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You are here: Home / MOTHERHOOD / Blogger Bump Club Week 20 #BlogBumpClub

Blogger Bump Club Week 20 #BlogBumpClub

September 25, 2014 by Molly 14 Comments

Blogger Bump Club

I can’t believe we’ve now had 20 weeks of the Blogger Bump Club. Over that time I’ve blogged the second half of my pregnancy, come across some fantastic new blogs and made connections with lots of other pregnant bloggers via Twitter, Instagram and their blogs using the #BlogBumpClub hashtag. When I started this little linky 20 weeks ago I was convinced no one would join in, so I’m thrilled that so many people have linked up over the weeks.

I’m now 39 weeks pregnant and knocking on the door of 40 weeks. I know from past experience that doesn’t mean there’ll necessarily be a baby here this time next week (Frog arrived 12 days past her due date), but it does mean there’s a very high chance this could be my penultimate #BlogBumpClub linky post.

I’ve arranged for another blogger who is still fairly early on in her pregnancy journey to take over the mantle and I’ll give you the details of who that will be on my last #BlogBumpClub post. I hope people will continue to join in and share their pregnancy posts, it really has been a brilliant way to find other people going through similar things and share the joy of baby kicks and irritation of cankles – not to mention the other glamorous symptoms that come with pregnancy.

Full term bump

This week has been all about riding the wave of the end of this pregnancy for me. People keep asking if I’m desperate to have the baby now and the truth is I’m not. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really excited and more than ready for labour, but I’m not sitting around feeling grumpy and frustrated for baby to make an appearance. It’s a very different experience from how I felt last time and I think having another child to help distract me certainly helps. I wrote more about “the un-waiting game” end bit of pregnancy earlier this week.

This is a lovely time of the pregnancy for me, as I can finally relax and know everything is ready. There really is nothing left for me to do but continue with a bit of yoga, potter around the house while Frog is at school and enjoy not feeling like I’m living life at a million miles an hour. The nursery is all done (there’s a tour of it on this post) and the hospital bags are all packed. The clothes are washed, the house is clean and the moses basket is waiting by the side of our bed.

I’m starting to get some exciting new baby products stocked up and can’t wait to try all of them out. I’ll be reviewing the Gro-light and Gro-hush very soon, along with some beautiful products from a brand that’s totally new to me. It’s really easy to get bogged down in all the “must-have” baby gadgets and paraphernalia out there, so I’m keen to find if there are any products I missed out on last time that really do make life easier for a new mum. Do let me know if there are any products you’ve tried out recently which you’ve loved!

Link Up

How are you feeling this week? Have we had any new #BlogBumpClub babies being born over the past few days? Maybe you’ve been shopping for baby goodies and have some great new finds to share. Whatever your latest pregnancy update link it up here so we can all ready your blog post and get involved in the blogger antenatal chat.

Don’t forget to try and comment on other posts that have been linked up too – it’s far more fun if we all chat to each other rather than just link and run.

And you can tweet me a link to your post using the hashtag #BlogBumpClub and I’ll RT it for you too. I’m @mollyjforbes on Twitter.

Mother's Always Right

Filed Under: MOTHERHOOD, Pregnancy Tagged With: 39 weeks pregnant, full term, labour, motherhood, Pregnancy, pregnancy due dates

« The un-waiting game
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Comments

  1. Bumpy Ride says

    September 29, 2014 at 5:31 pm

    I have loved reading the other posts on #blogbumpclub, Molly. Such a good idea!
    I am about a week ahead of you with my first and it’s been educational and reassuring to hear how and everyone else has been getting on.
    Now I just have the last bit to do…the birth, then the fun will really start!!
    Good luck with your impending arrival and hope everything goes well – whenever it decides to ‘go’!

    Reply
  2. Bex @ The Mummy Adventure says

    September 28, 2014 at 1:47 pm

    I never had a waiting game at the end either, but then both my boys were born just before their due date – hopefully pretzel will be the same! I hope the end is relaxing for you – take care!

