Our experience of bronchiolitis.

With it being the winter season I thought id write a blog on winter illnesses - I wanted to share our story and experiences of bronchiolitis which both Rowan and Noah has had. I should point out thou that I'm not a Dr and I'm just posting as I personally had never heard of it until Rowan was admitted to hospital - which was where I found it was quiet common!

This is our story!

As I said at the start both Noah and Rowan have had it! Rowan spent his first Christmas in hospital with it! He started a few days with a cold but it seemed a heavy cold. Of course at a young age you put it down to teething! At first he had cold like symptoms - runny nose, cough, temperature but he didn't really seem to get better but seemed to get worse. He wasn't feeding as well as he normally would. I was warned with Rowan being almost 6 weeks early to keep a extra close eye on him. So I felt it was time to get him checked over so I rang the 111 helpline, who told me to go up-to my nearest A&E. It was xmas eve and not a place I really wanted to visit but he needed to be seen so off we went. They where very good at the hospital. I explained what was wrong and what my concerns where. The did Rowan's pule and oxygen rates which had cause for concern. By this point also his chest was sucked in and he seemed to be head bobbing. So they admitted us to the children's ward. He was struggling to breath and needed to be put on oxygen and kept in. I got to stay with him. We had a room with a cot in and bed and Rowan was kept on oxygen until Christmas day/ night and then discharged on boxing day. The staff where fantastic and explained what bronchiolitis was - It can be different causes most of which viral. Bronchiolitis is a common lung infection. It mainly affects young children and is a common cause of wheezing in children and difficulty in breathing due to the swelling of the airways which lead to the lungs. I had never heard of bronchiolitis before and the children's ward was full of babies as young as 4 weeks old. They kept a close eye on Rowan while in hospital doing checks every few hours. He did improve and was discharged on boxing day along with a inhaler and spacer. I did find that we had to use this for around 2 weeks after being admitted as the cough and wheeze did tend to linger. I must admit it was awful having him in hospital he was only months old and having him hooked upto al-sorts of monitors and tubes etc was horrible! But I was told it was just one of those things! And quite common. Rowan did have a lot of chest problems after this and does seem to get croup a lot too which requires steroids and a visit to hospital. I'm not sure if him being a little early baby is a contribution to the problems he has. 

Noah has also had bronchiolitis but not as bad as Rowan had it. Luckily he was not admitted to hospital but I did ring the 111 helpline for advice and was seen by a Dr at our local urgent care centre he gave Noah a inhaler and spacer. Noah didn't have low levels nore was struggling to breath, so there was no need for him to be admitted to the children's ward. To be honest he just seemed to have a bad cold and slight wheeze - which never got any worse but also didn't seem to get any better.I found with Noah I wasn't sure to ring for advice or just to wait a few day's, but knowing my past experience I knew not to just let it ride out and go and get checked or a opinion at least. As you can see off reading both storeys that bronchiolitis can be both mild and serious in babies / young children. I'm a firm believer in "mum knows best" and if you have a gut feeling then always act upon it.

After Noah being poorly with it i decided to look into it a bit more on the net and came accross a web site called more than a cold. Its really informative and well worth a look! Here's the link - 

http://www.morethanacold.co.uk/

Thanx for reading

Mummy T 

x

Happy New year!

After the madness of December, Christmas and New Year. We're finally in January! My boys are all back to school/nursery and the house is back to normal! Finally! I do love Christmas, but it's so nice to get back to normal! I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year.!
Ours was hectic! I worked more shifts, and only had Christmas Day off!

We had some lovely days out though over the Holidays and in December. One of Which was the Polar Express. We booked up to go on the Weardale one. I live around 30 mins from the station so it wasn't too far from us. I booked us up in October on standard seats! We where really looking forward to it, it's based around the film The Polar Express and one of the best things about it is you can go in your PJ's ((which the boys did)). The train ride its self was fab, They serve hot chocolate and cookies while your on the train. The staff read/tell the story and show the book to all passengers while you head to the North Pole. It follows the story line from the Polar Express and the staff are dressed as the singing chefs as well as the conductor. It really is a magical experience. All 3 boys really loved it including Alex (who has started to doubt if Santa's real). Santa was great as was the North Pole and elf's. Santa climbs aboard the train and talks to each child and gives each child a bell from his sleigh  The staff also aboard the train where great involved all the children. They made time to talk to all the children asking what they wished for Christmas etc. We all sang songs and also played games (adults too). It was a great atmosphere and I'd highly recommend it! The journey lasts around 1 hour and we where entertained through out the whole journey. I will add some pictures on this blog of our day there's also some on Instagram too. I have been on the Polar express before around 4 years ago! This was the first year it ran and there was a big difference this time around in respects of crowd control and queuing for tickets etc. I found this time around a lot better then the first - We travelled first class last time (there was just Alex and me as Rowan was only 2 months old) I can honestly say that apart from the china keep sake polar express cup there is really no difference between First class and Standard travel on the train.

