All posts by Eva McMahon

First month with our new baby

You know the saying time flies?! It definitely applies when it comes to children. It only feels like yesterday I was rolling around London with a 9 month belly and was heading to hospital for c-section and just like that our baby is 1 month old.

If you follow my other social media you probably know we did not know the gender before birth and wanted a surprise and also that our baby was breech. I was trying everything I could to turn the baby but after having chat with my best friend I agreed c-section is not so bad. I now fully believe children choose the way they come to this world. So our Nessa born just in time for me to heal a bit for Christmas decided this is the way she wants to enter into our lives. I would never imagine I would have to have c-section. I was preparing for hypno-birth but this was the way.

We were also in shock that it was a girl as I always saw myself as boys mum and so did my husband. I will not lie that towards the end of pregnancy something was telling me it is a girl and she was always appearing in my meditations but I kept it for myself. Well, now I am lucky to have a boy and girl and it feels wonderful. My husband can enjoy daddy’s girl now as Liam is typical mummy’s boy :)

When it comes to recovery I find it hard. I am a very active person that is keen to jump in straight back in. I am always creating content, seeing people doing things so timing around Christmas was good. At least there was not much going on but there is not much flexibility. It is a major surgery and it comes with pain and needed rest. I am slowly getting there but the fact I cannot jump to high intensity workouts after 6 weeks is not the best news for me. I was running around with Liam pretty much 2 weeks after giving birth and was barely at home with him. Hopefully at around 6-8 weeks I can feel much better and get a sign off from doctor but most women report discomfort or pain even a year later so I guess it takes time.

When it comes to baby clothes and other needed stuff I was lucky to have a lot after Liam so I am using his old Cybex priam but we got few new items which we adore. I must say one of the best things for C-section was the Halo Bassinet. It is tall, sturdy and you can move it closer to bed so I could easily reach Nessa in the first days when I was stuck in bed. It has several modes like white noises sounds and vibrations and also lights to create a feel of being in the womb. It has been so far absolutely brilliant. We also wanted something for downstairs and opted for stunning and foldable cot instead of moses basket. This one is in collaboration with Rachel Riley and Clair de Lune. The design is adorable, it is light so I can move it around the house and I was thinking that it is a brilliant item to bring to staycation when going away. I would choose this over any travel cot. And the last but not least Nessa loves her Baby Bjorn bouncer. These are so popular I know and it has been a wonder for multitasking. As my mum said you can put her in and bounce whilst watching a movie (LOL). And it is absolutely true.

We are slowly adjusting to life with two kids and I am lucky to have so much help from mum. She is staying for another week and then off we go. I have to manage myself. However, us women we are strong creatures and we always somehow manage anything so I am sure once I have my routine I will be just fine.

Eva

Vite jak se rika, cas leti?! V pripade deti to plati nekolikanasobne. Prijde mi, ze je to nedavno, co jsem se valila po Londyne s velkym brichem a nas maly prirustek uz ma mesic.

Jestli me sledujete na socialnich platformach, tak asi vite, ze jsem nechtela vedet pred porodem pohlavi. A take ze miminko se neobratilo a prestoze jsem zkusila vsechny alternativni i nealternativni metody, tak jsem nakonec musela rodit cisarskym rezem, coz by me v zivote nenapadlo, ze me ceka. Ja jsem se pripravovala na hypno-porod bez zasahu a nakonec me cekal porod s tim nejvetsim zasahem. Ale po konverzaci s moji kamaradkou, jsem to zkratka prijala a zacala verit, ze deti si vybiraji, jak na tento svet prijdou. A alespon uz jsem se na Vanoce citila trosku lepe. Vsechno bylo tak jak to melo byt.

Dost nas prekvapilo, ze se narodila holcicka, protoze jsem se vzdy videla jako mama kluku a to same muj muz. Az ke konci tehotetnstvi mi trosku podvedomi naseptavalo, ze by to mohla byt holcicka, protoze se mi ukazovala v mych meditacich, ale i tak to bylo obrovske prekvapeni. Jsem rada, ze jsem si pohlavi nedala rict, v dnesni dobe nema clovek tolik tech opravdovych prekvapenich. A ted si muj manzel muze uzit holciciky, protoze Liam je opravdu typicky mamanek.

