Tommy’s Five Point Pregnancy Plan

Merry, at A Patch of Puddles has started a blog hop to publicise the new Tommy’s campaign, in conjunction with Bounty. Tommy’s are putting some advice into every Bounty pack and further advice online, to help with five points toward a healthier pregnancy:

• nutrition
• weight management
• exercise
• quitting smoking
• mental health.

Tommy’s is a charity that funds research and provides information on the causes and prevention of miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth. Having had a miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy and a premature birth, it’s a cause close to my heart, though I hope it would be without these experiences.

After losing two babies, I spent the whole of Rosemary’s pregnancy worrying that she wouldn’t make it. I did give up smoking, as did Chris, and I tried to eat healthily and took my pro-natal vitamins. But I definitely ate more cream cakes and chocolate and certainly added more than 200 calories into my diet. I stopped exercising, because I was worried that any exercise would bring on a miscarriage. I didn’t touch all the foods they tell you not to touch – unpasteurised cheese, soft-boiled eggs – I cut down on caffeine and pretty much cut out alcohol entirely, but I definitely overate. And I certainly didn’t take care of my mental health.

With Eleanor, I think I ate more healthily, though still more than necessary, I hadn’t smoked in four years, and I did more exercise necessarily, being a mum of a small child (though very little in the last couple of months due to bad SPD). But I was still scared. Not, thankfully, that Eleanor wouldn’t make it. I knew I could keep her alive, because I’d kept Rosemary alive. This time I was worried about the birth. But I was very fortunate to have a fantastic midwife who cared for me throughout my pregnancy and delivered Eleanor. She helped me come to terms with Rosemary’s birth and work out how to avoid the same problems this time round. And then she was there to make sure it all went to plan on the day (well, night, actually).

Hopefully Tommy’s Five Point Pregnancy Plan will help more women to have successful and happy pregnancies and births.

Please read Merry’s post and consider writing a post of your own for her blog hop about your own experiences with pregnancy and birth. And please pass on the word about this great new campaign from Tommy’s and Bounty.