Week 31

 How far along: 31 weeks

 

Baby bump: weighs about 3lb 1/3 and is the size of a coconut. 

What's happening this week: this week I went to an Expectant Parent Event at Mothercare.

There were presentations each lasting 15minutes about feeding, emergency first aid, car seat safety & nursery. 

It was all neatly arranged in the relevant sections of the store with seating ( very wise) and demonstrations during the talks. As a third time mum I wasn't expecting to find it so useful but it was. I feel so much more confidence and can be a lot more prepared for the baby after these presentations and the hosts of each section were so knowledgeable and ready for questions.

Throughout the rest of the store their were other organisations and companies offering services and products for pregnancy and baby and I was very happy to find Chantel a holistic therapist. I wish I had found her at the beginning of my pregnancy to help me with the Hyperemisis. I did take her up on her pregnancy massage offer she had for the event and I'm looking forward to that in week 32 :-) 

There was also a little bit of food and drink available and I was given a gift bag with a 10% off voucher for the store! a little baby hat, box of cappuccino sachets, a baby on board badge and leaflets for various products.

I would definitely recommend the event in the future to any mummy to be, however I do think the advertising for such events is pretty scarce. I only happened to see it by chance on a friends facebook post. I have been to mothercare a lot in the last month and think they should be putting leaflets I my bag at the till or handing them out in the store. 

Sleep: has been easy this week as I've been working extra hours and everyday, so come bed time I was out like a light, waking for the loo tho.

Best moment: putting the crib together, it's becoming real now I can see babies bits all around me.

Going to my clients wedding, it was beautiful. It was lovely to spend time alone with Stu we had fun on the photo booth and even managed a very slow, waddling dance. 

Movement: started with the stabbing pains that make me stop in my tracks as I'm walking. He still moves high in my ribs, likes bouncing off my right hip and is making more movement down below. 

Food cravings / aversions: fresh orange juice

Symptoms: lots of heartburn. 

Emotions: i really have been so busy this week that I have been feeling exhausted rather than emotional 

What I miss: the ability to work so hard and fast, everything is at a snails pace now, we even have to set off earlier to walk to school. 

What I'm looking forward to: my baby shower next week! :-) 

How the family is doing: my daughter is very excited about the baby shower, my son actually thought we were going to take a shower( explaining that's why only girls can come) bless him. 

Purchases: 

We bought baby the slumber buddy frog, on offer at £12.99 from BabiesRus. It lights up and projects coloured stars into the room and plays music or white noise. Super cute.

Week 30

How far along: 30 weeks

Baby bump: is the size of a cabbage weighing around 2.75lb

What's happening this week:

Sleep: sleep has been good this week, I have managed to get comfy easily :-) 

Best moment: was Father's Day, we took daddy to The Village Hotel for a big Sunday dinner, it was very good and so nice to all spend time together. Next Father's Day there will be three! 

Purchases: I got a few things for my hospital bag (I am posting a separate blog for this) 

Movement: lots of movement still. More prominent moves going across my tummy like a ball rolling underneath my skin. Still lots of kicking too, he likes my right hip I can feel him touching it and my right side of my ribs. Sometimes when he's having a move around I can hear little clicking noises (like fingers/toes clicking when you bend them) 

I have even felt what felt like hiccups, tiny little jumpy movements that were in the same place constantly for a few minutes. 

His movements are making more of a routine too, I get the odd kick through the day at work usually when I have a drink. As soon as I get home and have a sit on the sofa he likes to have big moves and turns. The. When I go to bed and lay on my side he bounces on the bed. 

Food cravings / aversions: I have found a new Oasis drink in pineapple flavour and can't get enough! It's been warm this week so I'm liking lollies and Ben & Jerrys.

Symptoms: heartburn, usually as I lay down for bed.

Towards the end of this week it's got really hot and I'm struggling to sleep on a night but I could fall asleep stood up through the day.

Emotions: Feeling happier, sleep really has played a part as has reaching 30 weeks, the 10 week countdown feels like we are almost there. 

What I miss: I'm not a big drinker, I like the very occasional glass of wine with lemonade but I am missing it now. Would like to have a beer too, loving the smell of it but definitely sticking to my fizzy pop shandy.

What I'm looking forward to: finishing work and putting my feet up.

Week 29

How far along: 29 weeks

Baby bump: this week baby is the size of a butternut squash weighing around 2.5lb.

What's happening this week: this week has been emotional, whoever said pregnancy was all fluffy has never carried. Worries about money, leaving work, getting everything ready, giving birth. You name it I've stressed about it but all this is perfectly normally.

Making sure you deal low periods by talking to your other half, friends & family will help you get perspective again, do something you enjoy and thinking positive is the way forward. 

I chose to go for a meal with my bestie and Stu has been looking after me with bubbly baths and cuddles.

Purchases:

We visited the Mothercare Outlet this weekend which is full of the normal mothercare products with great discounts but it really is a get it when you see it as there arnt always loads of the item and they might not be there next time you go to shop. 

My first find, very luckily was the changing bag on my with list.

This was a great find and the only one there, it was reduced to £38.50 from £55.

