Baby Shower #1- 34 weeks!

My Mum organised a great baby shower for me back home. She invited so many people that we had to hire a venue rather than try to squeeze everyone into her house! Hubby was off work so he was able to take me which stopped everyone fussing about me driving on the motorway while heavily pregnant and tired. I thought it was also great for him to experience the shower too - so much happiness and love from everyone for our baby.

Mum had bought several huge scrummy cakes and my Auntie had made scones and pink and blue fairy cakes:

One of my cousins made a gorgeous coffee cake, and Mum's best friend bought a huge Baby Shower cake:

My family were such a great help to my Mum and me at the shower. My Sister-in-law collected my Mum and all the stuff and helped her set up the venue. My Aunties sorted out the tea and coffee for those people not drinking from the bar. My cousins sorted out the music and games such as guess how many babies in the bottle, guess the size of the pregnancy bump, guess the baby food, match the family photographs of babies and how they look now, name the baby of each type of animal and guess the celebrity from their baby picture. We also gave everyone a raffle ticket when they arrived and Mum had put together a prize box! Everyone had fun and enjoyed themselves.

Hubby and I were overwhelmed by everyone's kindness and generosity - our baby will be so loved and spoiled! Here are just a few of the gifts:

 

 

   

I bought and wrapped Hubby a present so he didn't feel left out:

So here I am at 34 weeks:

34 Week bump pic

I still can't believe I am pregnant and one day very soon I will have our baby in my arms!

Babymoon at 32 weeks!

For our 4th Wedding Anniversary Hubby surprised me with a short break away! He knew that before I was pregnant I always wanted to go somewhere where I could wear a bikini with my bump and shock people. I didn't think we would get away as it is late in the pregnancy now and we have spent any spare cash on home improvements. But I woke up early on Monday morning and Hubby was awake and reached over and felt my bump and was surprised to find Baby wriggling around loads - he said s/he must know that we're going away! It was such a lovely surprise!

We went to Landudno, Wales and stayed two nights in a lovely Spa Hotel. We relaxed by the pool, went for walks along the front (and the sun was out!), did some shopping, ate loads of lovely food and watched a couple of DVDs! It was great to spend quality time together and relax!

 

In my shocking pink bikini at 32 weeks!

The nursery!

Hubby has worked really hard on the nursery and here is the finished result:

30 Weeks - The Home Stretch!

Wow, I can't believe that I am 30 weeks pregnant and that Baby is considered full-term in only 7 weeks! I still have days when I forget I'm pregnant and I go to stand up or run up the stairs and I can't so easily! I have been so lucky with the pregnancy so far and have only suffered with heartburn and lately a bit of restless legs.

I keep getting an image in my mind of tiny baby legs - I think it is because allowing myself to picture a whole baby in my arms is too emotionally overwhelming. After all we have been through I can't believe that soon we will have our own baby! It's so exciting and I feel so impatient but so ready!

I had a midwife appointment at 28+1 and I discussed palpitations and breathlessness with her and she said did I have any fears or was anything worrying me? I said no and she said so it's not panic attacks related to the pregnancy and I don't need to see the counsellor unless I want to. She said it's medical not pregnancy related and I need to see my GP again - I didn't bother as I know I mainly get them when I sit down after eating and if I get too hot, and not just when I walk around. I've been trying not to panic and keep myself busy after meals which helps.
Also I had a UTI (something showed up in my urine dip test even though  I had no symptoms) so took antibiotics. Had bloods taken and they were all ok. The midwife measured my bump and felt baby and said I was all bump and it was lovely to feel baby like that. She also listened to heartbeat with the doppler and said she couldn't guess whether it's a boy or girl as baby's heartbeat was right down the middle! I didn't really want her to guess - we've waited this long! Also baby kicked the doppler when she was trying to listen which was funny! She asked if I felt at least 10 kicks a day and I said I think so but s/he defo has a routine.I also asked her about being tested for Strep B and she said it was up to me and to have it if it would put my mind at rest but if it came back positive it would have to go on my notes and I probably couldn't have a waterbirth as I would be hooked up to IV Anti-B's during labour. She said they have hundreds of women with it who don't know and are fine with no problems, and it is normally women who have it and have symptoms who they worry about or something like that.I told her about the private scan and she said that it's still early and the baby can still get into different positions so no worries about breech. Also she predicted the baby would be lighter than 8lbs, around 7lbs5oz.

