Wishing time away…
After spending a good chunk of this pregnancy expecting baby to arrive early and hoping that she wouldn’t it now feels rather strange that I am almost officially classed as term (37wks on Friday although by my dates I am actually 37 &4 today) and baby is still safely tucked up inside. How amazing is that?
As amazing as it is and believe me I am thrilled that we lasted this long it does now feel like we have even waiting for our baby FOREVER. Every single day I wake thinking will it be today and every twinge is possible labour pain. It’s a nightmare. In theory I am more than happy to wait until baby is ready to arrive as I want her to be as healthy and strong as can be but I am finding it so frustrating. I didn’t feel like this last time at all in fact when my waters went at 37wks just before a trip to the supermarket it was such a shock that I didn’t have time to think of anything.
Last Thursday my midwife informed me I’m 3/5 engaged and she would be surprised if I made my next appointment and I have to admit I was quite excited. The last few weeks have been so sore and uncomfortable that I was done I guess. However Mother Nature thinks differently and so does my baby apparently. I don’t actually feel like she will be here in the next few days and now I realise it was a good thing. Izzy is really not well..she had a week of us knowing something was brewing and then over the weekend turned into a horrible cold which is now a cough and a wheeze too. We were woken at 5am today by a lovely outpouring of vomit over our freshly changed bedding and right now I’m sat on the sofa with her watching Shrek and having cuddles. If I had been in hospital when she was ill I would have felt terrible and if I’d had a teeny newborn here I would have been so worried about her becoming ill as well so its all for the best.
My baby girl will arrive when she’s good and ready and I will spend the time waiting with my other (slightly bigger) baby girl, making sure she gets better and has all the attention she needs.
Sorry baby for wanting you here so badly. I guess I just want to see for myself that you are just fine.
Until you are ready I will try to stop being so cranky and moaning about any pain..after all this is my final pregnancy I should …ahem try to enjoy it right?
So close
It’s getting so close
The day we will meet
I can’t wait to see your cute
Hands and your feet
To feel your heart beating
Next to mine
To see you breathing
To know that you’re fine
Cant wait to inhale your baby smell
To know for sure that everything is well
Can’t wait to see your sister
Give you a hug
The thought of it alone gives
My heart a little tug
I wonder when it will be
I wish you could tell me
Tomorrow.. Today?
I wish there was a way
But I know it is soon
And it’s even full moon?
I’m sure it will be when I least expect
I love you already
I just haven’t met you yet.
35 weeks… Woohoo
So today I am officially 35 weeks by the magical dating scan date. By my dates which are obviously more accurate I am 36 weeks but hey ho either way we are getting close. Within the next month my our baby will (should) be here. That is a slightly surreal feeling. We are more or less prepared in all of the practical ways but we STILL don’t have a name so please feel free to leave all your suggestions in the comment box.
Cravings:
Nothing new this week.. Still loving ice. A lot. I still want to brush my teeth. All the time. The apple thing has returned a little.
Weight:
I haven’t gained any weight the last week or so but my bump looks seriously enormous.
Physical changes
I have Braxton Hicks contractions all day long. They aren’t painful but are incredibly uncomfortable.
Lots of pelvic pressure.. Sore and bruised feeling.
Backache constantly.
Cramps are horrendous at night when I don’t drink a Powerade during the day.
I have little appetite..I guess as the baby is taking up so much room these days.
My milk production is definitely getting in gear and breast pads are no longer optional.
Baby:
We had a scan on Monday and our beautiful girl seems to be doing well and is estimated to be about 5lbs.
Sleep:
Sleep is still pretty rubbish. I wake up more tired than when I go to bed. I remember this from last time and I know I just have to put up with it.
Preparation:
I’ve had a little bit more energy this past week and I’ve been preparing for these first chaotic weeks by making food for the freezer. So far I’ve made: Chicken Curry, Beef Stew and Cottage pie. I know I will appreciate this when I’m bleary eyed and looking after a newborn and toddler.
Izzy:
Izzy is still very loving with my bump but the past few days she is definitely experiencing the terrible twos. Tantrums and testing my patience. Still loving our time together but hope this is a short phase.
