Lesson 6: Dressing for maternity

This post has been inspired by Flor Enjuto and her latest post (Spanish only, sorry).

Most of us complain about how difficult is to find nice  (and cheap!) maternity clothes and dress during those months without feeling you are always wearing the same or that your clothes are boring.

Here are some of the basics that I used during my "bumpy" time:

•  Simple nursing t-shirts are a must! They are easy to coordinate and an investment for the future. My favourite ones are from H&M, but other brands have nice ones:





H&M



Vertbaudet



•  Leggings, versatile and comfy. Perfect under a dress or as a trousers with long t-shirts. Easy to wear with boots, trainers or shoes:





H&M



Mothercare



• Cardigans, chunky for the winter and light and nice for the autumm/spring. They will give you that extra push for not feeling bored with the same clothes. And very helpful for hiding the bump after the birth.

Vertbaudet

Asos

Jojo Maman bebe

• Get a nice dress that makes you feel beautiful. Believe me, you DO look beautiful, you just need to feel it inside. Go for it!!!

Topshop

H&M

Vertbaudet

• Super comfy jeans are another must. My favourites were the skinny ones, and I had some jeggings from Zara that I used a lot

Topshop

H&M

So, what do you think? Any other basics that you recommend? Any "musts" to add to this list?

Lesson 5: Dirty nappies

Cleaning nappies is an skill on itself, a very advanced skill that most mums are not able to master until late and by then the babies are no longer using nappies. (only joking, you will get the handle of it in a couple of fail attempts)

A dry nappy means a happy baby!

It may look like I am exaggerating but how many mums have looked at a very messy nappy and almost started crying?
Here are some of my tricks based on my and other people's stories and experiences:

• You can rate how messy is a nappy by the number of wet towels needed to clean it. The more, the messier!
• Always, always, always remember to take out the floppy part of the leg cuffs. It is one of the little tricks to avoid any spills.
• Use the bath for extreme situations: Ive had to do it 3-4 times in 11 months and don't regret it.
• Bin those vests that are too dirty. How much is a new vest? Is it worth the handwash?
• If the vest is beyond salvation and you can't be bother cleaning the whole baby (e.g. During the night or on a busy moment) cut the baby's vest and avoid spreading the mess.

 Any other tips or tricks?

For those of your that are completely newbies on this faboulous skill, here is a video of how to do it:

My last two weeks on instagram

Tips & tricks series 2

Once your little one is weaning, consider getting a nice variety of bibs for home and on the run. My "must haves"are:

• Tommee tippee Roll'n'Go, best for those starting days when she is not very mobile but can be very messy.
• Tommee Tippee Disposable bibs, essential on your outs and abouts.
• Ikea KLADD PRICKAR, all-in-one bib that will save your life. You are welcome!

Lesson 4: Working 9 to 5

Uf, getting back to the blog after the Christmas holidays and the horrible January. Sorry for the long absence.

And this hard month brings me to the next lesson: going back to work after the maternity leave!

Well, I will just say it plain: it isn't easy.

First you have to deal with the guilt feeling.
And it is not a simple feeling. You feel guilty because your baby is  at the nursery (that lovely place that he actually enjoys more than being all day at home but that you have associated it with a jail for babies, yep, that place).
You feel guilty because you are actually enjoying being away from him, having a small slice of your previous life back, having adult conversations, being something else than a mum. Don't deny it, you are having a nice time and you feel bad about it.

Secondly, you have to deal with the stress and the very very very tight timetables. You will spend longer than usual getting ready in the mornings, and you would have had less sleep than usual so your movements will be slower...
You will be running to the office without make-up or with uncoordinated socks or forgetting something or without checking your hair. Forget it. You will never be the same. You are a working mum!
And after all the hard day of work, run again to pick her up from the nursery. Entertain her while preparing dinner or organising the house and get ready for the bath and the bed routine. By 8pm you will die for a bed...

Last but not least, you will try to keep things as they were before. You will accept the same amount of work and even will try to juggle travel and outings with the colleagues, just to keep in the loop. "Nothing has changed, I am the same person" will be your mantra. Although some morning you will find difficult to remember your computer password.

I know, it looks impossible. But it is not. Just try to relax and enjoy the roller coaster that your life has become. I promise more fun moments are coming your way.

You will learn to live with a survival kit in your handbag and that will make you an asset in your office.

You will be admired and feared by your colleagues.

The few hours you will spend with your child will become the most fantastic and fun times of your day, and he/she will feel the same.

You will be a survivor!!!.