    Reply
  3. Anna says

    September 28, 2014 at 11:10 am

    Really close now, how exciting! It’s great to hear you’re enjoying it. All the best 🙂

    Reply
  4. Working mum blog says

    September 27, 2014 at 5:04 pm

    I am going to miss reading your posts about pregnancy but at the same time I look forward to hearing about what you review and get up to when the baby has arrived. It is also good to hear that you are relaxing and enjoying the last of what you have left of your pregnancy. I am trying to do the same after a few stressful weeks. I have taken your advice and turned off my phone, and I feel much better for that. Enjoy your weekend XX

    Reply
  5. ghostwritermummy says

    September 27, 2014 at 6:55 am

    Ah, pottering around sounds lovely! I cannot wait to stop completely myself to be honest, but I really think I will keep going up to my section date now. I am also about to start stalking your timeline for news of baby, just to warn you. Promise I won’t start with the ‘any news’ line though! x x x x x

    Reply
  6. The Breastest News says

    September 26, 2014 at 9:33 pm

    How exciting! I’ve only been joining in for the last 8 weeks but even that’s gone pretty quickly. Can’t wait to here the news of your babies arrival though, I’ll be watching your twitter/instagram/blog like a hawk 😉

    As for useful baby bits and bobs I’d say the Cuddledry Apron Towel was amazing and a total must have. Best baby towel we ever had, washed well and was always super soft. I was so sad when Logan got too big for it 🙁

    Reply
  7. Carie says

    September 26, 2014 at 4:31 am

    I can’t believe how quickly the weeks have gone either but I’m really looking forward to hearing the news of a new arrival when the time is right (I too am all about the over due babies!). As for useful bits and pieces this time around baby Pip likes to be swaddled so a pack of giant swaddle muslins has been brilliant especially on warmer nights when a blanket is just too much, and of course a few boy flavoured baby clothes!

    Reply
    • Molly says

      September 26, 2014 at 9:16 am

      Giant swaddle muslins are a great idea – I need to get some of those! This time of year is tricky as it can’t decide if it’s cold or hot. Definitely going to add those to my list, thank you!

      Reply
  8. Milly says

    September 26, 2014 at 12:48 am

    39 weeks, can’t believe it’s nearly time for number two either. Just wanted to stop by and say thanks for setting up #blogbumpclub … Though I’m now in actual baby club, it was a great way to remind me to write about my pregnancy and take comfort & inspiration in the experiences of others. Very valuable as a first timer!!
    So good luck for the last week, will look forward to news of frog 2 safe arrival,
    Milly – DamBaby

    Reply
    • Molly says

      September 26, 2014 at 9:15 am

      Thank you Milly! I loved reading your pregnancy updates – so interesting to hear how different things are in Holland compared to the UK. And couldn’t be more polar opposite to the US by the sounds of it!

      Reply
  9. Gill Crawshaw says

    September 25, 2014 at 8:08 pm

    I’m completely with you on the non-waiting! Feel exactly the same – really happy to wait for as long as it takes and I’m enjoying the last bit of pregnancy (especially as I only finished work today – wooo – but have to wait till next week for a nursery day of rest). Also, I can’t believe it’s been 20 weeks x

    Reply
    • Molly says

      September 26, 2014 at 9:14 am

      I think this bit is both easier and harder second time around – easier because you know what to expect, have the distraction of another child etc and harder because you don’t get the same opportunities to put your feet up!

      Reply
  10. Kelly says

    September 25, 2014 at 10:03 am

    It’s going to be sad not reading your updates for much longer Molly! Tracking your progress has helped me count my own weeks down. Can’t wait to see your lovely little one though 🙂

    Very jealous about the Gro-Light – I really want one but the OH has put it on the “extras” list instead of my “essentials” list. I’ll eagerly await the review to see if I can bump it up

    Good luck this week – I’ll be stalking you for progress updates :p
    xxx

    Reply
    • Molly says

      September 25, 2014 at 7:00 pm

      Thanks Kelly! For what it’s worth – I’d definitely recommend the Gro-Light. If you’re going to be buying a night-light anyway then this it’s a way to avoid spending a fortune on a fancy night-light. You won’t necessarily need one straight away though! xxx

