Splish splash I was takin’ a bath

 

Sometimes when people tell me that the Mini Grumpy Egyptian is small for her age, I look at them like they are crazy. To me she feels huge, but I have to remind myself that this is only because she was so tiny at birth. The Mini Grumpy Egyptian weighed just 2.7kg when she was born and now is slightly over double her birth weight as she approaches six months. The past month has seen some major changes in her that I wish The Grumpy Egyptian was here to see (visa issues – ARGH), but there are so many more milestones for her to cross that he can be there for.

Firstly, the time came to pack away her tiny baby and newborn clothes. Then in the same week I had to admit her 0-3 month stuff just wasn’t fitting anymore so that pile found its way into storage too. Now she is in her 3-6 month clothes and I just adore dressing her in clashing colours and prints, much to my mother’s horror. Well if you can’t colour clash as a child when can you get away with it?

Secondly, the baby bath got too big. This one crept up on me! I swear it was only yesterday we moved her from the *ahem* sink to the baby bath and now that is too small. Now baths take place in the big girl bath aka the bath! She loves being able to kick and stretch and swallow as many bubbles as humanly possible.

Thirdly, Operation Weanathon has begun and the Mini Grumpy Egyptian is loving trying out new tastes and textures. Favourites so far include carrot, blueberries, sweet potato, broccoli, banana and… Thai Curry Soup. Yep, you did read that last one right. Seems as though we have an adventurous eater on our hands. Lots of Annabel Karmel being called upon to give me ideas of things to make for myself that I can also try with the mini one.

And finally, but potentially most significant is that the Mini Grumpy Egyptian has outgrown her crib. This week I am off to buy her a cot that she can stretch out in. Considering an IKEA one at the moment, but am going to have a look at some before deciding. Any recommendations? The Mini Grumpy Egyptian might not be sleeping through the night yet, but hopefully that will change in the not so distant future.

 

I am linking this post up with The Oliver’s Madhouse – Magic Moments linky so why not head over there and see what other mums are celebrating this week.

Giving birth in Oman: My Story

I wasn't sure whether to write this post or not, but a friend suggested it might be useful for mum-to-be's when it comes to what they can expect in Oman. It is quite a long post so be sure to grab a cup of tea before you begin!

The Grumpy Egyptian and I found out we were expecting a couple of days after my birthday in September 2012. Due to the fact I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome well over a decade ago, we'd been told we would struggle to conceive. The mini 1 is proof that doctors sometimes get it wrong! Despite using contraception, going quad biking in the desert, on a speedboat and having a few drinks on my birthday... We were set to be parents!

My ex-employer didn't cover maternity costs, but it was while visiting the company clinic (I thought I had a bug) that we discovered the truth behind my nausea. In order to keep costs down before the 12wk mark (when Muscat Private Hospital (MPH) - our preferred hospital - starts its antenatal packages) we tried to stick with Badr al Samaa (BAS). It didn't last long.

I developed hyperemesis gravidarum (extreme sickness) and truly have never felt so ill in my life. I was so violently ill that I feared for my baby and after numerous visits to an OB at BAS where my concerns were shrugged off or laughed at, we decided it was time to go to MPH and just pay up. It is also worth noting that my husband wasn't allowed in for scans at BAS to "protect my modesty". Uh... He's the one that got me pregnant!

In January 2012 I'd had surgery in MPH under Dr Vidya and because we had both had a good relationship with her we chose her as our OB. She was so friendly and despite being very much in demand, never rushed me or belittled any concern I had. She was also very good with The Grumpy Egyptian so that helped our decision.

We signed up for the antenatal package that ran from 12+ weeks to birth and included all our doctor visits, booking blood tests for the green card, ultrasound scans and a couple more things. This was a big saving on what paying each visit would have cost. I had spoke with Dr Vidya about my birth plan in that I planned to deliver the baby as quickly and painlessly as possible!

Things seemed to be going to plan until around the 36 week mark I noticed Bump (as she was then known) wasn't moving much and I'd had a bad headache for a couple of days. I went in to see Dr Vidya and we discovered that my blood pressure was dangerously high and Bump's heart rate was high. A quick ultrasound showed the cord seemed to be near Bump's neck and could have been distressing her. The woman that did my ultrasound was the only person at the clinic that I wasn't pleased with as while waiting for my doctor said they'd have to "rip the baby out immediately" and seemed annoyed when I started crying.

Dr Vidya came and assured me there would be no ripping out, but admitted me for observation. Things got worse overnight, before settling in the morning. We were allowed home over the weekend, but had to return on the Sunday (the weekend is Fri-Sat in Oman) for a check-up. On Sunday I woke with another headache. My blood pressure had shot up again.

