GIFT Essentiel Vie Review: Nipple Cream

Well I finally popped! After what felt less like 9 months and more like 9 years I am now a mum... 

and, on day 8 of baby's bright new world I have to say that hubby and I are totally smitten. 

I've heard that the first couple of weeks tend to run smoothly and lull you into a false sense of 'OK, I can do this' so we're enjoying it while it lasts. 

As such I wanted to take a few minutes to write up about a product that was gifted to be recently by the folks at Essentiel Vie. 

Essentiel Vie products are 100% natural, cruelty-free and totally plant based. They contain gorgeous botanicals and essential oils to help mum's thrive.

baby cuddles are just the best!

Essentiel Vie Nipple Cream Review 

The Essentiel Vie Nipple Cream is one of those items that you think you won't need. "Sure, I'll be fine", I naively thought as I clumsily started my breastfeeding journey in the hospital (starting with a midwife forcibly attaching baby to me eeek). 

Yet just days in and I was only just about getting the hang of breast feeding, so all I can say is that this cream was a godsend. 

Don't get me wrong, the midwives told that I can use my own milk to help make the nipple area less tender but when you've spent three weeks as a cow, there's just something more luxurious about using a product over your own supply! 

Made with Argan oil and Vitamin E, Essential Vie's nipple cream is soothing and calming on my sore spots and its safe for baby too. 

The tub comes with a generous amount of cream to last you throughout your breastfeeding journey - so no chance of running out!

Now available at Boots Online

A large pot of Essentiel Vie's Nipple Cream is available to purchase online at Boots. It retails at £12.99 and gets you 48 boots points (which I'm always trying to nab!). 

A big thumbs up from me. Thank you to Essentiel Vie for gifting me your nipple cream. It was there just at the right time when I needed it most. 

Love

LauraClaire

BusyLizzy Pregnancy Mum-to-Be Classes Review

Before becoming pregnant I kept quite a strict fitness regime. I would do an exercise class every day during the week and liked to run on the weekends. This routine was greatly helped by my work that had an onsite gym and fitness classes I hasten to add - my will power is really not that strong! 

So, I'd wander on down to whatever gym class was on that lunch time, from yoga to kettle bells, and I absolutely loved it! At the start of this year I also ran my second half marathon, so slowing down with pregnancy was something that made me a little anxious. 

Once work found out I was pregnant the class instructors were practically petrified to have me in class with them so I soon dropped out. 

I went down and used the free weights and bike a little at first but soon morning sickness had me in its grasp and I spent lunch times sleeping in the sick room instead! 

Joining Epsom BusyLizzy Classes

I was keen to find a pregnancy class and at around 23 weeks stumbled upon BusyLizzy as a friend had joined for the mum and baby classes. 

I'd already searched online and was really quite shocked by the lack of mum-to-be fitness classes in generally to be honest. 

I am with the Epsom & Leatherhead branch, which hold Mums-to-bee Pilates followed by Yoga every Monday in Ewell. 

If you've been working out fairly frequently before getting pregnant, you'll likely find the classes fairly easy but I've really enjoyed simply being in the same room as other pregnant woman (a fairly rare thing until you go to NCT classes) and excising without worried stares. 

The Yoga classes are great and our instructor makes sure we are focusing on pregnancy-benefiting moves and techniques. Yoga class was the first time I'd even thought about my pelvic floor! 

BusyLizzy Sign Up 

I signed up to the membership through a discount and now pay £40 a month to use the service which allows me to join 4 classes a week. As the pregnancy class choice is a little limited this number of classes works fine. 

Because its been created with pregnancy and babies in mind it is also very flexible - you can cancel a class up to 2 hours before it starts. Perfect for if random morning sickness or any aches or pains kick in. 

Brilliant from Pregnancy to baby and beyond

What really attracted me though was that once you were signed up, the membership would adapt to you. 

On babies due date my membership will freeze until I am ready to restart it. On restarting I'll then be able to pick from a vast array of classes. 

