A week of madness is now behind me. One magazine is signed-off and another is nearly there. All I need to do now is get a website refined for another client and I'll be more at ease. Oh yes, and then there's X, Y and Z to do for .... (sheesh! it never ends).
I'm feeling horribly guilty because I haven't visited Bridget in 4 weeks (disgusting!), but it just hasn't come together. I was even in town last night but it was so late (4:45pm) when I was near her flat, and all I could think of was getting off my feet. Starbucks reached out it's warm, comforting arms and I succumbed.
It hasn't been particularly eventful on the pregnancy-front. Baby is growing more, and my tummy is feeling tighter and tighter. It's week 31, and I'm already wondering when we can bring the baby home, whether we'll be breast-feeding, if it'll be sleeping in cycles, how long that'll take, how we're going to cope, etc.
I picked up a book in Borders last night - Miriam Stoppard (and Dorling Kindersley)'s Baby Care Book. Hmm... interesting stuff, although you do get a sense of deja vu reading through it. So much seems like common sense, and information you've picked up 'along the way'. It was good to read it though - like brushing up before exams.
Next week, preparations begin in earnest :
Friday 3rd - NCT ante-natal class, full day
Friday 10th - NCT ante-natal class, full day
Tues 7th, 14th, 21st and 29th - Homerton Parentcraft classes in the evenings.
...the countdown begins.
Tomorrow Keith and I are going to a marriage seminar at the church. It's only 3 hours, which seems like a bit short to me, but it'll be good to go and get a bit of an MOT. Last one was eons ago.
Friday, January 27, 2006
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
it's heavy to carry around
Slept late this morning because I HAD to stay up all night and finish a book I'd been reading. Felt shattered, but am grateful to Jackie for phoning and getting me out of bed. I really needed to just get up instead of lying there feeling spaced out.
Mum's been asking me for a photo, so I thought I'd better get that done. Once it's up, I won't have to think about photographing myself for the next while.
Feeling fine on the whole, just need to keep a handle on the walking - too much is a bad idea. It just amounts to back pain, and swollen ankles which I'm delighted to avoid where possible.
Did a bit of internet shopping this afternoon. What a pleasure that is! You can just order what you need from the comfort of your desk and chair, and wait for someone to bring it here (and up the stairs). I will put together a list of online maternity / baby websites for the UK. Should be useful for future mums and all the family in SA.
It's Keith's birthday on Sunday and he's been the "super-shopper" recently : new sound system has been arriving in bits and pieces. The last component, the amplifier, arrives tomorrow. He's going to be a very happy birthday boy on Sunday
Monday, January 16, 2006
I am normal
We had an appointment with the consultant today, and we now have the official report - I am normal!. She measured me, felt the baby's position, listened to the heartbeat (junior was not co-operating, just wriggling around), read the report from the cardiologist... and said that there was no longer any need for me to see her.
So I'm back into the midwife-led care at the Homerton, which means that we have normal birth to look forward to - no high-risk, intervention stuff. Thank the Lord!
FETAL FACTS FOR THIS WEEK :
baby's eyes are now open a lot of the time, and it is practicing 'looking' around. Not much to see, as you can imagine, but it does notice light from the daytime / interior lighting, shining through your skin.
baby's brain has started taking on that wrinkled appearance because it is growing so rapidly. These 'convolutions' contain more brain cells than a smooth surface brain.
So I'm back into the midwife-led care at the Homerton, which means that we have normal birth to look forward to - no high-risk, intervention stuff. Thank the Lord!
FETAL FACTS FOR THIS WEEK :
baby's eyes are now open a lot of the time, and it is practicing 'looking' around. Not much to see, as you can imagine, but it does notice light from the daytime / interior lighting, shining through your skin.
baby's brain has started taking on that wrinkled appearance because it is growing so rapidly. These 'convolutions' contain more brain cells than a smooth surface brain.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
B is for back ache
Yesterday was the most beautiful clear day, and because I haven't even ventured upstairs to prune or tidy in the last month, I thought I better seize the opportunity. After all, it wasn't raining and I wasn't going to frieze to death. I still managed to delay though and only headed up there at 3:40pm, by which time the shadows were starting to lengthen and I knew I couldn't leave it much longer.
