Episode 1: Our Pregnancy Journeys

In our very first episode of #MumLife, we take you through our pregnancies, from how we found out, all the way through to the third trimester, completely unfiltered. 

Transcript

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Hello and welcome to our very first episode of Hashtag Mum Life podcast. You are listening with Kelly and Laura and we are just two unfiltered mums here to share the raw reality of parenthood because it can be tough. So Laura, we're here, we are finally doing it.

Laura:
I cannot believe it. I literally think it's hours and hours of voice notes finally coming to the ears of others. Ha ha ha ha.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
It really is. I genuinely think these voice notes have got me through the last 10 months. Just because, do you know what? It's been so nice to be able to talk to you, to chat about all like the frustrations, the fails when my child doesn't go down for her nap, or when she wakes up after 30 minutes doing a cat nap, and I haven't even boiled the kettle to have a brew. Do you know what I mean?

Laura:
I absolutely hear and I just love the fact that I can voice note you crying at 8.30 in the morning because my toddler's waking up my newborn and I don't know what to do and I've just lost the will to live. So

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Alright.

Laura:
yeah, no, it's been really good.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
It's also though, as well, I think it's been good to share the wins because I feel like you're the only person sometimes that will understand the excitement when I'm like, She's got herself down, thrown up by herself, oh my gosh!

Laura:
Or it's like, it's been an hour and a half. I've done nothing, but it's been an hour and a half. Because don't you find that as well with their naps? Like, you're clock watching all the time. So actually, the time when they do a long nap, you actually get nothing done because you're too busy clock watching and looking at the monitor to see if they're awake.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
exactly. I've got a list in my head and I'm like running to the washing, I need to do my 15th load of washing, I need to clean the kitchen, need to do this, this, that and then I end up like making a brew and I'm thinking I just need this moment just to kind of come back to myself and breathe and then it's like looking at the monitor and I always find as well I'm constantly looking at the monitor all the time,

Laura:
Yeah.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
like I can't chill, I can't relax.

Laura:
No, and we've got the setting where the screen pops up, like lights up when they make a

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Oh

Laura:
sound

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
yeah,

Laura:
or

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
mine

Laura:
move.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
does that too.

Laura:
So I don't know why I keep turning it on, because

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Ha ha

Laura:
they

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
ha ha

Laura:
haven't

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
ha

Laura:
moved, and they haven't made a sound. Oh, it's just...

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Anyway, so many voice notes that we've passed backwards and forwards to each other. And do you know what? We just thought we would share it with all of you really. Open up the conversation to the wider population.

Laura:
Absolutely and also like we said sharing the raw reality of parenthood and becoming first-time mums and Yeah, also sharing like you said the wins, too

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I think our husbands are quite fed up of our voice notes though.

Laura:
Oh, Matt gets so annoyed. In fact, should we just share our setups with everybody? And then

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yes.

Laura:
we can talk about how much our husbands hate us. So, Carol, what's your setup?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yes, so I am a first time mum. I am currently on maternity leave. I have a beautiful daughter called Mila Darcy and she recently turned 10 months old. Where has my baby gone? Honestly, time

Laura:
crazy.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
has flown. It's actually really, really quite scary. She has more hair than most toddlers

Laura:
you

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
and most adults actually, to the

Laura:
than

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
point

Laura:
me at the

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
where

Laura:
moment.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
to the point where I have to blow dry her hair every single night. I mean she absolutely hates it but needs must honestly.

Laura:
Oh bless her.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
So she will be going to nursery soon when just after she turns one year old I am already an emotional wreck thinking about it. I actually feel a little bit sick. I generally think she's gonna hate it also not just me.

Laura:
She will absolutely love it and that will break

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Oh

Laura:
your heart

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
gosh

Laura:
even more.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
she's

Laura:
She'll

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
so

Laura:
be like,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
selective

Laura:
see ya.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
though she's she likes but I'm hoping in that environment, yes, it will be kind of an adjustment to begin with but she'll soon love it and flourish.

Laura:
Absolutely.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Oh and I have a husband called Conor, don't forget that one. I have a wonderful husband, he's a fab father, he is convinced he's never going to be called daddy, it's got to be dad. We'll

Laura:
Mmm,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
see how long that lasts.

Laura:
yeah, we'll see, daddy's little girl.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah, and no, he's absolutely brilliant and besotted by Mila. Absolute wet blanket. What about your setup?

Laura:
So I am married to Matthew and he definitely deserves a medal because

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Thanks for watching!

Laura:
the ups and downs of having a baby. I'm just a psycho. So he definitely

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Hahaha!

Laura:
deserves a medal. We have George who's two and a half and he is gorgeous. He is intelligent, definitely doesn't get it from me. And he's also going through his terrible two. So that's really

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
you

Laura:
fun to then introduce a new sibling to him because we also have Isla who is four months old. will definitely be talking about this for our episodes, sort of the jump from one to two and how a sort of a toddler manages a new sibling, but they're both absolutely gorgeous and we are very, very lucky and very, very blessed. And I'm currently on maternity leave as well.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
And do you know what? Isn't it so nice that we're actually on maternity leave together?

Laura:
I

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Like...

Laura:
know! I can't believe it, it wasn't even planned!

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
no speak to your ovaries get ready no

Laura:
No,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I mean

Laura:
it's really

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
we've

Laura:
good.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
been friends for years haven't we literally

Laura:
I think

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
nearly

Laura:
it's like

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
30

Laura:
30.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
years

Laura:
That is so disgusting.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
it's been so nice to have you actually experienced mum. i know you probably sometimes don't feel it but

Laura:
Are

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
you

Laura:
you joking?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
are.

Laura:
I literally wing it.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Well we all do don't we? Let's be honest, we all do.

Laura:
It is true. And actually it is just trial and error.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm-hmm.

Laura:
It is trial and error because we were saying the other day, George and Isla are so different already.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
Like she's only four months old and she's so different to George already. So what we did with George clearly has already gone out the window with her because it's not relevant. So yay,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Well

Laura:
more fun times ahead.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
we're just staying with the one so Connor's like absolutely no more.

Laura:
I can genuinely see why people only stick with one.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yep.

Laura:
100%. The jump

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Me too.

Laura:
from one to two is crazy. But do you remember when you found out you were pregnant with Mila?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Oh yes I do, I do. Should I share my pregnancy announcement to find out?

Laura:
Yeah, I do.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
So me and Connor just got married. We were about to move house, so happy, happy, happy. I basically, looking back, I probably had some really obvious symptoms at the time. But if I'm honest, myself and Connor were absolutely convinced we were going to struggle to get pregnant. We just drilled into our heads that we would struggle, it would take us years.