Nothing more exciting to tell you really but here is the baby bump update for this week:
Looking forward to meeting you baby girl 🙂
It’s all about you…
I have finished working now for the remainder of my pregnancy and I’m really enjoying the additional time with my daughter. She’s at an age where she is such good fun and the odd tantrum aside she is a joy to spend time with.
I find it hard to remember a time when she wasn’t around and that at one point I didn’t have this one central focus in my life. It really is all about her.
So what happens when baby 2 arrives? How do I split my time? How do I ensure that my wonderfully funny toddler still gets the time and attention she deserves whilst caring for a newborn? I have to admit I’m a little bit worried.
Even now I’m starting to find it hard to do everything she wants and needs from me. She loves having me involved with all of her activities and I’m constantly being told Mam come on…help. She loves me to to sit on the floor to play cars, colour in or just be next to her – with a daily increasing bump this isn’t easy but I do try.
I just look into the future a little and think woah I really hope she doesn’t resent the baby. Realistically I know at some point she will even if just for a short time but I’m hoping she will adore her little sister so much that it will be short lived.
Do any of you parents of two or more have advice for me?
I really REALLY can’t wait for the baby to arrive but do you know what I am really going to miss the time with my girl.
Look at this big girl..where did my baby go?
Still a mini foodie.. eating Chorizo, chickpea, tomato and paprika stew
Playtime
Having supper at Nanna’s house
Out for a nighttime stroll in her swanky new Jane Trider buggy
Kiccckkiiiiingg – 32 week update
My baby is wild. Seriously quite often I look at my stomach and you would think from the crazy shapes it pulls that she is running in there. She is so strong.
Today I had a midwife appointment, not a regular one but one of the extra appointments I’m having to make sure all is ok with me and baby.
I am very happy to tell you that for once.. In fact I really do think its the first time this pregnancy all is OK. WOOP. I wasn’t sent to hospital for monitoring ..blood pressure was all good..everything was fine. My midwife who was very rudely kicked (extremely powerfully) by the bump told me that she thinks my baby is the busiest baby she has monitored for a long time.
It’s incredible the relief I felt walking out. I almost felt like a normal pregnant woman. So I went and bought myself a big juicy steak from the butchers and 4 apples as a celebratory treat.. Well I can’t have champagne so what’s a girl to do?
By the way why did I never realise quite how amazing a good apple can taste? I actually asked the green grocer today what are the tastiest apples you have? Ha. English Windsor apparently. Drools.
At 32 weeks:
* I feel huge
* I look neat ( haha according to my green grocer – so not true)
* My skin feels oily again
* My hair is thick and reasonably glossy
* Cramps are pretty bad again. This morning I couldn’t shake it for a whole hour. Ouch.
* Heartburn is horrid – mostly at about 2am
* Baby moves a lot and with huge gymnastic type movements – I don’t remember it being quite so crazy last time.
* Baby is still head down and very low..lots of pressure but not too painful at the minute.
* My concentration is not great – I have a million things to do and a lot of blog posts to write but actually completing them is hard.
* I’m super emotional/hormonal/kind of a bitch at times.
* Everything aches. All the time.
* I’m starting to worry ( a little) about everything being ok (health wise) for the baby when she arrives.
* I’m getting excited to meet our girl.
* I’m more in love with Izzy than ever before. She turned 2 this week and she is such a special girl.
* I’m more thankful than ever for my supportive man and family. Couldn’t have done this without them.
* I may open the babys wardrobe to look at her little shoes more than is necessary.
* I eat apples, carrots and red meat. A lot.
* I still love ice
* I still like to brush my teeth. A lot.
All in all other than having to pop Izzy to the hospital for mysterious rash check its been an ok week which compared to the past 6 months is pretty amazing.
32 weeks:
For reference this is a Jicama ( I had to google it) a kind of Mexican turnip.
