and smells like caramel ice-cream.  Even when my lips are really dry it's able to bring them back to life. I find it stays put for hours, or until I eat, unlike many other lip balms which have a tendency to slip and slide away. A real wonder product.

Next up is the Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder. I use shade 01, but I have also tried 03 (to be honest there doesn't seem to be a huge difference between the two). Anyway, this matte bronzer is absolutely perfect for giving pale-medium skin a really natural-looking, healthy glow. Being matte it's ideal for contouring and is very buildable, without looking fake. Oh, and if it wasn't cool enough already, it contains real Community Fair Trade honey collected by 'bee whisperers'!!

My third 'hit pan' product is the Glow All Out face powder from Soap and Glory. This highlighter gives skin a beautiful, pearlescent sheen, without looking glittery or OTT. It's perfect for cheekbones and the brow bone, to create an elegant sculpted look. The product looks peachy-pink in the compact, but you don't really see this once it's on the skin. I use this on days when I don't want the dewiness of the NARS Illuminator, which I spoke about in my Holy Grail post.

The next product is somewhat of a new discovery for me. It's the Liz Earle Healthy Glow Cream Blush in Camellia. I've always been a powder blush girl, and didn't really like the idea of applying a blush with my fingers, as I didn't think I would be able to be precise enough. However, I ordered this cream blush at the start of the summer, as I wanted to try and create a more dewy, natural look for the hotter months. I'm now a convert and haven't reached for my old powder blushes since. This shade is so natural and blends in effortlessly, leaving a soft, healthy glow (as the name suggests!).

Finally, it's an old favourite - the Dazzlelight Eye Shadow from MAC. This has been repurchased many, many times. For me, it's the daddy of shimmery eye shadows. I pretty much use it every day to highlight the inner corners of my eyes, and also dot a bit on my cupid's bow, too. It's predominantly light cream in colour, but under the light there are also hints of pink and purple. Totally beautiful!

Until next time.

Josie x

*Apologies for the state of the packaging of some of these products - they are well loved and well used!

This post is not sponsored.

Living with migraines; What works for me

I'm writing this through one eye, something all you fellow migraine sufferers will be able to relate to.

I deliberately waited until I had a migraine to write this post, because as soon as it's over my body seems to erase the hideous memory and I think 'What was all the fuss about, surely it can't have been that bad?'

I've suffered with migraines since my early teens, maybe even a little before that, and they run in the family. My poor mum used to be wiped out for three days every month, during her period, with an excruciating headache and sickness. My nan also suffered, although I don't think hers were linked to 'that time of the month'.

Mine also don't seem to be hormone-related. Instead, I have key triggers which I try hard to avoid although, inevitably, this isn't always possible. The main three things which bring on a migraine for me are hunger, dehydration and stress and one of them normally wins at least twice a month.

I have to be religious about eating regularly so, instead of eating three main meals a day, I tend to graze, having a snack every one-two hours. I also always carry water with me and sip continuously all day.

Today's episode, I think, has been brought on by not drinking enough after my morning run and spending too long in the sunshine without a hat.

So, what does it feel like to have a migraine? Horrendous! Mine start with a fuzzy feeling in my head for about an hour, and it feels like someone is pushing on the back of my neck. I also get an odd sensation on the bridge of my nose, again as if it's being pushed. At this stage I still don't know which eye it's going to go to.

Then, after an hour, it's as if all the pain that was dispersed in my head, neck and nose comes together on one of my temples, and it feels like there's a big, angry, hot knot inside my head. And this is when it becomes unbearable and I have to start thinking about how I'm going to get out of whatever situation I'm in and find somewhere dark to lie down.

When it's like this I envisage taking my eyeball out and rolling it around in my hand as, in my delirious state, it feels like that would help. I also imagine sticking a pin into my temple to draw out the pain although, oddly, acupuncture had no effect on me.

My migraines usually last for 12 hours and nine times out of ten I'm able to sleep them off, unless they start late at night. Quite often though, once my migraine has finished, I'll get a day of respite and then it'll return 24 hours later on the other side, but less severe.

Until about three years ago I was never sick with my migraines, I just felt nauseous. However, in recent years they've started making me physically sick (making it even harder to disguise if I'm at work, out with friends etc). A couple of times my migraine has completely disappeared after being sick and for a while I actually started making myself sick to see if it would help, but the jury's still out on this one.

Migraines are debilitating. You feel like you want to float around, so as not to jar your head, and holding half decent conversations is virtually impossible. So many occasions have been ruined for me by migraines; new year's eve, a friend's wedding, a job interview. The list is endless.

I do, however, have a few vices I swear by to get me through difficult situations (they're not miracle cures, but they do enable you to at least function).

Some of my tried and tested vices

The first I have to mention is Anadin Extra (I'm not sponsored by them, I promise). I have tried a lot of painkillers in my time and these are literally the only ones which touch my migraines. I think it might be the caffeine in them. I have to take them at just the right time though, in the window of fuzziness I spoke about earlier. If it gets to the temple stage it's too late. However, I have to be careful how many I take, as they are liable to give me a gnawing sensation in my stomach, especially if I don't take them with food.

