Member Advice on Pregnancy

My pregnancy wasn't planned. I wish it was, but no. A lot of women I have spoke to, have told me the best thing about having a baby is becoming a family. Mother, baby, and father. I didn't want that. I had always wanted to be a mother, but the family I craved consisted of Mother and baby. Remember when you were younger and you used to dream of your wedding day? I never did that. I only ever dreamed of being a mum, and not once was a man involved. If I was ever going to become a mum, I wanted to do it alone. I was told I was pregnant on 1st April 2004. That's right, April Fools Day. So ... more

(This review has been amended at the end to let you know how SPD is since I gave birth). I am currently 34 weeks pregnant and since around week 20, I have been suffering with SYMPHYSIS PUBIS DYSFUNCTION, known as SPD for short. SPD is quite often known as PGP nowadays - Pelvic Girdle Pain. I had only heard of it before when my friend was diagnosed with it late in pregnancy. There are varying levels of pain and discomfort with SPD and I count myself "lucky" that mine pain is not so severe that I am in a wheelchair as some sufferers are. A lot of people have never heard of SPD and do not have ... more

This review is about my experience of Gestational Diabetes. Gestational diabetes affects quite a few women in pregnancy, however you are more prone the older you are and the more over weight you are. Diabetes develops when the body can't produce enough insulin, made naturally be the pancreas. Insulin regulates the amount of sugar available in the blood for energy, any sugar that isn't immediately required is stored. A pregnant woman's body has to produce extra insulin for the baby. If your body can not manage this, you sometimes develop Gestational Diabetes. Too much sugar in your blood causes ... more

At the tender age of 22, I don't pretend to be an expert on much. Let's face it, I haven't been around long enough to start handing advice out on life! But I have a fair bit of experience in two aspects of life - living to a tight (low) budget, and having babies. I've had two little girls in the past three years, twenty months apart, and now our youngest is 14 months, my husband and I are trying for baby #3. So here's my attempt at sharing my pregnancy knowledge all you ciaoers. Pregnancy - it's not pretty, it's not enjoyable, but you DO get a fabulous little person at the end of it, which ... more

***It's a long one***** Well I have read a few different things that people write about, but as my daughter is 16weeks old, giving birth is still real in my mind so I thought I would write about it! Well, at this time last year I was working in the Financial Industry, whilst also running a part-time job in the evenings working in my local pub on the odd evenings and weekends. I was living with a partner at the time, but deep down I knew this wasn't going to work, so I packed my stuff and moved back to my mum and dads. One night I came home from my day job, and I was getting ready to go to the ... more