1 / 6

Today is the first day of my last week of work.

It has been busy but has gone very quickly as a result.  That means I have four days remaining once I step out to go home!

People have started coming in to say goodbye which is really weird.  I'm going for a long time, but not forever so it's a strange set of circumstance, plus with not knowing what will happen to our jobs whilst I'm away, whether we'll move offices, have new collegues......

The actual countdown has now truly begun!  The beginning of the end of an era....

Sofa Saga

It’s been a long time coming, but today I have a new sofa set!

You may be aware from previous posts that I’ve been wishing for a new sofa for many a month, mainly due to the fact that Izzy had destroyed my old one, and Steve kept insisting on trying to fix the broken pieces of foam cushion till one day in a rage, I ripped the remainder apart to stop him from fixing it again when it’s so past it’s best, and last week went and bought a new sofa from Homebase.

Delivery seemed a little steep at £30 so I decided to see if I could look at hiring a van, which was far more expensive so I was on my way to pay for it and book it Saturday afternoon and Steve took umption at the £30 and looking online saw that the sofa was back available online with free delivery.

So off he went to Homebase to argue this point which made me worry that he’d cancel my order to buy it from the website instead to get free delivery, which ordinarily I would agree with, but with being fed up to high heaven with the rotten old one and with the estate agents coming on Monday to take photos and measure up the house to put on the market, I wasn’t prepared to wait any longer!!

Anyway, Amy and I went along to the store to see what was going on, and there he was, chatting to the customer advisor (ironically one of my old guides from when I began looking after the Unit, now all tall and grown up!) and Amy was spying whilst I stressed about whether I’d get my sofa or not.

Extra drama:
I’d fallen over on the steps outside the store because we were rushing, Amy shrieked out ‘Kate’ as I ended up in a push up position, all my weight on my hands that had shot out and protected my bump from the step edges but the shock of falling made me burst into tears at which moment our neighbours from Mynors street with a Dalmatian dog who hates Izzy walked by seeing me in silly shoes and socks looking frazzled and sobbing. Great.  I was a bit of a tired wreck on Saturday to be honest.  I've not fallen over in 8 months, a feat I was rather proud of!!

Then Steve came to join us lurking in the paintbrush aisle to say that he’d bought the matching cuddle chair to go with the sofa for me, and got £50 off it and a reduced fee for the delivery. I felt rather ashamed of myself for worrying he was going to cancel everything and make me wait, and was exceptionally nice to him for the rest of the weekend.  It seems he wants me to be happy which was a very nice thing for him to say!  And having had a successful delivery and installment of the sofa's I am most happy indeed. 

We had fun yesterday hacking the old sofa apart with Dad and Steve jumping on it and Izzy was shut out so as to not get any ideas about to what lengths she could go to with a sofa chair.  She hated the empty lounge last night and kept wandering about looking morose that she had nowhere to sit.  Photos will follow!!

Here's Dad with his tool kit, it was raining heavily outside so he got a bit soggy fetching things in poor fellow!

Note the little gremlin dog wondering what's going on and why so much fuss and noise is happening!!

Does she look sorry?  Not sorry enough!!  :)

Out with the old, and in with the new!!!

Much better :)

And so very much more comfortable!!

So in short I have a spectacularly tidy and clean house, a new sofa suite and we're trying to sell it.  At least if nothing happens, we're quite happy where we are, especially if Steve moves into an office as the extra room will help once baby is here.

34 Weeks

How far along: 34 Weeks


Total Weight Gained: *tumbleweed* **again**

Maternity Clothes: Indeed.  Although if I do attempt to wear something non-maternity I look so ridiculous and stretched it's very funny!!

Stretch Marks: Just the under the bump ones. Still rubbing in lotions and potions twice daily though!  They're a bit itchy at present now.

Sleep:  I've been missing sleep although my after work naps are helping me get through.  I'm wandering around from about 2am  - 4am wide awake and easing my aches and pains most nights!

Best Moment of the Week:  Getting a new sofa.  Sorry it's not baby related but it'll mean I can feel more comfortable during my remaining pregnancy!!

Movement:   Lots and lots.  Although on Friday evening I had a bath and didn't feel any movement which worried me for a while until Steve got home and just put his hands on the bump and baby sprang into activity!!

Gender: He's a baby BOY!!!

Belly Button:  Still in and out as baby feels he wants it at the moment!

Milestones: One week of work to go so going on maternity leave will be a huge milestone for me!  Not sure how I'll feel about it at the moment!  Change you know!!

Saturday Night....

What a day!  I did the film interview in Birmingham this morning and we got back at midday when I fell into bed and napped for a couple of hours!!  Then Amy turned up with cleaning equipment and sandwiches for lunch (how lovely!!) and she proceeded to go through the whole house cleaning for me as I've not been keeping on top of things terribly well with working and bring tired and all.  The whole house is spotless!!  It's fabulous.   She's like a good fairy.  - If you're reading this Amy, thank you so much again!!

