KM Pregnancy Diary – week 33 – ready to go!
I’ve just had another scan which shows the placenta has now moved out of the way and the baby is sitting head down and ready to go! This is much more comfortable than the breech position baby has been in up until now, although I do feel quite heavy it’s not uncomfortable and a few kicks in my side and ribs are much more bearable than the baby’s head pressing on my stomach. My appetite has gone through the roof now it’s more comfortable to eat again and I’m finding my tummy is telling me I’m hungry rather than relying on my head! My baby was breech the whole way through my last pregnancy and the last couple of months were a struggle as I would feel full after tiny amounts of food and not being able to sit down to a proper meal was a pain. Although I struggle to eat much in the in the evenings as long as I eat a good lunch I think I’m getting a much better balanced diet this time.
I saw Craig for some lower back twinges and had an accupuncture session as well, this made me very tired for about 48 hours and as my pulse had been quite weak at the beginning of the session he suggested taking it easy for a week and trying to get some day time naps in. This has really helped my energy levels and I feel so much better for making myself take some time out. Although it’s meant lots of chores and paperwork have built up I have found that in the time I do have I am much more efficient and motivated now my energy levels have improved and I can do things in half the time it was taking me before. I also find I’m not absolutely exhausted in the evenings and able to enjoy cooking for my family rather than just looking forward to going to bed the minute my toddler has gone to sleep.
I’m still keeping active although other than pilates and swimming I don’t find I really enjoy any other exercise, swimming is blissful but I find I’m taking the bus and driving around much more as lots of walking is just not fun, I figure once I’ve had the baby and am back on pram duty my carbon footprint will improve once again…
KM Pregnancy Diary – week 28 – Insomnia
I am 28 weeks pregnant today and to be honest am wishing away the weeks until the big day! I’ve really struggled to sleep well over the last two or three weeks and this has really drained my enthusiasm and energy levels. I also find that when I get tired I have a thirst that I just cannot quench. At my last obstetrician appointment I mentioned this to my doctor who took blood tests which confirmed no underlying health problems. Craig suggested that my insomnia was probably because of underlying fears and concerns, which I would tend to agree with as once I am awake in the middle of the night my mind does seem to go into overdrive. I have found that I go to sleep early because I am physically exhausted but that my mind does seem wide awake, so I have been trying to wear myself out mentally too so I can really switch off completely at bedtime. As I am very much a morning person I’ve tried to get all the important admin out of the way in the morning so I’m not doing emails and paperwork at 8/9pm when I should be winding down. I have to admit I had a couple of sips of a lovely red wine the other night which led to a blissful nights sleep, not the ideal way for a pregnant gal to unwind and it was just a one off but it does seem to have broken the cycle and after one great nights sleep followed a very productive day which seemed to have got me back into a better pattern.
I’ve been interviewing nannies to get some help in the daytime for the first 6 weeks or so. As I’ve never really had help before it’s a big task to find someone who I think will work with our family. I didn’t want a maternity nurse as I enjoyed (!)the nights with my first baby as I felt it was a huge part of the bonding process and as I was quite routine driven from the start I was lucky that sleep deprivation was not too much of a problem. I am more concerned this time about my toddler getting enough exercise and attention in those first early weeks and I would rather have third party help initially as I find family can be a little intense and would rather have someone who will just do as I ask!
I’ve seen Craig a couple of times since my last blog who has been amazing as ever in treating some neck and lower back pain and giving me some great general advice. The epsom salt baths have definitely helped in the evening if I haven’t collapsed into bed without managing to get into one and I am coming to terms with being so much bigger than in my last pregnancy which is apparently to do with being slightly more relaxed second time round. Still not sure about that one….
Helen pregnancy diary week 27 – thinking about labour
Thinking about labour…..
I have been thinking about my birthing plan recently. I am really keen on having a homebirth as I want to feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible and will also have a midwife there throughout the whole thing. I am planning on doing it as naturally as possible as I want to be fully lucid throughout the whole experience so am therefore not keen on taking drugs or having an epidural.
However I have realised that during labour many things can change and it is really important to go with it and not to feel guilty if things do not work out quite as I want them to. I attend a weekly antenatal yoga class, and women who leave to have their babies occasionally come back in to tell of their experience.
One mother came in to share her experience; she had planned a natural ‘home from home’ birth in a birthing centre. Her waters broke but she didn’t go into labour for 24 hours so she couldn’t go there, so she opted for a homebirth as they allow you 48 hours leeway. Things were progressing well but then the labour halted and it was felt that is was best to go into hospital. She continued to have problems and she ended up having an assisted birth with an epidural and episiotomy. The baby was safe and sound and she was delighted that he was here.
However she was very upset about the birth experience and feels guilty that she was not able to do it as she had planned. I think therefore it is so important to be relaxed and go with the flow during labour. If things change feeling guilty about it will not help you, the baby or the progression of labour. As long as mother and baby are healthy and happy that is the main positive to focus on.
KM Pregnancy Diary week 21 – growing bump
So my scan at 21 weeks showed an average sized baby with an over average size tummy! Everything appears to be ok apart from a low placenta. This is apparently very common at this stage as the placenta in most cases moves up during the third trimester. The only possible problem is if the placenta is stuck to my caesarean scar in which case things may be a little more complicated, however I feel pretty relaxed that things will rectify so I will probably have another scan around 36 weeks rather than having lots of extra scans and worrying unnecessarily.
