Ready and waiting...

Well I'm offically 40 weeks. The due date has arrived and there has been a bit of activity. I visited the doctor on Wednesday and when she asked if I would like an internal, I eagerly jumped at the chance. Ouch! Not terribly pleasent, but don't think it will be anything in comparison to what is to come! She said the head was fully engaged and after the internal I was around 1 to 2 cm dilated. She did a scan and the weight was 4.5 kg, which is nearly 10 lbs! I nearly freaked, but she said that it's never an acurate reading at this stage. She did, however, say we'll be having a 9 pounder... not going to be fitting into all of the clothes for much longer!

Last night I bounced around on my ball for a good 10 minutes before bed. Straight after I had to go to the bathroom and had my show. I was so excited. It's totally gross, but I know it is a good sign that things are getting ready down there. I'm just hopeful that the baby will be here before the end of the weekend.

Here's a picture of me at 40 weeks... massive!!

On another note, I have some very sad news to report. Our friends Marguerite and Ruairi were expecting twins in December. We were all so excited to be pregnant together. Marguerite went into labour last Wednesday night and had two wee boys, James and Jack on Thanksgiving day. There were complications and James, the larger of the two was very poorly and put onto a ventilator. Sadly, he passed in his father's arms on Tuesday after his ventilator was turned off. Today was the funeral. I was a bit worried about going because I didn't know how I would react, but I knew it was important to be there for Marguerite and Ruairi. It was the sadest thing I have ever seen. I didn't stop crying the entire service and my heart is broken for them. It was horrible to see the little white coffin and they were both in pieces. But they were supported by at least 100 friends and family that came to be with them on this sad day.

These events make me want to meet our little one even more. Just to hold him or her and make sure s/he is okay. Kiss your children and loved ones tonight and remember how precious our time is with them.

The home stretch

Well I'm entering my last week of pregnancy and I am completely sick and tired of it. I'm trying to stay positive and happy, but to be honest I just want it to be over. I want my body back, even if it's going to be completely different than it was. I long to sleep on my stomach and my back and be able to bend over and touch my toes.

Ollie and I went to see American Gangster (only came out over here) and then for an Indian on Saturday night. I woke up about 4 in the morning with some tummy pains, like period pains and though 'oh my god, this is it'. I was so excited that I was up until 6 am waiting for the next contraction and for them to get quicker and stronger, but no dice. I fell asleep disappointed and woke up for mass in the worst mood. This wasnt' helped by visiting our new house to see that the roof tiles have STILL not been put up. It's the same as it was 3 weeks ago and the other side of the street is progressing more and they're not even supposed to be ready until the end of February!

Anyway, I'm continuing with the spicy foods, getting in some long walks, bouncing like mad on my birthing ball... trying pretty much anything to get this kid out! I was with the midwife on Monday and she says the baby's head is about 2cms above my pelvis, which is good news and indicates engagement is right around the corner. Let that corner be today and that baby be ready on Friday!!

I'm just dying to meet him or her. I want to see what his or her face looks like and dress him or her up in all of the new clothes.

I went on a bit of a re-arranging craze on Monday (must be nesting). I re-organised our room and the spare room to get our mattress out from behind our bed, the crib beside our bed and everything all ready for little one's arrival. Here's a picture of the crib...

...we had to go for something quite small to fit in the room. We don't anticipate our long legged child to be in the crib for more than 3 months, by which time we'll be in our own house and have a proper nursery for him or her.

We also picked up the car seat and a travel cot (pictured below).

The store is holding onto our pram (see picture) until after the baby is born- we have no room for it. The pram matches the car seat (couldn't find our fabric in the pram pictures).

Right, well that's all for now. Hope the next post announces the arrival of our little one!!!

More belly shots

Sorry for the delay on these, but better late then never. I'm getting huge!

36 1/2 weeks...

38 weeks...

33 Weeks

I had a physio appointment today. I have been having rather horrible lower back pain and have started getting pain on the left side of my pelvis. Great appointment- loads of massaging and cold and hot compresses. Totally relaxing. Then I got fit for this gorgeous (sarcasm) back/pelvic support strap. Super sexy (sarcasm again)! I will have Ollie take a picture of me in it- that is if he can withstand the urge to ravish me with it on! Barbara, my physio, said she thought I looked brilliant. I was carrying really well- all to the front, my skin looks brilliant- no marks or stretches and once I was in the support she said 'wow, you've really kept your waist'. I didn't think I had a waist left.