Major Insomnia

I was so tired yesterday, it was the end of a frantically busy week, Friday night and I'd had a nice bath to relax thinking I'd just have the best night sleep and feel great this weekend.

Denied.

I don't know what happened!  I just lay in bed until about midnight not able to sleep and have been up about three times, not even for the loo, just to wander about a bit!!  Was I stressing?  Was I anxious?  I'm not sure, I don't think I feel stressed.  I was wondering how to get my sofa home today but I can have it delivered.  My little sister is popping over which will be nice and I'm heading to Birmingham with Steve first thing to be in an interview for one of his film projects, maybe that's stressing me as I don't like being filmed really.  Hmm.

I must have drifted off at some point as I woke up 30 minutes ago but my head feels very woolly today.  I'll look terrible on the film no doubt, better go and start the make-up process, I have a feeling I'm going to need a lot of something to look halfway decent today!

Too Much

After work today it was beautiful.  The sun was shining, the sky was blue, it was warm and it was a day for fun with the dog!  So off Steve and I went to 'The Meadows' which is a nearby stretch of common which runs alongside the River Sow (I think it's the sow!).  I could have done with a nap really but Izzy's needs were more pressing.

Izzy hadn't been out much today due to us both being out at work and busy so was very pleased to have her freedom and as we walked along slowly for me to keep up she ran rings around us and just kept running for the fun of it!  She chased birds and even did a huge belly flop into the river to say hello to some ducks.

But, I'd sort of exhausted myself on the way, and the return journey was really hard.  I had to keep stopping and bending over to hang on Steve's arms to try and alleviate the ache in my back.  We made it home again but I'll be in bed soon, and likely paying for the exercise tomorrow!  Izzy thought it was worth it though.  Her doggy smiling face is so happy!!  I can't wait till we can carry the baby in a sling and take it in turns with the weight rather than it all be on me!!  It's like when I did my Duke of Edinburgh's award except the weight is on my front rather than my back!!  I think for my Gold level, the bag was around 3 stones and I imagine that's about what I've put on now.  (Still haven't checked for sure!)

Tomorrow is the end of my penultimate week.  It's been horribly busy but I've tried to keep calm and just do what I can when I can.  I've been working methodologically and got through it.  I'm not behind, and I've emptied my desk of personal belongings already, the thought of walking out with a box on my last day is too depressing!  Maternity leave here I come!  Just one more week....

Innie Outey

I don't know what my tummy button is up to at the moment!  One minute it's slightly in, then it's flat, and today eek, it seemed to point out for a while before popping back in!  It felt very weird so I think baby was pushing out from just behind it or something!

And last night, I thought he was going to burst out 'hulk' style or something he was pushing away so hard on my left side and pressing his legs out of my right side!

I just can't get over how strong he feels inside and how frail he'll seem on the outside!

2 / 7

Penultimate Monday.

Two words to induce a little panic!!  So much to do at work in these next two weeks.  I'm shattered today.  I was in work for 8.00am and worked solid until 5.00pm with only a lunch break which involved walking to my Mum's to borrow her car to get home to see Izzy the dog before going back to work.

Busy busy busy.

I've never known a day go so fast.

Anyway, now, feet are up on the sofa, under a blanket and watching 'One Born Every Minute'.

It's what Monday's are for!  Can't believe there's only one Monday left at work!  Then five weeks of peace and quiet!

Oh, except get this, we've put our house on the market today!!  Terrible timing isn't it!  ;-)

33 Weeks

How far along:  33 Weeks

Total Weight Gained:  *tumbleweed*  **again**

Maternity Clothes:   Indeed.

Stretch Marks:  Just the under the bump ones.  Still rubbing in lotions and potions twice daily though!

Sleep:  Urgh, sleep.  How I miss thee.   I'm not too bad really.  I think I'm just extra tired all day as well!  I'm getting up at least once a night around 2.00am at the moment and somethings 5.00am as well.  This weekend I've been pretty shattered which I've put down to a busy working week, which doesn't bode well as this coming week is going to be twice as busy and Steve isn't around in the day to look after the dog so I'm going to be working doubly hard and trying to sort our exuberant puppy out.  Oh for maternity leave to start so I don't have to worry.  And can sleep when I need to.

Best Moment of the Week:  The Parenthood class was quite good.  Watching Steve bath a baby doll totally wrongly was very amusing indeed.  I really enjoyed my mini baby shopping spree yesterday.  If I had limitless amounts of money I'd have gone very overboard, John Lewis is a pricey but quality place to shop!!

Movement:  Yes, lots and regularly which is good.  He was pushing out so hard yesterday even Amy from across the room noticed my tummy move out of the corner of her eye!  There are definite hard bumps coming out now so we're guessing foot or elbow or hand.  I still think his head is to the left and feet up on the right but that could be totally wrong.