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and Santa was good to you all. Thanx for everyone support and reading my blogs! All the best to you all for 2016.

Thanx for reading

Mummy T

x

My experience of being a product tester for the Mother&baby awards 2016 -

After posting the pictures on - line of my product review for the Mother&Baby awards, I had a lot of people asking me how I had managed to get myself involved in it. So I thought I'd write a blog on how I did it and how I found things.

I remember being sat at home one afternoon towards the end of March and I found myself looking at Facebook. Noah was only a few weeks old and I was enjoy those newborn moments but also found myself looking for stuff to do when he slept (which we all know newborns sleep a lot.) Anyway I was on Facebook and a advert popped up from Mother&Baby which was about looking for product testers  for the 2016 awards - So I applied. In all honesty I thought id just get a load of spam sent to my email address and phone calls from gas and electric company's.

I didn't hear anything back and kind of forgot that I had applied until I logged into my emails and had one from the admins - this was around June/July time. I must admit I was quiet doubtful and thought that they may be hidden charges to do this, but I was so curious! I also googled Product testing for mother&baby awards which came up with a few blog's about it. So I read these blog's and carried on with the intentions of doing the reviews.

I was sent lists of what I'd be interested in trying there was al-sorts ranging from toys to bath products. I was more then willing to help so I put my name forward for as much as I could. The stuff started to arrive and I found it exciting to have a parcel and not know what was in it or who it was from. It was also lovely to get personal letters from company's with information about there product. I remember one company sent me a personal Congratulations card for Noah's birth.(which was a lovely touch.)

We had to use the products and play with the products. I had to observe Noah playing and watch his reactions towards things and note things down. I showed friends and family what I had received and also got there views on them - We'd also discuss things about the product. It was great and I really enjoyed doing it.

I had to forward my reviews to Mother&Baby, which was dead straight forward to do. It was quiet detailed about what to write for the reviews and I had to write a lot about the products I was testing. There was also a dead line to work through - but I never found this stressful being under time pressure as I had a while to put together my reviews,

I found It made me think about products in a different way. I used to be the type of person that would just go and buy something for the boys - I'd never look on-line at reviews or ask around if others had tried it and id just go ahead a buy it/ But now I tend to take more time over things and read reviews on-line.

As I said above I have really enjoyed the experience of reviewing different products. There was nothing hidden with the product testing for the awards (No hidden costs or spam messages/calls.) The experience on the whole was fab and I feel very lucky to of been chosen to do this. It's made me want to write reviews on product I was already using around the home for Noah, Rowan and Alex and I would still be adding reviews on this blog of my own.

The awards where held last week in London and there was a few products I used that won awards! (Well Done Guy's) I was blown away when I was looking on the Mother&Baby web site and found a few of my reviews to be published live on there. (I'll Add links at the end!)

I know they will start looking for testers again March/April time - so keep your eyes peeled, if your interested in this!

If anyone would like further information on product testing or would like me to product test for there company please email me at mummyttoo3@gmail.com. I'd be more than happy to help.

Big thanx to Mother&Baby for giving me the opportunity to do this and a massive congratulations to those company's that scooped bronze,silver and gold awards.

Some Photo's of The Products I Helped Test/Review 

 Links to Mother&Baby award reviews below.

Some Of my reviews on the Mother&Baby web site

 - My name is Rachel Robinson/Tingle -

http://www.motherandbaby.co.uk/reviews-and-shop/playtime/baby-toys-under-12-months/tiny-love-gymini-kick-and-play

http://www.motherandbaby.co.uk/reviews-and-shop/playtime/baby-toys-under-12-months/mam-teething-friends


http://www.motherandbaby.co.uk/reviews-and-shop/playtime/baby-toys-under-12-months/sophie-la-girafe

Thanx For Reading Guys

Mummy T

x

Sorry I've been away from blogging for a while......heres why...

Hi all,

First of all sorry I haven't been around on the blog much recently! I've been a busy bee! Been working more hours (20 hours per week) and also had Noah started nursery - the same one Rowan goes to. Noah goes 2 days a week, and I wanted to catch up on stuff that I've never seem to have time to do i.e. Housework/xmas shopping etc (playing catch up in other words) and it has worked! I seem to be really organised (for once.)

