Giving Birth via Scheduled C-Section: My Story
The first time I gave birth, things were atypical to say the least. But, I did the whole pushing part (albeit under the influence of a fantastic pharmaceutical cocktail) and overall found the experience of my body being able to produce another hugely empowering. As time went on I looked back at the painful reality of giving birth naturally as just a few hours nestled in amongst years of reward;...
Maternity Leave? LOL. (My self-employment story)
Over the last couple of weeks, maternity leave has been on my mind and in the papers: with the drop of the MA1 form to complete onto my doorstep to headlines raging about influencer Molly Mae returning to her role 3 months after the birth of her daughter, and a renewed call by a well-known podcaster and campaigner for maternity leave allowance to be extended. I'm at the point now where I need to...
The Shit No One Tells You About Potty Training
Potty training is fun for few; I still wince when I see people say they managed it in a week given that it took us well over 8 months with a child who wasn't really ready but we'd run out of time before he started the school system. And now I'm facing it again in a couple of years time, I can't say I'm looking forward to it... but at least this time I'll be a better prepared. Here, Lacey talks...
The Shit No One Tells You About Having An Emergency C-Section
As much as you may have set ideals in your mind about how you’d like to birth your child, life doesn’t quite always work to plan. The NHS estimates that about 17 in every 100 births result in an emergency c-section procedure taking place; that is, a caesarean that happens within 30mins of the need for it being identified and this case of action decided upon. Even if you’d elected to have a...
The Shit No One Tells You About Being Pregnant With A Rainbow Baby
Pregnancy can be a scary experience for those going through it, with constant physical and mental challenges all set against a backdrop of uncertainty. For those who have lost a child, however, pregnancy can be even more daunting. Rainbow baby is the informal term used for a baby born subsequent to a miscarriage, stillbirth or death of an infant. Mum Jessie talks here through her current...
Bleeding in Pregnancy: My Experience
Bleeding is essentially the anti-symptom of pregnancy, so going through it when you're expecting can be nothing short of terrifying. I was 7 weeks pregnant when I started bleeding, and immediately sought medical help. This is my experience and all of the developments thus far through this pregnancy as a result. TW: Pregnancy, blood, medical themes. If you're pregnant or think you might be and...
All The Ways In Which I’ve Failed
A recent survey of new parents found that a third believed they were failing as a parent. That's a pretty awful statistic, but as a parent I found I was (sadly) only surprised by the fact it wasn't higher. Part of the reason I started this website was because I found I couldn't let the picture-perfect-parenting-rhetoric I saw online continue to make me, and others, feel like shit. I'm by no...
Having a Mirena IUD removed: My Experience
My son is now 4 years old, and after a now pretty well-documented unusual journey into pregnancy and birth, I sought out a post-partum contraceptive choice that would a) actually work, b) not riddle me with too many side effects while I was trying to wrangle a tiny person, and c) come recommended by healthcare professionals. After a chat with my midwife, my GP and my local sexual health clinic,...
At what point do you no longer qualify as a ‘Single Parent’?
Sat in the car and chatting about how difficult parenting could be with my boyfriend a few months ago, he mentioned how tough it must have been for me as a single parent to manage a toddler - and I immediately snapped back that I was still a single mother. But actually, on reflection, I'm not sure that's the case. How and when your status switches from single parent to co-parent to just...
What Are Kegels and Why Should You Be Doing Them?
I often post on my Instagram stories attempting positivity and reminding my followers to stay hydrated, wear their SPF, treat themselves well and to do their Kegels. But last week a close friend messaged me to ask, “uh Lex, what are Kegels?” and I realised that perhaps this term wasn’t as well known as I had assumed. Anyone who has given birth will likely have been reminded of their importance...