Monday 29 September 2014

Mummy Monday // Linky #12

Helloo,

We are now onto #12 of these posts and so looking forward to seeing all your wonderful posts. Thank you for those who join in weekly and if you could share on Twitter to get the word out, would be so greatly appreciated :) Rules are below..



RULES:

1. Link up your post on something/anything mummy related, it can be either new or old post. 
2. Add the above code to your post for the blog badge to be added.
3. Use the Twitter hashtag #mummymonday to see your posts all in one place.
4. You must comment on at least 2 other posts (more is appreciated if you can)!

Can't wait to see all your amazing posts! See you next time :)

Best Wishes, Mummy Bloggers Team xx



Saturday 27 September 2014

Saturday Spotlight - Q&A // Sunshine On A Cloudy Day Blog


Q1: A bit about yourself and children?

I am Gemma, 21 newly single mummy to cheeky monkey Corey who was born prematurely in December 2010. Currently a stay at home mummy, blogging my way through our life whilst deciding on what career path to take!

Q2: A bit about your blog?

I blog about all things parenting, pregnancy, family, lifestyle, beauty and random ramblings.

Q3: When and why did you start blogging?

Started just over a year ago in September 2013. I was actually on sick leave from my then teaching job whilst recovering from surgery. I wanted a new creative out let to help me through a tough time and sharing my feelings to be myself. Never thought anyone would actually read it though!

Q4: What do you like writing about? Maybe your top 5 favourite things to write about?

Well my blog is a total mixture of things as I said in Q2, but I just write about what comes to mind or what I think is important. At the moment I have been taking a blogging break and now have SO many ideas and posts to get written up :)

Q5: Where do you get your inspiration for posts from?

Erm mainly my son Corey is my most inspiration, days out, shopping, all my interests as well as friends/ fellow bloggers!

Q6: What was your first blog post about?

I didn't really know what to do so it was a bit of an introduction to myself. I did 10 random facts about me :)

Q7: What do you find toughest about blogging?

Being able to write as I am not the greatest writer and at times it upsets me because I work myself up over it. Always finding the bad etc but I am learning to live with it and have already noticed progress in my writing skills since I first started.

Q8: What do you look for in someone else's blog?

I follow a whole lot of variety of blogs and frankly I am drawn to those with personal posts because I really feel like I can connect and get to know that fellow blogger and friend.

Q9: What advice would you give to your fellow bloggers?

If you want to write something, then go for it. Don't worry about whether you think others will like it.  It is your blog to be yourself and a place of your own so make it your own :)

Q10: Recommend three other blogs you're currently loving?

Hayley from www.hayleysittlethings.blogspot.com, Nicola from www.lovelittlepoppins.blogspot.co.uk and Tanya from www.polkadotsandcupsoftea.blogspot.com

Q11: What is your favourite thing about blogging?

I love the blogging community, I have made so many wonderful friends through it. Hence why I started the #mblogchat and mummy bloggers community so we can all make friends, have chats, give advise and just be there for one another. My blogging friends have helped me through some really tough times and they cheer me up, make me laugh. Everyone should have friends like that :)

Q12: Where can we find you?

Blogwww.sunshineonacloudyday.co.uk
Twitter@sunshineblogxo
BlogLovinwww.bloglovin.com/blog/sunshineblogxo
Instagram@sunshineblogxo
Facebookwww.facebook.com/sunshineonacloudydayblog
Pinterestwww.pinterest.com/sunshineblogxo
YouTubewww.youtube.com/user/sunshineblogxo

Wednesday 24 September 2014

Weekly Wednesday // Linky #11

Welcome,

So sorry that last week was missed, you may be aware of the situation by now! But anyways a fresh start and got my blogging mojo back :) If you are new or old bloggers to this linky, please please read and make sure to follow the rules which are below. If you could share this on Twitter too to spread the word would be so greatly appreciated!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

RULES:

1. Simply link up your best post of that week, it must be a new post - no oldies allowed!
2. Add the above code to your post for the blog badge to be added.
3. Use the Twitter hashtag #weeklylinky to see your posts all in one place.
4. You must comment on at least 2 other posts (more is appreciated if you can)!

