anniebymyaga

Me in labour at home with first baby. So far, so cosy. Husband and midwife (who he happened to have been at school with) reliving old times and giggling in the corner. Me in snarling zombie voice: Shut the f—- up I’m having a baby over here!!!! They were considerably more attentive… Read More

Pay. Off. Debts. First. Debt costs more than the interest you get from saving. So if you have a small savings buffer of about a month’s outgoings, your next priority is to shift your debt.

Rotate your toys. Don't have all the big ticket stuff out at once - put the train track away for a while, replace with toy kitchen or dolls house and then hide one away and replace with another when interest fades. Also with jigsaws, books, etc. That way there is always something… Read More

I had both my babies at home with only a TENS machine for pain relief. In the end it was a bit annoying but it was a bit of a distraction so I guess it helped. I honestly have no idea if I pooped - must have done but no recollection. First time I spent my early labour watching Gordon… Read More

My son was a cranky non-sleeper for a long while. When he was still tiny I'd wrap him on my husband in a stretchy sling and send them off for a walk. He'd fall asleep as my husband walked. They stopped off at a pub or two on their travels but it meant baby got sleep, husband got a… Read More

My best mate dropped everything and came to help me get the hang of breastfeeding my first baby. She sat with me and kept telling me it would be ok, and that I could do it. She stayed with me into the evening until we worked things out and I've never forgotten how much her quiet support… Read More

Don't be afraid. Be the boss of your contractions. An "I can do this" attitude will get you through much better than being scared. And know that the pain subsides inbetween contractions - it's not constant until right near the end. If it was SO bad then we'd all be only children,… Read More

Don't go right away. Spend your wedding night at a lush hotel, go home and chill out (you'll be shattered) and then go away properly a few days afterwards.

On holiday with the family I au-paired for and feeling really sick after a meal out, I had to scramble down from the top bunk of the bed I was sharing with one of the kids and run to the bathroom. I was hunched over the toilet being violently sick when I realised that the force of… Read More

I went shopping in the local market with my son who was wearing pyjamas, a fancy flowerpot dress up hat and banging a toy drum. He drummed the whole way round and had a great time.