Hojeni po cisari mi prijde to nejnarocnejsi. Jsem hrozne aktivni clovek a to ze jsem nemohla pomalu vstat z postele bylo opravdu narocne. Prvni tyden jsem stravila v posteli, brala leky na bolest, ale na Vanoce uz to bylo lepsi. Jak rikam nebylo to spatne nacasovane. Zena se musi setrit a to bylo hrozne narocne, protoze bych nejradsi skocila ven, zacala cvicit a uzivala si Londynskeho zivota. Jenze v tomto pripade to nebude tak rychle jako v pripade meho prvniho ditete. I kdyz mi da lekar zelenou, ze muzu cvicit, zvedat veci, vim, ze nemuzu hned tak zacit intenzivni cviceni. Nektere zeny dokonce tvrdi, ze citily problemy i po roce. Jak rika kazda, ktera si tim prosla, chce to cas.

Co se tyce veci pro miminka, schovala jsem si hodne po Liamkovi. Pouzivam jeho stary Cybex Priam a spoustu dalsich veci jako Cocoonababy apod. Par novych produktu ale mame a jsem ze vsech nadsena. Halo Bassinet je opravdu fantasticky a hlavne u cisare. Je dost vysoky a da se manipulovat tak, ze se da pritahnout k posteli, coz bylo u cisare vyborne. Mohla jsem si uz snad treti den podavat Nessu sama. V Britanii vas poslou domu 24 hodin po cisari, takze je to dost narocne. Navic je to postylka, ktera vibruje a ma take white noise zvuky. Je navrhnuta tak, aby co nejvice pripominala zivot v deloze matky.

Do obyvaciho pokoje jsem chtela neco jednoducheho a vybrala si tuhle postylku od Rachel Riley. Libil se mi moc design, ktery je v kolaboraci se znackou Clair de Luna a navic je to lehka postylka, ktera se da slozit. Napadlo me, ze je to vyborna vec misto cestovni postylky, pokud treba jedete nekam jenom autem. Urcite mnohem lepsi nez vetsina cestovnich postylek. A v neposledni rade nesmim zapomenout na Baby Bjorn bouncer, ktery vim, ze je velmi oblibeny. A nam vyhovuje opravdu moc. Jak rekla moje mama, muzes ji houpat nohou a divat se u toho treba na film (LOL). A je to pravda.

A tak se pomalu prizpusobujeme zivotu s dvema ratolestma. Ted mam zatim pomoc a jsem za to moc rada, ale verim, ze az mi odjede mama, ze to zase zvladneme. Je to o tom si najit rutinu a nezblaznit se z toho. Zeny jsou silne a proste my to vzdy nejak ustojime.

Eva

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Those final weeks….

I am getting closer to my due date and the game is on. I must say the start of pregnancy and the end are always the hardest. I need the baby to stay in just two more weeks to make sure it is not pre-term labour but then I am more than happy to pop. The waiting part is hard. Actually, today I read in my hypno-birthing book that due date is very rough estimate and if you are having your first child you should ad 15 extra days and with second around 10 days. Not what any pregnant lady wants to hear. I feel towards the end a day can feel like a week :)

I can tell you that the symptoms towards the end are very uncomfortable. Let’s talk heartburn, not enjoying food as there is never enough space in my tummy, constipation, pregnancy insomnia and finding it hard to function. The baby is pulling you down and you feel heavy. I will not lie but even on my 10-12 minute walk to school I need to take breaks at this point. Oh, well it was much easier first time round. I remember I was doing full photo shoot on my due date in a super hot London and then went shopping to Selfridges after with my mum LOL. I guess that was 5 years ago and age plays a big part too.

