26 Weeks Pregnant

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I’m now 26 weeks pregnant, and I’m feeling brilliant. Finally.

I can overlook the constant need to pee and the not-so-elegant roll-and-fall out of bed in the mornings as the sickness and exhaustion finally seems to be over. Hopefully now I’ll have a months respite before Bump and I go crashing into the third trimester.

Once again, this week has flown by. This is probably down to the fact I had several antenatal appointments which, barring my 35 week consultant check, should have been my last. I had a routine midwife appointment, and a blood test for gestational diabetes - but unfortunately I somehow managed to mess both of these up. It seems I was some 3 weeks early for the midwife so she’s asked to see me once more, and I overlooked the copious notes advising me that I needed to fast for 2 hours before my blood test. Having walked into see the nurse at the blood clinic with a cereal bar and coffee in my grubby hands, she quickly waved me out of her room and told me to re-book. Despite feeling like a bit of prat, I’m actually secretly pleased that I’ve diddled the midwife and will get to hear Mini Madam’s heartbeat in stereo again.

The midwife did point out that Mini Madam is measuring 2 weeks ahead of schedule. This is nothing to worry about but I’m keeping fingers and toes crossed that this is just a ton of amniotic fluid and not a 10lber in there. This is (hopefully) the first baby I’ll be birthing naturally so I’m hoping she’s of weeny proportions so I can cough her out demurely and not disgrace myself on D-Day. Still, I’ve gone ahead and booked in a private 4D scan to make sure this baby isn’t unnaturally HUGE and isn’t, in fact, sporting a willy. Having had previous experience of these scans, I suspect baby will spend most of it showing me her bum or hiding behind the cord but hopefully she’ll give us a sneak peek of her face.

Speaking of unflattering pictures, here’s Bump and I at 26 weeks. I’m looking a little like Harry Enfield’s Waynetta or my old English teacher who went to great pains to tell us all that “It’s fluid retention, I’m not really this fat” when someone wrote something mean on the wall in the school toilets. I’m surprised I’m not being followed around shops in town by security, my bump is easily the size of a decent House of Fraser haul! There’s no denying I’m growing a little one in there anymore and no amount of sucking in restores my former hour-glass figure (Ha!). Nope, now it’s clear to everyone that I’m an unmarried mum-to-be - oh the shame!

But I can’t blame Mini Madam entirely for my super-sized bump. I am craving cherry bakewells and other Mr Kipling treats like a deranged and less-discerning Nigella Lawson. This is very unlike me as during my non-pregnant days you’re far more likely to spot me sneaking out of Greggs with a sausage roll stashed in my bag, than you are hiding behind a menu at Patisserie Valerie. But this diet can’t be all that bad as I mentioned last week I’ve lost weight throughout this pregnancy. I’ve actually lost a further 3lbs this week *mustn’t grumble*.

Right, that’s it - my 26 week update over. I’m off to raid the treat cupboard then sit and cry at adverts with small children in them. Until next week.


18 Weeks Pregnant - Eek! I Felt a Kick!!!

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Quite unbelievably I’m now 18 weeks pregnant. I just can’t believe I’m almost midway through. With Dexter, pregnancy definitely consumed me. Every conversation, dream or decision was unconsciously linked back to the baby in my tummy. This time around, I can honestly say there are entire days when I completely forget I’m pregnant. It’s the visual prompts that will snap me back to reality - the Pregnacare tablets by the kettle, or the What to Expect app on my iPhone, catching a glimpse of my disappearing waistline in the mirror etc.

Dexter is definitely a great distraction from mulling over every little twinge. His little personality is so infectious, and he seems to manage something new everyday - it’s easy to lose yourself in parenting him, and not looking ahead to when I’ll be responsible for two babies. We’re also in the middle of moving house so I’m living among boxes and chaos. As there’s so much to organise, it’s this that’s at the forefront of my mind at the moment. When we’re in our new home I can finally start nesting and preparing for this baby.

Capture1 18 Weeks Pregnant   Eek! I Felt a Kick!!!

The new house!

Baby at 18 Weeks

I’ve heard it said that you’re likely to feel kicks sooner the second time around. With Dexter, I was able to say with certainty I’d felt a kick around week 22, with this pregnancy, I’ve been feeling somersaults and flips for a few weeks now, and on Saturday I felt the first thump of a tiny foot just below my belly button. This little foot cannot be much bigger than a Barbie doll’s, but I definitely felt it. Since then, I’ve been far greater attuned to any movement, and baby continues to wriggle around in there. It’s definitely a reassuring development as my anxiety continues to be a problem.

Baby is, hopefully, now the size of a sweet potato (approx 12cm) and growing at pace. The most important thing to note is that his or hers sex organs are now distinct and recognisable. Our gender scan is just a matter of days away now, and I’m very excited. I’ve wavered back and forth between thinking this baby is a boy or a girl, and it will be a genuine surprise when we find out. With Dexter, my intuition told me all along he was a boy so the scan merely confirmed it. Of course, we’ll be delighted either way so long as baby is healthy, but I must admit I am nervous at the prospect of having a little girl. I think this is simply because I’ve reassured myself that I’m a good mother to Dexter (and really enjoy it) so I’m a little scared of the unknown.

baby development 18 weeks pregnant 18 Weeks Pregnant   Eek! I Felt a Kick!!!

