Hello lovely ladies of the first trimester!

I just wanted to pop across from third tri to say hello and wish you all really happy, nice pregnancies. ALSO I wanted to share - about Bio Oil mainly. I keep meaning to do this, so here I am!

I'm naturally prone to stretchies...I must be anyway as I have silvery marks still on the tops of my thighs from growth spurts as a teen. Now, whilst I don't have a HUGE bump, I actually have NO stretchies thusfar, and I firmly believe it is because AS SOON as I found out I was preggers I started slathering on the Bio Oil every night before bed. It's quite nice to give your growing bump a bit of a massage too

Anyway, I can't speak for everyone, all I know is that it has worked for me, and it seemed selfish to keep it to myself!

Ummm...other things to recommend - I could not have done without my birthing ball. I use it for sitting on all of the time now and it has made my baby get into position and engage - but the main benefit is comfort! I also really really recommend getting a bump band...I think mine is a Carriwell? I got it from Boots, anyway, because of Advantage Card points! I also take Boots own brand mum-to-be supplement as it is usually on offer and a fraction of the cost of the big brands, plus it has all the same ingredients.

I wish I had known about Spatone earlier in pregnancy - it's a liquid iron supplement that doesn't send your tummy dodgy and you can mix it with orange juice - it REALLY helps with lethargy and that 'I feel like I've been hit by a bus' feeling that often accompanies early and late pregnancy.

I can't think of anything else, but please if you have any questions I might be able to help with do ask

I really hope that this has helped someone! Take care all! x

What a lovely gesture!! Thank you and good luck when your little one arrives xx

Thanks Enola, that is really nice of you to come over and give us some advice! Can you tell me though - what exactly is a birthing ball? is it like a swiss ball?

Thanks!

Hiya! No worries, I just wish I'd known for sure about certain things sooner!

I got mine (pezzi ball) in the Miracle Box from the NCT (it was in the January sale!). My midwife didn't have a problem with ladies just using normal gym balls or swiss balls, though, but I know it's best to go for one with 'anti burst' technology There are plenty of ladies who have gotten on just fine with the cheap ones from Argos, though, so it's just a matter of personal preference I reckon!

Oooh, do be careful about the height of it, though - I had to go for the bigger ball as I'm tallish. When you're sitting you should be able to put your feet flat on the floor with your hips higher than your knees. Hope this helps!

Awww thanks for thinking of us Enola. I already have a swiss ball at home, so I'll be looking at putting that to use now

Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy and when your beautiful baby arrives.

Hey ladies - well, I thought that perhaps my opinion and tips alone may be a bit bias, so I asked over at the third tri and you can go here to see what other ladies say

Thank you. As someone has already said, it is a lovely gesture.

Great post thanks,
I agree with all your tips, the oil thing, i used a moisturiser and it helps prevent itching and i am sure my baby was so cuddly and tactile because she had frequent rubs!!

The ball I also found fab, and will be inflating mine again in 3rd tri and bouncing about on it, if i cant find it they are pretty cheap to pick up as 'gym balls'

Must look into the drinky stuff you mention, feeling rubbish right now and a bit consurned that only sweet stuff perks me up, especially when i really don't fancy it, what a waste of chocolate!!

My belly band was just fab, and i used it after baby was born to breast feed, it covers your belly if you need to lift a top to feed, kept me nicely hidden!
Still have mine but will look at more because i know how much i used it!

Anyway, thanks for the tips, funny how fast you forget these little gems of wisdom once baby is out!

Good luck with your baby xx

Thank you! I will definately get started with the Bio-Oil as I had the silvery stretch marks on my inner thighs when I was a teenager so Im probably prone to strech marks too.

thanks for the tips, I am going to get biu oil this weekend, also what do you use the ball for? I have one already
thanks