Sadness and blues after breastfeeding (specifically PMS)

I wanted to write this post as I know its the time of post I would have wanted to have read when I was a first time mum. Actually it's a post I would have wanted to have read as a second time mum who four years later totally forgot about the whole ending breastfeeding blues.

I'm not going to go too much into the hormones the couple of weeks after breastfeeding as I touched on this before. Mainly that your body is still working things out and you'll likely feel pretty teary and off balance. What hit me hard was the heightened feelings before my first period after stopping breastfeeding (if that sentence makes any sense!). Annoyingly this week fell into half term week and not putting two and two together I generally came to the conclusion that half term was awful, I couldn't parent two children and my husband was driving me insane. I spent the whole week, down and depressed, not being able to muster up much positively or feeling annoyed the point I needed to go take deep breaths to calm down.

It wasn't until I came on that I realised OH! So it was PMS but times like 10?! Apparently one of the reasons for feeling down when breastfeeding ends is that you are withdrawing from all the lovely Oxytocin that nursing brings. I honestly felt like I was so down tired and anxious in that week that I would definitely agree with that statement. I wish it was something that was spoken about more because I genuinely thought those feelings were normal and started to question my life choices ha! Like am I happy in my relationship? Am I a good mum? Am I comfortable in my job? Then the week afterwards feeling like everything was actually OK with the world again.

My skin also flared up pretty bad and I have had more ache than usual, I feel like pregnancy & breastfeeding really sorted my skin out for ages and the hormones since since have made it so bad. Hopefully this will just be temporary though.

I've also been suffering from headaches, extreme tiredness and general 'meh' I've been super forgetful as well, basically my body was just freaking out. Although I'm feeling generally OK again now I'm not sure how long after stopping my periods and hormones will be this intense for but being prepared for that makes me feel a little better and like I'm not going totally crazy.

Anyway I really wanted to share this just incase anyone else is going through the same thing and reading this makes them feel less alone or suddenly starts ringing bells for them.

If anyone knows of anything that calms these symptoms down a bit I'm all ears, I'll share as much as I can find out myself. Isn't it funny how even if this isn't your first time at this it can feel so new again? Growing and raising babies can be full on hey!

5 Things I love Friday (umm on a Saturday!)

Hey all! I wanted to bring back some 'old school' posts on the blog, following on from this post on how Instagram and Instagram Stories has changed how I blog.

I used to do these kinds of posts all the time and looking back it's really funny to see how my taste has changed over the years!

1, Did you hear Crayola are doing make up now?? I mean it's probably a bit style over substance but who knows they might be great products too. Chances of me buying some and the kids using them to draw with are pretty high though ;)

2, I'm obsessed with this top from Urban Outfitters, isn't it perfect?

3, These semi precious stones necklaces, only £12.99 as well which is brilliant for handmade jewellery.

4, These simple black sliders, perfect with most outfits and they look so comfy.

5, Lately I switched to using net bags for my shopping, they are like a tardis they fit so much in. Even Tom is impressed and asks to use it when we go buy groceries! Love this one from h&m.

Have a great weekend everyone!

*affiliate links are used in this post 

Happy Friday and a ASOS haul!

Hey guys! I wanted to pop on here quickly and share a little video I did spontaneously earlier this week. I ordered a bunch of summer bits from ASOS and did a little haul. I don't tend to share video on the blog all that often (and tbh I only really do a video a week as it is) but sometimes its good to remember that people reading my blog might not know I do some videos too :)

Anyway, hope you enjoy it!

p.s this pic was taken at an event the other day but I thought it showed off the jumpsuit a bit better!

I've popped the links to the items below (they are affiliate links which means if anyone buys something I would get 5% of the sale of that item) Weekday Jumpsuit - http://bit.ly/2Lkvmxp En Creme pink top - http://bit.ly/2LoyuIF Floral dungarees - http://bit.ly/2JrgBvx Checked Blazer - http://bit.ly/2LoyBnz Orange Jacket - http://bit.ly/2LqnZVl Fedora - http://bit.ly/2LqPvlE Tassle Jacket - http://bit.ly/2LoyWGQ

Have a lovely weekend! 

Some more pictures from our half term & my thoughts on Instragram overwhelm

I'm a little out of practise of sharing my weekend snaps over here. Do you remember when I used to do this every week? I miss it! I feel like before IG took off I used to catch up with all my favourite online people on the weekend, cup of coffee and a read through their weeks. I love Instagram but I kind of miss how nice and slow paced that was. Isn't it odd that blogging is seen like that now?

I found some film for my Instax so used it up at our cabin, it's reminded me to make sure we use it more often, the kids thought it was so fun!

Tom actually took a lot of these pictures (credit where it's due haha) I don't know if I need to mention that or if it's OK for you guys to assume some are taken by me, some by him, some by me saying 'Toooooom can we just stop here and you take my picture? No I'm not going to look at you because it's supposed to be candid!'

I was chatting to a friend the other day about Instagram stories, how as an introvert I can sometimes feel overwhelmed watching them all or even just a few. How it quickly switches from one person talking to the next and my brain sometimes doesn't feel like it can process it all the fast. I guess our brains aren't really built to process so much so quickly from so many different situations and people, if you think about it before technology we would only speak to people face to face.

My friend said how she'd had a brilliant day with a pal, they hadn't checked their phones, they'd taken it slow, had lunch, chatted. That evening she picked up her phone and watched through her stories and it left her feeling really down, a total contrast to the lovely day she'd been having.

I initially didn't enjoy creating on stories, I could do it for a day if I was feeling partially chatty and then the next I would need to not post all day. Trying to do it more than that felt like a massive intrusion and draining. I've worked out now that to stay true to my introverted self I can combat this by taking any pictures I want during the day and then upload later all at once so I'm not on my phone too much, also by not actually speaking to the camera too much and only adding pictures or text helps too. I'm still trying to work out how to catch up with the people I enjoy following without feeling overwhelm. At the moment I'm just limiting myself to about ten people or knowing which ones don't need sound.

I'd love to know if you're the same or how you feel about them!

Anyway back to the photo dump..

We'll have been together for ten years later this year, I'm blaming the kids for those lines, 6 years team no sleep!

I love these last two pics with my little gang. Our trip wasn't all plain sailing, it rained a lot and the kids bickered a lot and me and Tom snapped at each other (a lot) but we still had lovely moments.

I read something the other day about how you only have 18 summers with your children and it totally freaked me out, talk about pressure! I'm down to 12 with Wilf already! To be honest though all they really want is time with us and time outdoors, nothing fancy.