Gender:  He's a baby BOY!!!   Still need to work on names as well :(  Just when i think we're sorted something crops up.  I'm still hoping Steve appreciates the effort labour is and lets me have my way!

Belly Button:  Just stretched out as far as I think it could possibly go.  There's a weird nubbin type nobble right in the middle, and it's all brown from the inside being stretched.  I showed Julie and Sally and Sally didn't like it.  It'll be funny when it goes back!

Milestones:   33 weeks today so 7 until the due date and 9 until we definitely meet him, 2 left of work and 4 weeks until baby is considered full term.   I would love to be able to not go to work tomorrow but needs must.  I'm just staying in more during evenings with my feet up. 

Mini Spree

I had a few vouchers from John Lewis left from our wedding and have been saving them for a bit with the intention of getting a few baby bits.  I needed changing mats, one for the nursery and one for the changing unit which will go downstairs so today off Amy and I went to the Nottingham store.

I got two lovely changing mats with a towel liner, some very soft cuddle towel robes, some posh bib things with milk catching things (these are all sort of things I'd have second thoughts about if I were paying with 'real' money of course!) and they had some beautiful little outfits but we decided not to buy those as we don't know how big baby is going to be and there's no point buying newborn if he's got to go straight into 0-3 month size!!

So with the remainder I bought a groovy little Cath Kidston Blackberry case for my phone as my old one has gone walkabout somewhere.

And that was it.  My 'mini-spree'.

Ante-Natal 3 - Parenthood Class

Today at 2pm we headed off for our next ante-natal class which was being held in the clinic in town.  We found our way there and recognised a few of the other couples who'd been at the labour class and hospital tour.

The first hour was with a women's health representative who promptly informed us that 48% of women who've had a baby will, at some point in the next 18 months have an episode of incontinence.  Nice.  She urged us to do our pelvic floor excercises.  I only remember when I hear the words pelvic floor so did a few sets there and then.  I'm doing a few now too actually!

Then we were split into groups and asked to discuss if we were 3cm dilated, where we'd be, what we'd be doing and something else I've forgotten.  We decided that we'd be at home, not being far enough along yet to be admitted, possibly having a hot bath and trying to relax or sleep or eat and getting bags in the car to take in, and.... oh yes, pain relief, that was the bath and paracetamol!!  I just don't see how paracetmol will cut it to be honest but this woman reckoned her friend had a natural birth with only two paracetamol the whole labour so it can be done.  Hmm.  One Born Every Minute does not agree!

Steve just started chatting to other couples whilst I was trying to stick to the topic at hand.  He does seem to try to be antagonistic at times and say silly things.  I'm worried that we'll get to the actual labour and he'll just be fatuous throughout it rather than be supportive having listened to plans and what I've said might happen as a result of these classes!

Anyway, this first hour was sort of like what we'd done last week, although a bit of relaxation was thrown in for good measure too which was ok.  It's hard to relax when everyone bar Steve is joining in and he's picking at his finger nails.

The second hour was a different midwifey person who talked about bathing baby and changing nappies and such.  She asked for a volunteer so up got Steve and she asked him to wrap the baby in a towel.  He sort of draped it so it fell off.  She then asked him to pick the baby up and he held it like a bunch of flowers and didn't support the head!  It was rather funny to watch to be honest.  He seems to think he knows it all, but really didn't in this case.

Mind you, had I gone up, I'd have been a bit lost too.  I'm dreading bathing the baby!  You can't wash the eyes with water, and you have to keep things separate, use water and cotton wool for the first 6 weeks and no product at all.  She then said if baby has sticky eyes you can wash them with breast milk.  I had to ask her to repeat that as I could see the other women were all imagining squirting their babies in the face with milk direct from their boobies and this midwife woman thought we were all crazy for not understanding what she was saying!  Breast milk on the eyes indeed!!

She then talked about meconium and poop and cleaning a baby which was interesting but I've forgotten most of it already!  My memory is really bad at the moment.  She commented on your waters being green having had the meconium released inside and when she told the men that it meant baby had pooped inside you, Steve quite audibly went 'gah' and grimaced.  I've told him that could happen, I know I have.  He doesn't listen.

She said babies sleep on their backs now, she doesn't recommend gro-bags, light blankets and feet to the foot of the cot is fine although she did say moses baskets would be better to start with.  Maybe I ought to get one.  Everyone seems to think that it's better to have baby in with you to start with and I do have my John Lewis vouchers which would cover one.  Ho hum.

Anyway, that was our third class.  I think we're quite lucky to have this many classes as some regions seem to be very disorganised.  I'm still looking forward more to the  private ones though in the hope I can make some friends.  I can be a bit shy to start with though so we'll see.  I hope they like me!!!

