SKINCARE: Vital Touch Natalia Prenatal Body Scrub

 

 Since giving birth my skin has been seriously challenging - really dry. However much I moisturise my body I haven't been able to stop it, my legs have been the biggest problem. Has anyone else had this issue post pregnancy?

PREGNANCY: Organic Vital Touch Natalia Pampering Products

 

 Pampering during pregnancy has been an essential for me, it hasn't been every day, sometimes not even every week but knowing that I have a range of high quality, organic products aimed at my every expanding pregnant body has been very reassuring. Taking half an hour to look after myself, not worry about general life worries and really focus on bonding with my baby has been invaluable - if you haven't tried it then I'd highly recommend you do. Obviously life doesn't always allow for daily pampering but if you can grab 30 minutes every week you'll feel amazing for it and it's something to look forward to, through all of the uncomfortable days. 

Now I'm on maternity leave I've been able to spend a bit more time concentrating on myself - both mentally and physically. Pregnancy has definitely taken its toll on my body now - it's tired, achy, has the odd stretch mark and my feet/hands are very swollen. I'm certainly not complaining, it's incredible that I have a little baby growing inside me. Therefore I feel a certain level of responsibility to look after myself and consequently my baby. One way I've been doing this is through using high quality, organic body products and taking that time out.

Vital Touch Natalia has the most fantastic range of organic pampering products aimed at throughout pregnancy, labour & birth, new parents, baby and maternity gifts. Over the past month or so I've been lucky enough to trial some of the Vital Touch Natalia Prenatal products and I've been seriously impressed. 

The Vital Touch Natalia Prenatal Bath Soak* has been the only bath soak I've been using and now that we have a bath at our house (after a long 3 months without one!) it's been even more special. I like the fact that they recommend how many capfuls of the bath soak to put in, too often I pour and pour away, then realise I've emptied half the bubble bath in! This creates a nice amount of bubbles and smells very soothing. Personally it isn't the most moisturising bath soak for my skin, but when I've been pairing it with the Vital Touch Natalia Massage Oil* and Anti-Stretch Butter* my skin has felt very hydrated.

 

Vital Touch Natalia Prenatal Massage Oil* is seriously luxurious and has been so nice to use all over my body, not just on my back. When I can persuade Tom to massage my back (does anyone suffer from an aching back almost constantly in pregnancy?) he's been using this product. I've been impressed at how long it lasts, it doesn't sink into the skin straight away which is a downfall of a lot of massage oils I've tried. You don't want to get through half a bottle in 5 minutes because your skin drinks it up! I've found that massage throughout pregnancy has been a lovely way for my husband to bond with our baby. I've even packed this product in my hospital bag, so that it can be used when I'm in labour.

Vital Touch Natalia Instant Revitaliser* is a 'pick me up' in a roller ball - exactly what has been needed in later pregnancy. It smells incredible - think sweet orange, geranium and frankincense - all blended together for a refreshing uplift. I've also packed this into my hospital bag, so that I can roll it on my pressure points during labour. Anything to keep me going!

 

Vital Touch Natalia Prenatal Anti-Stretch Butter* is packed with nourishing, hydrating and natural ingredients that have really made a difference to the feel of my skin. It's never been so well hydrated, especially impressive as it was getting dry where my skin has stretch so much on my bump. It contains shea butter, avocado oil and rosehip seed oil with essential oils of lavender, mandarin, neroli and frankincense. Sensory and skin heaven.   

 

 Last but certainly not least the Vital Touch Natalia Prenatal Leg Refresher* has been a holy grail item for the last couple of weeks. As I've mentioned in a number of weekly pregnancy updates, I've been getting really swollen feet and hands thanks to water retention. It's been getting quite uncomfortable, as the skin gets tighter and I can barely bend my fingers and toes! So I've been enjoying soothing this product all over my legs - it's refreshing, slightly tingly and it encourages you to take the time to massage your legs/feet. This has all been helping with making my swollen feet/hand situation more comfortable.

What have you been using to relieve pregnancy aches and pains?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

Helen x

PREGNANCY: 36 Week Update

36 weeks saw my last week at work, before maternity leave. I've had mixed emotions about going on maternity leave - I love my job and all of the friends at work, so I will miss those aspects of working but then I'm so excited to sort everything out in readiness for our daughters arrival! I'm usually a bit rubbish when I first have any length of time off work, I get bored (despite often having a long to-do list) and it feels like the days are dragging. Then I get used to the time off and start to enjoy it. Being as I only have 3 weeks left until my due date now I am determind to not spend time being 'bored' and instead enjoying the peace and quiet!

I finally packed my hospital bag this week, a lot later than planned but hey ho. It was so much fun getting all of the items out, organised, washed, dried and folded. I can't believe I'm saying this, I'm not usually one for enjoying the whole washing clothes process, but recently I've been loving it! I couldn't believe how many things I needed in my hospital bag, such a random selection. (There will be a blog post coming on packing my hospital bag, so watch out for that!) Packing the baby hospital bag was both nervewracking and exciting, the clothes are just so tiny and it made it seem a lot more real.

This week also saw the nursery being decorated, which makes me happier than you could imagine. As you may know by now we bought a 'project' house back in December and its been slow progress with the decorating. Everything has taken a lot longer than expected, mainly because it's an old house and they come with problems. Nevertheless we are getting there with the kitchen and bathroom. It was looking like we wouldn't be able to get the nursery decorated before our daughter arrived, there just wasn't the time or man power. This put strain on my nesting instinct, I just wanted to get everything perfect and ready for her arrival. So we decided to pay someone to decorate her room instead. It was expensive but so worth it, we just need new carpet in there now and then we can start putting her nursery together. I'm so happy!

I turned the grand age of 25 earlier this week, sneaking in a last birthday before becoming a Mummy. Tom had taken me away earlier in February for my birthday, which was lovely. So on my birthday we went for a tasty meal, valuing that quality time together. Everytime we go for a meal now we are always wondering if that will be the last time we go out as a couple! 

On my birthday I also had my 36 week midwife appointment, if you'd told me that on my last birthday I simply wouldn't have believed you. What a difference a year makes! Everything is going well still - blood pressure was fine, bump is measuring 36cm which is bang on where it should be and she is 3-4/5 (I have no idea what this means but she was feeling for her head when she said it, so I presume it's something to do with how far down she is). Her head wasn't engaged, which is a good thing as she still has some more time cooking. Next appointment is at 38 weeks, getting seriously close to my due date by then. I have a feeling she is going to come either a couple of days before of couple of days after her due date, but I fear that may be wishful thinking as a lot of first babies are born late. 

Last week I said that my emotions were all over the place, well I'm pleased to report that this week has been a lot more consistent. I've felt a bit more like myself again and a lot less emotionally out of control. I think the fact that maternity leave started at the end of week 36 has helped, life won't be such a juggling act of work and baby now. 

Right at the end of week 36 my bump made an obvious move south, resulting in more pressure lower down. I've been having to go to the toilet every 5 minutes, but I can now feel my ribs again! Strangely, since the baby has dropped my acid reflux has got a lot worse. My stomach should have more space now, so not sure why but there's not long left now anyway.

My feet and hands are still very swollen, the tight skin has been getting quite uncomfortable. Even Tom said how 'bad' they were, which isn't exactly what I wanted to hear! I've been really enjoying rubbing in Vital Touch Natalia Prenatal Leg Refresher* all over my legs - it's refreshing, cooling and encourages a gentle massage that can help to relieve the swelling. Tom has been helping me reach the bottom of my legs, as theres no way my bump would let me reach all the way to my toes now!

How's your week been?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

Helen x