Laura:
Is that because of your thyroid?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yes, yes. So I got told very early on when I got diagnosed with a thyroid problem. So I've got an autoimmune thyroid disease called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. And a doctor once told me that you'll really struggle to get pregnant. You need to think about freezing your eggs and all this stuff. And I think I got told this when I was what, 28, 27, 28? I can't remember. Which obviously was very scary and you kind of fixate on that. And then I saw another doctor who said absolute like you will be absolutely fine as long as your thyroid levels are stable and you just monitor them it will be fine and you know on the honeymoon having lots of fun intoxicated all legs up in the air after and during keep it PG

Laura:
Oh my god, I was gonna

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I've gone

Laura:
say!

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
there already

Laura:
Oh brilliant, we're like eight minutes in. It's all downhill from here folks.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
um it is it is I'm sorry I'm sorry mom and but we were very, very lucky, but we conceived on the first hit. Didn't really realise it at the time. So on reflection, I felt quite a little bit tired, but I needed to pee all the time. Like I was like, whoa, I need to pee all the time. My boobs were just huge. Like Connor was like, woohoo. And I was just like, oh, the pain, they were massive. I actually like had to hold them I say floor because we had a mattress on the floor, we were moving house and it all went kind of peeped on right at the last minute. And then I remember my sense of smell was so sensitive. So Connor's like aftershave, like he'd only put a little bit on or he might not have even put any on that day. It was just like on a jumper from the previous day. And I'd be like, God, like it's really strong. And he was like, really? So I took a pregnancy test just for the crack, just to have a look. was due and it came back negative so I was like I can't be pregnant like why am I even taking this but I'm very on the clock should we say in regards to my cycle so five days went um over and I was like hmm this is quite abnormal for me and then eight days later I'm thinking oh quite interesting

Laura:
I can't

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I

Laura:
believe

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
know

Laura:
you waited that long.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
well I was convinced I was like we can't be pregnant like we're not actually actively trying didn't know where I was in my cycle, like nothing. So I, Connor actually picked up a pregnancy test on the way back home and I didn't even take the test straight away. I just left it on the side because we were packing, we were meant to be moving the house the next day. And anyway, later that evening I took the test and I remember just washing my hands and suddenly it was just like, ping, pregnant. And I was like, no. No way

Laura:
Mm-hmm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
to the point where I took I think five pregnancy tests just to be sure and they were

Laura:
in case

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
very

Laura:
it was

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
very

Laura:
lying.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
strong Yeah, I was like mmm cost me a fortune actually

Laura:
Yeah,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
and

Laura:
I

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I

Laura:
bet.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
remember Connor I remember Connor was literally in was like are you okay, Kelly? You've been in there quite a while and I just walked out slowly holding the test and he was like no You're like you're having me on and I was like mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Take a look for yourself. And he was like, oh So a very bittersweet moment. We didn't very much have the typical social media recording his reaction, jumping for joy, hugging each other, crying with joy, because Connor won't mind me saying this, but at that time we were awaiting some possible like sinister results. He was going through a bit of a health scare and we were very emotional that day and that just kind of tipped things over the edge because the first thing Connor thought was, oh my gosh, we're gonna have a baby and what if things come back and they're really bad and I'm not gonna be here to help you. So kind of, you went into that gear of so afraid and it was very tearful, but it wasn't probably the tears that I perceived or kind

Laura:
Yeah.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
of thought I would have. So luckily, everything's fine, Connor was fine. And yeah, he was still afraid actually, just as

Laura:
I'm sorry.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
afraid.

Laura:
I'm sorry.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
He was like, I'm not ready for this. We've just got married, I thought it'd be like at least a year until we conceived and I was like look, you know, you can't plan these things, these things happen. It was the next step.

Laura:
Mm-hmm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
So, yeah, I mean, I don't think he wasn't ready, I wasn't ready, we're still not ready even and we've got

Laura:
gonna

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
a ten

Laura:
say

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
minute thought.

Laura:
I don't think you're ever ready are you? Absolutely never

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Absolutely

Laura:
ready.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
not. No, absolutely not. So it was one of those that was more of a shock, I suppose. And as I said, it wasn't that lovely social media moment, that TikTok, Instagram reel that people post up, which I know I do envy them a little bit because I never got that. But at the end of the day, we were very grateful and very lucky that it happened so quickly for us because I appreciate that it can take people a long time and sometimes it doesn't happen for others. So what about you?

Laura:
So with George, so we were trying, but not, I think we were only in like our second month and George was actually my fourth pregnancy. So I'd lost three previously. So I actually knew my symptoms. So I knew, same with you going to the toilet a lot, same painful boobs. And actually my telltale sign was in a meeting at work and everyone knows the brownies stay by me and I do not share. around and I literally went, oh no you're alright and I was like, I know. I'd say in my head I'm like I already know I don't need to take a test because I've refused a Brownie. But we, it was I think a couple of days before I was due on but we had a friend's 30th, now you know those girls, so it was going to be

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I do.

Laura:
a heavy night. So I said to my husband, I'm going to have to do a test it's just not gonna

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
sit well with what's happened. So yeah, in the morning I took a test and like you, washed my hands, boom, it was obvious. So I just went in again. We did have that moment, I went and told Matt and he got emotional, he was like oh my god, but because of what had happened, we knew that straight away there was going to be appointments and phone calls that needed to be had and things. So we did have that moment for a split second I think and then reality kicked in

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
So yeah, so that was with George and with Isla, we, again, similar, had that sort of that moment where it was like, oh my God, because at that point I knew I could do it. I could have a baby.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm-hmm.

Laura:
So it was like,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
yay. But again, I was still under consultants. So it was a mix of both. But with

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm-hmm.

Laura:
Isla's, I, for some reason, even though again, same symptoms, needed the toilet a lot, all the same ones as before. So I sort of knew. I was convinced. in the middle of the night when I need the toilet. And he's like, why?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
you

Laura:
Well, what happens if I don't need the toilet in the morning? You have to do it in the morning. Of course you don't have to do it in the morning. I don't know what I was on about. But I was just convinced. So yeah, it was like, gone midnight. I went to the loo, did the test,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
night!

Laura:
and then, yep. And then, on a work night as well. And then obviously it pinged up

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
crazy.

Laura:
straight away. So Matt was just like, you're an idiot. I was like, why? It's amazing. He's like, okay, so now you have to go back to sleep and then you've got a full day at work. I was like, oh no. Obviously you're just lying there then, aren't you? like mine just buzzing everywhere. So yeah, similar to you we didn't have the the social media moment but

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
obviously we're very excited, very blessed and then yeah that's how we found out.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
So how did you find the first trimester?