3 / 8

Three weeks to go!!!  Till I finish work!

Three stressful weeks but at least the time ought to fly by.

I'm tired again today, sleep was disrupted last night due to aches and pains in the hips and ribs again, and not to mention the fact Steve gave Izzy a whole chicken breast (which I thought would be a bit rich as I'd roasted it with onions, garlic and rose wine) and then left half a salmon and cream cheese sandwich within her reach so she ate that too. 

I think she had a painful tummy as she was crying about 4am to be let out and Steve and I both got up to see to her which resulted in her sleeping on the foot of our bed (maybe that was her plan all along?!)   Anyway, it's meant that I'm a bit sleepy again today. 

Oh, and happy Valentine's day one and all?  Did you all get a card?  I didn't yet!!  Steve mumbled something about going to town this afternoon.  So unromantic.  I hope the card shop girls glare at him on my behalf.  I gave him his card, with a Thornton's chocolate lollipop and a new speaker pillow as Izzy chewed the wires off his old one and he was sad about it.

32 Weeks

How far along:  32 Weeks

Total Weight Gained:  *tumbleweed*

Maternity Clothes:   Yep.  Every day.  I feel that they're boring now as I'm wearing the same things every day.

Stretch Marks:  Still the ones under the bump although my old ones seem brighter!  (the puberty hip ones seem to be back although not red like the tummy ones).

Sleep:  I think I had an off chance good week last week!  This week has been harder.  I'm now getting up twice for the loo in the night and my hips and sides are aching more.  I wonder if it's because I'm going to bed earlier for the lack of sleep which is meaning I need the loo a second time.  I'm just going with what I feel I need at the moment though as and when.  And to elaborate, I'm typing this on the laptop in bed having woken up from an afternoon nap!!

Best Moment of the Week:  I enjoyed the second ante-natal class.  That was interesting and it was fun to people watch the others attending as well to try and guess how far along they were.  The classes don't really seem set up for chatting though so I'm glad we've booked our private ones as well so we can meet other folk.

Movement: I keep on feeling surprised at how this baby surprises me!  I know that's an odd thing to say and I don't by any means think I've seen it all yet but I had a bath on Friday and a large pointy part came out of my tummy!!  And it lurched around my tummy button.  I'm aware of him at least every hour so I guess he's a good mover.  I hope he has my sense of rhythm though as his Dad doesn't have much and can't dance!!

Gender:  He's a baby BOY!!!

Belly Button:  I think it may be flat now.  It's certainly not got further to go.  Whether anything comes out or not I don't know.  It's funny you can see this ring around it which used to be the inside of my tummy button.  And touching it, although weird, is strangely flat.

Milestones:  There are many forthcoming milestones at present.  Three weeks of work left.  Eight weeks until my due date.  Ten weeks until baby is certainly and definitely here.  And I'm now officially in my eighth month of pregnancy.   Milestone heaven.

Rib Tickling

A new thing that's happened with Baby's growth and surprised me today was a bit of rib tickling!!

I guess things really are starting to get tight in there for baby, and as I was lying on my side I could feel what I presume to be a head on my left side above my pelvis and pushing out as with what I presume to be his feet, they were playing the xylophone on my ribs!!  It was a most peculiar sensation and a little uncomfortable.  I had to shift about and rub my ribs to encourage him to move position.

I then had a bath on Friday night, lit candles, used Soap and Glory bubbles, twas relaxing, until I got the theme tune to Jaws in my head.  Watching my tummy wriggle and move about was quite nice, then something large and pointy like a shark fin protruded out and sailed around my tummy button!!  If ever there was a moment you wished you'd been filming something, that was it.  I was so taken aback at seeing my body move of it's own accord like that.  It's like nothing else!

This afternoon I had another go at finishing my hospital bags.  I bought a couple of nighties to pack, a t-shirt to wear home (ok, it's a cheesy one from a sale that says baby love on it!) I think I'll get a pair of joggers for comfort sake too rather than jeans, and I found a giant cheap t-shirt to give birth in that I won't mind being incinerated afterwards.  Oh, and giant pants too.  I've read I can expect a bump of approximately 5 months size so I figure size 16 pants ought to do it.

So all I need now are trousers, flip flops, a nursing bra and some snacks and juice cartons.  All pretty much sorted at week 32, not too bad going!  I was showing Steve how I've packed the baby bag with labelled outfits inside as we've said he should dress the baby.  

I do feel rather on tenterhooks thinking about it all.  I've planned as much as I can, and waiting on mother nature will make me anxious!  I guess with a cesarean you get given a date and can work to that.  Well, I'll just try to relax and not worry and just be glad when it happens, I'll be ready for it. 

