Half-Baked! 20 Weeks!

I was so excited to reach 20 weeks, it was like it was my Birthday! What added to my excitement was that I got Hubby to feel my bump and see if he could feel any movement, and after a lot of patience, bump wiggling and stroking he felt two tiny kicks! He said it felt weird and I said trying having it inside you!

20 week bump

20 Weeks 1 Day was scan day and everything is perfect with Baby! We are so happy. It was also great as my Mum was allowed to come into the room and watch too!

Now it's the count down to Christmas Day and to 24 weeks! Sooooo exciting!

19 weeks, almost half way!

Exciting news - at 18 weeks 4 days Baby made themself known through kicks/movement! We had just gone to bed and I rubbed my tummy, and Hubby started talking and all of a sudden I felt two little thuds inside my abdomen. As I was telling Hubby that I thought I felt something, it happened again but much stronger so that there was no doubting it! Also the next morning during breakfast I felt  it again. It has made the pregnancy different some how - more real and exciting. It has also made me more impatient, I want Hubby to be able to feel the kicks and I want my big bump now!

I have been feeling much better, I do still get tired if I stay up later than 9pm though! I'm trying to swim twice a week, pregnancy yoga once a week and have started back at Body Balance. It is so nice to be at Body Balance and finally be the one that the instructor gives adapted moves to because I'm pregnant! I am also loving Pregnancy yoga. It isn't really a workout but helps you relax and teaches you good posture and breathing techniques and positions that can help during labour. It is great because I go with my friend who is 34 weeks pregnant and there are lots of ladies all at different stages of pregnancy, and at the end we have herbal tea and biscuits and chat. You learn a lot from the instructor and the other ladies. Also someone comes and talks to us at the end of the class such as a lady who was coming to the class right up to the birth. She brought her new baby and told us her birth story and we can ask questions and get advice and tips! We also go out and socialise and I am in my element just talking about babies non-stop!

 I have put on a total of 7lbs which is a healthy amount but still don't have much of a bump just look fatter:

17 weeks

18weeks

19 weeks

Although I don't have much of a bump, I have noticed some changes. In the morning when normally I would have a flat stomach, I no longer do and instead I have a hard round mound! Also in the night when I turn onto my side this mound moves and squishes, and when I turn onto my back everything feels heavy - it's not exactly a pleasant feeling and I wonder what it's going to be like with a big bump!

In other news I had the flu jab last night, I spoke to the GP about whether to have it or not and he said "Have you ever had flu, how did you feel?" Say no more, I've had it once in my adult life and couldn't get out of bed or eat, and so with so many people around me with colds and bugs at the moments I decided it was for the best!

Today I went for an early-bird antenatal class at the pysio department at the hospital. It was nice to meet other expectant Mums although we didn't really get a chance to chat but I could compare bumps! The class was all about posture and looking after our pelvis, it was interesting and I picked up a few tips that could help save my back when my bump gets bigger.

16 weeks / 4 months gone!

Yay, we've made it to 16 weeks! That means there is only 4 weeks until we are half way and 8 weeks until we are 24 weeks and baby is viable! That day is also Christmas Day!

So what has been happening since our dating scan almost four weeks ago?

Well, now I am in the 2nd trimester I am supposed to be blooming, feeling better and have loads of energy. That has not been the case! I've been a bit queasy and very tired, and I haven't been able to exercise. So being fed up of feeling like this I decided that during half-term I would have a blood test to see if I was iron deficient, start gentle swimming, get out a bit more and catch up on some sleep in the day if I need to. And as I come to the end of this week, I think I am feeling better! I have been swimming three times and out for a couple of walks and shopping sprees. I haven't needed a sleep during the day and I have only felt poorly for one afternoon - progress!

Some positive things that have happened are that around 15 weeks my uterus must have moved upwards in my pelvis and so I don't have to go to the toilet so many times in the night which is helping me sleep better. We have been listening to the baby's heartbeat with the doppler and the heartbeat is stronger and louder and has also moved upwards. Also we can hear the baby kicking/moving with the doppler which is amazing, and we even think that baby responds to our voices sometimes (or maybe this isn't possible yet but is something we like to believe). 

