Innholdsfortegnelse for Best Of 2 2018 i Pick Me Up! Special

It’s possible that the thought of having your labour filmed fills you with horror! Holly (pg8) let her hubby record every moment of their baby’s birth and she shared it online, but it’s helped countless mums. Helping others is why Ashley (pg31) is sharing an upsetting photograph of her nephew Lennon. She hopes you pay attention to their stark warning. We’ve fallen in love with Lisa’s talented daughter Eva this month (pg24). Lisa saw Eva’s potential from the second she was born and now she’s proving that being different shouldn’t stop you from having the same opportunities. Huey is another smart little kid (pg55). His mum is still trying to work out how her three-year-old boy managed to save the day – and her life. Spare a thought for Christina…

I CRY EVERY TIME I WATCH IT BACK As I sat on the sofa stroking my growing bump, I wondered what it would be like when labour started. I knew it was time I started putting a birth plan together, but it all seemed so daunting. ‘I think I’d like a water birth,’ I said to my hubby Stephen, who’s known as Skinner. ‘Sounds good to me,’ he agreed. I even thought that Skinner, 32, could join me in the birthing pool so that we could share the whole birthing experience as a couple. After finding out I was pregnant, he was so excited, he’d started vlogging as ‘Nomadi Daddy’ on YouTube and Facebook. We filmed lots of videos of our adventures while I was pregnant – everything from going…

I WAS LEFT THROWING UP OVER 15 TIMES A DAY ‘Why hadn't it stopped?’ The burning sensation rose up my throat and I clapped my hand over my mouth. Within seconds, I was violently throwing up in the toilet. Aren’t I supposed to be glowing? I thought tearfully as I retched. I was nine weeks pregnant and victim to the dreaded morning sickness – morning, noon and night. Over the next few hours, I vomited repeatedly. My partner was so worried that I was dangerously dehydrated, that he called an ambulance. ‘You have hyperemesis gravidarum,’ the doctor said at the Edinburgh Royal Hospital. ‘Extreme vomiting in pregnancy.’ I was gutted I couldn’t enjoy the pregnancy of my first baby. Other pregnant women were decorating the nursery while I was left…

CHANGES A T HOME The stuff we throw away on a daily basis can cause havoc on the environment. Harsha Rathnayake, founder of the national waste clearance service Junk Hunters (www.junkhunters.co.uk), gives us his tips in lessening our rubbish load. Minimal packaging Shop wisely and choose foods with little or no packaging, such as fruits and vegetables. Buy things in bulk to save buying singularly packaged smaller versions of the same thing, for example, cereal, cleaning products, and toilet paper. Reusable containers These are a lifesaver when it comes to food, keeping cereals, rice and pasta stored properly to make them last longer and avoid waste. Use them as lunchboxes, too, to avoid buying packaged sandwiches every day. Invest in reusable items Things like reusable shopping bags can be kept…

As I perched on the edge of the seat in my GP’s office, I waited for my test results with baited breath. ‘I’m afraid you have type 2 diabetes,’ my doctor said. Devastated, I had always struggled with my health. After being diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and spending most of my life overweight, I knew developing diabetes was a risk. But still, I held on to the belief that ‘it won’t happen to me’, so when I was told I had it, I was in shock. In 2009, when I was told I had PCOS, it didn’t change my life much at the time, but it did mean that it would always be a bit more difficult for me to lose weight and there was a chance I…

Germ cell cancer is a rare type of cancer of the ovaries. These aggressive, fast-growing tumours make up just five percent of ovarian cancer, affecting 7,000 people in the UK each year. Symptoms include swelling of the abdomen, vaginal bleeding, and irregular periods, which can sometimes be misinterpreted as pregnancy. Surgery is usually used to remove the tumour, along with the affected ovary, followed by chemotherapy to make sure the cancer doesn’t spread. For more information, go to www.cancerresearchuk.org .…