Me at 18 Weeks

My own weight seems to have slowed down these past two weeks and there’s not too much to note in terms of my bump. Craig did point out that my belly is much harder than it was with Dexter so I’m trying not to think too deeply about what this could mean.

My hair and nails are growing faster and thicker which is not without its irony as I couldn’t feel any less attractive at the moment. Although the flu-like symptoms are beginning to taper off, I’m still exhausted and really value my naps in the day.

There are a few new symptoms to report. I’m smelling phantom smoke at night and am continually seeking it out in the early morning. I’m also up at 4.32am every morning without fail which I assume means this is a likely feed time for the new baby. Finally, I’m very short-tempered (I’m blaming this on the pregnancy rather than admit I’m like this most of the time). Craig’s coping well with it and managing to laugh it off but I can go from happy to moody in less than 60 seconds.

So What’s Next?

Shortly after the anomaly scan, we’ll meet the consultant for the first time. This appointment is also playing heavily on my mind. I’ve been forewarned by my midwife that the consultant will want to know my thoughts on a VBAC, and will, in all likelihood, suggest I should attempt it. I’m sure you’ll hear lots of musings from me over the next few weeks on this very subject.

So that’s enough from me… these updates are getting longer and longer! If you’re pregnant and would like to win an ultra sensitive doppler to listen to baby’s heartbeat, stick with me over the next few days as there’s a very exciting competition on its way…

 


15 Weeks… Some Freaky Old Symptoms

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And so I’ve stumbled into the second trimester with a grateful sigh of relief. I’ve only been sick twice in the last week and put that down to squashing baby in my sleep - call it retribution. The exhaustion is still there but Craig is now well used to me sloping off to bed the second he walks through the door from work. Yep, from this point forward, I’m determined to embrace the bump.

Already I’m experiencing a new wave of pregnancy symptoms at week 15, and some I never had at all when I was carrying Dexter…

Week 15 pregnancy shots as found on Bounty and Weekly Pregnancy Guide

Vivid Dreams…

I’ve always been able to recall my dreams the next morning, and I’ve always had pretty spectacular ones. I’m often battling terrorists, child abductors, and other baddies in my dreams but they’ve been particularly nasty over the last few days. The trade off is I’ll often get to date a celebrity or two, I look like a Bond girl, and am seemingly indestructible. I must admit, every morning when I wake up I’m usually even more tired than when I went to sleep the night before. I’ll have been shot at, chased and (sometimes) ravished all in the space of 5 short hours. I know it’s 5 hours as baby has me up every night at 2am and 4am for a wee-break.

Gurgley Belly…

This is the same groaning noise most of us will experience when we’re starving hungry or have downed a can of Diet Coke, but ten times noisier. I used to get this all the time as little girl, and it would always happen at really inappropriate times… during exams, at the cinema, when I was having a cuddle with a boyfriend… now history seems to be repeating itself. Now, regardless of what or when I’ve eaten, my tummy will squeak, gurgle and whinge almost constantly. During the day this is barely noticeable to those around me, but come nighttime when Craig and I are trying to get to sleep and it’ll be as irritating and disruptive as a neighbours car alarm.

Telekinesis…

I lose everything and everything. Daily. This includes car keys, house keys, mobile phone, remote controls, make up… pretty much all my daily essentials will regularly go walkabout. Okay it would be silly to suggest that pregnancy actually causes telekinesis, or that my lip gloss has grown legs, but it seriously feels like it!

In fact, I’ve found myself exhibiting some really odd behaviour recently… I’ve thrown toilet rolls down the loo, put dirty washing in the bin, and was very close to giving Dex a drink of washing up liquid and hot water yesterday. Craig has also started calling me “Arthur” (as in “Half-a” Job) as I keep starting chores and not finishing them.

The answer most likely lies in the fact that I’m shattered, distracted, and easily frustrated now I’m lugging a mini person around. At least I hope it’s this and not the early signs of a mental disorder.

Flutterings…

When I lay in the bath my belly is now like an island poking up through the bubbles. This island comes complete with little waves as baby’s jitterings cause the water to ripple. It’s mildly amusing to watch and something I didn’t spot with Dex.

I’m also beginning to feel notice more and more stirrings in my tummy, particularly when I’m laying down. To be honest, I’m not even sure if I’m making this up or being over optimistic, but I’m sure I can feel baby auditioning for Team GB’s gymnastics squad in there. It’s not the fist bumping, feet flexing, head butting movements that soon lose their novelty some 20 weeks in, it’s more like baby is getting up to some sneaky forward rolls and serious dad-dancing whilst we can’t see them. I wouldn’t mind but, having experience in these matters, I’ll be waiting for 12 months+ before he or she will pulling out those moves on the outside of my tummy.

Breathlessness…

Just walking the stairs I’m now having to take a ten minute pit stop to get my breath back. It’s really prohibiting! I had every intention of doing my Pregnancy Pilates DVD everyday, I really did… but now I struggle with the physical act of merely getting off the sofa and popping a disc in the player. It would be okay if I could manage something less strenuous like a weekly swim but the last time I managed anything like a doggy paddle was back in 1994…

 

So that’s me. I can’t resist a good old whinge hey? If anyone has any other freaky pregnancy symptoms to report - past or present - do leave a comment.

 

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