Cramping

On Tuesday night I was woken up about 4am with what I can only describe as a 'blobby' pain in my right calf.  It was very intense and I cried out but only managed to get sympathy from the dog as husband  slept through it, and it eased off and I was able to go back to sleep.  I presumed that it was a bit of cramp and thought nothing more of it.

Last night however, my word.  I was woken at the same time with intense pain in both legs that wouldn't go away.  Again I awoke with crying, my pillow had mascara on it!!  I managed to wake Steve up for about 3 seconds and he was no help at all and I didn't know what to do to make it go away!

Is that my pain threshold crossed?  Is that my limit?!  Never really having had cramp before I'm a bit of a novice, but have read that bananas can help and massage and it's due to the extra blood racing round my veins. 

The joy and fun of pregnancy never ends does it?!  A girl at work had the same thing and said she used the pain to practice her breathing technique to bear it!!  I never even thought of putting my nighttime leg cramps to good use, whether I'd think of that in the midst of it I may found out tonight!!

So after a brief toilet visit and climb of the stairs I was able to go back to sleep but all day my legs have felt swollen and throbbing, sort of how they've been feeling at the end of day at work, but to set off to work with them like that has been a pain (literally!  boom boom!)

I do feel I'm developing a waddle now because of it.  Not limping persay, but just staggering round a bit more than I did three days ago.

But it's Friday so on a positive note I have just the three more weeks of work.  Three more long, arduous, stressful weeks of work.  At least it'll help the time go quickly.

Ante-Natal 2 - Labour and Delivery Class

It was with a little trepidation that we found ourselves at the location of the afternoon's class.  There were about 12 couples there, a few women on their own and Steve and I found ourselves on the last two chairs together on the front row.  I recognised one girl from the hospital tour but that was it.

We started with a talk from a midwife on how you give birth, with a handy pelvis and a newborn sized doll (the ugliest thing ever) complete with fabric umbilical cord and beanbag placenta.  The doll was then thrust through the pelvis and had it's head turned to the right position with a creak that made the room giggle and groan and we were demonstrated the breech position, back to back position and the nice and helpful right way round position.

Then we were asked to show hands for those watching 'One Born Every Minute' and pretty much all the women there sheepishly raised their hands!  And a talk began on the forceps from last weeks episode and the pulling and the yanking.  The midwives had said they couldn't believe that the forceps were shown on TV as they did look scary.  Major scary.

Then we were told we were having a quiz?!  Hmm.  I had to type up the questions and our answers as Steve's amused me (and he thought he knew everything already!)


Labour and Delivery Quiz

Q1 – How do you know when labour has started

Kate – when pains commence
Steve – when contractions begin

Q2 – What is a show?

Kate – the release of the mucus plug
Steve – Didn’t know, gave a grimace at the answer.

Q3 – Why is a warm bath recommended?

Kate – Eases pain naturally and relaxes muscles
Steve – Relaxes

Q4 – What should you do when you go into labour

Kate – Ring the delivery suite
Steve – Didn’t know

Q5 – When do you go to hospital

Kate – On your waters breaking or when pain gets too much
Steve – When in full labour at about 5cm dilated!!!

Q6 – What is a TENS machine

Kate – Pain relief using electric waves
Steve – A Tennis machine? You play tennis?

Q7 – How does entenox work?

Kate – Inhaled at the start of a contraction for pain relief
Steve – It gets you high

Q8 – What is pethidine

Kate – A strong sedative
Steve – Didn’t know

Q9 – What is an epidural

Kate – A spinal block to numb from the waist down
Steve – A spine injection to disable the body

Neither of us were correct here!!

Q10 – What is a CTG

Kate - Wasn't sure
Steve – Wasn’t sure

Q11 – What is induction

Kate – a kick start to commence labour
Steve – when baby was told to come out

Q12 – What is an episiotomy?

Kate – A vaginal cut
Steve – Didn’t know - gave a grimace at the answer.

Q13 – What is an assisted delivery?

Kate – where forceps or venteuse are required.
Steve – Where someone helps deliver the baby

Q14 – How do you know when to push?

Kate – You’ll have urges and need to follow midwife’s instructions
Steve – When you’re told to.

Then we had to go round the room and each take it in turn to answer a question!  Steve got question 4 which he had no answer to (and it was quite an important one too!!) so I was nice to him and let him look at my answers so he didn't look too silly in front of the other Dad's to be!!  Each question was then discussed and we could ask more questions which was nice.

The epsiotomy led to lots of questions from Mums and Dads and we were all comparing the information to 'One Born Every Minute'.  It seems I'm not the only one finding it compulsive viewing!!!

Then a discussion on water birth arose and when the midwife commented that the parents will scoop the baby out of the water rather than the midwife, the fellow sat behind us just exclaimed loudly 'What?!' and announced his partner wouldn't be having a birth pool if that was the case!!  I must admit it did surprise me too.  What if the baby is really slippery and got dropped back in the water?!