Laura:
So we obviously were filled with a lot of anxiety and appointments but on the whole I can't really complain in terms of symptoms and I know you hate me for this so

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I do.

Laura:
especially as with George I didn't have I had nausea

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
mainly just in the morning and it was just like waves you know we just like oh and then it would go.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
No I don't Laura. I don't know, just nausea.

Laura:
We did like a hangover like, ooh, it was

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Oh

Laura:
a bit

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
yeah.

Laura:
like that. And other than that, in the first remess with him, the tiredness, like that was a telltale sign for me as well. I just feel like I've been hit by a bus like the whole time.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm.

Laura:
That was really it with, for the first remess with George. With Isla, I was a lot, I felt, I felt a lot more sick. I'm laughing because I know that you were so sick. But

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Ugh.

Laura:
I, it was, that was it, it was all throughout the day

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
and I could only really, the only way I could get over was to eat like salt and vinegar crisps or something like that to

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm-hmm.

Laura:
try and like

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm-hmm.

Laura:
keep it at bay but again the same with her with the tiredness but other than that that was really it for the first trimester I can't really

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Pretty glorious

Laura:
complain!

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
for you then, pretty glorious.

Laura:
Kelly, how was yours?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
It was so wonderful Laura, it was the best time of my life. Absolutely hated it. And when I mean hate, I really did despise those people that were like, oh my God, I just love being pregnant. Like I feel amazing, I'm glowing, my hair's wonderful. And I just didn't get it, I couldn't relate to that because mine was pretty awful. So yes, I had sickness, I don't call it nausea because it wasn't nausea, it was

Laura:
That yours

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
full

Laura:
definitely

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
on.

Laura:
wasn't.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
throwing up. And I mean, I don't know why I know everyone says I don't know why they call it morning sickness. I don't know why it is because I was throwing up at 2am 4pm all day every day. And I can't even remember how many times I threw up on the side of the motorway. And it was one of those I know everyone probably thinking I've got issues.

Laura:
Hehehehe

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I remember actually walking into work into work meeting and no one knew I was pregnant. Just walk I don't know why. I just wanted hummus and cucumber. I'm a very odd person that when I'm hungover, I want hummus and cucumber. It

Laura:
Yeah,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
never

Laura:
you're weird.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
ever goes down, always comes back up.

Laura:
Hahaha.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah, that was quite funny. But I felt horrendous. And on top of that, my hair literally just started falling out. Now it was

Laura:
in

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
really

Laura:
your first

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
confusing

Laura:
trimester.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
because, yeah, my first trimester. So nobody could really relate to me on this one because everyone

Laura:
No.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
was saying, oh yeah, Kelly, your hair falls out, postpartum,

Laura:
Mmm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
it's not usually in the first trimester, it's usually the other way around, your hair grows, it's nice and thick, and your skin's great. Well, my skin was horrendous, I've shown you pictures, you probably wouldn't

Laura:
Mm-hmm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
believe at the time, and my hair was falling out in clumps, to the point where in my parting, there was like a little bald spot. And I was

Laura:
Oh my

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
just

Laura:
gosh.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
so upset, so I was like just really down, because nobody could relate to me, and I was thinking then, gosh, you know, is it my thyroid that's tripping out hormones, but my thyroid seemed okay. So it was really, really rubbish. And the sickness got so bad that I had to go on to tablets because I just couldn't function. I was okay when I was concentrating. So if I was working, focus on a task, I would be fine. But as soon as I'd literally stand up for my desk, I would be running to the kitchen and I'd just be throwing up in the kitchen sink. Like it was, I couldn't hold it in.

Laura:
Oh my goodness, so draining

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
So,

Laura:
as well.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
oh, it was exhausting. and obviously I'm looking at all these boxes around me and I'm thinking I envisaged you know this renovation house I'd be cracking on even like pregnant like cracking on painting more stripping more paper everything and I literally just was like curled up on a sofa and I couldn't move I like it was like a constant hangover but I never got that satisfaction after being sick I didn't be sick and then thought whoo that's better like I just constantly felt it but I have

Laura:
you

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
to say I was one of the lucky ones that the tablets did work so as soon as I went on to those my sickness really became controlled which was brilliant. I did test it a couple times and try and come off them and I thought for three days like oh god yeah this is great I don't feel it and then I started and I was like you know what I'm just gonna stay on them

Laura:
Mm-hmm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
and I know there's a little bit sometimes a bit of stigma a bit of anxiety around taking tablets something that's maybe you know something artificial when you want to be super healthy when you're pregnant isn't it but there was no other option for me so

Laura:
So yeah,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
and

Laura:
sometimes

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
it worked.

Laura:
you've got to do what's right for you. And it's funny

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
you said that about the not feeling better after, because I always thought when I felt so nauseous with eye laughs, I just want to be sick. And then

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
I'll try and make myself sick. I just wanted that feeling to go.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm.

Laura:
But I never was sick, actually. And at least you reassured

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Oh, weren't

Laura:
me that

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
you?

Laura:
actually.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
What a shame. What a shame.

Laura:
Sorry, I now feel really awkward. Moving

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe

Laura:
on, so your second and third trimesters then, so obviously your first trimester was pretty horrendous for you. How were

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yes.

Laura:
your second and third trimesters?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
So to be fair, first semester, terrible. Second and third were actually quite glorious. So,

Laura:
Thank goodness.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
so I actually felt really good. Like my energy levels picked up, my hair stopped falling out and was actually really like long and thick and my skin settled. Like everything just started to balance out. I don't know whether it's the stem cells, and the babies growing and they're suddenly just coming out in my body, but yeah, I just, I then started to enjoy being pregnant. And obviously, you know, there's moments then when you feel, start to feel movements, you know, that

Laura:
Mm-hmm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
gave me generally, general anxiety. That was my first introduction to anxiety, the movements, but it was also so lovely to feel her, or, you know, I didn't realize it was a her at the time. triage a couple of times just on fear of movements because Mila was not a pattern like baby so you know people say you feel them every couple of hours or whatever she was

Laura:
in the morning

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
quite

Laura:
or at

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
yeah

Laura:
night. Yeah.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
and that night time she could be all over the place sometimes wouldn't feel it for hours but that was very normal for me and at night time was probably the time when she came you know a little bit more loud and but

Laura:
Hmm?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
it wasn't every night and it worried me sometimes and I remember where I think I went four days of complete worry. Like I was inside,

Laura:
Oh

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I was,

Laura:
my goodness.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I couldn't sleep. I didn't even talk to Connor about it because I was that worried. And I thought to myself, but I don't want to ring triage just in case I'm wasting their time and everything is fine. My tip and advice would be, if you're ever worried, just go and get checked. And like, just