Some are more for mums wanting to get back into shape (the Mummy and Me Classes) whilst others are more baby focused (Baby Classes like baby massage). 

I also have the option to up my membership to allow me to attend more than 4 classes each month. 

The Verdict

• Worth the money - £10 is about the average Maternity class cost in my area
• Limited at pregnancy stage (in my area) but still a great way to meet new people
• Very flexible with unused classes rolling over and class cancellations allowed
• Fantastic fitness membership to take you from pregnancy right through to growing baby

They hold classes in Greater London, Surrey, Berkshire, Herts and Sussex. A free taster class was how I got involved with BusyLizzy fitness - Try your taster class today!

Love 
LauraClaire

Top 5 Baby Shower Gift Ideas for Mum-to-be

Baby showers are of course all about baby but every so often, amongst the teeny tiny socks, nappy cakes and burp muslins it's a nice treat to find a gift snuck in for mum too. 

After all, she'll be the one needing a bit of TLC and pampering both before and after the 'Big Day'. 

So, here's my round up of the best baby shower gift ideas for mum-to-be

1. Mama Mio Luxury Skin Care

Mama Mio is a brand I knew little about before pregnancy but have come to absolutely LOVE. They're not the cheapest out their either so a Mama Mio skin care goodie would give mum-to-be a touch of luxury as well as looking after. 

Mama Mio's The Tummy Rub Butter retails at around £23.50 for 120g and works wonders both before and after baby arrives. 

If she's been complaining of swelling the Lucky Legs Cooling Energising Gel retails at £19.50 and is a great excuse to force hubby into a foot massage!

2. Memory Keepers 

Gifts like keepsake boxes, baby record books and 'My First Year' picture frames are gorgeous ideas that are more for mum than they'll ever be for baby. If she likes sentimental presents this is a great buy. MotherCare  and Not on the High Street have some beautiful gifts around this theme. 

The My Baby Record Book I bought for a steal - £3 from The Works!

3. Spa and Beauty Treatment Vouchers 

At 31 weeks pregnant I've already decided that I'm going to do some serious pampering before this baby pops! 

I've enjoyed being pregnant and have happily watched my body change with awe aplenty but I still feel like I'm missing a little bit of my old glamorous self - groaning like an old woman every time you stand up and waddling around the place will do that to a girl! 

I'm opting for eyelash extensions, gel mani/pedi and maybe even a spray tan. If you're mum-to-be likes to keep preened she'll definitely appreciate this gift - How about a Champneys beauty treatment at one of their 5 city spas. 

4. Cook Frozen Meals 

OK, so not as glamorous I'll admit but I'm told these are a MUST for any new mum. When baby arrives the last thing she'll want to do is cook. 

Choose Cook online or in store for their staggering number of choices and their quality. You can buy vouchers, book for a selection to arrive or even purchase one of their New Parents Meal Boxes.

5. A Mum and Baby Photo Shoot 

There are photo shoot packages like this aplenty in your local area. Just check out Net Mums for a list as long as your arm - here's East Surrey's photographers. A voucher works best so she can book at a time and day that suits best... and inspire her to get out of those PJs she's been wearing for three days straight!

What's more perfect is they can be tailored exactly to mum-to-be's tastes. A lovely family activity with keepsakes she'll treasure for years and be able to display proudly in her home. 

Love 

LauraClaire

Product Review: Mama Mio The Tummy Rub Butter

Happy New Year! 

It's our first week back and I'm desperate to start sharing some of my thoughts on pregnancy products I've been trying out over the past few months. 

One of my favourites has to be Mama Mio's The Tummy Rub Butter. I started using it around 6 weeks ago. I'd currently been using Boots Stretch Mark Oil Spray which works a treat too. 

The Tummy Rub Butter is fair pricey but as I'd been gifted it by family it was a glorious treat as I started to get bigger... and bigger. 

Mama Mio Packaging 

As a more luxury skincare brand their packaging really attracts the eye. I love the bright pinks and the quality of product presentation. 