And an epidural!!  Eww!  I thought it was an injection in your back.  Apparently not.  It's a fine tube inserted in your spine (and it was passed around to view and I felt a bit queasy thinking about it) and you have to have an IV in your hand (gag) and can't be as mobile.  It can also lead to forceps thus an episiotomy as well.  I think that would have to be a last resort for me.  I couldn't bear to have a tube in my spine or hand, it'd make me feel very queasy. 

After the questions had all been dealt with, we settled back to watch a very old 1980's birthing film with lots of big perms and bad make-up!!  We saw (up close and personal) two births and the whole thing.  It was gruesome.  Part of me would rather not see to be honest, but oh well.

Next class is next Wednesday.  Same time, different place and I think it's about Parenthood!  Exciting.

31 Weeks Midwife Appointment

I can't believe it's 31 weeks already.  And I'm back at the doctors.  As it's our first baby we have a check-up about every 2-3 weeks now so my next one is the beginning of March for 34 weeks.  They're coming around very quickly.

Tracy tested my blood pressure and said that my bloods had come back fine (except the missing ones I guess!).

Then I lay on the bed and she felt my tummy, said there was a foot in my ribs on my right side (yep, knew it!!) and baby was probably lying head down.  Not engaged as such yet but in the right sort of position so that's good.  She measured him and said everything was bang on and we heard his heart beat going nice and strongly.  Then he started wriggling about which made her laugh!  He was trying to dodge the sonar.

I then asked about my rib pain and other little questions and that was it. Check up done and all well and good.  Next one is the 2nd March.  And I'll only have the two days left of work then!  Eek!

Pregancy Quiz

1. WAS YOUR PREGNANCY PLANNED?
Not really but I just didn't think it'd be so quick!

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
Yes, married in May 2010 and conceived in July 2010.

3. WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?
A bit shell shocked to be honest. Wasn't expecting it (very naive I know) and wondering how we'd manage!

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU?
No, not at all.

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
31.

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
I'd not had periods since coming off the pill, so was waiting for that first (it never came!) and I wasn't feeling well so thought a Dr would ask so I'd do a test to show I wasn't, and a second line emerged!!

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
My husband. Well, I didn't tell exactly, I just showed him the stick!

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX?
Yes, we felt it would help us by knowing. He's a boy!!

9. DUE DATE?
10th April 2010.

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
I wasn't sick at all (a Dr friend said this was a boy sign) but I had constant nausea for about 2-3 months.

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
Citrus fruits - oranges and grapefruits and pancakes with lemon and sugar.

12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
I've not really been too irritated. I guess OH has born the brunt of my emotions.

13. WHAT IS YOUR CHILD'S SEX?
A boy!!

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
I hadn't really thought about it properly until the scan. As one of three girls I felt I'd be better with a girl so was a bit 'oh' when we found out but I felt terrible for feeling that way. It's sunk in more now.

15. HOW MANY POUNDS HAVE YOU GAINED THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
I don't know. I gave up weighing myself after a stone and half extra and that was before Christmas.

16. HAVE YOU HAD A BABY SHOWER?
Not yet, my friend is organising a little one for friends to come and chat, maybe play games and eat snacks. Nothing fancy or 'American' style!!

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
It will be something I know about! Obviously!! =D

18. HAVE YOU HAD ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
None yet. I did have an extra blood pressure test last week as I was worried about pre-eclampsia but it turns out I have low blood pressure so that wasn't too bad!!

19. WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE BIRTH?
Stafford Hospital - debating at present whether to go for the birthing centre which is midwife led, or the normal bit.

20. HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU THINK YOU WILL BE IN LABOUR?
Goodness knows. At least 14 I reckon!!

21. WHO WILL DRIVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
I live 5 minutes away so am considering walking if I feel up to it, or it'll be my husband driving. (takes longer to drive round than walk though!!)

22. WHO WILL BE WITH YOU WHEN YOU GIVE BIRTH?
That'll be the husband. Whether he's any use or not we've yet to find out!

23. ARE YOU PLANNING NATURAL OR C - SEC?
It'll hopefully be a natural birth.

24. WHAT PAIN RELIEF DO YOU PLAN?
I'm not really planning. I intend to go with the flow and see how it goes. Gas and air I imagine and then we'll see. I'm not ruling anything out.

27. HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK YOUR CHILD WILL WEIGH?
I was about 6lb, husband a lot larger. I'm hoping smaller rather than bigger!!

28. WHAT DATE DO YOU THINK BABY WILL BE BORN?
I'm hoping for earlier rather than later but on the due date would be nice as I have a wedding to go to on the 9th!!

30. WHAT NAME DO YOU HAVE FORHIM/HER?
We're keeping that a secret until we meet him. Plus we're not 100% sure at the moment.

31. HOW MANY WEEKS PREGNANT ARE YOU TODAY?
31+2

Second Class Tomorrow!