The decision was made to induce me, but unfortunately it didn’t work. I have to say what an utter failure I felt. Yes, I know it is stupid, but for some reason I felt as though my body was just not willing to make this easy and I blamed myself. Bump was getting more distressed so we decided on an emergency c-sect. This terrified me, but the anaesthetist that was assigned to me was a lovely British guy who put me at ease about the operation and calmed my nerves - sadly I don't remember his name! He also gave me the best advice ever: Don't be a martyr. If it hurts tell someone and they will bring out the nice shiny drugs. That was great advice because boy was I not expecting standing/sitting to hurt quite so much post-surgery! I can only describe it as a searing pain that felt as though it would never go away. It does... in the end!

The Grumpy Egyptian was allowed in the operating theatre with me because it was a spinal, however if they'd of needed to do a general anaesthetic he wouldn't have been. In we went and less than 5 minutes after they began, Bump became the Mini Grumpy Egyptian when she screamed into our lives. The cord had been quite tight around her neck so the decision to have a c-sect was a good one. The doctors showed me the mini one before they took her for a check up and embarrassingly I threw up but I blame it on the anaesthesia not new-mum nerves!

The Grumpy Egyptian was allowed to stay with the mini one while they checked her over. I was stitched up and after a bit of time in recovery was wheeled back to my room and reunited with our daughter. We immediately started some skin-to-skin while the midwives and nurses helped me breastfeed her - ah those first weeks of breastfeeding... a story for another time perhaps. The midwives and nurses were fantastic and we made sure to leave them a big box of chocolate when we left.

The rooms at MPH are great and have their own en-suite. There is also a sofa bed in the room so hubby can stay with you and a fridge for snacks. You get a menu twice a day to choose your breakfast, lunch and dinner from and you can specify when you want it delivered. Meals for you and your partner are included in the delivery package rates that are split into normal delivery (+ extra for things like an epidural) and caeserean. We stayed 5 nights before being discharged. Two weeks later the mini one and I had checkups that were included in the delivery package.

I was really happy with my doctor and never felt that I wasn't in control because she always gave me options. When I was pregnant the hospital didn't offer antenatal classes, but I understand they were hoping to introduce them.

Anyway this wasn't meant to be such a long post, but even if it proves useful for 1 person, it will have been worth it. For the view of someone whose wife gave birth in a different hospital in Muscat, click here.

Buying second-hand

When we found out that I was pregnant, The Grumpy Egyptian and I began planning what we were going to buy for our little one, but not once did the idea of buying second-hand come up. That was until we found out how much things for babies cost! It seems like shops take a cheap item, add the word baby to it and an extra couple of pounds. Where we were living in Oman, there was quite an active group on Facebook that allowed parents to sell baby/children items they no longer needed rather cheaply. However once we moved back to the UK I struggled to find a similar group in my hometown.

Some of my fave second-hand buys: (L-R) never used sleeping bag from Mama's & Papas, Stacking cubes and Animal Spinner

A Google search found me a group called Little Pickles Markets who organise markets for parents to sell their good-quality used items. I went along to one of these a couple of weeks ago in Winchester and despite only taking £17 ended up with numerous bags of toys, clothes, a musical mobile and books. To get across how good value this all was, I saw the same musical mobile for sale in a shop for £35… I paid £4 for this one and it looks as good as new. Aside from the usual stuff, people were also selling cots, pregnancy pillows, pushchairs, walkers and maternity clothes.

On my local NCT website, I found out about its Nearly New Sale that takes place twice a year so have put November 9 in my diary ready for that one.There are also a few websites I keep an eye out on and these include Preloved, Gumtree, Emmaus and Baby Swap or Shop.

Wooden Noah's Ark with a load of animals hidden away inside

I used to be a bit funny about going through charity shops as I remember them being musty places full of granny clothes, but that seems to have changed. A recent rumble through a couple landed me two Annabel Karmel baby recipe/weaning books, a Baby Gap coat for winter, a gorgeous puffball skirt that the Mini Grumpy Egyptian is going to look adorable in, as well as some sound books for 50p! I love wooden toys so much more than modern plastic ones so have snapped a few of those up as well for when MGE gets a bit bigger.

I am certainly going to be a lot less prudish about buying second-hand now and if anything quite enjoy searching through stuff for little hidden gems. What has been your best second-hand find? Any suggestions for other sites to keep an eye out for?

The Egyptian Mummy

Mummy friends

Picture the scene. Girl walks into room with other girls she doesn’t know – they all seem to already know each other – and inside she is screaming, “Please like me! Look I also have a Cath Kidston changing bag!” No I’m not talking about the first day at school, but my first visit to the baby weighing clinic after the birth of the Mini Grumpy Egyptian (MGE).

Yes we are all grownups, but there is still that little girl inside that doesn’t want to sit on her own and get picked last at sports. I had been away from my hometown for 3 years when I went to university and then abroad for 4.5 years so had grown apart from many of my old friends, while the remaining chums were spread out around the world. On my return to the UK, I got on great with my health visitor so when she suggested I visit the open clinic to weigh the MGE and make new friends I thought how hard can it be….

