Super Lucky to be Here: Happy Mothering Sunday #isurvived

JJ, my boy who made me Mummy

Happy Mothering Sunday Friends. I wish every woman out there an amazing day, be she a mother herself or a mother figure. This day isn't only to be celebrated and enjoyed by those who have given birth it is also for those who selflessly offer their heart and soul loving others in the way a mother often does.

This is the 16th Mothering Sunday that I have celebrated. Of course JJ isn't actually that old yet but my hubby bought a card from the bump (AKA JJ) back in March 2003, seven months before he was even born. I remember being so thrilled to receive that first card and some flowers (if I remember rightly) as it was the start of my maternal journey, having thought previous to this that I might never have children.

I do remember feeling very special when I was pregnant but I had quite a lot of sickness for the first few months and I just looked extra fat rather than glowing with a perky bump. I did then get about four good months with JJ just before he was born but then stupidly I decided it would be great to have him in September rather than October, as was his due date. So I cleared and cleaned the house and then started to gut the garage. I remember I worked like a Trojan and it was very satisfying, well up to the point when I saw my midwife that afternoon and she started to worry about high blood pressure, excessive oedema in my ankles and belly, and protein in my urine.

Yes, it turns out I had pre-eclampsia. I've no idea if all my 'nesting' added to my getting this condition but it surely didn't help it and I was taken off to the hospital that evening for monitoring and a scan. It was decided that they wouldn't let me go too much over my due date and thus I was booked in for an induction on 3rd October 2003 when I would be 40+2 weeks.

Whilst my induction with JJ was a bit of a debacle and took me quite some time to emotionally recover from, I am still enormously grateful that we have the NHS in this country and that when JJ's heart rate kept decelerating, I could have the C-section without any delay. Then when the spinal blocks and epidural didn't work, there was an anaesthetist on hand who was able to give me a general straight away. Luckily JJ was fine and he hadn't swallowed any meconium as was feared and over the next few weeks I healed too.

Say goodbye to sports injuries

After a stressful day at the office or at home, many of us find that a trip to the gym or indulging in a sport of choice helps us escape the worries of everyday living.  There are over 600 muscles in the human body.  However, someone who spends their day sitting in front of a computer for example might only use 40% of those muscles during that time. Hence the importance of incorporating some form of exercise into our daily routine and whilst exercise is a wonderful thing we do have to take care.

The following tips may help to avoid sports injuries -

1.  Avoid a cold start.   In order to reduce the risk of injury and allow you to give your best performance, do some stretching exercises beforehand to get your muscles warmed up and ready for action. When muscles are warmed up they are less prone to injury.  Depending on your activity, you may also need to do a mental rehearsal beforehand. If you have a history of injury or have had a precious injury to a joint or muscle, it is vital to warm up prior to exercise to prevent such injuries becoming chronic problems.

2.  Ambition can spur you on but can also increase risk of injury. Be realistic about your capabilities.  Being too ambitious and not knowing your limits can result in too much pressure being put on your locomotor system.  If you take on some form of strenuous exercise that you have not been unaccustomed to, there is the danger that you might do more harm than good. If you experience pain when exercising or doing sport, stop at once.  It is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong and should not be ignored.

3.  Stay safe. Wearing the correct protective gear for your particular sport e.g. helmet, gloves, sunglasses, knee and elbow pads and shock absorbing sports shoes. Make sure the equipment is properly fitted and worn correctly and consistently to help prevent unnecessary injury.  

4.  Regular breaks. Taking a break at regular intervals can also help prevent your body becoming overtaxed.  Rest is an important component of proper training and can make you stronger.  Insufficient rest can result in fatigue and poor judgement. Recovery days give muscles the chance to repair between training sessions.

5.  Correct technique.  Whichever sport you choose to do, make sure you are using the correct technique.  Whether it’s badminton or swimming it’s always best to have some instruction at the very start otherwise you run the risk of unnecessary injuries.

6.  Stay hydrated.  Dehydration can lead to poor concentration and a higher risk of injury.  It also affects performance abilities.  Be sure to drink plenty of water to replenish what your body loses in sweat.  Keep a water bottle to hand and drink from it at regular intervals.

7.  Consult your doctor.  Patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, migraine or other long term illnesses should check with their doctor as to what sports would be most beneficial to their health and which should be avoided.

8.  When to avoid sport.  It is best to avoid any sporting activities if you are suffering from a fever, tiredness or a heavy cold.  It’s also unwise to attempt any any form of exercise or sport if you are under the influence of alcohol.

9.  Avoid taking risks.  In the case of outdoor sports, gauge your pace according to the weather conditions and also to the time of day.   More care needs to be taken during bad weather conditions such as rain and ice and also when lighting conditions are not good, wear suitable reflective equipment.

10.  Be prepared.  It’s worth keeping a tube of arnica gel to hand should you have the misfortune to suffer sprained or strained joints or other tissue injuries whilst training.  Arnica has been recognised as a medicinal plant since the 16^th century and is a popular remedy for bruising.  In the form of a gel it is convenient and easy to apply.  

Disclaimer: This is a guest post but as someone who has been doing more sport just recently I was happy to host as have a genuine interest.

Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net