Laura:
Oh, 100%.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
go down there, yeah, and get your movements checked because, and

Laura:
And they say

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I did

Laura:
that

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
it,

Laura:
as

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I did

Laura:
well.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
in the end. Yeah, they do. They say like, you're never an inconvenience. And I think, you know, pressures everything, I just didn't want to waste anyone's time but I actually suffered for that so the couple times after I was a little bit dubious of movements I just rang them and said look this is how things are, kind of come down and get checked and they were amazing and luckily everything was fine when I went down there so yeah second was was good and I have to say before I was pregnant I was like oh god those girls you know that are pregnant and hey Karen, we know you're pregnant. And then I turned into. So

Laura:
Guilty! Yeah, I did too.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
yeah, and third trimester was, to be fair, it was continued great. And then towards the end, it got really tough from energy point of view. Started getting really tired and then I had complete insomnia. Like I was awake hours. I probably slept sometimes like two hours night, that was it. And that was really hard because I was still working, I have quite a stressful job. And I was one of those people before I was like, I'm going to work right until the end until she pops out.

Laura:
Oh,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Ha

Laura:
I hear

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
ha, pops out.

Laura:
you.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
And no, that didn't happen. I actually went on that leave a few weeks earlier than initially planned on paper, should we say. But no, I generally felt really good to the point where I thought I was that cute that I'm gonna do a bit of self care. I'm gonna do one of them bump masks. Yes, I'm lying in bed. I'm like,

Laura:
You did a bump mask! Who are you?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
shut up. My friend gave me them and actually it was quite glorious. I don't think it did anything really, but it felt quite nice.

Laura:
Yeah

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
And I put it on and I was like, I was just looking down, I was lying in bed and I was like, oh, like this could be like a really cute picture. So

Laura:
Oh, shut up.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I took the mask off. Actually, I think I took one with the mask And I was like, took a picture thinking like, I'm gonna look super cute. Mate, I

Laura:
Like Beyonce.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
look like a, I look like a rotisserie chicken. I was like, absolutely. I just, I looked and I was just, I nearly cried. I was laughing to myself. Connor was like, mate, what are you doing? And I was like, ha! It was awful, awful. Don't ever

Laura:
Oh

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
take that

Laura:
bless

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
picture,

Laura:
you.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
ladies. Not a

Laura:
Or

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
good

Laura:
do

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
look.

Laura:
it if you need a laugh. Ha ha ha.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah. I look back now, I'm like, oh my gosh. So I took the make-up my friend when she was pregnant Karma hit me back her feet were horrendous And then when I got to the last couple weeks my feet just blew up like sausages and my hands actually I looked at a picture of another day and Connor was like wow They

Laura:
Hehehehe

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
were bad. I was worried I had preeclampsia, but luckily everything was fine. But yeah, I'm just fat and slow

Laura:
I'll

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
and

Laura:
hear

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
tired

Laura:
you.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
in the end, but kind of went Rubbish. Good. Rubbish.

Laura:
But I think that's how it's meant to go, isn't it really? Like the second trimester is meant to be the best one.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
I know for me, so with George acne, and I, again, second and third trimesters, I can't really complain. With George, it was the third trimester, really, my skin went really bad, like full on acne with

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm.

Laura:
him, and my hair was disgusting, like it's greasy, it was just horrible, literally. So everyone

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
What

Laura:
was

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
a shame.

Laura:
like,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
What a shame.

Laura:
you're having a girl, because the old wives tell us that the girl steals your looks

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Oh, that

Laura:
or

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
one.

Laura:
whatever. didn't find out. So, yeah, so I just, but we did, we went into lockdown when I was five months pregnant.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Oh

Laura:
And

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
yeah, of course.

Laura:
so obviously, everyone was working from home.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm-hmm.

Laura:
Literally, the only exercise I did was to walk from the sofa to the kitchen cupboard and back

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I'm

Laura:
or

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
sorry.

Laura:
the fridge. So I think that had a massive role to play. Like, because I had really bad pelvic pain as well,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mmm.

Laura:
with George, I just thought like, I'd do a bit of exercise, like a bit of a worked right up until his due date because we were working from home so I could and he was a week late anyway and it was absolutely fine. So

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
then with Isla obviously second trimester glorious and different completely in terms of my skin was the clearest it had ever been and my hair was great it looked thick so I really had that glow and everyone

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mmm.

Laura:
was like oh you're definitely having a boy because of this and I was like well it's funny you say that because it was the complete

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Thanks for watching!

Laura:
So completely went against the the odd wives tale and I Stupidly thought well, I would you know worked up to the due date with George So I might not go up to the due date with Isla, but I'll go 38 weeks because he was 41 so I Again, my job isn't just a sitting down desk job is

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
Well, it's unpredictable at times and I'm on my feet at times and my sciatica pain. I've still got it, whereas with George, as soon as I gave birth, it sort of all disappeared.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
You still got it

Laura:
With

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
now?

Laura:
Isla, yeah, like

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Oh.

Laura:
it catches

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Where

Laura:
my breath sometimes. It's yeah,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
are

Laura:
it's

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
they?

Laura:
really bad. Yeah, so with Isla, I had it from six weeks pregnant. I'm sleeping with a pillow between my knees straight away because it's just that bad and I would wake up and like my leg would be numb down one side and I'd have no feeling in my leg for ages or in my lower back or like my bum

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm-hmm.

Laura:
or anything like that. worse. So there I was like waddling around work at 38 weeks pregnant.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Hehehehehehe

Laura:
I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm in so much pain, like having to, so it would happen, they'd be like, look, can you go check that out? I'd be like, oh, give me a second.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Thanks for watching!

Laura:
So I actually went on Mat Leave a day early because

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Okay,

Laura:
I

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
you

Laura:
was

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
did

Laura:
so,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
pretty well then.

Laura:
I was just so stubborn and determined. It was actually my mate that came in and was like, what are you still doing here? No one is going to thank being here when you go into labor. Cause I have Braxton Hicks with both of them. Literally it was like, can you do one? No one wants this happening here. So yeah, but to be honest, apart from that, they weren't really that bad at all, to be honest. So yeah, same with you, second trimester felt really good, but the tiredness then hit third trimester. But with Isla, I think the tiredness, I've been lured into a false sense of security with George's

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm.

Laura:
pregnancy, we were in lockdown because I didn't it wasn't real work and we didn't have any other children it was literally I was living my best life

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
and I thought oh yes it'll be the same here no because with a full-time job and a toddler

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
and being huge it was just it got to the point I just said to Maz I just can't do it anymore he's like well you have to

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Hahaha

Laura:
for another few weeks like it's not really anything I could do so yeah it was definitely I found out third a really, really hard with Isla in comparison. But I think that was definitely more circumstance

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm-hmm.