I'm getting excited about my ante-natal classes.  Tomorrow Steve and I are attending a class on labour and delivery!  It's the NHS free one, and I've heard that they're not brilliant but I'll be out of work for the afternoon and watching a gory video! Apparently it's worse than 'One Born Every Minute'.

It should make Steve squirm a little though :)  And me more so I'm sure.

I watched 'One Born Every Minute' last night.  There was the Mum on her third baby, absolutly terrified, looking like a crazy zombie after a dose of pethidine, and then finding out she couldn't have an epidural as she was fully dilated.  The way the head popped out was weird, it was like so much pressure there.

I never sleep well after watching that programme.  Hmm.  I need to find out everything I can about all manner of pain relief I think.  Steve still thinks I should sign up for a water birth.  Maybe.  We'll see.

4 / 9

Really not long to go now.  Four weeks doesn't seem like any time at all to remain at work but it's going to be a busy and hectic four weeks.  Typical!  I've timed it terribly really!!

Getting up this morning was very hard.  I could have very easily lain about for another couple of hours and been a lot more leisurely.

I've been reading the news about Amanda Holdens tragic loss of her baby at 7 months pregnant.  It's so awful.  She only announced it 4 weeks ago and it really makes you worry and think about your own.  I'm trying to check every hour whether I've felt movement or not, and if you don't, how long to leave it before you go to the hosptial?  She went that day and it was already too late.  It's such a shame.  I've felt kicks today but I'm trying to be extra vigilant.

31 Weeks

How far along:  31 Weeks

Total Weight Gained:  Still haven't found out.

Maternity Clothes:   Yep.  Every day.  I feel that they're boring now as I'm wearing the same things every day.

Stretch Marks:  Still the ones under the bump although my old ones seem brighter!  (the puberty hip ones seem to be back although not red like the tummy ones).

Sleep:  Hasn't been too bad this weekend.  I seem to not have to get up to wee so much in the night which has helped.  I managed 11.00pm until 6.00am last night which was great!  And Friday was the same which meant I got up for breakfast, then went back to bed until 9.00am!!  Hurrah! 

Best Moment of the Week:  I was glad to get the first ante-natal class under our belt.  The hospital tour was interesting and it was good to see the facilities.  We just have to think and make a decision whether we want the birth pool or the regular rooms.  I also had a night out with the girls from work last night which was lovely, as I've not been out for a while due to feeling tired and I wasn't out late, but it was good to be sociable.

Movement:  I feel almost as though I'm being beaten up from the inside.  Baby is getting extremely poky and things seem to be pushing out on a regular basis.  He seems to be very strong.

Food Cravings:  Not really :)  Just ate a few pancakes this week, but cravings or due to tastiness I don't know!

Gender:  He's a baby BOY!!!

Belly Button:  It keeps getting flatter and flatter.  I don't know how much more it can stretch!

What I miss:  Being able to pick things up from the floor, being able to walk properly without getting short of breath and take Izzy out.

Milestones:  9 weeks to go and our labour and delivery class take place on Wednesday so that'll be interesting.  Apparently they show a video and it's worse than 'One Born Every Minute'.  Does this put me in the eighth month yet?  I'm losing track of months as it's all based on weeks!

More Nursery Stuff...

I've had the day off today.  I had two spare holidays from work (I've saved 15 for my three weeks preceeding maternity leave) so have been very tired and fancied a day off!  Plus last night I went to the theatre to see Matthew Bourne's 'Cinderella' contemporary ballet and knowing it would be a late night, did not want to have to drag myself to work feeling groggy again.  I have one left before the 4th March so may squeeze it in over the next four weeks, we'll have to see!

The ballet was very good, split into three acts which conveniently lasted 40 minutes apiece with a 15 minutes interval (or in my case 'toilet break') so I was quite comfortable during the performance.  Baby also enjoyed the Prokofiev score and was merrily twirling and leaping as much as he can in my tummy which made for a fun evening!

Anywho, so I had a free day today - hurray!

I'd had a call from Dunelm to say the rest of my Sleepy Owl nursery stuff was in so off I trundled to collect it.  I ordered it in December and their website promised delivery within five working days so I'm going to write a letter of complaint to their customer services.  Not to be horrid of course, but I've had to wait a ridiculous amount of time for these items and if they have problems with stock they shouldn't sell them or say it'll get here in less than a week!

I'd been impatient and bought a second pair of the same curtains in the order so my first call of duty was to return the online pair and get my money back.  That's been an annoyance!!  Then I'd also bought more cot sheets, a bed sheet for the daybed and happened to see that they did have an owl cushion in stock so got that too!  This is a very dangerous shop to go in to be honest.

