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
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
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.
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.
Monday, 7 February 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, 6 February 2011
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!
Friday, 4 February 2011
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! :)
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! :)
Thursday, 3 February 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)