I also got a maternity bra reduced from £16 to £8 and some nursing bras one black, one White reduced to £13 from £26. So worth the visit.

There wasn't any baby boy clothes I liked or in the right sizes this visit but we will go again.

Sleep: very very little. I have struggled to get comfy which lead to me having a childlike paddy and cry. I've researched on the net the best position to lie is on my left hand side and I've had a pillow between my legs, under my bump a small one under my bum and two for my head to raise me up slightly.

Best moment: Father's Day. The kids wrote some cute messages in their cards, we went to The Village Hotel for a Sunday carvery. It was so good my only problem was I couldn't get enough vegetables on my plate! 

Movement: lots of strong movements and little man has been causing me some very uncomfortable moments when I've been walking, feeling like I need to cross my legs to hold him in.

Food cravings / aversions: I'm loving vegetables, cabbage, carrots, swede biazzare.

Symptoms: more bouts of heartburn, tummy going hard when I walk and feeling stabbing pains down below. I was sick on Thursday I was wondering if it was from the iron tablets.

Shortness of breath is more frequent.

Emotions: very teary, sad and upset. I think lack of sleep has a lot to do with it.

What I miss: sleep!!

What I'm looking forward to: the ten week countdown.

How the family is doing: Stu is very good, loving and patient with me even when I'm moody and teary. He deserves a medal. 

Wish list

As my little man has decided 4am is a good time to dance around in my tummy and keep me awake I decided to start my wish list. These are some things I would like to get for his arrival.

Little beep beep bath set.

Little egg thermometre

Changing Bag 

Changing Mat 

Week 28

How far along: 28 weeks

Baby bump: 

What's happening this week: I had my GTT glucose tolerance test, this test is to see if I have gestational diabetes. You have your bloods taken then have to drink a very sugary drink, you then need to wait for two hours and have your bloods taken again, after this you can eat and drink as normal.

I had to fast from midnight and my appointment at the hospital was at 8:45am. I was so hungry. I had my first lot of bloods taken then drank the sugary drink. It was like flat Rola Cola in a little kids bottle it wasn't pleasant. After 5 minutes in the waiting room I vomited it all back up :-( 

Usually you have come back another day to retake the test but as I have Hyperemisis and had not had my anti sickness tablet it was highly unlikely I would keep the next lot down either so they have done it from my first bloods only.

I have also had my Anti D injection this week. I had bloods taken from my arm and then the injection was placed in the same needle. In the past it has alway been injected into my bum and wasn't very nice, I didn't even feel this one so left happy.

Finally I had my 28 week midwife appointment. We got to listen to the heartbeat, love this.

I had my bump measured and he is spot on for 28 weeks. The midwife has referred me to Physio for the pain in my lower back, bum and leg. As it's not my first baby I don't get to see her again now until 32 weeks.

Purchases:

We actually got this a few weeks ago but I forgot to post it. The Tommee Tippee electric breast pump.

Starry Night Winnie the Pooh Bedding 

Sleep: not really sleeping well, the pain in my back and legs is making me struggle to get comfy.

Best moment: hearing the babies heart beat again 

Movement: plenty of movement, kicking me hard in the ribs and getting down low!

Food cravings / aversions: I'm fancying vegetables this week and lemon curd. I had strawberries and cream but regretted it soon after, made me feel sick.

Symptoms: hot flushes, Tmi - constipation, back and leg pain, struggling to sleep and feel really stretched on my sides.

Emotions: very snappy eek, don't anger it! 

What I miss: Sleeping comfortably and walking at a normal pace.

What I'm looking forward to: getting the crib delivered

How the family is doing: stu is still looking after, giving me. Massage when I'm in pain and just smiles when I snap or cry. Lei is very excited, singing to my bump and talking to him. 

My growing bump weeks 22-27

Week 22- 27

 24weeks +5 days

We're having a.....

How far along: 21 weeks.

What's happening this month: We had the sexing scan/ 20 week scan on 16th April. I wasn't planning on finding out the sex but when Stu was unable to come I really wanted to know so I had something to go home an tell him.

It was amazing seeing my little baby had grown all long and moving around and It is a Boy! I'm so happy!  My growing little family >

I decided to buy a little gift bag with blue booties wrapped up inside and give it to Stu to open. He got tears when he opened it and saw we were having little boy.

Weight gain: weeks 16, 18, 19 & 20

Purchases: 

We bought the Tommee Tippee Steraliser starter set from Babies R Us.

http://www.toysrus.co.uk/Babies-R-Us/Feeding/Starter-Sets/Tommee-Tippee-Closer-to-Nature-Essentials-Set(0070825)?searchPosition=12

We got the cot bedding from Mamas & Papas

We also decided on the bugaboo chameleon in petrol blue.

And the Maxi Cosi Pebble Car seat 

Best Moment: seeing my little boy again and seeing his daddy's reaction to finding out he's a boy!

Movement: Flutters have turned into tiny little kicks and movements. I love this feeling.

Symptoms: lots of going to the loo in the middle of the night so sleep is disrupted and making me feel tired.

How the family is doing: Lei is not too happy she found out she is getting another brother. Cöhen is very happy he isn't getting another sister. Lol.