Then it was home to rest again, I wasn't sleepy pursay, just physically tired so I lay on the bed and just whiled away an hour before having a shower and going out for lunch with Steve.  Nothing fancy, just in Tesco's before getting cellular blankets (on offer 3 for 2) and a stairgate.  We're going to try putting it on the nursery door to ensure Izzy is kept out.  Steve hasn't been the strictest at where she can go in the day and I don't want her thinking the whole house is her dominion.  She's certainly appreciated the daybed at some point and enjoys looking out of the window to watch the world go by but this room is going to stay dog free. 

Then I met my friend Carly at 2.30 and we went to a lovely cafe for drinks and cake and chatted for a couple of hours before feeding some ducks on the way back to the car.  Just think, in four weeks I'll be a lady of leisure for a short while and can do that every day if I so please!  Cups of tea and pavlova!  Mmm.

And now I'm home again, sitting on the day bed enjoying the cushions and colours, having put up the fabric letters spelling 'sleep' over the cot, put the owl  pictures on the wall by the door and the photo frame by the changing unit.  (Still awaiting a changing mat!)

It's all coming together now.  We just need the baby to put in it!  :)

Ante-Natal 1 - The Hospital Tour

We were to meet in the foyer and to be honest, the other ladies on the tour were very obvious.  The waiting chairs had lots of heavily pregnant women sat in them, with men standing looking a bit nervous holding their coats!  Hospitals are always too hot.  At least Steve took the hint and carried mine for me!!

We were met by a Maternity Support Worker called Nina who was very friendly and smiley and asked if we wanted to take the lift.  One of the other women said the stairs, so stifling a groan, stairs it was.  It took us a while to all get up there puffing and panting!!

I can't imagine being in labour and having to get up to the second floor of the hospital! 

We went to the delivery unit, and to the left was the clinical side, and to the right was the birthing midwife led area which is for pregnancys with no complications.  This side was in use (as the shrieking woman in the background let us know) so off to the Dr's side we went.  There was a woman in labour wandering around the entrance with a Tens machine strapped on leaning on her partner.  We all gulped.

There are seven delivery rooms, all with special beds with holding places, electric up and down bits, stirrups etc... we were shown the gas and air, the bedside lockers, the baby's cots.  No visitors are allowed on this bit (phew) so it's just Mum, birth partner and baby allowed.  It was all very clinical to say the least.  After the birth the midwife will leave Dad with the baby and run a bath for the Mum and we're allowed to stay in the room for a few hours. 

If everything is ok, then we can go home if we want to, but they prefer us to move to the ward for a night just to get us sorted and settled and implementing breast feeding.  We were told that a baby would usually feed very well for the first time ever, but then forget by the second feed and that's when they step in to help and guide.  To be honest, the though of being helped and looked after for a night is more appealing than going straight home!!

We were then shown a ward room.  They have three beds in with a shared bathroom and your baby stays with you all the time.  You're wheeled along in a chair holding your baby and Dad brings your belongings in a trolley!

By this time, the delievry suite was free, so we got to take a look at the bath.  It was deep and not as large as I'd imagined, but the walls were a nice cream and purple colour, the lights were dimmed, there were throws and cushions around and flowers in a vase!!  I didn't see why the regular rooms couldn't be painted a different colour as well, but maybe it's a clinical thing. 

And that was the tour.  On the way out, I asked whether it would be possible to quickly check my blood pressure as I'd been feeling quite swollen, had dizzy spells, flashing lights in my eyes and rib pain which although are all normal pregnancy (or me) symptoms, together are all on the list to watch out for pre-eclampsia.  I wasn't unduly worried, but just thought as it was a week till my next midwife check I'd enquire and they were very happy to do so.

Turns out my blood pressure was lower than normal (!) and my urine sample was fine and they told me off for not asking sooner after I'd had the lights things, but I explained that I suffer from light affected headaches from time to time so hadn't put all the symptoms together.

So off we went.  Ante-natal class number one attended and had there been a test, I think I'd have passed.  Possibly not Steve, he was more interested in the TV system.  He had to be nudged to listen, and to stop talking nonsense whilst the midwives were talking.

Our Ante-Natal Classes

I'm a bit disapopinted this morning.  I had it in my head that tonight was our hosptial and delivery centre tour and I was quiet excited at the prospect of starting these classes.

Turns out it's tomorrow instead!!  (Good job I checked!!)

I know it's not that long to wait.  But still.  I'm hoping that Steve will be a bit more 'real' about the whole thing when he starts these classes with me!  A girl from work said the hosptial tour made her husband realise it was going to happen.

Not that Steve is in denial or anything, but he doesn't really 'get it' I don't think.  He certainly doesn't understand how hard pregnancy is on your body, sleep and all that malarky. 

Oh well, like I read somewhere, women become mothers during the pregancy, and men become fathers on meeting the baby.  The pregnancy is quite an alien concept to them I think!!  I certainly had no idea of any of this lot beforehand that's for sure.