Parenthood is such an incredible journey. When I met Lee, 35, I was already a mum to my daughter Katelyn, then four, and we soon started trying for our own. Only, after marrying in July 2013, a year later, we’d had zero luck. Fertility tests revealed that Lee had a low sperm count. He was crushed. It meant we’d just an eight percent chance of conceiving naturally. As I already had a child, we didn’t qualify for IVF. We accepted it, though, and we focused on Katelyn. But as we never used protection, there was still a slim hope. And on 1 January 2016, my boobs felt really sore. I bought two pregnancy tests and we watched in shock as two bold blue lines revealed… I was pregnant! At a…

It was May 2016, and a beautiful spring morning. ‘Fancy a bit of sun?’ I said to my pet tortoise, Stavi. She blinked at me solemnly. Tortoise speak for ‘Yes please!’ I assumed. Smiling, I carried Stavi, 16, out into the garden. It’d been 15 years since we’d found her in my gran’s garden. ‘Watch out!’ I’d yelled, as my mum had almost run her over with the lawnmower! From then on, Stavi had lived with me and my parents, Barbara, now 59, and Kevin, 57. I still lived with them, along with my son Max, five. Max adored Stavi. I did, too, if I’m honest. And, since her early brush with lawnmower death, I’d put a red piece of tape on her shell so I could spot her easily.…

THEY SAY: This drug-free warming cream uses a unique combination of rosemary and vanilla to ease everyday muscular tension in the neck and shoulders. YOU SAY: 'This cream is easy to use, and doesn't smell like medicated ointment, so I don't find it awkward to put on at work. Great value for money, too!' Debbie, Hull WE SAY: The cream comes with a soft sponge applicator so it can be used at work, home, or for easy on-the-go use. Perfect to keep in your handbag!…

Charles Cullen During his 2003 police interrogation, Charles Cullen said he didn’t want people to see him for what he really was – a murderer. ‘I don’t believe I had the right, but I couldn’t stop,’ he said. But someone should have stopped his murder spree. Cullen was a nurse, and possibly the worst serial killer in American history. After being discharged from the US Navy, Cullen retrained to be a nurse and worked at the St Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey. The following year, Cullen would kill his first victim. He administered a lethal overdose of an intravenous medication to a vulnerable patient. Over the next four years, he’d kill ten more patients and only quit when the hospital started to investigate tampered bags of intravenous fluids.…

Sinking into the deep bubbles of the bath, I let out a satisfied little sigh. As a busy mum, it wasn’t often that I took a moment to myself. And, to be honest, it wasn’t the most leisurely of soaks… From downstairs, I heard my little boy singing happily in the living room. Postman Pat, Postman PAAAAAAAATTTTT, Huey, three, sang at the top of his voice. Even though he was breaking the peace of my relaxing time out, I couldn’t help but smile. Huey was my whole world and I loved hearing his little voice sounding so happy. He was such a good boy. It was a Friday morning in March 2016, and I’d got Huey sorted before sitting him in front of the TV with his best friend –…

My partner Lee and I already had our hands full with three kids between us, but we desperately wanted to have a baby together. One more won’t make a difference, I thought. I soon fell pregnant, and we were so excited. I just hoped the birth would be less dramatic than my daughter Crystals' – she'd been born on my mum's bathroom floor! But at eight months gone, I woke up feeling unwell and dashed to the loo, just in time to hear a loud gushing sound. ‘My waters have broken!' I shouted to Lee. He rushed in, but by then it was too late. After a second splash, I stood up and saw a baby in the toilet. Lee quickly reached in and pulled our little girl out. We…

‘I was upside down and he was gone‚ With my eyes closed tight, I struggled to contain my excitement. ‘Are you ready?’ my boyfriend Owen, 23, asked. ‘Yes!’ I squealed. ‘OK, open!’ Owen laughed. My heart skipped with happiness when I saw the tiny Jack Russell puppy nestled in Owen’s arms. It was my 21st birthday and I’d been badgering Owen for ages about getting a puppy. ‘Thank you so much,’ I cried, taking the little pup from him. I called him Peanut, and I was instantly besotted. As Owen lives on a farm, we decided that Peanut should stay with him. I lived with my parents and it wasn’t fair to keep Peanut cooped up inside all day. I visited Peanut every day and loved watching him cause mischief,…