 

28 weeks

28 weeks

 

 

29 weeks

 

30 weeks

1st Feb at 29 weeks 3 days we had a scan and consultant appointment. The results were mixed. The scan showed the umbilical cord had good blood flow and that the baby has now moved to head down - which must have been the weird sensation I had one night in bed which I thought was a hand or foot scraping the whole of my bump! Also another positive is that the placenta has moved and is now almost two centimetres away from the cervix and so a bit more movement could ensure I can have the natural birth that I want.
Some of the mixed results were the baby's measurements. The head measure 30w1d, the abdomen measured spot on dates but the legs were nearly two weeks small but still are in the green 'normal' zone. The sonographer said it's not unusual and there is also the fact that I am short. However, what this all meant was that on the baby's growth chart it showed that the baby was measuring smaller than it was at the 3D scan a week and a half ago. The consultant thinks that this is probably all down to measuring inaccuracies but they have to err on the side of caution and so we are back to see him and be rescanned in two weeks. He did also have to explain that if it was true that they would have to see me more often, I wouldn't be allowed to go overdue, and if necessary I would be induced early. Of course this all made me quite tearful but Hubby doesn't believe any of it and is sure that the next scan will prove that baby has been measured wrong at one or more of the scans.

The nursery is almost finished - just some pictures to go up! Some of latest purchases include a range of nappies to try, some car window blinds, changing bags, breast gel pads and a sling to carry baby around in:

After this week I have a weeks work, a week off, then four weeks of work and then I'm on maternity!

4D/3D Scan

So today at 27weeks6days we went for our private 4/3D scan - it was amazing! Baby is measuring right on target and currently weighs 2lbs4oz. As an approximate prediction if Baby was born at 40 weeks s/he could weigh 8lbs, which is perfect to me! Also it looks like my placenta has moved and is not in the way of Baby's exit at all now! Baby is in a breech position (bum down) but there is still a lot of time for movement into the correct position.

So here is Baby:

And our Baby DVD:

27 Weeks / 3rd Trimester

Wow, we're on the home straight! In 10 weeks baby will be fully baked at 37 weeks!

All is still good. Bump is defo growing now and I feel heavier and I have noticed that my belly button is shallower.

27 weeks

I had my first bath rather than a shower and it was great fun to watch my bump moving as baby kicks, making the water ripple. Also baby stuck it's bum or head out and distorted my bump, and we could feel this hard, round thing for the first time!

When I went back to work after the Christmas break I thought I'd have a big bump that everyone would notice but I still haven't, and so I decided to start announcing it to people. Everyone that I have told has been so lovely and I've really been surprised - I never realised that a pregnancy is such a happy event for everyone around you, even relative strangers!

So, exciting things happening at the moment:

• 4/3D scan on Monday - can't wait to see baby in more detail and see how much they have grown!
• The nursery's new window is almost finished and so Hubby can finish the decorating, the carpet fitters can come, and we can set up all that we have so far!
• 28 week midwife appointment in a week
• Mum's organising a large baby shower back in my home town
• I'm organising a smaller baby shower where we live now for friends and neighbours

I could burst with excitement!

2013 Year of the Baby

This year I am going to be a Mummy, it is so exciting! I am 25 weeks pregnant today - just 15 weeks to go!

Here are my latest bump pics:

23 weeks

24 weeks

25 weeks

We have also made our most exciting purchase - the pram! We looked at lots but I was drawn to this Silvercross Linear Freeway in Charcoal. In the shop we practised putting the body on and off the chassis, changing it into forward and backward facing pushchair mode, and fitting and removing the car seat. I also treated myself to the matching changing bag.

 

As of today I have lots of countdowns on my phone:

• 10 days until birthing pool lesson
• 14 days until 3rd trimester (if it is when you reach 27 weeks, as there seems to be conflicting views?)
• 22 days until my 28 week midwife appointment
• 31 days until the next scan and consultant appointment
• 80 days until my last day at work
• 105 days until Baby's due date

We will also confirm the date for our private 3D scan tomorrow! It's all soooooo exciting!