Laura:
than anything else. But other than that movement, I had, I was really lucky. I felt them both move all the time and like

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
you're at night, they would absolutely have a party. A couple

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm-hmm.

Laura:
with George, but I did the have a glass of water and lie on your side and lie there for an hour. If you don't feel, I think the cold water is meant to like get

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Really?

Laura:
them moving.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I did not know that. Oh,

Laura:
Yeah.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
okay.

Laura:
if it worked it worked for a bit that's a little tip so you lie on your left side have a glass of cold water and just see if that gets

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mmm.

Laura:
some movement going and that that did whenever I had a bit of a worry.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mine

Laura:
I'm

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
was more

Laura:
an Isla.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
if I'd eaten something, like

Laura:
Oh

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
then

Laura:
yeah,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
she would be like,

Laura:
yeah, yeah, yeah,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
youhoo,

Laura:
same.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
yeah.

Laura:
Yeah, well, Eilidh is just constant. Just constant

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
What's it?

Laura:
movement all the time, yeah, which was really reassuring,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
but I was quite lucky with her. I didn't have any of those sort of, I haven't felt her moments.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Isn't it maddening how different already like our pregnancies are, like you

Laura:
Yeah.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
had lots of movement, I had hardly any movement, awful trimester, in like the first trimester you had, okay a little bit of nausea, boohoo.

Laura:
Hey, it was really bad.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
But some like some women literally sail through pregnancy don't they and

Laura:
Mm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
others really struggle, I mean you talk about obviously pelvic pain and things and some people end up on crutches and really

Laura:
Yeah.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
really struggle so I can't even like you a toddler to to manage at the same time like I could be selfish if I didn't want to do something

Laura:
Mm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I had that ability to be

Laura:
that

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
lazy

Laura:
yeah

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
basically and just

Laura:
that

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
sit

Laura:
is the

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
on the

Laura:
massive

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
couch

Laura:
difference

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
have to work and be like

Laura:
yeah literally so i was having to like time nap especially that first trimester and the third so luckily george was still having his nap like at the weekends

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Hmm.

Laura:
and school holidays so i was like whenever he was going down for a nap i was like right i'm down a lot i'm taking this time as well because i am

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Hmm

Laura:
exhausted um but it was interesting with with the back pain the i spoke to the midwife about it because i thought i might actually have to end up on crutches with i love it was it got to a point it was so bad And I spoke to my midwife and I said about exercise and I said, because I did a pregnancy workout, so I've always obviously been into fitness. So I

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm-hmm.

Laura:
did like a pregnancy workout and I was on the sofa in agony afterwards, like

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Böyle.

Laura:
crying. It was that painful. So my next midwife appointment, I said, look, I want to keep moving because I piled it on with George and I did not want to do that again.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Thanks for watching!

Laura:
So I was like, I need to keep moving. But I was like, I've tried just doing my normal workouts. I was in agony. in agony, walking, even if I walk too far, that really hurts. And then I was like, yeah, no, don't do that, don't do that, don't do that. I was like, swimming? No. And I was trying to go through any different

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Thanks for watching!

Laura:
exercises, and they go, no. I was like, what, what could I do? Just walk, but if it hurts, stop. I

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
So

Laura:
was

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
useful.

Laura:
like, oh, great. So that's literally all I could do really. I don't know if that's the advice

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
You should

Laura:
anyone

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
have

Laura:
else

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
pestered

Laura:
has had

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
me.

Laura:
out there.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Show you didn't know a physio. You know, on tap

Laura:
I don't know.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
here.

Laura:
I don't know, I don't want to pester you about stuff like that.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Thanks for watching!

Laura:
And actually, because I was at work, I was still doing over 10,000 steps a day. Right up until

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
You're

Laura:
the

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
probably

Laura:
end,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
just doing that a

Laura:
yeah.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
little bit too much, just tops you over, doesn't it?

Laura:
Yeah, absolutely. I should have definitely finished earlier and actually listen to your body when it comes to third trimester. That's another tip because I should have slowed down. I should have stopped. We thought I was going into labor about 36 weeks because just the pains and stuff I was getting but it's because I

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Hmm.

Laura:
didn't stop. So

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
You also

Laura:
definitely

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
go into

Laura:
listen

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
that

Laura:
to your body.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
nesting, don't you? You go into that nesting kind

Laura:
Yeah.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
of, right, I need to have everything, like I was like, the cupboards need to be perfect, cleaned every

Laura:
Hmm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
inch of the house, like spotless, you know, like a baby's gonna be come up, you're like, yo mum, you haven't dusted the deli over there or something. Well, your cupboards

Laura:
Well you know

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
are all

Laura:
what,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
inorganised.

Laura:
Matt's not like, ah remember when you were in that mode? Yeah, it's really good.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
haha

Laura:
Because clearly now I'm not. So

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Do you know what?

Laura:
there we are.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I've just remembered something. You know when you were pregnant with Isla?

Laura:
Hmm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I knew you were pregnant before you told me. Yeah.

Laura:
What do you mean? What do you mean you knew I was pregnant?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
So, um, remember my baby shower?

Laura:
Yes I do.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah. Actually

Laura:
Glorious.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
like a year ago.

Laura:
Yeah it was.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
So, the girls put on a beautiful baby shower for me. Lovely afternoon tea. So the waitress is

Laura:
Oh...

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
coming round and taking everyone's order and going, what would you like to drink? I chose not to drink any caffeine during pregnancy. And I know they advise, you know, limited caffeine and some people opt not to have any at all, don't they? So this waitress is taking everybody's order, gets to you and you're like, I'll have decaf please. And I'm like,

Laura:
Oh, not the t-

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
inside I was like, she's pregnant. And I was like, I didn't obviously say anything, but I was like, OMG, Laura is pregnant.

Laura:
Yeah, but your friend opposite me also ordered decaf too. So she ordered first and she went decaf and I was like, oh, this is great. Cause I'm just gonna go, oh yeah, I love decaf. So great idea. So there.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yes she did, Laura. Because she was

Laura:
Oh my

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
pregnant!

Laura:
God. Ha ha. God's sake!

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah, literally, and I just knew. Actually, one of my friends said to me, Laura's ordered decaf. I wonder if she's pregnant. And obviously, I think this was after you had told me. I remember when you texted me and you were like, I've got something to tell you. I was like, I've been waiting for this for months. But I didn't

Laura:
I

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
say

Laura:
saw

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
anything

Laura:
your decap.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
to you. But she was like, she just knew as well. She clocked

Laura:
Oh,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
on to stuff like that. So,

Laura:
do you know

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
yeah.