Some people expect peace and quiet when they retire – not me! In fact, me and my wife Jean, 87, had a house full of noise, chatter, and the pitter-patter of tiny feet. ‘Jimmy's a good boy,' you can often hear said in our home. But Jimmy isn't our grandchild – he's a budgie! Spotting him at a breeder's, we couldn't help but laugh. The nine-week old chick was strutting around like he owned the place. We knew he was the one for us. Back home, our bossy bird would parade up and down his cage, staring at the latch. ‘Let's give him a little freedom,' Jean said. But as soon as I inched the door open, he was off – swooping through the hall. After that, we didn't have…

I COMPLETELY STOPPED THE SHOW After losing my temper at the TV yet again, I had been banned from watching Question Time. Every time I tuned in to the political debate programme, my blood would boil. ‘It’s a load of lies!’ I shouted. ‘Mum! Keep it down!’ my son Adam, 31, scolded. ‘These MPs just get me going sometimes,’ I grumbled. ‘I know, Mum,’ he said, switching off the TV. My other son Daniel, 27, came into the room. ‘I think we need a Question Time ban,’ he said. But perhaps they were right. I would get especially worked up when politicians discussed what they were planning to do with benefits. I had a degenerative spinal disease, leaving me in agony. Physio didn’t work for me, so I had to…

This month... BE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY 1 Bottles for life Stop wasting water bottles. About 80 percent of them don't get recycled. Invest in a good quality bottle that you can re-use instead. 2 Go digital Modernise your to-do list. Instead of writing notes on post-its and calendars, use an app on your phone to keep organised. You'll save a load of paper. 3 Share the drive Set up a carpool. Not only will it save on petrol and reduce the number of cars on the road, but your daily commute will become much more lively! 4 Bag it up Choose canvas over plastic carrier bags. Most supermarkets sell them. Leave them in your car so you never forget! 5 Home recycling Make a compost bin. Toss in your fruit and…

CAN’T STOP... eating Prader-Willi Syndrome is a rare genetic condition that causes an excessive appetite and overeating – to the point where sufferers will even eat inedible items. It can also cause learning difficulties and behavioural problems in children. It is caused by a fault in the genes, which affects the hypothalamus part of the brain – responsible for regulating hormones, growth and appetite. The genetic mistake happens purely by chance, and boys and girls of all ethnic backgrounds are equally affected by it. CAN’T STOP... hiccupping We've all suffered with bouts of hiccups before. But these involuntary contractions of the diaphragm usually pass within a few minutes. But if your hiccups go on for more than 48 hours, they are classed as long-term. American Charles Osborne proved to have…

KEEPING BRITAIN TIDY Creating the clean parks, beaches and streets we all want to see takes small, individual steps – picking up a single piece of litter could be your first step. Keep Britain Tidy, a charity that works to do just that, are celebrating #LitterHeroes – an army of litter pickers – as a new way of supporting everyone who wants to do their bit to create a better environment. Go to www.keepbritaintidy.org to find events in your area and to get advice for organising your own litter-pick. POO POWER Winchester's Marwell Zoo recently launched its new Tropical House, providing close animal viewing and better animal habitats. The best part? It's powered by poo! The zoo will convert some of its 7,000 tonnes of animal waste into energy to…

Lucy says: 'Canned foods, particularly fruit packed from fresh,actually contain no preservatives and fruit in juicecountsto one of your five-a-day. These delicious recipes show how simple it is to get more fruit into your family's diet during busy mornings!' Fruit smoothie bowl Serves 4 1. Put the mango slices into a blender with the yogurt and blend until smooth. Alternatively, use a hand-held stick blender. 2. Share the smoothie between four wide bowls. 3. Arrange the fruit neatly over the surface, sprinkling the granola in between. Serve immediately, or cover and chill to serve within 1 hour. Pineapple pancakes Serves 4 1. Drain the can of Princes pineapple chunks in Juice. Chop half of…

Creeping out of the bedroom on my tip toes, I made sure to close the door as quietly as possible behind me. My little one, Mia, four months, was keeping me awake all night, so her day time naps were a chance to get on with some housework and have some ‘me’ time. Alongside having a newborn, my husband Craig, 29, and I had sons, Josh, nine, Thomas, six, and step-daughter Megan, 10, who lives with us. Luckily, my mum Kath lived just around the corner so was on hand to help out. We’d always had a close relationship, but with me now a full-time mum, we spent almost all our time together. I’d usually try and get tea on the table and get the kids to do their homework…