Best Wishes, Mummy Bloggers Team x



Monday 22 September 2014

Mummy Monday // Linky #11

Helloo,

So I would like to apologise that I have missed a week etc for Mummy Monday, I have been taking a blogging break due to personal reasons and life just got in the way. But all normal blogging status has returned and the next few weeks posts are now scheduled. We are now onto #11 of these posts and so looking forward to seeing all your wonderful posts. Thank you for those who join in weekly and if you could share on Twitter to get the word out, would be so greatly appreciated :) Rules are below..



RULES:

1. Link up your post on something/anything mummy related, it can be either new or old post. 
2. Add the above code to your post for the blog badge to be added.
3. Use the Twitter hashtag #mummymonday to see your posts all in one place.
4. You must comment on at least 2 other posts (more is appreciated if you can)!

Can't wait to see all your amazing posts! See you next time :)

Best Wishes, Mummy Bloggers Team xx



Monday 8 September 2014

Mummy Monday // Linky #10

Welcome,

Mummy Monday is now onto its 10th week :) I feel like we should celebrate, sneak glass of wine or cup of tea anyone?! Look forward to reading your posts and make sure you follow the rules below please!



RULES:

1. Link up your post on something/anything mummy related, it can be either new or old post. 
2. Add the above code to your post for the blog badge to be added.
3. Use the Twitter hashtag #mummymonday to see your posts all in one place.
4. You must comment on at least 2 other posts (more is appreciated if you can)!

Can't wait to see all your amazing posts! See you next time :)

Best Wishes, Mummy Bloggers Team xx



Thursday 4 September 2014

Guest Post // Raising Awareness Of HELLP

I had to give birth to my beautiful son Hugo 16 weeks early because of severe HELLP syndrome and severe pre-eclampsia. This rare pregnancy complication nearly claimed my life, and took the life of my precious baby, Hugo.

I had never heard of HELLP before my diagnosis, and my family and friends had not heard of it either.

While nothing more could have been done to help Hugo, who fought for life for 35 days, HELLP is so serious I am raising awareness of it in his memory.

After all, it is impossible to know the symptoms of a condition you don’t even know exists.

The letters in the name HELLP stand for each part of the condition:

* ‘H’ is for haemolysis – this is where the red blood cells in the blood break down

* ‘EL’ is for elevated liver enzymes (proteins) – a high number of enzymes in the liver is a sign of liver damage

* ‘LP’ is for low platelet count – platelets are cells in the blood that help it to clot.

The syndrome is usually a complication of pre-eclampsia. Like pre-eclampsia, it can happen only in pregnancy. It is most likely to occur immediately after the baby is delivered, but can appear any time after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and in rare cases before 20 weeks.

HELLP syndrome and preeclampsia can and does kill mothers and babies. The only way to treat both conditions is to deliver the baby as soon as possible, no matter what stage of pregnancy the mum-to-be is at.

The symptoms of HELLP syndrome are outlined below.

* Heartburn/indigestion with pain after eating

* Swelling, and sudden weight gain

* Shoulder pain or pain when breathing deeply

* Malaise, or a feeling that something ‘isn’t right’

* Pain under the right side of the ribs

* Headache and changes in vision

* Bleeding

Other signs of pre-eclampsia include high blood pressure and protein in the urine. This is why it is vital pregnant women attend their routine community midwife appointments, as these are always checked.

I started developing symptoms at 23 weeks. I had what I thought was heartburn (it was actually my liver starting to fail), I was putting on weight (it was actually excess fluid caused by my failing kidneys) and just felt generally rotten. I’d put it all down to normal pregnancy symptoms.