Mama Mio Pricing 

The Tummy Rub Butter is certainly not cheap. It retails at £23.50 for a 120g tub and after 6 weeks of use on my chest, hips and bump I'm more than half way through the tub already. If I followed their recommended application amount of twice a day it would already be finished. However, it is a luxury item and does feel like a treat to use rather than just another baby bump chore. 

Mama Mio Product Quality 

The ingredients are high quality. Mama Mio use 'Omega-packed organic oils in an organic Shea Butter base'. That's a combination of organic coconut, avocado and shea. They're free from parabens, petrolatum, colourants, xenoestrogens, PEGs and phthalates and cruelty-free too. 




The thick white cream feel luxurious too. it's easy to rub in and dissolves in the skin quickly- perfect when I was applying just before bed as I could hop straight under the covers without waiting around to dry! 

The smell is delicious and one of the things that make this product feel are luxurious as it is. It's a subtle creamy and refreshing scent that you just don't get with basic oils. I loved going to bed smelling great. 

Mama Mio The Tummy Rub Butter Results 

I'm 30 weeks pregnant and I still don't have one stretch mark! I've been applying The Tummy Rub daily + whenever I get an itchy bump and it seems to be doing the trick. 

The Round Up

• An Expensive 9 month habit - I'd only start to use this product in the late 2nd and 3rd trimesters when your bump really starts to grow
  
  
• An added boost of luxury when you're feeling extremely pregnant - helped turn nightly bump maintenance into a more pampering experience
  
  
• After 6 weeks it has worked for me - I'm pleased to report that at 30 weeks pregnant I'm yet to have a single stretch mark. I've loved using The Tummy Rub Butter and have actually been given another tub ready for my last few months so I'll update you of the final result when it comes!

Love 

LauraClaire 

The brands to watch from the Baby & Toddler Show 2018

I was lucky enough to get free tickets to this years Baby & Toddler show at Sandown Racecourse in Esher in September.

The Baby and Toddler show has event all around the country and is supported by Emma's Diary. The next show is in Glasgow in April 2019.

With my mum in tow, I scanned the vast array of stalls for things that stood out most to me as a mum-to-be. 

And here’s my top picks…

Beautiful swaddles and blankets at Milleemooandyou

As you know I love home-grown talent and supporting UK companies and with Milleemooandyou I had the pleasure of meeting Manolee, the founder of Milleemooandyou at the show. 

Her gorgeous collection are all handmade in India, stood out to me for two reasons. Firstly, how soft they were. The combination of Bamboo and organic cotton make them gorgeously silky smooth to touch. Secondly, the unique patterns and designs. We saw a lot of gorgeous but mass-produced items at the show, so these really stood out from the crowd. 

My mum treated me to these two large white pom pom swaddles with super cute pompoms in peach and red. Perfect for baby but also for wearing yourself! I’m all about dual purpose.

Delicious smelling mum and baby products at Harry & Rose

As a first-time mum-to-be I can’t say I’d ever heard of Harry & Rose but with their award-winning line up of beauty and care products you may well have! 

My favourite is the baby soft lotion that retails at £7.50 with its subtle creamy scent. It’s perfect for baby’s skin and even on sensitive skin and it’s thick enough to lather on baby without running all over the place too. 

Another of their products which took my interest was their nappy spray that retails at £5.50. Not at the stage where I could test it yet but the idea of using a protective spray to guard against nappy rash rather than thick Sudocrem or another cream that needed to be rubbed in seemed like a great idea.

The multipurpose nature of Snugglebundl

Both mum and I were pretty won over by this Snugglebundl product which seemed great for new born babies. 

It’s a simple concept that replaces blankets in the day and make transporting baby from arms to cot to car seat seamless.  

The design makes baby feel cocooned and safe and supports their head and neck in a little ‘shopping-bag-style hammock’ if you need to move them around.