On Friday morning at 16w3d I had my first consultant appointment which went well. I went in to see a nurse first and my urine was fine and my blood pressure was good. I got my blood test results back and they showed that my iron is 11.5 when the norm is 12-15 or something. But they won't give me anything for that as it is borderline and the iron supplements could cause more problems like constipation or upset stomach. They said my iron reserves are good though. The nurse said I'd see the doc soon and they would decide if they need to keep an eye on me or not, probably not as all looks ok. She also asked if I was feeling any movement yet and when I said no she said not to worry, it's just some people feel them early. I asked her when I would get my 20week scan appointment and she said around 19 weeks! I said that late? Apparently that's the norm!

Then I went in to see the consultant but he wasn't there and so I was seeing the registrar. He went over my history and decided that they would keep an eye on me for reassurance for me and for them. I am to be scanned and a consultation at 24 weeks and a few other times after that. He explained that after 24 weeks they can give me steroids to mature the baby if they feel it is necessary (I think he was just trying to reassure me that if the baby looked like it was coming early there are things they can do to help. There is no reason for my baby to come early but having had miscarriages, they are just reassuring me as much as possible).
He listened to the baby's heartbeat with a doppler and all is good and normal.
We discussed the fact that my Mum had a blood clot on the lung after having my youngest brother and I wasn't too worried because I've had blood clotting bloot tests which were all fine. These tests were done at the fertility clinic though and the hospital doesn't have a copy and so he was going to prescribe me low dose aspirin when the consultant returned and took over. The consultant decided that he would write to the Professor at the fertility clinic for copies of my previous blood clotting tests and not bother with aspirin for now. He was very nice and said I look blooming which shows that I have good blood circulation, also the fact that I am still tired is due to high progesterone making me tired but it is also a good thing. Basically he said all was good and I am doing really well. He said so I'll see you at 24 weeks but when he checked the calendar he saw that that would be Christmas Day, so we're seeing him on 28th December!

I've had to buy maternity bras as my boobs have grown, also bigger tights and sensible winter boots! I haven't got a bump yet but I am getting fatter - I'm waiting for the day when it is clearly a bump and not bloat! Also waiting very impatiently for those first feelings of movement!

So here is the bump update:

13 weeks

14 weeks

15 weeks

16 weeks

Official NHS Dating Scan

So today we went to the hospital for our official dating scan and all was great. Baby was wriggling and rolling with hands in the air at first. However, when it came to the pictures baby did exactly the same as last time and rolled over onto their front and went to sleep! The sonographer thinks that the placenta may come in on the back wall and baby is using it as a pillow! Hubby and I sleep on our front, so I suppose it is only to be expected. 
They moved me forward again and I am now 12w6d and so tomorrow I will be 13 weeks and in the 2nd trimester. Also I will be 24 weeks on Christmas Day! I also have my official due date: 16th April 2013!

These are our latest pics - they are all upside down!

Bump or Bloat?

Bloat!

Bloating During Pregnancy — What Causes It

It almost seems that your jeans start to feel snug as soon as the pregnancy test comes back positive — and you can thank the hormone progesterone for that puffy phenomenon. While progesterone is essential for maintaining a healthy pregnancy (it is, after all, the pro-gestation hormone), it also triggers that oh-so-delightful trio: bloating, burping, and farting. Why? Progesterone causes the smooth muscle tissue in your body (including the gastrointestinal tract) to relax. This slows down digestion, giving the nutrients from food you eat more time to enter your bloodstream and reach your baby. That's the good news. The bad news is this slower metabolism can cause bloating.

Bloating During Pregnancy — What You Need to Know

Sorry, but that ate-too-much feeling you're experiencing is likely to get worse as your uterus keeps expanding and pressing on your stomach and intestines.

http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/symptoms-and-solutions/bloating.aspx 

When will I start to 'look' pregnant?

Whether it's because you are excited about being pregnant and want to show off your bump, or you're self-conscious about looking pregnant in front of family, friends and workmates before you're ready to break the baby news, don't expect to see any visual sign of a bump much before your second trimester (after 13 weeks). Indeed, you might not show a great deal much before your 16-18 week scan or check up.

Because women are all shapes and sizes, and in different states of physical fitness, it's hard to pin an average on when the bump will start to show, but the uterus will begin to noticeably get bigger at some point around 12 to 14 weeks pregnant for most mums-to-be.

However, before your bump is visible to the rest of the world you will notice a subtle difference – a button on your jeans that won't do up now, or certain dresses just don't fall right anymore. This is because the uterus is growing and begins to rise above the level of your pelvis. Its position is slightly higher on your torso and this, combined with its shape means you don't simply get a bigger tummy hanging over your waistline.

http://www.thinkbaby.co.uk/your-pregnant-body/when-will-my-bump-show/2087.html

All these photo's were taken a couple of hours after breakfast, so no cheating by taking them just after I'd gotten up when my stomach is at it's flattest!