The 911 call was made late on the night of August 20, 1989, and came from a luxury Beverly Hills mansion. ‘Somebody killed my parents,’ a male voice cried. ‘I came home and found them here.’ The hysterical caller was Lyle Menendez, then 21. He told the dispatcher that he’d returned home with his brother Erik, 18, to find their parents Jose, 45, and Mary, 47, known as Kitty, dead from multiple gunshot wounds. It sent shockwaves through California. Jose was a wealthy entertainment executive while Kitty was a glamourous socialite. They were extremely wealthy and lived a life of privilege with their two sons. Who would want them dead? The Menendez family lived in a Spanish-style lavish $5million home in Calabasas. It had once been rented out to celebrities…

Unusual? How much vaginal Q discharge is normal? I'm paranoid about mine as it seems thicker sometimes throughout my cycle. Tasha, Leeds When it comes to vaginal A discharge, everybody is different. Some women don’t have any, whilst others always have to wear a panty-liner. You should consider seeing a gynaecologist if there is a different colour (yellow, green or even pinkish or red), if there is a strong odour associated with discharge, if it is a significant change from your ‘normal’ pattern, or if it is associated with pelvic pain or itching. Painful problems Sometimes sex is painful Q with my husband, but not always. Does it mean there's something wrong? Jenny, Portsmouth It depends on a few factors. A Is the pain down-below or is it deep inside…

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but most of us don't realise just how much sugar we could be consuming before the day even starts. A bowl of granola contains six teaspoons of sugar, strawberry yoghurt contains four, a scoop of peanut butter contains one, while a blueberry muffin contains two teaspoons of sugar. If you tend to reach a mid-morning lull, this indicates that your breakfast is high in sugar, giving your blood sugar levels a spike, only to come crashing down hours later. To avoid this, naturopathic nutritionist Julie Haigh from Candida Diet Foods (candidadietfoods.co.uk) recommends having a breakfast of oatmeal or eggs, so as not to exceed the recommended daily sugar allowance of 30g.…

With access to drugs and vulnerable patients, being a nurse gave Elizabeth Wettlaufer the perfect opportunity to kill. She blended in so well, many of her victims’ families don’t even remember her. Wettlaufer was forgettable. It wasn’t until she went into rehab that the Canadian nurse confessed to having uncontrollable ‘surges’, telling her to kill. So she’d gone on to inject over a dozen patients with deadly overdoses of insulin, before going back home to play computer games. Eight elderly people died at her hands, and six more almost lost their lives. It seems incredible now that she was even allowed to be a nurse in the first place. Wettlaufer was an alcoholic and an opioid addict. When her ten-year marriage ended in 2007, she turned her attention to her…

I had blood poisoning and a flesh-eating bug As I ran around the court, I tried to duck out of the way, but I wasn’t quite quick enough. ‘Oww!’ I cried, clutching my chest as a foam ball came at me, hitting me with full force. ‘You OK?’ a teammate yelled. ‘Yeah, fine,’ I said, dusting myself off and carrying on with our game of dodgeball. I’d never played the sport before, but I decided to give it a go with some colleagues from the office after work. The next morning, my muscles ached. My chest was a little sore and I felt unwell. ‘I think I’m coming down with a cold,’ I groaned to my workmates, knocking back a couple of paracetamol. It was awful timing. My husband,…

Jennifer was the love of my life nn e A scene I’d never forget – my girlfriend Jennifer, her face shining with pride as she cradled our newborn daughter in her arms. It was September 2014, and Katie had arrived weighing 5lb 1oz, after a 10-hour labour. ‘She’s the image of you,’ I told Jennifer proudly, my heart bursting with happiness. A true beauty, like her mum. Jennifer was one of the kindest, most thoughtful people I’d ever met and now we were a family. In June 2015, we got married at The Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen. ‘I can’t wait to grow old with you,’ I said. ‘Let the adventure begin!’ she laughed. I’d hit the jackpot – she was the love of my life. We spent the next…