Design-led luxury nappy bags from KeriKit

It was a pleasure to meet the designer of KeriKit bags at the event. Having always been a designer she saw a gap in the market for fashion-forward nappy bags made with quality and care whilst struggling to find anything appropriate after the birth of her first. Her designs come in backpack or shoulder bag formats and with all the pockets and secret spaces you could want.

The Joy Stud Black backpack was a favourite for me which I tried on at the event. It’s made of leather so will get better with ages, has every pocket type and zipped compartment you could dream of and, once baby is grown, is stylish enough to use as an every day bag. 

Love 

LauraClaire

What happens at your first NHS UK midwife appointment

I had my first midwife appointment booked in around week 9 and when the confirmation letter arrived through the post I was a little apprehensive about what it would actually involve. 

In the UK, midwife’s handle all of your antenatal care in the run up to ‘baby day’ and mine was at the local hospital I’d told my Doctor I’d like to give birth at.

My appointment took around an hour and a half and was a good way to get acquainted with the layout of the hospital – after all, I was going to be spend A LOT of time there in the next few months!

When we arrived at reception I was asked to do a urine sample before the appointment and got an infamous Bounty folder and lots of useful information to digest later.

Should you bring your partner? 

Sure - I did, and it was absolutely fine. I think it’s nice to share in the antenatal experience and I wasn’t the only one either, the waiting room had 4 other couples doing the same. 

Your midwife will want to speak to you alone for a few questions but the rest they can be involved in. It’s also handy to have them in the room as some of the questions about lifestyle and health relate to the father.

My midwife brought me into the room and later Jason followed and began to explain the whole process and important things I’d need to know. She was absolutely brilliant and, I’d imagine like most midwifes, very warm and kind to speak to. 

Next, we began answering a long and varied list of questions all designed to find out about us and our health and wellbeing really. If we smoke, how much we drink, if we’ve ever done drugs, hereditary illness in our direct family, our mental health, my job etc etc etc.

After this my blood pressure was taken, my weight and height to determine my BMI and I was sent off for three blood samples. Then… we were done!

What was also great is that they had an online system set up called Maternity Notes. It meant that, when my results did arrive, I would be able to access them straight away in real-time from either my laptop or my phone.

6 things to do before your first midwife appointment:

1. Drink plenty of water – they’ll expect a urine sample on arrival
2. Make a list of questions you want to ask (You’ll find some inspiration here)
3. Bring a pad and pen - You’ll likely be given a lot of information and possibly some new dates too
4. Make sure you know the date of the start of your last period – they’ll use this to estimate your due date
5. Avoid taking you top off every 5 minutes for blood tests and blood pressures by wearing a short-sleeved top
6. If the hospital car parking charge is anything like ours way… be prepared to spend your life-savings on it

As always, thanks for reading! 

Love 
LauraClaire

10 items to get you through the 1st Trimester

The 10 items I realised I desperately couldn't live with out to get me through the horrid 1st Trimester as a new mum-to-be...

Pregnancy Apps

Top of the list of course, has got to be pregnancy apps. There are about a billion out there but the three I skip between are Bounty, Ovia Pregnancy and Baby Centre. 

Ovia Pregnancy is great for regular little updates about baby, and size comparisons between fruit, pastries, toys and lots more! 

The Baby Centre seems best for articles on questions you might be having, and Bounty is good for freebies and a more realistic view of what baby might look like at each week.

Pregnancy multi-vitamins

A few friends I spoke to said that taking pregnancy vitamins made their nausea a lot worse. I didn’t experience that. When I had nausea, nothing seemed to make it better or worse really. It was simply…. nauseating. 

I've been using Pregnacare Original Vitamins. 

Although, like most vitamin supplements I can’t say I particularly ‘felt’ their effects but, with my distaste for food and my ability to only eat Chicken Chow Mein, having a pill that made sure I was still getting some nutrients was great for peace of mind.

I read one article where a woman claimed her pregnancy craving was salad. I hate that woman.

