Supermarkets Make Me Want to Hurl

Supermarkets Are Disgusting

What goes down must come up - or something like that.  Puke.  I was in the supermarket today.  I woke up and had this huge craving for sausages which is really weird for me considering that I didn't eat meat at all before I got pregnant.  So I went down to the supermarket.


Is it just me or are supermarkets disgusting?  I never noticed this before.  In one aisle I could literally feel the sugar seeping through the candy, feel the fizz coming out of the luminous coloured soft drinks ( how the hell did anyone ever think that drinking something flourescent would be a good idea?)   And the smell - good lord, it's a mix of everything that shouldn't be put next to each other.


But the meat?  Despite the fact I was craving it, the meat counter almost made me hurl.  I felt my breakfast banana yearning to escape the acidy pits of my stomach.  All that once writhing flesh now neatly packaged plastic and ready for consumption.  Yuck.  The only thing I liked being near was the bread section and the fruit and veg.  Everything else just looked wrong...


My breakfast however - was delicious.

Psychic Dog Knows I'm Pregnant Before I Do

 Did Your Dog Know Before You Did?

I happen to have an exceptionally cuddly dog.  Really sweet and fluffy, a cross between a King Charles Cavalier and a Springer.  His name is Raffi and he is one of the loves of my life.  He follows me everywhere, up the stairs, down the stairs, into the kitchen, to the toilet, sits on the side while I am soaking in the tub,  and if I am in bed ,he wants to spoon with one paw in my hand.  I understand that for some people this is excessive, but this is life with my dog.  We do a lot together and I love my time with him.

When I got pregnant though, before I even knew myself, I noticed that Raffi, instead of laying across my legs or with his head on my feet, always wanted to be sitting with his head across my stomach.  I know they have a strong sense of smell and of hearing as well, so I wonder if he could hear the baby's heart beat before I knew I was pregnant.  

Since then, we have nicknamed him Velcro Dog.  He is like glue and very protective. As I am sure you have already read, I have had horrendous morning, noon and night sickness and sometimes I feel like he is there for moral support.  I will be violently ill, go and lay down and he is immediately next to me.  He has started to do the cutest thing.  He lies behind me when I am lying on my side and puts his head over my neck so it rests between my shoulder and my face.  It's like he's saying. "Feel Better".  I'm almost expecting him to show up with tea and biscuits.

Here is a picture of the Three of us:

Tips on Preventing Morning Sickness

Puke No More

If you are anything like me and the smallest smell, or just even getting up in the morning had you running for the White Porcelain Telephone to God, then I promise, I really feel for you.  If you are one of the lucky ones who does not have this problem, please remember that not everyone has it as easy as you do.

Now I am not quite at a hypermesis Exorcist stage and for those of you girls who are, my heart goes out to you, because I know that combatting crashing headaches that feel like an axe murderer has sliced open your noggin to extract your airheaded preggo brain, total exhaustion and throwing up morning, noon and night is no fun.  But now that I am 14 weeks I have found a few tricks that may help you.


Oh, and by the way - when a doctor or friend, or well meaning aunt cheerfully says ' Oh you are throwing up, that's a great sign'.  Don't worry if you are secretly  thought murdering them and wishing them a slow and cruel death.

1.  Eat little and often. Something bland.  Toast and crackers are good.  Keep them with you at all times.  

2.  Drink water but don't gulp it down.  Anything that you have too much of in one go could very easily come straight back up that is true of liquids as well

3.  Put crackers by your bed side.  This was a tip my friend Donna gave me and it works wonders.  Instead of waking up in the morning and within 15 minutes throwing up yellow bile, I kept crackers by my bed and ate one literally the second i woke up - it counter acts the acid that has been building up in your system over night.

4. Apples - I don't know if this works for anyone else, but it works for me.  I find that if I eat apples all day I am less likely to be sick.

5.  Ginger tea or ginger ale.  Now the tea works for me but  I don't like ginger ale.  I know that some people swear by it.   Chamomile also works and I prefer it.  Any form of caffeine makes me instantly sick.

6.  Make soup from only a stock cube. If you feel you need something salty but need something liquid this settles my stomach right down.

7. Peppermint oil rubbed around your belly button.  It is absorbed through your skin.  I have not personally tried this but some say it works wonders.

8. Accupuncture - apparently this works for some women. 

9. B6  - If you are looking for a supplement vitamin B6 is suggested by many doctors

10.  Dramamine - Ask your doctor if he is alright with this, but Dramamine works. It is also Over the Counter.

11. Zofran and Diclectin - by prescription only.  

Good luck ladies!  I hope this helps.  Any other suggestions please add them in the comments section. xxx

Not Fake, Just Pregnant

Torpedo Central

I went out in town this morning in my little neighborhood of Haarlem.  I haven't gone shopping yet for maternity clothes.  I'm only 13 and a half weeks pregnant.   None of my bras fit me and most of my clothes don't either.  I can't get anything over these bazookas.   I'm not showing yet so the only bumps I have are twins on my chest which are rapidly turning into Everest sized mountains.  Now I was never small - I am naturally about an E cup, but now, it's  ridiculous.  Anyone who thought I looked fake before pregnancy  will definitely think I am doing something very dodgy career-wise now.  I can only fit into my wrap dresses because they are adjustable.


All I can tell you is I got the strangest reception from everyone today.  From cashiers at the local department store  to women on the street.  One woman was so mesmerized she couldn't get her head around putting an item I had purchased for my mother-in-law  into a bag.  I had to ask her several times.  She faffed around and then finally pulled out a plastic sack and blushed.  She avoided eye contact, she literally didn't know where to look. It was like I'd shown up in a thong and stripper heels.


When we were out to breakfast to read the newspapers and munch on some yummy bagels at my local Bagels and Beans cafe, I could feel eyes on me.  I turned around to see the stares of two young women   talking about the boob job across the aisle.   The boob job apparently was yours truly.   I  feel like I need a plaque saying  'Not fake, just pregnant'.  Suddenly I am yearning for a tummy bump so I have an excuse for the size of my chest. My partner  thinks I should be flattered.  I'm not.  I'm just annoyed. Especially when these inflata - breasts growing bigger and bigger with dairy goodness (or maybe just chocolate and ice cream) do not seem to want to stop.  I think they may run for congress without me.  God knows no one would notice with the amount of boobs already in office.


My friend Donna knows a girl who ended up as a size K.  I didn't even know they made bras that big. They must look like pieces of industrial equipment.  That is circus freak size.  God help me.