Wow, 30 weeks, that's like 3/4 of the way through pregnancy and well into the final trimester. Anything after 36 weeks is pretty much full term, so being only 6 weeks away from that milestone is a major triumph...although there's still that sinking feeling that I might not last that long and what-if. But then I mentally bitch slap myself and pull myself together. One thing I have learned, is don't worry about the future and what's not happened yet.
It's both sad and exciting to be this far through my pregnancy. Every time I go shopping for baby things, I can't help but look at the boys things and think "Oliver would have looked so cute in that". We were in Sainsbury's a few weeks ago and they had some brilliant Gruffalo stuff, and Gruffalo was his favourite cuddly and story.
One of our next jobs is to go in the loft and sort through what we have and work out what we need to buy, silly little things like baby nail scissors that I can't remember if I kept or binned. I know there's toys up there that'll never get played with again. Because they were Oliver's. Scout can never be played with again, as the songs just bring back too many memories, after all he got played with every day and was guaranteed to help Oliver settle down to sleep.
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| My Ojie and Scout |
Another 2 weeks and I'll see the consultant again and hopefully get a date for my stitch removal which should be the beginning of March.
Annoyingly, Mr J is on a two week course in February which means half term on my own with madam. I think that'll be a sedate half term then- cinema and soft play. Thankfully she's at a really good age now where she understands my pregnancy quite well and knows I get a bit more tired and can't walk as quick on the way home from school!
FJ
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| I do, however, come with a handy shelf |
FJ
High five!
I have reached another milestone and now officially in the 3rd and final trimester.
Every week is another milestone for us and for baby's development and while most mums eagerly count down to their due date and wish their pregnancy away, we celebrate each Monday, knowing we've made it another week.
This post was planned to go up much earlier in the week, so part baby brain, part
manic-ness that I'm only just writing this now...
Every week is another milestone for us and for baby's development and while most mums eagerly count down to their due date and wish their pregnancy away, we celebrate each Monday, knowing we've made it another week.
This post was planned to go up much earlier in the week, so part baby brain, part
manic-ness that I'm only just writing this now...
This week started out pretty standard with the usual school run and work routine, and a few appointments thrown in for good measure. On Tuesday I saw my midwife and all was good, with bump getting measured for the first time. Because of the stresses of my last pregnancy and subsequent loss, my midwife has said she'll treat this pregnancy like a first pregnancy, which means more appointments, and if I want to see her more, then I am just to ring her. Being 28 weeks, I also got my whooping cough jab.
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| My bedside table essential |
Wednesday was an appointment with my consultant at the hospital and after some deliberation, he decided he would scan me and my cervix, and thankfully all is looking good. Annoyingly, he scanned my tummy too but didn't let me see, and when I asked if it still seemed to be a girl he shrugged his shoulders and said he doesn't tend to check! Meh!
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| 28 week bumpie |
The consultant then decided that taking into account my stress and complications with this pregnancy I would be best being signed off work. Thankfully work have been really supportive, and some of them are aware of what we have been through, so whilst *mildly* inconvenient to them, they are understanding, or they do a good job of pretending to.
Taking into account my previous prem labour and concerns, the consultant and I agreed for me to have steroid injections which would help mature the baby's lungs should she (he?) come early...although he's not expecting it.
So that was prick number two of the week and man alive, had I forgotten how much those massive needles hurt! Back again the following day for the other bum cheek to be punished!
I'm also rhesus negative which means I need to have anti-D in case mine and the baby's blood crosses as my body could create antibodies which could harm the baby, so today was the 3rd hospital trip of the week and 4th injection! Suffice to say it's 9pm on a Friday night and I'm tucked up in bed with the laptop and Gaviscon!
That brings us up to speed with week 28. In a nutshell, 4 pricks and a sick note.
FJ
Lets start this post off by all giving me and my cervix a massive high 5! My last pregnancy saw me go into labour at 25+3 weeks before Oliver arrived at 25+6 weeks, so it's a milestone to have reached 26 weeks.
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| Apparently, the baby is now the size of a red cabbage |
The next milestone to reach is 28 weeks by which time baby's lungs will be more developed and whilst still too early for her to arrive, at least the risks are a bit lower. I really, really don't want to end up in neonates again....
It's safe to say I'm definitely looking and feeling a lot more pregnant. It's hard not to panic with each ache and pain that I get, and I can't remember what my first and normal pregnancy felt like. Equally, since turning 26 weeks, and maybe powered by turkey and christmas cake, the bump has got a lot more feisty and her movements are alot more noticeable!
I'm continuing to go the gym to do some light cardio and a few weights, but refraining from anything strenuous or that pulls my tummy or baby containing regions. Many of my Babycentre friends are on bed rest, so I can't help but feel a little worried that I'm doing the right thing...but then my consultant said I can carry on. I should think myself lucky that I can still get out and about, as some of these poor ladies are confined to the bedroom all in a bid to keep their babies cooking with far too much time to themselves to stress. (waves to all the supermummies-to be!).
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| 25 week bump |
Amazingly, I can do 10k on the bike at the gym, yet walking seems to knacker me! On boxing day we took the in-laws and Ella to the panto and parking was a nightmare, so we ended up walking over a mile to the theatre....and back again. Safe to say my groin (there's got to be a nicer word!) area was very achey and my bump was very hard for the start of the show.