Bath tub thermometer

This really depends on how much you love a bath but, for me, it was a big deal. I love a bath and not just any bath, a skin-boilingly hot bath! If I’ve not come out feeling faint and bright red, it’s not a good bath in my books. Great for me, but not so great for baby…. Unfortunately.

Baby-friendly bath and room thermometers are a great buy if you’re like me. And of course, you can use them when baby comes too. Guidance online states that bath water temperature should sit around or below 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius. 

I bought this little super cute Hippo for my Tub.. works a treat!

That being said, I took this guidance with a pinch of salt after reading this Telegraph article which says that pregnant women can enjoy hot baths and even saunas without risk for a short period of time.

Here are some of my favourites from Amazon... 

(they're clickable)

Body oil

I’ve always been fairly dedicated to a post-bath moisturise so swapping my normal moisturiser for Johnson's baby oil was simple. I was also gifted a Boots Stretch Mark oil spray (you can find it on Ebay now) which I used on my bump, chest and thighs. It’s important to keep this area soft and supple right from the start.

 
Snack pot Tupperware

I found that an empty stomach can quickly bring on nausea. On a visit to the spa in week 7 it was mum to the rescue with Tupperware pots of nuts and fruit which kept me going through till afternoon tea. Mum's always know best!

Tupperware Ideal Little Bowl Set of 3 in Green, Red, Blue

Sparkling water

Unfortunately, I only found out about this absolute win in week 12. A friend of mine told me that she glugged down litres of the stuff. Sparkling water is indeed your pregnancy friend.

A re-usable water bottle

Multiple re-usable bottles to dot around your home as you’ll start to drink like its going out of fashion (and unfortunately, I don’t mean gin and tonics!). A handy tip; keep a full water bottle in your bathroom each night. I was getting up to pee A LOT and it helped me stay hydrated at the same time which helped me feel a little less light headed in the morning.

I'm a big fan of the water bottles with timer markers to prompt you to drink through the day... we all need a little nudge am I right!

Comfort food in the cupboards

Toward the end of week 8 I was really starting to feel the dreaded symptoms the maternity articles warn you about. Week by week they grew in intensity and it shocked me how much I struggled with all day nausea, headaches and feeling exhausted. I went off pretty much all food at that time, and dreaded mealtimes… and trust me… I NEVER go off food!

I leaned on comfort food and meals from my childhood to get me through. Chicken chow Mein, chicken nuggets, egg and soldiers and Semolina puddings. If there are a few childhood dishes that spring to your mind now’s the time to stock the fridge. 

Maternity jeans and leggings

By week 10 I was sneakily undoing my jeans post-lunch. They’d fit fine in the morning but by the afternoon I was dying to come home from work and get my PJs on for some relief! A quick run to Mothercare for a pair of skinny black maternity jeans and a 3 pack of maternity leggings turned into a god send. My advice, ignore the forum mums that tell you that you shouldn’t be showing until week 15 and you should need maternity gear – if you want it, get it!

A spare pillow

In weeks 11 and 12, my bump was pretty plump and whether it was baby or bloating I started to get a little uncomfortable lying on my side in bed. At this stage a maternity pillow is a bit over-kill, but a spare pillow works a charm. 

Do you agree? What have a missed? 

Love 
LauraClaire

Ed Sheeran was right… We’re having a baby!

Ed Sheeran was right… We’re having a baby!

View this post on Instagram

Thank you so much #edsheeran you are incredible! My cackle in this video is proof enough of what an epic surprise this was. I watched this clip on our wedding morning and it made our first dance to your song Thinking Out Loud even more magical! Love Laura & Jason xxx

A post shared by Beauty & Lifestyle Blogger (@laura_claire88) on Jan 4, 2018 at 3:42pm PST

So, we have big news! Almost exactly 6 months after our Wedding Ed Sheeran’s fateful wish for us came true… We’re pregnant!

We’re going to welcoming a new first addition to our family on the 13^th of March 2019. 

Love

LauraClaire.... & Hubby