I am trying to rest a lot and take a nap most days if I can but it is so hard now when things are fun especially before Christmas. However, I am trying to pick events where I know there is a car service and it is really worth the effort. There is so much going on but I simply cannot make two plus events in one day. It is hard for me such an active person to turn it down especially I will be back to “can I bring my baby” to this event soon? But it has to be done. I love this time of the year and last year we lost so much fun due to Covid but it has to be done as this little miracle is worth it.

Well, let’s just hope for safe and positive delivery and for both of us to be healthy and happy.

Eva

Tak uz se mi to blizi a musim vam priznat, ze zacatek a konec tehotenstvi je vzdy nejtezsi a urcite nejsem sama, kdo to tak vnima. Ja si preju at miminko pekne jeste dva tydny vydrzi v brisku, aby nebyl predcasny porod, ale pak jsem pripravena. Ale kdo z nas neni v techto poslednich tydnech? Sotva lezu, zadychana na prvnim schodku, nemuzu si uzit jidlo, protoze se do me moc nevleze, pali me zaha, problemy se zacpou a same delikatesy. V me knizce o hypnoporodu jsem dnes cetla, ze termin porodu se povede jen 5 % zenam a pokud cekate prvni dite, mate si radsi pridat 15 dni a druhe dite 10. Takze predikce asi neni idealni :).

A mezi dalsi veci ke konci patri take tiha miminka, mam pocit, ze uz je hrozne tezke a musim si delat prestavky za chuze, dlouhodobe sezeni taky neni idealni a nejlip je mi v pozici na boku. Snazim se odpocivat, ale prijde mi, ze je porad tolik prace. Navic pozvanky i spoluprace se hrnou ze vsech stran.

Bohuzel musim hodne odmitat, protoze treba dve akce za den uz je na me opravdu strasne moc a vybiram si podle znacky, vztahu jakem mam s danou znackou a jaka je to akce a samozrejme kyvnu na ty akce, kde je soucasti odvoz na misto a pak zpatky domu. To cloveku hodne ulehci. Musim si zkratka rict, ze si tu Vanocni party sezonu uziju pristi rok, sice Covid nam loni zadnou nedopral a letos jsem v pokrocilem stadiu tehotenstvi, ale ten maly zazrak za to stoji.

Ted si preju jen pozitivni porod a zdravi jak pro me tak miminko. To je ted nejdulezitesti.

Eva

Third Trimester Update

Dress: Tiffany Rose Maternity, Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

I am officially in single digits when it comes to weeks until my due date and I better hurry up preparing things for the arrival of the little one. I finally ordered several things for my hospital bag which you can watch in this video and wrote down a list what else needs to be done. Third trimester slows us down a bit so really do not want to leave until the last week before I give birth. And with Christmas ahead I want to be ready for both so I am planning to sort even Christmas shopping in the next few weeks.

I am feeling well but as you may have experienced yourself things start to get harder. The weight gain is the biggest in the last weeks of pregnancy and I feel it. Sleeping becomes harder and I am no exception, walking becomes slower, breath becomes shorter. I have also experienced that being active really takes a lot out of me. My job involves lot of social/work events and there has been so many. To be honest I have to turn a lot down as I simply do not manage that volume. And now when Liam had to stay home from school as he was not well I feel so much more energetic as I am simply home more. So it is a lot about how much you do.

I have got busy weekend ahead with Liam who feels better so will take rest of this week easy and just focus on content creation. I am pretty sure with balance I can easily manage to get through. We are heading to pumpkin patch as well as Gruffalo trail in Kew Gardens. Sadly we missed the Ascot races last weekend due to him feeling poorly but there will be plenty of opportunities again.

As for the preparation for birth I have finally started my pelvic floor exercises, started to read my hypnobirthing book I had from first birth and also starting hypnobirthing meditations as often as possible. I have also received amazing labour kit from the Organic Pharmacy https://www.theorganicpharmacy.com/that includes some pre-birth homeopatics but I believe you take those around a week before due date.

So fingers crossed the last few weeks go well, I can enjoy a bit of work and social life and be ready for the big arrival.