I have been to see Craig for some osteo treatment a couple of times over the last few weeks as I’ve had a few aches and pains which seems to have coincided with a bump growth spurt. My body feels like it’s being stretched and squeezed and definitely feels like it’s adjusting and moving to cope with baby growing. Craig also suggested that some backache is due to the centre of gravity adjusting as my bump pulls me forward and my back has to work to compensate. My 22 month old is also keen to be picked up and cuddled and played with, with ever more enthusiasm and energy, but of course he doesn’t understand if Mummy is tired or aching! He is certainly making the weeks fly by as he occupies most of my time other than when he is asleep! I feel I really need to start making some plans now for baby’s arrival otherwise I am going to be running around at the last minute which won’t be good for a relaxed last trimester and a smooth arrival for baby. I’m also keen to try and make the transition to being a family of four as enjoyable as possible for my little son so that his world is not turned upside down and he feels a little brother or sister has been a fun and exciting event rather than something that has pushed him out of the limelight. I’m trying to talk about the new addition as much as possible. It’s hard to gauge how much he understands but I figure over the last three and a half months he should get a fairly good idea.
Helen Pregnancy Diary week 25 – time to relax
This week was our last holiday before the baby is born. We wanted somewhere sunny, cheap and cheerful to relax and recharge our batteries to get ready for becoming parents so we booked a cheap week away to Turkey. We had to go this week as my husband is otherwise fully booked with work and it is more difficult me to fly once I am in my third trimester.
Unfortunately due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland our flights were cancelled at the last minute. This was really disappointing as we could not see when we could get away again before the baby is due. We therefore decided to jump in the car and drive down to a friend’s villa in Spain.
The week was perfect as the villa was really beautiful and secluded and was the perfect place to relax. It really gave us a chance to catch up and relax together. The baby had started kicking a bit harder and my husband could feel it properly for the first time, which was fantastic as he really felt more involved with the pregnancy.
I think it was really valuable spending that bit of time alone together as we could really relax, reconnect and be excited about the future together.
KM Pregnancy diary week 20 – two different pregnancies
I had my 20 week scan today and all seems to be ok except for a low placenta which can still resolve itself as development continues. I was much more relaxed than at this point in my last pregnancy so I actually managed to enjoy looking at the baby and feeling a bond seeing the little person that I feel moving constantly inside me. The last month has been so busy with one thing another that I forget I am pregnant for long periods throughout the day which is good in some ways, but I keep trying to cherish moments as it will all go by so quickly and I don’t want to wish my pregnancy away.
It’s been interesting comparing all the statistics from the two pregnancies, not that anything means too much at the moment as all measurements are benchmarked against the average and a baby can overtake or drop back at any point, however all the baby’s measurements were much bigger than my first baby’s and I certainly have a bigger bump and feel a lot more power from the little one than I did at this stage last time, however we are only talking about mm’s which I don’t think can really make that much difference! My husband and I are convinced from the scan that it’s another boy though we still don’t know for sure, if it is I am going to get a bigger washing machine for all the extra laundry that three boys in the house will create!!
I am thrilled that every week or so one or other of my friends also seems to be falling pregnant. I think there are eight of us now who will give birth within a couple of months of one another. A friend who has been trying to conceive for three years and had two rounds of IVF has fallen pregnant naturally, thanks again to acupuncture, I am overjoyed for her.
KM pregnancy diary week 17 – boy or girl?
I’m really excited as I can now see the baby moving like a mouse under the carpet! I have felt little flutters for about three weeks but he or she really seems to have gained some power these last few days. My husband and I escaped on our own for a few days without our toddler and it was lovely that the baby should make it’s first appearance (albeit veiled) on a morning when we were able to enjoy a lie in and watch the little one having a morning stretch in Mummy’s tummy! It was also amazing to Read more
Helen’s pregnancy diary week 18 – baby’s kicking!
This week has been a really good week. Although I didn’t suffer too much with sickness throughout my early pregnancy I really struggled with fatigue and sometimes felt quite dizzy. But this week I suddenly feel that I have a little of my old energy back, I think this is partly due to the fact that there has been a little sunshine, which always improves my mood and energy. I found it really useful to get outside to catch a little vitamin D and to get some fresh air as much as possible; it really boosts the mind and body.
I also felt the first flutter of the baby. It was so tiny that it was almost un-noticeable but I could feel what felt like bubbles in my tummy that I have never had before. It was wonderful as it made it so much more real and I felt like I was actually having a baby instead of just being pregnant. Now every so often I feel very tiny little kicks so am looking forward to feeling them properly. This also has done wonders for my mood as at moment I feel so excited about the future.
KM – Pregnancy Diary 13 weeks
I first went to Craig 15 months after my first baby was born as my periods had never come back and I wanted to start trying for a second baby. My doctor had unsuccessfully tried a cycle of HRT and Clomid but I didn’t like the side effects and having had no problem conceiving the first time I felt a more gentle and natural approach would be worth a try.
After two sessions with Craig my periods returned and after two cycles I was pregnant. However it wasn’t just a question of turning up and having needles stuck into me, there was a holistic approach which led me to really evaluate Read more
Helen’s pregnancy diary week 12 – to scan or not to scan?
I was really excited about the prospect of my 12 week scan. As this is my first pregnancy I wanted to know that my baby was growing and developing as it should and as I could not feel or see anything as yet I felt the need to check there actually was a baby there and I had not just made it all up in my head!
However when thinking about having an ultrasound I began to wonder actually how safe it is for the baby. An ultrasound scan Read more