With my newborn baby girl content in my arms, I tried hard to take in what I was being told. ‘Your baby may never learn to walk,’ all the doctors said. Not just that, she’d be slow to develop, and struggle with school and making friends… She was just hours old and the list of things our baby would never do seemed endless. Our girl Eva had been born with Down’s syndrome. I’d decided not to have the test to find out while I was pregnant – I knew it wouldn’t make any difference to how much I’d love her. A few hours after Eva was born, doctors confirmed it. I’d known as soon as I saw her. I looked down at my baby girl sleeping in my arms. A…

I felt my legs give way the second I walked into the hospital room. My nephew, Lennon, was hooked up to machines, and wires snaked out of his body. Every clinical sounding beep made my heart ache and I scanned the monitors, desperate to see a sign of life. ‘Oh Lennon, what have you done,’ I whispered, tearfully. It was few days before Christmas, and Lennon had been rushed to hospital. He’d taken a pill and collapsed. Lennon was only 14 and such a level-headed lad, too. I just couldn’t believe it. But being angry with him wasn’t going to help. I sat by his side and willed him to keep fighting. ‘Come back to us,’ I told him. After swallowing the pill, Lennon had lost consciousness and had slipped…

Getting ready for work one morning, I struggled to do up my trousers. It was an every day battle for me… breathing in, tucking in my tummy as far as I could, and trying to button up. ‘There’s no use,’ I huffed, frustrated. ‘They’re not going to do up.’ I just couldn’t understand why my belly was getting bigger and bigger. I was quite an active person. I did plenty of exercise – Zumba once a week and lots of walking. And I was a healthy eater, too. I would only have an occasional chocolate bar, and even then, just as a treat after a meal. Yet somehow, I’d gone from a size 10 to a size 14. Maybe I’m pregnant? I thought. I suffered with We epilepsy, and my…

Over 100 million people tuned in to see the fate of O.J. Simpson during his 1995 televised trial. The former NFL player, turned actor, had been accused of stabbing to death his former wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman. When police pursued and arrested Simpson, the live stream interrupted TV schedules. After what was dubbed as the 'Trial of the Century', Simpson was acquitted. He'd later be sentenced to 33 years for armed robbery, but was released on parole in 2017. As a result of the frenzied publicity around the trial, many judges banned filming in their courtrooms.…

When you’re counting pennies, it can feel safer to rely on your usual holiday routine. But that can soon get boring. Flight comparison website Jetcost ( www.jetcost.co.uk ) suggests the top destinations for a budget holiday with a difference: Perfect for travelling with friends: Riga From the shops, bars and dancefloors of Riga through to the beach-front spas boasting chill-out retreats like no other, Latvia is the perfect place to dance the night away. It’s advisable to opt for a self-drive option, so you can explore with no restraints. Perfect for travelling with a significant other: Azerbaijan If you want to feel like you are in a whole other world, Azerbaijan is the one for you. A former-Soviet Islamic country full of beautiful architecture and medieval towns and…

At the end of a long day at work, I was happy to relax on the sofa and tuck into a ham sandwich. Flicking on EastEnders , I settled in for the evening. But, just as I took a final bite, a dull pain shot through the side of my jaw. ‘That doesn’t feel right,’ I murmured to myself. But the ache faded after a few minutes, and I just thought that I must’ve just taken too big of a bite. Only, the next morning, my speech was incoherent, so I went to the hospital. But an X-ray of my jaw showed nothing abnormal. By that afternoon, the slurring had subsided, so I went into work. ‘Everything OK?’ my colleague asked. ’ ‘I’m fine, thanks,’ I replied. But as soon…

The Glendale Adventist Medical Center in California was the hunting ground for serial killer Efren Saldivar. He was convicted for killing six patients, but it is thought he could have been responsible for the deaths of up to 100. Saldivar was a respiratory therapist who mostly worked the night shift. He would stalk the wards and inject patients’ intravenous lines with a paralytic drug which would lead to respiratory or cardiac arrest. He would often use Pancuronium, a drug used to temporarily stop a patient’s breathing when doctors need to insert tubes down their throat. Saldivar was careful when he picked his victims. He made sure they were unconscious or close to death. It meant there was no obvious rise in death rate. It was a tip off that led…