Eva

Jsem oficialne par tydnu do terminu porodu a rikam si, abych si pohnula a konecne poradne pripravila vse, co je treba. Minuly tyden jsem si konecne objednala par veci, ktere budu potrebovat do tasky do nemocnice a na to se muzete podivat v tomto videu. A take jsem si sepsala seznam veci, ktere mi jeste chybi. Posledni trimester je takovy pomalejsi, tak nechci nechavat veci na posledni chvili. A nesmim opomenout, ze mame pred sebou Vanoce a pripravy darku k tomu, to neni zadna sranda.

Citim se celkove dobre, ale co si budeme nalhavat. V poslednim trimesteru je nejvyssi narust vahy a tim padem je clovek pomalejsi, hur se mu spi a take lapa po dechu pri kazdem mensim vystupu do kopce. Mam pocit, ze pokud nejsem extra aktivni a jsem spise doma, vse je v poradku. Jakmile ale zacnu nabirat pracovni prilezitosti, chodit na akce, cestovat po Londyne, tak se to okamzite projevi unavou. Jenze ono je tezke, kdyz se ted po dlouhe dobe roztrhl pytel s pozvankami na akce, schuzky a porad se neco deje. Ale uz jsem si nacitila, ze opravdu je treba balanc a neprehanet to. Ted jsem byla par dni doma s nemocnym Liamkem a je mi skvele. Jde opravdu citit, ze kdyz clovek vypusti tyto hekticke plany, energie je dostatek.

Ceka me nabity vikend s Liamkem, chystame se na dynovou farmu a take do Kew Garden na Gruffala, ktereho ma moc rad. Minuly vikend nam unikly dostihy v Ascots, protoze mu nebylo moc dobre, ale takovych prilezitosti jeste bude.

Co se tyce pripravy na porod, jsem spise clovek, ktery se snazi nechat vecem volny prubeh. Zacala jsem konecne procvicovat panevni dno, vytahla moji starsi knizku o hypnoporodu a dnes zacinam meditace. V Organic Pharmacy jsem take dostala skvely Labour Kit, ktery obsahuje homeopatika, ktere mate jist pred porodem, ale ty se pouzivaji zhruba tyden pred terminem.

Snad mi bude doprano a poslednich par tydnu i porod probehnou v poradku a snad si do te doby uziju co nejvice spolecenskych a pracovnich akci a budu plne pripravena na nas novy prirustek.

Eva

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Pregnancy Update – 2nd Trimester

Wearing: Bag: Fendi, Blazer: Zara Men Shoes: Zara, Sunglasses: Versace, Necklace: Missoma
Pictures: by Hollie

I am at the final stages of 2nd trimester and realised I have not talked much pregnancy on this platform. Perhaps it is time after 7 months to share a word or two. You know what they say better late than ever.

Well, let’s talk first trimester briefly despite it feels so long ago. I admit that I found both pregnancies first trimester the hardest. You just cannot beat hormones and you cannot predict what the first few weeks will bring. I experienced significant nausea and much stronger and longer than with Liam. I was not getting sick as much just simply 24/7 nausea. I celebrated my birthday with friends and then the delicious truffle pasta ended up in toilet and I could barely eat my birthday cake. Well, I am not here to sugar coat things am I? I was waking up at night, running to toilet and then nothing. So the sleep was not great either. I had to eat constantly as that made me feel slightly better but sadly only for short periods of time. That resulted in weight gain which was bigger than my previous pregnancy.

I had to drive everywhere as walking made me feel sick so most school runs were happening by car. I admit that I felt lot of depression first pregnancy and luckily not so much this time however everything and everybody annoyed me. It is just shocking what it can do to your mind and body. I learnt my lesson first time round and did not push myself to things, I rested more, slept if could and just went with the flow. There are so many changes in your body, hormones are all over the place so you cannot blame yourself for how you feel.