A big girl now …
No longer my baby
A big girl now
Today you are two
Your age will now forever be counted in years
No longer months
I can no longer buy your clothes in the baby aisle
You eat what we eat
You can count to ten
You say the funniest things
You are so independent
Already
But you love your mam and dad
If one of us isn’t there you are always asking where we are
You greet us with huge smiles and glee
You sleep all night (mostly)
You love apples
And peas
You are so very daring
And so very tall
But at night all curled up
You still seem ever so small
A big girl you may be
But you will always always be my baby
Even when your sister arrives
You will still be you
The twinkle in my eye
I worry about missing our special one on one time
But life is about to become so very exciting
And I know that one day you will be so thankful for a sister
Today is the last birthday just you
Next year you will have a little sibling too
Sharing your toys
Stealing your cake
Kissing and squabbling
What memories you will make
But for just a short time now it’s just us
And I will remember it. Always.
The smile that you bring to my face so easily
The hurt I feel when you hurt
I can’t wait for another year with you.
Happy birthday my wonderful girl.
Dear Bump
It’s been 161 days since I found out about you. 158 days since I told your Daddy on his birthday that our family was growing. 161 days of loving you, being scared of losing you and looking forward to meeting you. Approximately 25 hospital visits, 8 scans .. And counting. Numerous blood test and urine samples. Scary consultant meetings X2, hours spent in waiting rooms ..A LOT..Speculum tests-too many. Vigorous kicks and punches to my belly from your growing limbs..100’s, kisses to my growing belly from your proud sister – 10000. Cheerios placed in my belly button to feed the baby..7.
I spend so much time laying on a hospital bed listening to your precious heartbeat and you swimming about that I feel like I know you already. You hate the monitor on my stomach and protest wildly, the same goes for scans – you definitely make the hospital staff earn their wages.
Like your sister you already have a better wardrobe than I do. Mostly because you are having all of her hand me downs but you already own 3 pairs of Vans..how cool are you?
I want you to stay in my stomach, safe and warm for at least another 80 days – I want you to be strong and healthy when you are born and that is the safest time. 80 days seems like an unmanageable, amount of time right now but you are worth every second. That much I know.
I want to thank you for being such a little fighter. Taking everything my pregnancy has thrown at you and saying Pah I can handle that. You are such a big part of our family and we can’t wait to meet you.
Over halfway
My pregnancy feels like its been at least a year long .. I remember it going so quickly with Isabelle and everyone told me it would be even faster this time around as I would be so busy with my toddler that it would fly by. Not the case. Every week/month has brought something different to worry about and I would love if the next 18weeks were peaceful so that I could enjoy my pregnancy. During my last pregnancy my mum was battling breast cancer so I feel like I’ve never really enjoyed my pregnant time – I have to admit to feeling slightly cheated.
I am ashamed to admit that as grateful as I am to be pregnant right now and overjoyed that I will have a wonderful baby in just 18weeks time I never EVER want to be pregnant again. EVER. I won’t miss my bump. My bump has caused me nothing but problems – my baby I love already .. My pregnancy not so much.
Thankfully I am now over halfway and my baby is still safely tucked up in my belly – I am so happy that we have made it this far. Every week I get further along is a blessing.
It is only now 8 weeks into my second trimester that I can feel my energy levels returning which I assume is later than most due to the stress/lack of sleep and an infection invading my body.
The heat is a bit much the last few days but I’ve been trying to enjoy garden time with my family and watching Izzy splashing about in the paddling pool has definitely improved my mood. I’ve started to feel more positive.
Last week we had a little bit more news regarding the pregnancy when I found out I was carrying Strep B (you can read more about strep B in my last post) Strep B caused our family a lot of distress 9 years ago when my sisters first child almost died after contracting it during labour so I have some negative emotions related to it but I am lucky in that it was picked up during some routine testing I had done in hospital and as such I’m receiving the appropriate care.
My bump is huge. Like really huge. I’m sure I didn’t look this big on Izzy until I was about 30weeks. I know second pregnancies show faster but woah I feel like an elephant.
We had our 20 week scan last week and the baby looked well.
IT’S A GIRL!