      Reply

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Hello and welcome! I'm Molly Forbes - podcaster, presenter and blogger with a passion for positivity, confidence and body image chat. Regularly writing and vlogging about empowering female issues from a motherhood angle, I also cover lifestyle and fashion topics for like-minded mums who want to rediscover themselves after having children. Thanks for stopping by! Read More…

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Hello. How are you? . I’ve noticed something th Hello. How are you? 
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I’ve noticed something this lockdown that feels different to first time... the sense of people being more disconnected than ever, more divided, more isolated. 
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Maybe it’s because we’re all on our last nerve now - the loss, sacrifice and stress is amplified that bit more. 
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And we’re so deep in it, often confined in our thoughts at home, our only connection with the outside world via a screen, that it becomes harder to appreciate our differences in circumstances. 
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We forget that we are all just humans muddling through a global pandemic, trying to come out of it alive, with our minds intact and hopefully our jobs too. 
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We’re angry, sad, frustrated, scared. And in the absence of those regular social connections we need a place to direct those feelings. The social media platforms and comments sections on news sites have never been so busy. 
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Except it’s not just faceless people on the internet that we’re upset with anymore. It’s our neighbours, family and friends. 
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Dr Vivek Murthy wrote about the importance of social connections and community in his book Together, pointing out that loneliness has the same impact on mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. 
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We are sociable creatures. We need community not just to thrive but to survive. 
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So check in with your friends today. Maybe even send them a voice note. Don’t assume you know how they’re doing based on their latest Facebook post. We need to get through this together, not apart ❤️
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[Image description: Molly is looking at the camera, smiling in a tired, resigned sort of way. She’s outside and is wearing a fantastic hat that her husband says looks like a tea cosy.]
✨Art from @emilycoxhead gorgeous book You Are In ✨Art from @emilycoxhead gorgeous book You Are Incredible Just As You Are✨
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A reminder that loving every bit of ourselves isn’t just about embracing all the parts on the outside, but also about accepting - and maybe even celebrating - the bits on the inside too. 
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I’ll go first: I am a worrier and have a tendency to think deeply on things. If we’ve ever had a disagreement - be it an exchange on Twitter in 2018 or a row in the playground in 1992 you bet I’ve stored that away in my brain ready to ruminate on in the depths of a night when I can’t sleep. 
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But in the spirit of loving every bit of ourselves I say that rather than looking at these parts of ourselves as “flaws”, we choose instead to view them with loving kindness and a heavy dose of self-compassion. 
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I worry because I am sensitive, and I care. This sometimes means I’m more vulnerable to allowing others’ opinions of me have too much power... but it also means I feel remorse when I make mistakes and try my very best to learn from them. 
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And this also means I work hard in everything I do because I genuinely care about doing a good job. Meanwhile, my tendency to think deeply on stuff means I’m able to see the nuance in things and appreciate other perspectives, because as I grasp for an answer I often find two things can be true at the same time. 
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These are not traits I would view as “pathetic” or “needy” or “indecisive” in my kids and I would never tell them to “just get over it”, so I’m trying to remember this for myself too.
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Tell me, what parts of the inner you are you working on learning to love? 
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[Image description: A double page spread from Emily Coxhead’s book You Are Incredible. It’s a yellow page with a red heart and white writing which reads “Here’s to loving every bit of you.”]
Let’s talk joyful movement and.... PRIVILEGE! A Let’s talk joyful movement and.... PRIVILEGE! A nice juicy subject for a Thursday evening 😅
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I absolutely love to see the narrative shift (albeit ever so slightly) to the intrinsic benefits of movement. The focus on intuitive movement and moving our bodies for how it makes us FEEL over how it makes us LOOK brings me huge happiness. 
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BUT... even when we take movement away from a diet culture context, I still think there’s often a lack of acknowledgment of the many barriers preventing people engaging in movement in the first place (hot tip: it’s not “just cos they’re lazy” 🙄). 
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When it comes to my own family - here are some of the privileges we live with which make movement easier for us: 