Laura:
what? Right, okay, if anyone takes anything from this podcast, don't order

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Ha ha!

Laura:
decaf tea in front of people because clearly it's a telltale sign. But interestingly enough, my mother-in-law and one of my other friends said the same thing. So when I

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
today.

Laura:
said to them, oh, have you got decaf? They just knew straight away. Yeah, because I love tea. Like I drink so much tea. But one, the caffeine, so I didn't

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mmm.

Laura:
during pregnancy. But also I went off it. It was

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Me

Laura:
too

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
too.

Laura:
strong for me, like normal tea. I just,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
yeah

Laura:
it was like, ugh. I just

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
i

Laura:
couldn't

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
am a caffeine

Laura:
have it.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
addict and i literally i went off tea i tried decaf tea but i mean it's not the same anybody that says

Laura:
Oh,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
decaf

Laura:
it's not.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
coffee and tea is the same it isn't it does not taste the same

Laura:
No.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
so but yeah i knew i knew

Laura:
I can't believe that because at your baby shower I was literally I was only six weeks So we

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Oh, so

Laura:
made the

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
early

Laura:
decision

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
on.

Laura:
not to tell anyone bar parents obviously until 12

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
weeks for obvious reason So I found it really difficult obviously because loads of people in that environment as well I was like, oh you're gonna have another and I

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yes,

Laura:
was like,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
because they asked

Laura:
oh

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
you

Laura:
well,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
when you were like, mm, I

Laura:
I

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
don't

Laura:
know

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
think so, we're not sure. Like give it a few more years. And I'm there like, yeah, you're lying.

Laura:
Yeah,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Ha ha.

Laura:
you're not just bloated girl.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I mean

Laura:
Because

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
you wouldn't

Laura:
I'll.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
have known physically at all.

Laura:
I mean, I was in maternity clothes at eight weeks with Ila.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I'm still in them now at 10 months' pace baby. So comfortable.

Laura:
Oh, I hear

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Oh.

Laura:
you, absolutely. That is hello. I can't believe you knew.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah

Laura:
I cannot

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
mate.

Laura:
believe that. You know when you think you're being really sneaky as well, because I

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah,

Laura:
was

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
you

Laura:
like

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
failed.

Laura:
trying to limit, trying to limit how often I went to the loo. I was like desperate to do the whole time in your baby shower. But I was like, if I go four times, people are gonna know. I can't believe that. Oh, for goodness

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yep.

Laura:
sake.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
There we go.

Laura:
You must have, I'm, oh God. When I told you, you must have been like, yeah, all right, mate. I'm known

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I

Laura:
for

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
was

Laura:
weeks.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
like I already knew this. Oh

Laura:
Oh,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
dear.

Laura:
amazing. Love that. Absolutely love it. Well, should we go on to some questions that we have from our lovely Instagram followers? And actually, while we're on the topic, we had one question that was about cravings. So did you have

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Okay.

Laura:
any cravings during pregnancy?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Did I have any cravings? Do you know what? I always said during my pregnancy, no, I had not really any cravings because I felt so sick. I just felt like I was on a constant hangover and when I was, when I am hungover or was hungover, I would just want like fruit flavoured things like, or like a Fanta, like anything orange flavoured. So I did like literally consisted of oranges, I think jelly, cheese, and mow wands.

Laura:
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
And I was so worried because I was like, I was that person, I was like, I'm gonna have a smoothie every morning, I'm gonna put

Laura:
Oh

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
so much goodness in my body. And I literally had the worst diet I just ate, like to survive. Honestly, it was that. Even after the sickness was controlled, I wasn't that great, but I stopped, it was like sweets, I needed like sweets, and I'm not a sweet person, as in like, you know, like hard sweets and stuff like that. So it was oranges and actually one of my friends was like, oh, you really like oranges? You're gonna have a boy. And I was like, oh,

Laura:
Really?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
really? Well, apparently, well, obviously not. Cause

Laura:
No,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mila is definitely

Laura:
but

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
a girl.

Laura:
I've never heard that with oranges.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
No, so yeah, another old wives tale.

Laura:
Hmm

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
But yeah, cravings, I think it was, yeah, went off tea and caffeine as you said, but cravings, it was more sweet, just hard sweets, Mao Wams, all that stuff. really else to be honest.

Laura:
Oh, fair enough,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
What about you?

Laura:
fair enough. Well with George, I really had cravings for, you know, seaweed that you get from the Chinese?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
the crispy stuff.

Laura:
Yeah, I

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Wow.

Laura:
could not get enough, literally. What is it, cabbage? I don't even know what it is. Salty cabbage, could not get enough of that. And then I'd make Matt roast a chicken just so I could eat the skin.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
A rotisserie chicken.

Laura:
Oh my God, I can never eat one again.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Thanks for watching!

Laura:
Yeah, literally. So I would just eat the skin off that. So I guess my cravings

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Hmm.

Laura:
with George were just greasy, fat, salty stuff.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mmm.

Laura:
With Isla, it was sweet things actually.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mmm.

Laura:
So I should have guessed really, but I didn't. So Weetabix with loads of sugar on,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm-hmm.

Laura:
couldn't get enough of that. And white chocolate. And,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm.

Laura:
oh,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I'm getting

Laura:
I

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
hungry.

Laura:
really crave

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Ha ha

Laura:
like,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
ha.

Laura:
So we'll be right back guys, it's gonna go to the cupboard.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Quick snack.

Laura:
And then I really craved, do you remember those Willy Wonka nerds in like

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yes!

Laura:
the purple and pink box

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
The purple one,

Laura:
or

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
yeah, yes, yes.

Laura:
yeah, yeah, yeah. Just really, I remember one day in particular, really craving those, just really crave the sour, like the sour taste.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
And I just thought, if I see anyone with them, I'm just gonna confiscate them, just eat them. And

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Hahaha!

Laura:
then remember that they're like from the 90s, so nobody in this day and age is gonna have any on them. I just really wanted the sour taste really with, I don't

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Do you know what

Laura:
know.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
you say as well fatty like foods

Laura:
Mm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I don't think I've ever had so many McDonald's in my life to the point where we would drive at nine o'clock at night down to McDonald's and get a McDonald's and like McFlurry the whole shebang and

Laura:
That's

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I would

Laura:
just

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
never

Laura:
my normal life.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
wouldn't I wouldn't really be bothered about McDonald's really I'd have one like I don't know probably a couple times a year if that

Laura:
Mm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
but yeah I lost count how many times and I and get into Connor. I'm gonna miss this when we can just jump in the car at nine o'clock at night and just

Laura:
Mm-hmm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
go and get a Mackey's.