So for now, it's a mixture of trying to keep fit whilst also taking it easy. The sight of my newly acquired cellulite is an incentive in itself to do something!
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| Mr J's handiwork (baby and Christmas pud!) |
FJ
23 weeks and 119 days to go. If I can manage another 100 days then I will be pleased.
Babycentre has reliably informed me my baby is now the size of a large mango, or 29cm. Not sure I have ever seen a mango as big as a ruler.
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| Have you ever seen a 29cm long mango? Me neither |
Bump is most definitely becoming more active, with much more pronounced kicks and movements. With all three of my pregnancies I've woken up and for a split second wondered if I am actually pregnant, and then felt a reassuring kick. And this time joyfully remember it's progesterone pessary time which at least means another half an hour in bed to defy gravity.
It's hard not to feel paranoid with every twinge and ache. On Friday evening I decided to whizz round with the hoover and steam mop all the floors and soon felt pretty achy. This is all probably normal growing and stretching but after last time it's hard not to worry.
Each week is another milestone. Next week will mean a viable baby, who would be supported by a hospital if she were to be born. 25 weeks will see the point at which Oliver was born. 28 weeks means slightly fewer risks for a preemie as the lungs are developed, and 32 weeks yet another hurdle. By 36 weeks we're pretty much term.
I'm aiming for 36 weeks, neither of us relish the thought of seeing yet another NICU/Special Care unit. This time we'd just really like to take a newborn home and be in that magic bubble at home.
Yet I still feel I have the easier option. I have the reassurance of a new life growing inside me. Despite missing Oliver so much, having a growing bump is a welcome distraction. For Mr J it's not s easy and Christmas is a bittersweet time. Whilst we are looking forward to a nice family Christmas at home there's one little man who really should have been here. He should have been here wreaking havoc, bashing the tree and throwing the decorations across the room and no doubt laughing his very cheeky laugh when he was told not to.
FJ
After what seems like an eternity, for her and us, Kim Kardashian-West has finally had her baby boy.
I'm sure it won't be long before she's in a bikini and flaunting that arse again.
But what will she call it? East? My favourite suggestion has to be Wild. Wild. West. (insert crying laughing emoji here).
And then there's Imogen Thomas who seemed to be pregnant for even longer if that's possible. Imogen Thomas has had her baby girl who she's named Siera...after she put her rollers in of course.
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| Imogen Thomas proudly showing her bump |
So the big question is, who's going to fill the gap these two will leave in the tabloid and gossip magazines?
But how much is too much? We all like to share a bump pic on Instagram with our friends, and proudly show off our weekly progress but there's a fine line between that and selling your soul to a weekly glossy. But then that's just my opinion...
I've admittedly been a bit lax about updating you all on my pregnancy progress, other than to moan about crappy M&S bras and so here I am in bed on a Saturday night to give an update.
I'm now 22 weeks and due to see my consultant again in mid December when I'll be 24 weeks. On my last appointment all looked good, no changes to my cervix length and we then had our 20 week scan two days later and to great surprise found out we are due a pink bundle. I say surprise, it was obviously 50/50, but at the consultant appointment he asked me if I wanted to know, to which I declined as the Mr was at work, and when I quizzed him, he said he could see something... which I took to mean a winky!
To celebrate our news I baked a cake for Mr J's crew at work (yep he's a fireman) as they were amazingly supportive during our whole journey with Oliver. They were briefed that they would find out the gender when they sliced the cake.
So, so far so good. Until now I've kept my pregnancy under wraps (literally) at work, but this week had a meeting with my colleagues in London who are the only ones who've known, and it was nice to be able to share and explained me drinking lime and soda in the pub afterwards.
Two days later, my friend who's on maternity leave came in to the office to visit and loudly announced "let's see the bump then!", cue a lot of puzzled faces!! Not surprisingly, after a 2 year absence and the worst time of my life, during which time I barely heard from any of them, announcing my news wasn't a priority.
The next hurdle will be Christmas. Firstly, it's our first Christmas at home for 3 years, the last 2 were spent in Birmingham Children's Hospital with Oliver, who of course isn't here, and secondly I will be 25 weeks pregnant during Christmas week which is when I went in to labour with Oliver... 25+4 to be exact and he arrived at 25+6.
We've not yet bought a single thing for this baby, as there was nothing worse last time than seeing a lonely white crib in the spare room, that never got turned into a nursery and never got used. Well actually, that's crap, there was a lot of things far worse, but nonetheless it was a reminder that we never got to bring our newborn home.
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| Post gym bump shot at 21 weeks |
FJ
Former Big Brother contestant Imogen Thomas has not been shy in her sharing her pregnancy.
Last week was her baby shower, where she showed off her almost cooked bump!
Imogen looks lovely in this figure hugging dress. The Ronny Kobo dress might not suit all maternity budgets at a whopping £305!
Last week was her baby shower, where she showed off her almost cooked bump!
Imogen looks lovely in this figure hugging dress. The Ronny Kobo dress might not suit all maternity budgets at a whopping £305!
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| Imogen in a Ronny Kobo dress £305 |