So I'm not showing yet - just have a thickening waist!

Another 2 week wait!

The professor told us that the next two weeks are important and he wanted to see us again for a scan to see us safely to 12weeks. So next scan in two weeks when I will be 11weeks 5days.

10 weeks

So after my great Birthday weekend I was very tired but happy. I've started to get quite thirsty.

10w1d

Started to wean off the steroids today, from 20mg to 10mg - staying positive that I'll have no side affects.Went back to work after my week off resting and it is a great distraction.

10w2d

Still having weird dreams and sweating loads at night. I still also have to get up two or three times a night to go the loo and end up staying awake for a couple of hours, which is not helping my tiredness!
Listened to baby's heartbeat with doppler again this morning and I can find the right place almost straight away now. It is so lovely to hear the heartbeat, it's not just for reassurance but also helps me bond with baby.

10w3d

Today I got quite emotional about being pregnant. When I'm busy I forget for a short while that I am pregnant and so when I have a quiet moment it hits me again, and I think about the little baby growing and wriggling inside me!

10w4d

Had a bit of a scare - went to the loo and there was red blood when I wiped. My abdomen also felt tender and achy. I found it hard to get back to sleep and so I was awake from 3:30am for most of the night. I listened to the heartbeat in the morning and all was fine. I wasn't too worried as there was no more bleeding, I was just so, so tired.

10w5d

Felt so much better today after yesterday's drama. I listened with the doppler again this morning - it is now my morning treat, I only listen for about a minute but it makes me smile.

10w6d

Went for a walk with Hubby and we had a good talk about the pregnancy and how it is going. It was good to talk to him because although he is happy and always asking how I am, he seems quiet about the baby. It turns out that he was so sure that last time was going to work and it didn't that he has been finding it hard to get excited and it hasn't really hit him.

11 weeks

Well after our chat yesterday it seems that it has hit Hubby that we are going to have a baby! As we reach each week milestone we always read our pregnancy books and see what is happening to the baby and the mother's body that week. This week we were told that all the baby's major systems are in place and that the pituitary gland has started working. The fact that our baby is so much more human and developed has made it all the more real to him. We looked at 12week scans online so we could see what our baby could be like on Friday- we were both so excited and we're really hoping to see baby moving around. Hubby bought us a brilliant book that talks about the pregnancy day by day rather than week by week!:

11w1d

Reducing the steroids from 10mg to 5mg from today.

11w3d

Have been quite tired all week and feeling a bit queasy, it may be from the lack of steroids.
I've had a few aches on my left side which always worries me a little because that's what I had before the bleed. I've been ok though and it must just be growing pains!
I'm sooooo excited about the scan tomorrow. I can't wait to see how much baby has grown and I'm really hoping to see them move about.

11w5d

Scan day! It was amazing but all over so fast. Baby is measuring ahead again and instead of being 11w5d was 12w1d! The Prof gave me a picture but it's rubbish, I think it is of the back of the baby:

Luckily Hubby videoed most of the scan - amazing!:

Progress!

9w1d

Today is my 40th Birthday and this afternoon the nausea started to ease! Bring on the cake!

9w3d (moved forward to 9w5d)

I went for a scan today and I got a great picture:

Baby was asleep so the Professor gently poked my tummy and said 'wake up' and suddenly the baby started wriggling, moving arms, legs and head - it was amazing! Baby is actually measuring ahead, so from today I'm going by the scan measurements until they tell me any different at the 12 week dating scan.
I still have fluid in my uterus but they don't think it is blood but I'm not to lift anything, still can't exercise, no sex, and I have to take it easy. I'm going back to work though otherwise I'll die of boredom but I will be sensible! Next scan in two weeks.

We told Hubby's brother and wife today, and my Mum told my youngest brother because he is away for the weekend and we're telling everyone else tomorrow and wanted him to know too. I was quite emotional about telling them but also nervous about everyone knowing. It hits us a bit more each day that we are pregnant and that we are doing well!

9w6d

We used the doppler this morning and found the heartbeat straight away - what a great start to the day! Today was my Bithday party and we told our family and friends, it was so exciting and such a happy, happy occasion!