Noah is really enjoying nursery! Seems to of settled in fine! And enjoying his food there too. So its all gone rather well! I don't know if its just coincidental but he seems to of progressed a LOT in the last 5 weeks, not sure if nursery has been a strong factor in this! He's now sitting up unaided, has 2 teeth and is clapping his hands and walking around (in his walker.) I did have a few concerns about him as he's now just turned 9 months and seems a little behind in doing things, but hey- ho I know they develop in their own time and he seems pretty happy.

Rowan is doing well too, he's still at nursery and starts school next year he will be almost 5 when he does start, so I think he'll be more then ready for school at this time/age! He has a small part in his xmas play/nativity as a shepherd and were off to see him in it next week, at nursery. December sure is a hectic month for us as we've party's/xmas dinners/Santa visits etc.

Alex is also doing well. I'm dreading him starting secondary school next year! He is on the school council (and is taking the role dead seriously.) He's due to visit the houses of parliament in London, in January with the town major! So he's looking forward to that too! And he's started doing scouts also and he loves that as its typical boy things.

So all busy for us here! I will be posting a blog next week as were off to go on the Polar Express on Sunday (6th Dec) - which should be great fun for us (I'm more excited then the kids I think!) I have been on before with Alex but, this time where going as a family of 5 and I wanted to log what its like going on with a young baby etc.

Anyway Hope everyone is well! Don't forget I'm on instagram and facebook so please give my pages a "like" or follow.

Speak soon x

Munchkin Baby Fresh Food feeder. REVIEW

A lot of you who follow me on social media sites have seen a picture of Noah enjoying some fresh fruit from a feeder, a lot of people have asked about this so I thought I'd write a honest review about it. Now Noah is 7 months old. We've started to wean him. Things are going well and he seems to be enjoying trying different foods.
I was in Sainsburys a few weeks ago and came across these Munchkin Fresh fruit feeders for a couple of pounds. I thought i'll give it a go! I can honestly say it's been great. You pop any fruit or veg (at the moment I'm trying really juicy fruit such as watermelon.) There's a clasp on it that clips and then you give it to baby and they suck or check it through the netting! There's a little handle on the top of the lid that they can hold (or you.) Noah has really enjoyed it. He wont hold it though (lazy boy.) There's also a outer plastic pot so you can fill the netting pop the pot/cover on and take out it and about with you. So its great for when your on the go. Up to now Noah has enjoyed - Grapes,watermelon and orange! No big peace's has came through the netting and I've had no issues with it at all. In fact I think its a very good idea and Noah loves it (he gets excited when he sees the fruit being copped and me popping it into the netting!)
I have done a quick Google search on it and found it widely available on the net for around the same price I paid.
Here is there main web page -http://www.munchkin.com/?source=global

Noah enojying his fruit -

Noah's Birth story

My next baby was Noah. My pregnancy with him was ok up until 12 weeks. After my 12 week scan I was rang to go back into hospital to discuss my test results from the scans. I was so scared as this was Sunday and she wanted me in with in the next 2 hours (which isn't know to happen very much at the hospital I was in)! I really thought it was something serious! When we got there we where asked into a scan room and the consultant explained to me that I had a low PAPP-A, this was a new test performed at the downs blood test (At 12 weeks). It meant that my placenta may not work properly further in pregnancy and baby could have growth problems, be born early or I could develop pre-eclampsia. I had to be placed under consultant care and have growth scans every 4 weeks after 24 weeks! I got home and did what we all do "google" the hell out of Papp-A - I had never heard of it!The consultant at hospital said it was a new test and had only started testing women in the last 3 years ((in the UK)) hence I never knew/heard about PAPP-A.
Reading google and doing lots of research on the web didn't help! I developed anxiety by 16 weeks. I kept thinking what if baby was born early,who would look after Rowan and Alex while I was tending to baby in SCBU. I was so stressed and so scared! I've never been a anxious person before. I bought tiny baby cloths, tried to put different plans in place in-case he was born early or I developed PE and ended up in hospital. I worked myself up into a complete frenzy and ended up having a bleed and been signed off work on the sick for 8 weeks. Due to pregnancy related issues.
After those 8 weeks passed I decided to leave to work for good - which in its own way made the anxiety worse as I was at home most days while Rowan was at nursery pondering on it and again over thinking! Apart from the anxiety and my bleed at 18 weeks cleared up and I had a straight forward pregnancy. But the anxiety was still there and played a massive part of me feeling down/low - those who have experienced it will understand where I'm coming from.
 Every extra scan went well for us baby was strong! And I never showed signs of PE. I reached 35 weeks and really thought Noah was going to follow in Rowan's footsteps - but he didn't! I made it to 38 weeks when Noah was born.