Coca-cola is also a God send (it has to be the original one, not diet) and especially helps if I'm feeling sick, the same goes for sparkling water.

In terms of food, I always crave things which are salty when I'm suffering with a migraine. My all time favourite thing is Salt and Vinegar Squares, by Walkers. Marmite on toast has also revived me on days when I've woken up with the remains of a migraine from the day before.

When it gets to the stage where I have to retreat to bed, I like to place a cold, damp flannel on my head and also gently massage my temple. Don't, whatever you do, put something warm on your head! I tried this once and had the worst migraine I've ever had.

Obviously, over the years, I have spoken to doctors about my migraines. I started taking the pill several years ago to see if this would help. I think it did a bit but I found that, if I took two packs back-to-back, I'd get a severe three day migraine. And, about six months ago the frequency of my migraines increased to more than one a week. I'm now on a different pill, which you take continuously, and I think I've seen a slight improvement in the frequency and severity of my migraines. So, perhaps they are hormone-related after all.

All these suggestions are purely based on what I've tried in the past, and aren't based on any scientific research (although I'd love it if they conducted experiments with Squares and Marmite!). But hopefully some of you can relate to this post and I've suggested a couple of things you haven't tried before.

Right, I'm off to a dark room to eat a marmite sandwich.

Until next time.

Josie x



This post is not sponsored.

Nivea Dry Confidence: The best antiperspirant of all time?

Sweat. Not the most glam topic in the world, yet something we all have to contend with from time to time.

Let me give you a bit of background on my sweat history (did I really just say that??). As a teenager I was quite sweaty. There, I've said it. Not in a gross, smelly, guy-from-the-Lynx advert kinda way, just in a normal teenager going through hormonal changes kinda way. Put it this way, tight grey t-shirts were a big fat no-no.

Fortunately my body sorted itself out when I hit my twenties, and now I would say I sweat a normal amount but, as a result of my slightly soggy youth, I am still always very aware of what my armpits are up to.

I've tried literally hundreds of deodorants and antiperspirants over the years, lured in by promises of 48 hours of dryness and girls on adverts prancing around in symbolic grey t-shirts, but rarely find one that I'm satisfied with.

I have pretty sensitive skin so the strongly formulated, extra dry options (such as Mitchum) are out of the question for me, as after a few days I develop a red, itchy rash. The same goes for the highly perfumed varieties.

I've always enjoyed Nivea products. I find them gentle on my skin and, although they always have a pleasant smell, they are rarely overpowering.

For the past few years I've been using Nivea roll-on antiperspirants and about two years ago I stumbled across the Dry Confidence version.

Its creamy texture glides on nicely and dries quickly, so you aren't required to flap around before getting dressed. The formula is incredibly gentle on the skin and can be applied directly after shaving without stinging at all.

But, the reason why I love this product so much is that I literally don't smell at all with it, even at the end of a long hot day (I find some of the other Nivea antiperspirants don't protect me 100% from smelling a bit sweaty).

Although the product is called 'Dry Confidence', don't expect your armpits to be bone dry all day. For me, personally, I prefer this. The antiperspirants that leave your armpits with almost a waxy layer over them really aren't for me. I find them hard to wash off at the end of the day and I feel unhealthy in the knowledge that my pores are completely blocked.

I've never had a problem with sweat transferring to my clothes, however, with this product. At most the skin feels ever so slightly damp to the touch.

I would rate this product 10/10 and would recommend it to anyone who's prone to a bit of sweat but also has sensitive skin. As it says on the Nivea website, this antiperspirant is 'the perfect combination of mild care and reliable protection'.

Until next time.

Josie x


This post is not sponsored.

Review: Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser

The first thing you notice about the new Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser is its delicious, citrusy smell (grapefruit, lemon and spearmint, apparently). This burst of freshness couldn't fail to wake even the tiredest of skin on a dark, dreary winter's morning.

Described as a 'multi-tasking scrub cleanser', this product claims to both cleanse and exfoliate the skin. And it does.

The cleanser part is medium-thick in texture and foams up into a pleasing lather when applied, making you feel like it's really working. I know products don't have to lather to do their thing, but there's something quite satisfying about a good dollop of soap suds.

The exfoliator part (jojoba and carnauba wax) are gentle on the skin. Personally I would prefer a slightly higher ratio of exfoliator to cleanser, as I find myself using a bit too much to get a decent amount of grains.

It is implied that this product is gentle enough for everyday use. However, I tend to only use it on mornings when I've exercised, when my skin needs a really good clean. And boy, is it clean afterwards. Almost squeaky clean, actually, which I think might be a bit drying for my sensitive skin, if I used it everyday.

After I've used the scrub my skin definitely looks more radiant (that'll be all that 'radiance-boosting panax ginseng and caffeine,' I should expect) and it feels very soft to the touch, making makeup application just that little bit easier.

I would give this cleanser/scrub an 8 out of 10 and am intrigued to try other products from the range.

Until next time.

Josie x