Well and now I am almost at the end of second trimester and I feel much better however I felt so much more energetic when expecting Liam. Most mums are telling me that it because I already have another child. Well, possibly. I also thing it is due to age as I am simply older than I was before. However, second trimester is my favourite and was with Liam too. The energy kicks in, you are not as big as third trimester and you start to enjoy things again. My sacral chakra feels in balance and that means I have lot of creativity coming out and I just feel more me again. I cannot do things every day so I really decide carefully what I am doing and who with and really try to prioritise. And I also started to gather things I need for little one’s arrival. We decided that we do not want to know the gender so really focusing to shop for neutrals that will suit both boy or girl. Although my intuition tells me it will be … (well I keep it for myself). At my 20 weeks scan they were shocked I did not want to know and kept suggesting they will put it in the envelope in case I will change my mind. LOL

Well, 3 months to go is not that long so hopefully time will fly and I can enjoy my last trimester as much as possible.

Eva

Jsem u konce druheho trimestru a uvedomila jsem si, ze jsem se k tehotenstvi na blogu moc nevyjadrila. Mozna je v sedmem mesici uz trochu pozde, ale vite jak se rika, ze lepsi pozdeji nez vubec.

Zacnu asi prvnim trimestrem, prestoze mi to prijde tak davno. Stejne jako u prvniho tehotenstvi mi to prislo velmi narocne. Hormony jsou opravdu nepredvidatelne a dokazi divy, ne vzdy velmi pozitivni. Asi nejsilnejsim symptomem byly neustavajici nevolnosti a trvaly docela dlouho. Asi do 17 tydne. Nezvracela jsem az tak, ale bylo mi spatne i v noci. Casto jsem se budila, utikala na zachod a nic. Musela jsem jist mnohem vic a casto, to mi trosku pomahalo, ale bohuzel jenom na chvili. To se sazmorejme ukazalo na vaze a pribrala jsem mnohem vic nez kdyz jsem cekala Liama.

Narozeniny jsem oslavila tak, ze lanyzove testoviny nakonec stejne skoncily v zachode a dort jsem sotva ochutnala. Opravdu zeny nikdy nevi, co s nima zacatek tehotenstvi udela. Ale jsem rada, ze pres nevolnosti a jine klasicke symptomy probehl prvni trimestr v poradku. Poucila jsem se z prvniho tehotenstvi a opravdu zpomalila. Pokud to slo, spala jsem, nenutila se do niceho, musela jsem vic jezdit autem, protoze pri chozeni mi bylo neskutecne zle, takze vetsinu dni jsem vozila Liama i do skolky. U prvniho tehotenstvi jsem prozivala docela depresivni stavy, tomu jsem se nastesti tentokrat vyhnula, ale presto mi vsechno a vsichni lezli na nervy haha. Jeste ze tuhle fazi mam za sebou.

Druhy trimester je temer u konce a nechce se mi ani verit, jak to utika. Stejne jako u Liamka si toto obdobi vice uzivam. Sakralni cakra je krasne v balancu a to se u me projevi zvysenou kreativitou, ktera byla v predchozim trimesteru na bode mrazu. Mam vice energie, ale priznam se, ze zdaleka ne tak moc jako u Liamka. Spousta maminek tvrdi, ze je to tim, ze uz jedno dite mam. Ja si osobne myslim, ze je to vekem. Kazdopadne tim, ze me nektere dny vice vycerpavaji, opravdu si vybiram co delam a s kym. Netlacim na sebe a posloucham sve telo jak to nejlepe jde. Dopravam si tehotenske masaze a staram se o sebe. Tentokrat jsem se take rozhodla, ze nechci vedet pohlavi. Na ultrazvuku ve 20. tydnu mi porad rikali, ze mi to napisou do obalky, ale ja se nedala. Vim, ze by me to lakalo a tim bych si zkazila skutecne prekvapeni. Je mi vlastne jedno jestli to bude holka nebo kluk, protoze zdravi je na prvnim miste. A tak porizuju hlavne neutralni veci v prirodnich barvach.

Takze vzhuru do posledni faze, ktera snad probehne v poradku a bez komplikaci. Tri mesice nejsou tak dlouha doba, takze se musim predspat:) Kez by to tak slo :)

Eva

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