Monday 26 January 2009

baby baby baby

Due day is now in 4 weeks' time.

At my appointment with the midwife today, she said the baby's head is starting to creep down into my pelvis now. Also she felt a Braxton Hicks contraction while she was feeling around, which I couldn't detect in the slightest. She said it was like a ripple from the top of my uterus. Today the baby's feet seem to be right around the left hand side of the bump, so I'm getting regularly (but gently) booted in the ribs on my left.

Yesterday we went to my sister-in-law's house to pick up all the stuff she is lending us. In our now-very-crowded front room we have boxes of bedding and blankets and a car seat and pushchair and carry cot and crib and and and... It's starting to look like there will actually be a baby coming soon. Where are we going to put all this stuff?!

Tonight we have an NCT class about breastfeeding. I've already been to an NHS one, and it was very informative. We used woollen b00bs and brought our own soft toys to practise with. My stuffed monkey has never had such an intriguing day.

I've still got a million or so things that I would like to have done before the baby comes, so each day I try to chip away at the list. I'm a slow mover these days though, and sometimes I just can't do everything I want to do.

The other day I had a fairly frantic phonecall from the lady who has taken over some of my job while I'm on maternity leave, and I really struggled at first to remember what she was on about when she mentioned the computer system the school uses, and a particular kid in Year 4. Eventually my brain kicked into action but it showed me how much I've switched off from work. That can only be a good thing, I'm sure. I feel lucky to be on leave right now. It feels much needed.

One thing I really must do this week is pack my hospital bag. It suddenly seems even more urgent because one of our NCT group had her baby on Friday, a few weeks early due to pre-eclampsia. AND I'M NEXT ON THE LIST!!! Of course there may be some queue-jumping, but if there isn't, my baby is now top of the list to be born next. Wow.

I am trying not to get too attached to having a water birth, but if I'm honest I really want one. We were shown a dvd of several births: planned caesarean, water birth, hypnobirthing,... all of them incredible, but still the water birth would be my first choice. If I end up with a caesarean so be it, but I know in the past warm water has worked very well for pain relief for me. Mind you maybe when it comes to it I'll not like it. Trying to keep an open mind...

At the weekend I went to Oxford (so many bikes! so many intense students! so many tourists! so many beautiful buildings!) to see a friend I used to work with. It was lovely to see her, but I was shattered by the end of the day, and all I'd done was sit down and eat. We had a good old catch-up. She's been working as a lecturer at a university based in Bath, while studying for a PGHCE (qualification to lecture at higher education level). It sounds a very hectic existence, and reminded me of my teaching practice days.

Right, I need a cup of tea, a nap, and to write my next door neighbour's birthday card.

Au revoir.

Monday 19 January 2009

Numbers

Today I'm 35 weeks pregnant, and there are 35 days to go until the due date. And I'm 35 years old (still).

In early Feb, Adriano and I have booked a night in a hotel to celebrate 9 years of knowing each other, 6 months of marriage, and about 3 weeks until the baby makes an appearance.

I like number patterns.

Ooh, forgot to say, I passed my driving theory test, hooray! I now have 2 years to get my practical test passed. Just need more practice...

Here's the latest bump picture. It looks bigger when I stand up.

Friday 16 January 2009

Tuesday 13 January 2009

Banners

I'm a complete novice at making banners for this blog, but like to tinker a bit with the blogger template using my extremely limited hit-and-miss ideas.
Don't know why when I did this one it would not let me see the text toolbar on Paint. So stuck with the same font as before.
Oh well. Just felt like a cheerful colour change - I really love yellow flowers. Managed to get some very early daffodils last week and have enjoyed seeing them in our living room.

Monday 12 January 2009

Update on my obsession

I'm 34 weeks pregnant today. It's getting pretty uncomfortable now. Walking around is slow and I need to sit down a lot. Backache, stomach ache, headache, leg cramps, forgetfulness, tearfulness, fatigue.... I am so grateful not to be at work anymore! I can't remember the last time I slept through the night without going to the loo at least twice, usually 3 or 4 times. Luckily the actual kicks and stretches that the baby is making are not hurting (yet?), they just feel weird. They almost always make me smile. Sometimes she (he?) will land suddenly on my bladder or bowel and it makes me gasp in surprise. Occasionally the rib-kicks tickle and I end up giggling. I am getting to the stage where I am excited about having no bump to lug around (not to mention excited about meeting our baby!). I am running out of clothes that fit but it seems stupid to get more when I only have 6 (or more likely 7 or 8) more weeks to go.

We went to our first NCT class last week, and both Adriano and I enjoyed it. We met 5 other couples and thank god they didn't seem like yummy-mummy-4x4 drivers. It was good to be reminded that billions of women have given birth and our bodies know what to do. My auntie-who's-a-midwife says that one of the most helpful things to do in labour is just to 'say yes to the pain'. I can see the wisdom in that. Whether I can follow it is another matter! I think it largely depends how long the labour is.

On Saturday Adriano and I bought a chest of drawers for the baby's clothes. It was such an exciting thing to do - somehow it made the baby seem more like a real person who is coming to live with us soon... and less like a figment of my imagination and dreams.

I am probably a complete baby-bore these days, because every cell in my body is constantly reminding me that I'm having a baby, and soon.

This week I'm taking my theory test towards my drivers licence. To start with I kept failing my practice tests, but I'm getting better now. If I fail I'll just have to do it all again. But hopefully I'll pass.

Got to go and hang up some more washing. Little tiny vests.............awwwwwwwwwww.

About Me

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* proud new mother * last child * youngest daughter * tallest sister * favourite auntie * honest lover * furtive photographer * diary writer * compulsive dancer * tree hugger * mooncup promoter * chocolate taster * house plant murderer *