Once I was up there I went at it hammer and tongs, and cleared away as much as I could reach - dead leaves, mucky build-up in the drainage, and old growth. It's the kind of job where you really do have to do lots of bending over, hands and knees, scraping under pots, which is probably where my technique needs improving. By the time it was dark, I'd filled two large buckets and swept down at least 2/3 of the roof with water and a broom. Once I'd put all the implements away and taken the boots off to come down stairs, I realised that I'd really overdone it... my back was killing me.
Now you all know what a pregnant woman looks like when she walks, and it annoys me that people make fun of it, but the truth is - there is no other way. Most of the time I 'womble' along. But last night, I was hobbling like a crotchety old man, clutching my lower back.
And by this morning, I couldn't face getting out of bed, so I switched off the alarm clock and stayed there. Confession time : until 11:50am.
It still hurts tho'
Once I was up there I went at it hammer and tongs, and cleared away as much as I could reach - dead leaves, mucky build-up in the drainage, and old growth. It's the kind of job where you really do have to do lots of bending over, hands and knees, scraping under pots, which is probably where my technique needs improving. By the time it was dark, I'd filled two large buckets and swept down at least 2/3 of the roof with water and a broom. Once I'd put all the implements away and taken the boots off to come down stairs, I realised that I'd really overdone it... my back was killing me.
Now you all know what a pregnant woman looks like when she walks, and it annoys me that people make fun of it, but the truth is - there is no other way. Most of the time I 'womble' along. But last night, I was hobbling like a crotchety old man, clutching my lower back.
And by this morning, I couldn't face getting out of bed, so I switched off the alarm clock and stayed there. Confession time : until 11:50am.
It still hurts tho'
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
delivery : mattress
Today we took delivery of our cot mattress - bought online at John Lewis. I've done quite a bit of surfing as there is so much stuff you can buy on the net.
Yesterday was the mummy's biblestudy group here and everyone got to talk about their birth horror stories. A bit exhausting actually. I felt fine at the time, but by last night I was feeling quite shaken. There just seems to be an awful lot of stuff that happens, and you don't know what to make a fuss about and what to just accept.
On a positive note : I met a girl at swimming last night who is due on Friday, and having a home birth. She was looking great, and said she'd so enjoyed the swimming all these months. She is also zoned for Homerton, so we may yet bump into one another in the future - weighing babies or having innoculations.
More good news : apparently the Homerton have just finished refurbishing their birthing rooms. They re-opened a week or more ago. Excellent timing methinks.
We've spent some time reading through all the lists of what we need to get. Made some lists last night, and did a bit of thinking about when and what to pack. I feel like a real boy scout.
We're becoming more aware of baby's shape - last night there was a definite 'head' sticking out next to my belly button. It feels quite tight and uncomfortable, although that doesn't last - it seems to be in 'rotation', and then settles into something more comfy.
Yesterday was the mummy's biblestudy group here and everyone got to talk about their birth horror stories. A bit exhausting actually. I felt fine at the time, but by last night I was feeling quite shaken. There just seems to be an awful lot of stuff that happens, and you don't know what to make a fuss about and what to just accept.
On a positive note : I met a girl at swimming last night who is due on Friday, and having a home birth. She was looking great, and said she'd so enjoyed the swimming all these months. She is also zoned for Homerton, so we may yet bump into one another in the future - weighing babies or having innoculations.
More good news : apparently the Homerton have just finished refurbishing their birthing rooms. They re-opened a week or more ago. Excellent timing methinks.
We've spent some time reading through all the lists of what we need to get. Made some lists last night, and did a bit of thinking about when and what to pack. I feel like a real boy scout.