She was a little naughty and didn’t stop wriggling all the the way through and made it very hard for the sonographer but so far all looks fine 😀
We have a consultants appointment this afternoon just to chat about some issues and after that I’m hoping for a few weeks break from the hospital and GP surgery so positive thoughts please readers!
Strep B – What is it? I have it
What is Strep B? You may have heard of it but its pretty likely you will have no idea what it is unless you or a family member had been affected by it.
In 2004 my nephew contracted strep B as a newborn from my sister following a normal delivery – he was seriously ill as a result. For a while things were pretty hairy. I remember at the time I was a carefree 21yr old who had no immediate plans to have children so although I did care – a lot obviously – I didn’t really understand it all.
Here is some info on strep B:
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a normal bacterium which colonises up to 30% of adults in the UK, without symptoms or side-effects. It is most commonly found in the intestines, as part of the normal gut flora (bacteria living in the gastrointestinal tract). It is often found in adult women. It is known as a ‘commensal’ – an organism which lives on another without causing any harm.
GBS can, however, occasionally cause infection, most commonly in newborn babies. GBS can more rarely cause infection in adults (typically women during pregnancy or after birth, the elderly and people with serious underlying medical conditions which impair their immune system).
GBS is not a sexually transmitted disease and treatment of the woman and of her partner does not prevent re-colonisation.
So there you have the basic info on what it is.
I found out today that I have it. Following a few tests and samples taken to check for a water infection ( extremely common in pregnancy) it was picked up and my midwife called this morning to let me know.
I am now on antibiotics and will also be given antibiotics intravenously as soon as I go into labour to try to prevent my baby from getting it too. It’s still a worry for me.. Along with the million ( or so it seems ) other little things that have gone wrong with this pregnancy so far but I know I am LUCKY. It’s been picked up and will hopefully prevent my precious newborn from contracting this nasty and dangerous (to babies) infection.
If I hadn’t had a suspected water infection I wouldn’t have known and like my sister I could have faced days of uncertainty about my childs well being when she could possibly have been born with Strep B.
So why isn’t it routinely offered as a test in pregnancy?
Well the simple answer is that in a lot of countries it is but just not here in the UK.
It can be extremely dangerous to a newborn and in most cases can be prevented from being passed on when it is known the mum has it before birth.
I asked on Twitter if any of my followers had suffered from StrepB in pregnancy these are the stories of the people who replied:
@mumslittlepeeps found out at 15wks and was unable to have intravenous antibiotics as baby was premature but baby was treated immediately after birth as a precaution.
@ninafrost had strep B on both pregnancies, with baby 1 she was treated during labour but on baby 2 there was no time as short labour so baby had 48hrs of treatment in hospital following birth.
@mummyglitzer had antibiotics during labour with her baby boy and he had no problems after birth.
@mumsgonemental found out at 28wks but wasn’t given antibiotics until 3 hours into her labour meaning her daughter had to spend 72hrs in a neonatal unit on antibiotics. Frightening yes?
The common line of thought with everyone I spoke to was that it is not taken seriously enough in the UK and I couldn’t agree more.
Group Strep B Support is a UK charity founded in 1996, their three main aims are:
*Offer information and support to families affected by group B Streptococcus;
*Inform health professionals and individuals how most group B Strep infections in newborn babies can be prevented;
*Generate continued support for research into preventing group B Strep infections in newborn babies.
They believe every woman should be fully informed and offered the chance to have the sensitive test to detect GBS carriage late in pregnancy. These tests are not currently available on the NHS but are currently available privately at around £35.
And, longer term? Vaccination could prevent more cases of GBS infection than any other strategy, including preventing preterm labour and stillbirths caused by GBS infection, post-delivery GBS infection in the mother and late-onset GBS infection in the baby. Vaccination would also avoid allergic reactions to the recommended antibiotics and concern about the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Moreover, there are no indications of hazard in this approach. Investment into developing a vaccine against GBS infection is urgently needed.
If you have any other questions or need support look at the GBSS site: www.gbss.org.uk or follow them on twitter: @GBSSupport
If you have had your own Strep B experience I would appreciate your comments as they may help someone. Also it is Strep B awareness month so if you could share this or write about it yourself that would be great.