With Noah's labour my waters went at around 3am while I was in bed, I had turned over and felt a click! They seems to trickle not gush as they had before. I rang the L&D ward and they told me to come in straight away. I called my mum to come to stay with the boys while we left to see what was going on. I got there and was seen straight away! Checked and I was 5cm Dilated at 4.45am! I was then asked what pain relief I wanted! I asked for a water birth! It took around 35 mins to fill the birthing pool up for me to use. It also had to be at a right temperature plus filled quite deep as the water had to completely covers your bump. I was shown the room and helped to change and get into the pool. The lighting was low and it was so relaxing! The midwife's watched me and kept a eye from the adjoining room.Checking his heart beat once. I wasn't in the pool for very long as the water seemed to speed things up for me! I had a few puffs on the gas and air and Baby Noah was born at 6am! Healthy and happy (despite all the concerns in the pregnancy.)

I must say I would 100% recommend  a water birth! It was so much better then being on "dry land." They just seemed to let me get on with it. And watch from a distance. There was none of this regular checking down there to see how dilated I was. I wish I was more prepared for my water birth - I hadn't looked much into it and was more of a last minute thing for me. I didn't know that Daddy T could of joined me in the pool and also if you want a water birth when you call hospital let them know your intentions and the will start filling the pool for your arrival!

Birth Story - Rowan.

My Next pregnancy was with Rowan. After trying ((and thinking that it would never happen, it did! Hence the huge age gap between Rowan and Alex of 6 years)) With Rowan I had terrible bleeds, countless scans and countless visits to hospitals! I found I was pregnant with Rowan very early on I had a bleed and went for a early scan - which was internal! They eventually found him and there on the screen appeared a blob - no heartbeat! They weren't sure of which way things where going to go! I had to return in 2 weeks to see if his heart had started beating - things looked promising as there was a yolk sac but I was early by a matter of a couple of weeks. I did return to the hospital and Rowans heat was flickering away I think by this time I was around 6/7 weeks.
 As I mentioned in Alex's pregnancy. I'm Rhesus Neg and needed anti D jab so each time I had a bleed with Rowan off I went to hospital to be checked over,scan and a shot of anti D. (( all fun and games.))We where never away with bleeds and I reached 35 weeks and started to bleed quite badly. I was admitted to hospital but not actually in labour or having pains. By the Monday the bleeding was still bad if not worse so they planned to keep me until it stopped, I did have a scan in this time and Rowan was fine and the bleeding was down to a erosion. It got to the Tuesday night, I was still in hospital! No sign or word when I was coming home! Daddy T left me on the ward after visiting hours. I couldn't keep still after he left kept walking around the ward. I was still bleeding, and started getting pains. I remember walking to the nurses station to let a midwife know I was in pain. She said they where practice contractions and to have a hot bath and get into bed. The bath made it worse, but It didn't feel like labour! I was on a little ward with 4 other pregnant women 2 of which where due c-sections the following day. I had a little nap but felt these pains where getting worse, so off I went to the nurses station around 1.00am. I was told to go back to my bed and she'd come and put me on the monitor to see what was going on. I remember sitting on the bed, trying not to say a word as didn't want to wake the other women!. She came along ((not in any rush)) hooked me up, turned the heartbeat sound on low. And left me there for around 20mins....alone. She came back at 1.50am looked at the tracking paper. Next thing I know I was in the delivery suite. I had nothing with me no mobile,no bag as it was all on the ward still! I was in labour and I asked for Daddy T to be called as I knew it was a 15min drive from home, plus he needed to drop Alex off. The labour room was full with 4 midwifes. I was told to move onto the bed in there (which was almost impossible) at this point my waters broke. I remembered the feeling of clicking from inside and they went with a gush. Rowan followed my waters and was born 2.13am. Daddy T missed the birth and I had no time for pain relief. It was a massive shock. Rowan didn't need any special care ((thankfully))! He weighed 5 bls 15 oz. We did stay in the hospital till the Friday. He has had his fair share of health problems since birth mainly chest problems and we spent his first xmas in hospital which was awful! He also had a dairy allergy which thankfully he's grown out of now! He still quite tiny is Rowan even now. But he has a massive personality.