Live life on the wild side

(Contains amazon affiliate links)  Hey guys,  Welcome back to the blog and if you are new here welcome to the blog, here I share my adventures as a runner, and a mum as I navigate work, life and everything in between.  Over the weekend we went on a family trip to experience some camping, this was for two reasons, a trial before some future events with camping thrown in and new adventures for the little man.  The adventure started before we even hit the campsite, it started with the packing, packing to go camping as a couple is very different to packing to go camping as a couple with a newborn, there are more clothes, you have to consider feeding and decide the best way to ensure warmth through the night.  Packing clothes meant packing plenty of spares, and plenty of layers, we kitted out with at least three changes of clothes, 2 night time outfits in case a change was needed and warmer layers to add if the temperature change, along with nappies, wipes, and back ...

 Hey guys,  Jess here with a short blog around parent groups!  Before becoming a mum I was never really sure around going to a parent group or mum and baby group as most are named but during the first few weeks I checked in with the Abingdon Breastfeeding cafe to get some support around breast feeding, particularly around latching and my concerns around feeding, since then I have been going weekly, sometimes for additional support but mostly just to catch up, have coffee and cake and meet other parents.  This importance around parent groups really came to me as hubby returned to work and I had my first few days home alone, it takes time to re-adjust to a new routine of being on your own, suddenly the extra hands are gone, you have to rethink how your taking time to shower, you get use to taking your newborn with you to pee and your pretty much doing all the changing and feeding, throw in a few days of bad reflux and not napping and you end up with one very emotional ...

Hey guys, Jessie here, todays blog is a look back over our short adventure in the park for a coffee date with my little man!  Living in the flat the first challenge was getting out, not an issue with the use of the sling but with the pushchair it is a whole different ball game. Hubby was on hand but as he is due back at work soon I needed to trial getting me, baby, bag and pushchair all down two flights of stairs. Cue comedic tunes.  With a bit of trial and error for where to place the front wheel that needs to come off to fully fold it down and trialling the best way to carry him and it we made it down in one peice! (And following the coffee date back up in one peice)  We headed out for a walk around the park followed by a stop in the shade to enjoy some time outside, I picked up this handy little travel picnic blanket on amazon for camping and wanted to test it, it's good for what it is and I can't complain for the size and price.  Whilst he rested in the pushchair...

Hey guys Jess here!  Today I want to share with you a short blog post about my first event post birth!  On the 6th May I took on the Roger Bannister community mile, a 1 mile event through the city of oxford to celebrate 70 years of the 4 minute mile held by Roger Bannister. We went up as a family and Owain watched the race along with his dad and grandparents whilst I ran the event, all before a wander around town and some lunch out and about.  At 6 weeks postpartum and breastfeeding getting ready for a race was a little different this time around, you take your usual pre race checks of shoes, toilet breaks, number, and watch charged- and add in feed the baby, nappy changed, express some milk, plan the next feed and express, who's baby sitting, oh and charge the watch!  It makes a huge difference having people around to support and help especially with feeding but as a breastfeeding/expressing mum I also have to consider expressing before and after the race for comfor...

  Hey guys Jess here!  Today I want to share with you a quick post about post-birth fitness!  First of all a little about where I am, I am currently 6 weeks post birth, we did a forceps delivery with about 6 days in hospital with some complications for me and jaundice for the boy, since getting home my focus has been getting in sleep, eating plenty, getting outside at least once a day and keeping moving. Since then I have managed to get back to running very short distances, been on longer walks and taken on my first post birth event! (more about that in a  future blog)  Here are a few tips for you to take on board for fitness post birth Listen to the advice of your midwife, GP or health visitor, they will be able to give you the best advice based on where you are with your health.  Everybody is at a different level with their recovery and fitness, comparing yourself to other people who are further along with their postpartum recovery or even had a different...

 Hey Guys,  Jess here and today I want to chat to you about Perinatal Mental Health. This week (29th April -5th May 2024) is Maternal Mental Health week where a week long campaign is running to raise awareness around mental health before, during and after birth. You can find out more about the campaign here: Maternal Mental Health Alliance Perinatal mental health is all around advocating for and recognising symptoms of mental health around pregnancy, this could be feelings of uncertainty or anxiousness around the pregnancy itself,  being worried or concerned about the birthing process or feelings of low mood and depression post birth. Perinatal mental health most commonly affects the pregnant partner however they are not the only ones who are affected as the non pregnant partner can also go through mental health issues. Whilst the pregnant partner has to carry birth and feed (if exclusively breastfed) the baby the non pregnant partner has to watch the whole birth process,...

Hey guys,  Jess here with a short blog following our first big outing as a family. Today we went on a visit to Oxford city centre for a day out to achieve a couple of goals.  1. Get out of the house 2. Test out being out with a newborn before we take on bigger adventures This meant planning feeds, changes, and expressing/breastfeeding on the go or in public.  We opted to drive up and take the pushchair, packed the bags with enough formula feeds to make up, as well as a back up ready to go feed just in case and plans to breast feed as one of the times I was due to express coincided with this.  Here are a few of the barriers we faced and others that I also considered.  1. Pushchair navigation- This will vary depending on what style, brand or size of pushchair you have, We have the out and about nipper sport- brought primarily for the purpose of running with him once he is older but also being ideal to use with him as a new born for outings, I have plans to take i...

  Hey Guys,  Jess here with a short chat about newborn feeding.  I am up to 4 weeks with a little one and have spent about 12 years in childcare. I have seen a  range of feeding and with my own nearly 1 month old I am combi feeding, this is a mix of bottle and breast feeding. Some people breastfeed, some bottle and some combi feed, and people will feed in different ways for different times, I know people who stop breastfeeding quite early and others who will keep breast feeding for many years.  Ultimately however you choose to feed is up to you and no one should be able to tell you otherwise because you have to find what works best for you and your family. #FedIsBest There still seems to be a bit of a stigma around bottle feeding babies, and you still see and hear things around Breast is best, there are rules around advertising initial formula for newborns in order to encourage breastfeeding and most commonly you will find people are being encouraged or advised ...

 Hey guys, Jess here, Today I want to share  a short advice blog with you following 3 weeks post birth, well just over 3 weeks, we were 3 weeks Wednesday just gone, although it doesn't really feel like it because it does feel like we lost a week whilst we were in hospital!  Those of you who have been following the blog will have probably already read the birth experience and some of my other tips, if you haven't, go check them out.  Okay so today I want to share some thought's advice and tips for 3 weeks post birth.  Firstly the thoughts: Initially my thought is how on earth has it already been 3 weeks! What felt like really long nights, long days and difficult times are 'mostly' behind me-though I know I still have many more sleepless nights to go-however they also feel like they went too quickly, He's no longer my little baby boy, though he still has the scrunch but its not fully noticeable till I look back over photos, however he is getting heavier.  My ...