The only symptom I couldn’t really explain away was the breathlessness. I was sufficiently concerned about it to look it up on Google – preeclampsia was one suggestion. I dismissed it because I didn’t have the ‘classic’ symptoms of a headache and flashing lights – and besides, I was so early in my pregnancy. I thought it only happened in later pregnancy. How wrong I was.

I never actually developed a headache or visual disturbances.

As I’ve described with my own experience, many of the symptoms in the list above are easy to confuse with common pregnancy discomforts. I would like to balance raising awareness with not frightening pregnant women, or giving them more to worry about as for most women, they will be genuine pregnancy aches.

Therefore, the most important message is:

If you are at all worried about anything during pregnancy, or if something ‘just doesn’t feel right’, call your midwife, or GP. Your midwife or GP shouldn’t mind, and if they do – insist.

All it takes are a few simple checks (that could include taking your blood pressure, dipping your urine sample and checking your baby’s heartbeat). This is most likely to help put your mind at rest, and you can go home and look forward to your baby’s arrival.

If, in the rare event you do have something like pre-eclampsia or HELLP, the earlier it is diagnosed, the earlier it can be treated. This means you will get better quicker, and it could help your baby too.

Fortunately, I had a routine 24 week community midwife appointment just a few days after the symptoms appeared. I had made a mental note to mention the discomforts I had recently developed, and especially to ask for a stronger heartburn medicine as regular over-the-counter supplies were doing nothing for me.

My midwife was vigilant, picked up on my high blood pressure and protein in my urine, and combined with the other symptoms I’d complained of sent me straight to hospital.

Hugo had to be delivered to prevent my organs failing – I would have died, and Hugo would have had no chance at life.

Pre-eclampsia affects about 5% of pregnancies, and severe cases afflict about 2%. A smaller percentage will develop HELLP, and the number of women who will develop pre-eclampsia and HELLP at 24 weeks as I did, is even more remote.

There are some women who are considered to be a higher risk, such as those who are aged over 35, previous high blood pressure, first pregnancy, preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy, being overweight and having certain pre-existing conditions, such as lupus.

I had three of these risks – I am aged over 35, it was my first pregnancy, and I am overweight. My blood pressure before – and for 22 weeks of my pregnancy – was on the low side of normal. HELLP syndrome struck very suddenly.

For all these risk groups however, preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome do not discriminate. No one really knows why certain women get it, and it’s perfectly possible to fall victim without being in one of these risk groups.

There is no way to screen for or prevent preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. The best thing to do is be aware of the signs and symptoms and seek help from your midwife or doctor if you are worried – and make sure you attend all your antenatal appointments.

This post was written by Leigh and you can find her blog by clicking here :)

Wednesday 3 September 2014

Weekly Wednesday // Linky #9

Welcome,

Thank you for all your posts last week and look forward to seeing more :) If you are new or old bloggers to this linky, please please read and make sure to follow the rules which are below.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

RULES:

1. Simply link up your best post of that week, it must be a new post - no oldies allowed!
2. Add the above code to your post for the blog badge to be added.
3. Use the Twitter hashtag #weeklylinky to see your posts all in one place.
4. You must comment on at least 2 other posts (more is appreciated if you can)!

Best Wishes, Mummy Bloggers Team x

Tuesday 2 September 2014

Mummy Monday // Linky 9

Welcome,

Mummy Monday is now onto its 9th week :) My absolute sincere apologies that is is a day late getting put up, life got in the way but don't let it stop you from joining up now! Look forward to reading your posts and make sure you follow the rules below please!



RULES:

1. Link up your post on something/anything mummy related, it can be either new or old post. 
2. Add the above code to your post for the blog badge to be added.
3. Use the Twitter hashtag #mummymonday to see your posts all in one place.
4. You must comment on at least 2 other posts (more is appreciated if you can)!

Can't wait to see all your amazing posts! See you next time :)

Best Wishes, Mummy Bloggers Team xx