Laura:
That's it.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Enjoy

Laura:
That is

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
it

Laura:
it.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
while it lasts because you can't do that when you have a child.

Laura:
No, definitely

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
It's okay

Laura:
not.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
though, Deliveroo is always here to rescue us.

Laura:
is your savior.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
So

Laura:
Okay,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
yeah.

Laura:
next question. What did you enjoy most about being pregnant?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
well let's just move past trimester one.

Laura:
Hehehehe

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
So, do you know what, the thing I loved most about being pregnant was how people treated me. Like people treated me like I was a princess. I'm not even lying. Like people would

Laura:
Thanks for watching!

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
open doors for me. I remember going to Dunelm and purchasing like a bin, a new bin, Joy, and I'm there like, and I was probably about 38 weeks pregnant, and I'm just lifting this bin or trying to, And I remember like putting down being like, I'm just

Laura:
Hehehe

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
gonna take a minute. And this man, this lovely man came up to me and he was probably in his 60s or something. He was like, would you like some help? I was like, no, it's okay, I got this. He was like, I think I should help you. I was like, my car's over there. He was like, let me. I was like, okay then.

Laura:
Awwww

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
It was so nice.

Laura:
so cute!

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
But yeah, I just, I remember being as well, I was shopping once because I loved to do that before I had a child. And

Laura:
Hehehehe

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
like Dyson areas when they sell Dysons, this lady was

Laura:
Yeah.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
like, come here, like, oh my God, you're pregnant, like, super excited for me. She's like, let me do your hair, like, let me just do all your hair. And she was only meant to do like the front just to show me what the Dyson does. And ended up doing my whole head because she's like, you deserve this. And I was like, oh my God, thank you so much, like, love you. And like, people would give me free testers or put some extra stuff in. I got some lovely stuff from Selfridges just thrown at me. And I made, I got treated

Laura:
human.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
so well. Farewell!

Laura:
absolutely fuming about that.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I missed

Laura:
Bloody

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
it,

Laura:
lockdown

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
yeah, I kind of

Laura:
won

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
missed that time.

Laura:
so didn't didn't see anyone from five months and then well it's probably because I always had George in tow so I had a screaming toddler people probably just looked at me like

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
She's doing it again.

Laura:
she's stupid enough to do it again. Serves her right.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Ha! No, to the point where actually, it sounds awful but I generally think I felt people were more excited than I was. And that's a horrible thing to say maybe but, you know, because I still couldn't see her or meet her.

Laura:
But you've also

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
It

Laura:
got

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
was hard.

Laura:
nerves and anxiety and everything mixed

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
in there, whereas they're just pure excitement because they know that they're not going to have to go

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah,

Laura:
through it.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I know. And then nobody talks to you when you have a child.

Laura:
Yeah, see ya.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Nobody cares. No, everyone was like, come back and see us. Like honestly, everyone was lovely. I've gone back and nobody remembers me.

Laura:
Where's all my free testers? My hair!

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
So yeah, what about you then?

Laura:
I think for me, because I've got like a fitness background and with our dance background as well, I think

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm-hmm.

Laura:
everything is so on body image and how you look and you know, just what you look like. I really enjoyed, probably too much with being pregnant with George, just watching my body change and going with that

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
and just letting it change and not being like, oh my God, oh, oh, I can't do this and I can't do this and I can't do this or I can't fit into this. with it and I just fully just

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
That's

Laura:
embraced

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
good.

Laura:
it and I was absolutely huge well I was huge both of them but George was a huge baby so I was absolutely massive but I just embraced it I just loved it I loved that my body could do it and was

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm-hmm.

Laura:
doing it and I was almost like in awe of it I couldn't believe it you know you take those bump pictures like I took

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
the ones every few weeks I'd look at that I've got I've done that in like three weeks the difference is just absolutely

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah,

Laura:
crazy

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
it's pretty amazing, isn't it? It is amazing what our bodies go through. And I didn't,

Laura:
Yeah.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I actually didn't appreciate my body like you did until

Laura:
Hmm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I was, I think I was overdue and it was literally like I took a picture. I just saw myself in the mirror and I thought, Oh my goodness, wow, like,

Laura:
Yeah.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
it took me nine over nine months or pretty nearly 10 months, isn't it?

Laura:
Mm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
actually loved, started to love my body at that, at being pregnant at that point.

Laura:
Yeah.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
So it's

Laura:
And

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
a really

Laura:
I

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
good

Laura:
think

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
mindset

Laura:
that happens,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
to have them.

Laura:
yeah, when you're, but obviously the first trimester and some of the second, obviously you don't really have that bump, do you?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Hmm.

Laura:
So it still doesn't feel that real and it doesn't, but yes, obviously as soon as that's there, I was just like, wow, this is amazing. Although Matt would tell you different. I remember vividly this one time I was getting ready for work. This is pregnant with George and I was tired, emotional. And I put on, I think it's just like this long shirt thing to wear with leggings. And I put it on and I was getting ready and he came into bedroom and I saw his face he's like oh I

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
No!

Laura:
was like what what do you mean oh he was like um doesn't really fit properly does it I was

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Oh,

Laura:
like what do

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Matthew.

Laura:
you mean so what do you mean it's not one of your maternity ones is it? Go on put something on it, it's probably not gonna be comfortable and I'm sat there I slumped on the bed obviously like buttons bursting like crying that I just couldn't fit in the step but I think it was that that I was just like you know I

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
just embrace it because why not? This

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
is absolutely amazing. And there was another time actually, I think when you said about the ankles, so we were going out

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
you

Laura:
and I wanted like, it was the summer and I wanted just some sandals on with this dress. I said to him, can you just do my sandals up for me? And he's like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Cause I couldn't bend down at that point. And I could just

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Hehehe

Laura:
feel him like tugging at my foot. And I was like, what are you doing? Just do them up. And he's like, yeah, I now know he was like dying. How do I tell her I cannot get these round her ankles

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Oh.

Laura:
because they're so swollen

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I didn't even try!

Laura:
and again Because I just in denial and then he it was when he looked at him when you need to go for the flip-flops Yeah, I've made it

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Is Matthew

Laura:
I am

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
still

Laura:
huge

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
alive? I'm like,

Laura:
Only

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
run,

Laura:
just

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
run, mate, run.

Laura:
well, I could have said that anybody when you ain't catching me anytime soon, so

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Ha! True, true! No, I'll talk to you on that one in regards to sliders were my best friend and Connor's like offended by sliders, especially if you're anybody that wears socks and sliders like he's not talking to you and he would literally look at me at disgust he tripped over them once and he was like, god damn sliders, let's throw them in the bin! I even couldn't fit

Laura:
Well

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
into

Laura:
that's

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
those

Laura:
it.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
at the end. And I was like, mate,

Laura:
Just

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
give

Laura:
peppy.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
me a break. I'm growing a human here. I've got fat feet, fat hands. Leave me alone. So

Laura:
Well that was actually

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
yeah.