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✨ We live in an area with access to lots of safe green spaces to play and walk.
✨ We can afford to pay for a gym membership, and extra curricular activities for the kids like gymnastics, Street Dance and swimming.
✨ We have access to the technology needed to take part in online classes over lockdown.
✨ We are non-disabled so experience no physical access issues preventing us from joining in with these activities. 
✨ Our work schedule allows us to get out together during daylight hours. 
✨ None of us lives with a mental health condition which might make getting outside / engaging in movement really hard or even impossible.
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Kids access to movement is not equal so if we really care about encouraging more children to move then, as a nation, we need to level the playing field (pun intended). 
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Some accounts which often discuss movement and privilege: @thephitcoach @amysnellingpt @theaishanash ❤️
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[Image description: Molly and her two daughters standing on top of a hill smiling, with their arms in the air.]
It’s pretty well accepted that certain “fad di It’s pretty well accepted that certain “fad diets” are not the one. But if our definition of diet culture stops there, and we fail to see how diet culture IS fatphobic in its very nature - and that it absolutely depends on a collective cultural fear and vilification of fatness then we’ll never get anywhere with tearing it down.
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Dressing up fatphobia as “health concern”, or “tough love” or “helping people” is just a fluffy way of saying you don’t acknowledge the huge complexity around health, or the many factors that impact weight, or the research showing the harmful (and unhealthy) impact of weight stigma, or the evidence into the long term effectiveness of diets and intentional weight loss. 
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And essentially, those who assert that health only looks one way, and that people have a moral responsibility to prove their health via the shape of their body and not be a “drain on society”, are saying that only people with their version of a “healthy body” are worthy of respect, equality, dignity.
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Children pick up on these messages and learn from an early age that “fat = bad”, and to see some bodies as better, and more deserving of love and respect than others. This could be why we’re seeing a rising number of pre-teens with eating disorders and mental health issues associated with poor body image. 
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Yes we need to lose the fad diets. But we also need to lose the deeper prejudices and anti-fat biases that make them profitable in the first place, otherwise they’ll just continue to show up in different ways, coming in ever more aggressive and insidious ways for our kids.
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(Image description: A yellow slide with multicolour shapes and a screenshot of a tweet overlaid which reads “FYI you can’t be simultaneously anti-diet culture and pro fatphobia. (And yes, fatphobia includes continuously asking “But what about health?” and not listening to the answer...)
You might have missed this in the news over Christ You might have missed this in the news over Christmas. It didn’t get nearly the same amount of coverage as all the diet-related features that are everywhere right now. It was hidden away behind the before and after “amazing weight loss” stories, celeb diet plans and “o*esity causes covid” headlines. But that doesn’t make it any less shocking or heartbreaking. 
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I believe there’s a link between the rise in children being diagnosed with eating disorders and the rise in children suffering poor body image. These issues are fallout from a culture that idolises thinness, vilifies fatness and continually promotes one, narrow, over-simplified version of health. 
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Diet culture is coming increasingly aggressively for children, and the pandemic with the huge mental health toll it’s taken has not helped one bit. We already knew the number of pre-teens diagnosed with anorexia in the last decade had doubled, and it seems the figures are rising even higher. We need change. Fast. 
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Check out the Body Happy Kids resources, workshops and Masterclass and the #FreeFromDiets campaign in my bio, if you want to help change the culture our kids are growing up in. They deserve better.
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[Image description: a section from a news article about rising numbers of children suffering with eating disorders. Full text can be found in Alt Text.]
I’ve been looking a lot at old photos lately. Th I’ve been looking a lot at old photos lately. This pic is from summer 2018, when I could hug my mum and travel abroad on holiday. If I close my eyes I can almost feel the warmth of the sun on my skin, smell the salty sea air and hear the laughter of other families playing on the beach. Holding on to these memories and the hope that the hugs, sunshine and bikinis will come again one day. In the meantime it’s video calls, trackie bottoms and WhatsApp. ❄️☀️ 
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[Image description: Molly and her mum standing on a beach in France, in 2018. They are both wearing brightly coloured bikinis, hugging and smiling. It’s a hot sunny day and the sky is blue.]
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