We're becoming more aware of baby's shape - last night there was a definite 'head' sticking out next to my belly button. It feels quite tight and uncomfortable, although that doesn't last - it seems to be in 'rotation', and then settles into something more comfy.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
olympics
The baby is so incredibly busy, waking up around 11am and then it stays active through the day (on and off) until well after I go to sleep around midnight. I read somewhere it's like someone preparing for the Olympics in there. How true!
I have had these 2 images in my mind since finding them on pregnancy.org
Is it just me or do things look really cramped inside there ?
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Geraldine has had a baby girl !
Wonderful news !little Amy has arrived safely in Sydney, Australia. Born to my dear friends Andrew and Geraldine - a little sister for Samuel.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
27 + 6 all is well
We had our "26 week" antenatal appointment this morning. We missed the actual 26 week appointment because my brain has turned to mush and I hadn't put it in the diary. It was also the week that I went to the cardiologist and I was completely focused on the outcome of that session.
They listened to the baby's heartbeat, while it kicked away, and then I had some bloods taken - results at next visit. Keith's a honey and drove me to the hospital and back again. He's concerned and involved which is very kind - it is during office hours after all.
It sounds like we'll get to meet the midwife team in about six weeks time. The Homerton have a team of around 50 midwives and you get whoever is on duty when you're in labour. The consultant said that they'd have a "walk around" the labour ward closer to the due date. It's a bit wierd knowing that we won't have met the person who's going to take us through the birth of our child, but then I also think that you can't focus too much on the hours of labour and birth. They must do what they're good at - midwives, obstetricians, et al. We'll have a consultant on hand because of the cardio risk, but I'm hoping that because of the "all clear" from my cardiologist, it'll minimise their intervention. Keith and I are both feeling positive about the delivery, we have no reason to be concerned. All the tests and the fetal activity are normal.
I spoke to Jacqui Archer (mum of 2) yesterday and she said Keith should have a good suck of the 'gas and air' / Entonox during labour, if I'm having it... not bad advice for any father who's on hand, and a little stressed out.
Things I must get to this week : find out about maternity pay, make a dental appointment (free for pregnant mums), make enquiries about schooling and day-care in the surrounding areas.
They listened to the baby's heartbeat, while it kicked away, and then I had some bloods taken - results at next visit. Keith's a honey and drove me to the hospital and back again. He's concerned and involved which is very kind - it is during office hours after all.
It sounds like we'll get to meet the midwife team in about six weeks time. The Homerton have a team of around 50 midwives and you get whoever is on duty when you're in labour. The consultant said that they'd have a "walk around" the labour ward closer to the due date. It's a bit wierd knowing that we won't have met the person who's going to take us through the birth of our child, but then I also think that you can't focus too much on the hours of labour and birth. They must do what they're good at - midwives, obstetricians, et al. We'll have a consultant on hand because of the cardio risk, but I'm hoping that because of the "all clear" from my cardiologist, it'll minimise their intervention. Keith and I are both feeling positive about the delivery, we have no reason to be concerned. All the tests and the fetal activity are normal.
I spoke to Jacqui Archer (mum of 2) yesterday and she said Keith should have a good suck of the 'gas and air' / Entonox during labour, if I'm having it... not bad advice for any father who's on hand, and a little stressed out.
Things I must get to this week : find out about maternity pay, make a dental appointment (free for pregnant mums), make enquiries about schooling and day-care in the surrounding areas.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
and so it begins...
The third trimester has dawned.
... and with it, a growing reality that we will be soon be parents to a tiny little screamer. . Many friends have asked for photos of the happy parents to be, and the growing bump so here it is.
Things are going well - baby is growing every day, and oh-so active. It's done nothing but kick me all day today.
We did a bit of preparation this christmas and new year holiday : bought some sheets for the cot, ordered a new mattress online, went to the hardware shop and bought some bolts to put the cot together. Baby now has a bed to sleep in. I bid for a 'moses basket' on eBay, but didn't win it, so will keep looking.
We've done a bit of planning too : dates for mum (grandma) to visit, and the on-going name saga.
FETAL FACTS :
In the last 2 days the baby has grown eyelashes. It can now respond to light and dark as it's eyes open and close.
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