Laura:
with George I had to take my rings off like really probably about seven months I reckon with George I had to take

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
them off and I couldn't get them back on for a good month or two after having

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm.

Laura:
him but with Isla just I wore them the whole time never had to take them off

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
hard isn't it? I had to take mine

Laura:
It's

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
off.

Laura:
so weird

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah

Laura:
yeah

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
my fingers

Laura:
so weird

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
really badly swelled

Laura:
Yeah

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
to the point where I was getting joint pain so I'd wake in the morning and I'd be

Laura:
Oh

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
in

Laura:
really?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
pain. I couldn't even bend my fingers. I was like oh my goodness like it wouldn't it would take ages for them to like loosen up a little bit so I took mine off and I've got them back on now but can't take them off because you know just got fat fingers from eating crap really. Survival.

Laura:
Hahaha

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
That's the fat one I would say.

Laura:
Right, so we like to, well, we want to end each episode and when we have guests on we'll be asking them this sort of question as well, depending on the topic. But for this episode I'm going to ask you, Kel, if

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm-hmm.

Laura:
you could give one piece of advice to a parent or to anyone thinking of becoming a parent, what would it be?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Oh god, probably so many things I've learned over time, over these 10 months, but

Laura:
It's hard,

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I,

Laura:
isn't it, that question?

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
yeah, it's hard to give one tip or advice. Do you know what? The one thing I really would advise is really, really enjoy every moment of those contact naps. Do you know what?

Laura:
Thanks for watching!

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I look back now and at the time, I felt this pressure that if, you know, Mila was sleeping on me, that I was failing as a mum snooze pod or cot or whatever and people kept saying you need to learn she needs to learn to South Soothe Kelly so if you keep sleeping with her on you you know if that's how she's doing an app she'll never learn and she'll get that separation anxiety etc and actually do you know what she never got that so far we're still early days

Laura:
Mm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
and she does sleep in her cot now but I actually regret probably not soaking those moments up because I just miss them I really miss them

Laura:
It's

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
now because

Laura:
so

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
she's

Laura:
true.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
like independent with her naps and if I ever do get an opportunity, because sometimes when they're going through a regression or whatever

Laura:
Mm-hmm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
and you have to rock them a little bit, I've definitely held onto her for much longer. Like she's fallen asleep and probably I'm there for another half an hour just going, oh, I miss it, I do. So what I'd say is don't be in a rush to get rid of that contact. Enjoy it, enjoy every single moment of it because you will miss it and I miss it.

Laura:
That is so true, because I remember reading something that was said, you know, there'll be, there'll be the last time that you need to rock them to sleep.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah,

Laura:
And

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
almost there.

Laura:
honestly, it breaks my heart because we haven't had to rock George to sleep for, well, I can't even remember the last time we did. And I read that and I was like, I don't do that with George anymore.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Hmm.

Laura:
And it just breaks, he doesn't need it. It doesn't need to be rocked to sleep. And it

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Hmm.

Laura:
just absolutely broke my heart. So yeah, when we had Isla, she would always have like a little cat nap around eight o'clock before we then went up for her sort of final feed before bed and just for the first couple of months she just had it on me

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Hmm.

Laura:
and Matt would always be like do

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
you want to put her down? I'd be like no

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
No.

Laura:
I'm alright and I would just and there's sometimes in the afternoon

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
you

Laura:
as well when it was just me and her she would do the same she'd fall asleep I'd be like oh no I need to stay here

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Oh

Laura:
and watch

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
no,

Laura:
TV

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
they're so quiet

Laura:
with her on

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
and

Laura:
me.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
beautiful.

Laura:
Yeah.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
No, it is, I definitely do miss it. I think though, and we'll go into this in future episodes, but because Mila was quite a colicky baby and she struggled with wind, so she liked to be on her front and upright. So

Laura:
Mm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I think I had that drilled into my mind with quite a negative experience because there's the only way that she would be comfortable and stop crying. But yeah, that's my tip. In summary, enjoy every contact nap. Don't be in a rush to stop those. Yeah, and take it all in.

Laura:
Love it. That is a really good piece of advice.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
What's yours?

Laura:
I think for me it would be read everything that you want to read. Read all the information but take it all with a pinch of salt

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm-hmm.

Laura:
because there is no baby that is a textbook baby as I call it.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm-hmm.

Laura:
So in terms of milestones, in terms of sleeping, feeding, there's no... there isn't a baby that fits all the boxes. So you know development and things like that I read all the time about it but I almost put pressure on myself because George didn't tick those milestone boxes

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
at the right time

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
I know we'll talk about this in an episode so it was almost like well the book says that he should be doing this and he's not and the book says he should be eating this much and he's not or he should be sleeping this much and he's not and

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
it was just like why why am I doing that what you need to do is read that I'm like okay generally he should be doing this

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Mm-hmm.

Laura:
but he's not and actually he's doing this and the

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah.

Laura:
book says he shouldn't do that for another few months so it was it's just yeah take all the information with a bit of a pinch of salt really and yeah don't put pressure on yourself to tick all those boxes just enjoy your baby as they are because they'll do everything in their own time when

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yep.

Laura:
they're ready and just go with it

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
No, I think that's really good tip. And it's not to like, don't over read as well, isn't it? Because I remember I

Laura:
Hmm.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
would be reading at three o'clock in the morning, why is my baby not sleeping? I at one point had 500 tabs open on my iPhone to the point

Laura:
You

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
where

Laura:
stress

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
I

Laura:
me

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
know,

Laura:
out.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
psycho, to the point where I actually couldn't open. That is the maximum. If anybody wants to know, you can't open any more than 500 tabs on your iPhone. Oh gosh, yeah. So,

Laura:
That

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
and I

Laura:
is

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
just got myself

Laura:
crazy.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
in a right So yeah, no, I think that's really good advice.

Laura:
Absolutely. So, well, I guess

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Hmmmm...

Laura:
that's all for our first episode.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
It

Laura:
So

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
is!

Laura:
thank you so much for listening to our first episode of the hashtag Mum Life podcast. We hope you've enjoyed it.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Yeah, make sure you follow us on our Instagram at mumlifepodcast. Drop us a DM, we love to hear from you as well and what you're going through, your experiences. We will hopefully be bringing guests on to have a little chat with us and share their journeys as well.

Laura:
Take care.

Kelly Stinton-Edwards:
Bye.