Camilla is mum-to-be of the month - congratulations!
17 April 2015
Hi Camilla! First of all, congratulations on being Mum-to-Be of the month!
Tell me a little bit about you.
I’m married to Olly, mum to Max who is almost 18 months old and pregnant with the next one. I’m a lecturer on the Textile Design course at Derby University, which I love, especially as I get to spend most of my time getting my hands dirty with students in the print room. We live in Sileby and have spent the 9 months since we moved here turning our garden from wilderness to lawn and attempting to do up the house, although it’s all taking much longer than we expected!
How many weeks are you now and how are you feeling?
I’m 27 weeks and feeling great, though definitely noticing how much more tiring pregnancy is when you’ve got a 1 year old to run around after.
What aspects of pregnancy are you enjoying?
I’m enjoying having a bump again and feeling the baby wriggle around lots. It’s almost more exciting this time as we know what an amazing little person you get at the end!
And the not-such-fun bits?
Clothes! I’m out of pretty much everything and as I was pregnant at a totally different time of year last time I’m struggling to find things to wear.
What’s your favourite pregnancy gadget?
Ummm, I don’t really have one. I think my only pregnancy thing is that I am an absolutely religious user of Bio oil. It stopped any marks at all last time and it smells so delicious that putting it on my rapidly expanding belly every evening feels like a proper treat.
You have been doing your postnatal fitness with me – feel free to explain! - and are just about to move into pre-natal again… but have you always been super-active?
Yes, I have carried on with BuggyBabies so far, which I’ve done since Max
was 9 weeks old. It’s absolutely the best class and my favourite part of the week – out in the fresh air and catching up with friends. I’ve made such amazing friends through the class and now we’re all off on round two of babies together which is so exciting – I’m sure we’ll all be carrying on in September with our new arrivals! I’ve always loved getting outside to do exercise and doing it with other people, so BuggyBabies fits that requirement perfectly. I’m looking forward to being able to do some slightly less hilly pre natal evening classes as I get bigger though.
Are you into healthy eating? What’s your all-time favourite dish?
Yes and no, my mum is a chef so food has always been a very important part of my life, but I do have a sweet tooth and can never resist a pudding! I love cooking and I think that’s how I see food – as long as it’s freshly cooked it can’t be too bad for you, even if it is sticky toffee pudding! My favourite dish ever would have to be roast chicken though (I’m a bit of a meat fiend). Not necessarily with all the usual roast trimmings – I love it with pretty much anything from a salad and some good bread to just a big heap of fresh veg.
How do you find combining pregnancy with work… and with motherhood?
Luckily fine. My job is pretty tiring some days as I often spend the whole day on my feet but it’s going well so far. Juggling Max and work is interesting, especially on those evenings when I’m racing back to try and get to nursery on time, but I love my job and wouldn’t want to stop it however chaotic it makes life. The pregnancy seems to be flying by this time as I don’t have time to think about it and can’t even remember how many weeks I am this time without checking the calendar!
Are you looking forward to maternity leave?
Yes! Especially as I get to have some time off in the summer this time. I’m looking forward to spending time outside with the new addition and Max. We’re lucky to have friends and relations close by with children the same age so I’m envisaging long hot summer days and lots of time in the paddling pool. Now that I’ve said that it will almost definitely rain all summer!
And what about the birth? Thinking about it or a case of bury your head in the sand?
I was very lucky with Max and had him at St Mary’s with no complications whatsoever, so I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that I can manage to do the same with this one. My only concern is that we don’t end up with too early a surprise; Max was two weeks early and everyone keeps telling me second ones come sooner and more quickly – Olly would not be impressed if he had to deliver the baby in the bathroom!
We all need a bit of “me time” when we’re mums. What is yours?
In the cold weather it’s been heading to bed early with a good book. When it’s warmer it’s just being able to sit in the garden and relax in the evening, although I do love the girls nights out that a group of friends I met through BuggyBabies manage to do regularly – though they’ve had to be toned down as little recently as more than half of us are pregnant again!