Oh. My. God. It was like being back at school, but mummy-style. There were the Yummy Mummys  on one side with buggies so fancy they looked like NASA made them, perfectly highlighted hair  and non-vomit covered clothes who sat there talking about organic baby food and how quickly they got back into their pre-baby jeans. And then there were the Other Mummys of which I am firmly a member of with hair all over the place, eyebrows that wouldn’t look out of place on Robert Pattinson, smears of who knows what on their shoulders, tummies that resemble jelly and eye-bags so big there isn’t enough make-up in the world to cover them.

I’d always hoped that after birth I would suddenly morph into one of these yummy mummys, but my genes and indeed my jeans seem to be fighting that transformation. So for now I will stick with my two normal mummy friends for now – you know the ones who consider cake a food group, carry sweets in their bags to bribe the kids and think dressing up involves changing their top to something not covered in sick - and leave those calorie counting ubermums to carry on together.

Were you one of the first in your group of friends to have kids? How did you find making new mummy friends? Any funny stories?

The Egyptian Mummy

Baby toiletry essentials

When I reached my 35^th week of pregnancy I realised that I really should start buying some toiletries for the Mini Grumpy Egyptian and myself in case I went into labour early. Walking around the shops, I was amazed at how much variety there is and a quick Google search showed every mum had their own favourite brands. After a couple of bad product tries... I have come up with my top picks for babies and will do a post later for mums.

Nappies

I chose the disposable route and after some horror leaks with other brands, a friend recommended I try the Tesco Loves Baby ones and we haven’t (touch wood!) had a leak yet.

Wipes

To be honest we are still changing on this one as the ones we used to get in Oman for some reason cause a reaction on the little one when we got them in the UK. Currently trying out the Tesco Loves Baby sensitive wipes and Huggies Pure wipes as they were on offer. Loving the fact the Tesco ones have a proper lid to them instead of the useless peel/restick one many wipes seem to. When it comes to nappy bags I have been using the Mothercare ones as they are scented enough that if you are somewhere without a bin and need to do an emergency change that is going to be stuck in your bag for a while, it isn’t going to get offensive!

Nappy Rash cream

We have been lucky with Mini Grumpy Egyptian that she hasn’t had much issue here, but when she did seem a bit uncomfortable I tried a couple of products and found Boots Baby SensitiveBottom Balm was the way to go on this one. It acts like a barrier cream and helps sooth any sore bits so two big ticks there.

Bedtime routine

The Mini Grumpy Egyptian has never been too keen on bedtime, but loves the water so it was really important for me to try and introduce a bedtime routine that included a nice warm bath with lots of bubbles. Currently we use Tesco Loves Baby Bath Bedtime, but it can be quite hard to get hold of so have been known to use the Johnson’s bedtime bubblebath. However worth seeking out the Tesco version as it is cheaper, has a lovely relaxing smell and gives lots of bubbles for grumpy princesses! We follow her bath with Johnsons Baby Bedtime Lotion because it smells AMAZING.

Extras

When needed we use Boots Baby Sensitive Moisturiser on her face and (for when the sun shines in the UK) a bottle of Nivea Sun Kids Caring sun lotion at 50SPF+ keeps her skin safe.

So there are my favourites. What products do you consider your essentials?

The Egyptian Mummy

New mum onboard

I moved to Muscat four and a half years ago from the UK with the intention of working two years and then moving back to the UK. A couple of months in and I met The Grumpy Egyptian (TGE) and things changed forever. Now we are married and life just got more exciting with the introduction of Mini Grumpy Egyptian (MGE) back in May 2013.When I was without kids I used to tease my friends that had children about how they were always the last one to turn up at the coffee shop, the first one to leave and instead of Chanel No 5 they were wearing Eau de Baby Powder (and that was the lucky ones!). They always smiled and I thought they were just humouring me, but now I know it was a knowing smile as they knew I was pregnant and soon I was going to be the one being teased.

When the MGE came into our lives she came with quite a spectacular bang and demanded to come out a couple of weeks early. As I recovered in the hospital room, I found myself staring at this beautiful bundle of joy that happily slept and woke almost like clockwork every two hours for a feed/change/cuddle and then dozed off again.

Despite reading the books and having younger siblings, I started to fool myself that perhaps I was going to be one of those yummy mummy types that you see other mums glaring at. Oh how wrong I was. The day after we got MGE home, the screaming and the sleepless nights began. Now I have competitions with people – when I manage to go out/talk long enough on the phone – about who has slept the least.

Now we have moved back to the UK and this blog is going to act as a way of me sharing my adventures as a new mum as well as hopefully helping some other new mums realise things never go to plan - and there is nothing wrong with that!

See you soon :)

The Egyptian Mummy (who isn't really Egyptian!)