So pregnancy is coming along well, I guess. Heartburn/indigestion is still plaguing me now and then and I'm exhausted most of the time. My feet, legs and hands are still pretty swollen. I'll get pictures up soon of them too. They just look ridiculous. I'm counting down the days until I go off on maternity. I finish on the 30th, taking 2 1/2 weeks of annual leave and then start my maternity 2 weeks early. I'm not back in work until the 2nd of June! Woo-hoo!! I can't wait. I have so much to do before the baby arrives. I’ll need to give a big clean to the room and want to sort through some boxes in the garage. I have 3 assignments for university to complete- I really want to get them out of the way before the baby arrives. This way I’ll only have the 1 exam to study for in January.

I’m keeping up with the pregnancy yoga and have another class tonight. Once I’m on maternity full time, I plan to take a nice long walk each day. We have a large park about 5 minutes walk from the house. I think the fresh air and light exercise will do me all of the good. And I’ve heard it’s the best thing for getting the wee one ready for arrival.

I just can’t wait! I started to get really excited around week 30. And now I know this little person will definitely be with us in less than 9 weeks. They will take me in for induction at 10 days over, but I’m really trying to stay positive that this little one will be sick of having no room and want to get out as soon as possible!

The baby is so active. I mean super active! They say the average is around 10 or 12 periods of movement a day. This kid is on twice as much. I’m sure I would complain if s/he weren’t moving about enough, but this baby is so strong and my ribs so sore! The people at work probably think I’m nuts because I’m always talking to my belly and saying ‘will you please give me some peace!’

Baby is comfortably laying downwards, with his/her head towards the left side of my pelvis and his/her back going up the right side of my belly. A few people commented today that they thought the baby was dropping, but I think I always carried pretty low and feel like I’m a bit higher than before if anything. I don’t know. I just can’t wait to hear the word ‘engaged’ and then I’ll start getting excited.

More Belly Shots

Finally got these downloaded from my camera!

30 weeks

32 1/2 weeks

Loads of growth, eh??

30 weeks… the countdown begins

Passed the 30 week mark on Friday and this last trimester has brought a whole host of new and fun things. I have developed the most evil heartburn/indigestion. It is relentless and wakes me up at night. I’m trying to cut out spicy foods (although I love them) and acidic fruits- oranges are my favourite at the minute. I carry around gaviscon (heartburn tablets) with me at all times. My feet are still swollen and I’ve signed up for reflexology classes at our hospital- hope they ring soon. I have heard that they can really alleviate the aches and pains if used consistently. My back is killing me- lower back especially. I am finding it difficult to get comfortable sitting, standing, sleeping. My bras are going to have to go- the underwire is digging into me like mad and baby seems to have discovered my ribs. Boy, this kid is a kicker. I seriously thought s/he was having a fit the other day when I received consistent punches/kicks to my left side for at least 1 minute straight. This baby is beating me up! My appetite has not subsided. I think I’m carrying pretty low, so the baby mustn’t be up against my stomach just yet.

We had our 30 week appointment/scan on Wednesday. The scan wasn’t terribly clear because baby has gotten so big. Seriously big. I was 29 weeks and 5 days at the scan and this baby weighs nearly 2 kilograms (1.85kg=4.07lbs). We are over the 90th centile for weight. See the chart I have reproduced below showing Baby Reynolds bigger than the average ‘big baby’. Oh joy.

They say the baby usually gains ½ lb a week, so if I go the full 40 weeks the baby should be around 9lbs. But the way this kid is growing, I could have a 11 pounder (I have just crossed my legs at the thought). I had blood tests done to check everything is okay. The doctor was really pleased with my growth and how everything was looking with baby. She said I shouldn’t really be worried about the weight because Ollie and I are so tall, so we’ll most likely have a longer baby which could account for the high weight. She didn’t change my due date, but said the growth indicates the baby is ahead of schedule and estimating the due date is just that- an estimation. I’m still hopeful that I will go a couple of weeks early- I hear your sniggers!

I have another picture of belly to post. Will do tomorrow as I don’t have my camera in work with me.

Belly shots are finally here...

18 weeks... think I may have been sucking in a little...

21 weeks...

24 weeks...

I'll have Ollie take another picture tonight, my 28 week shot. I've certainly gotten bigger since the last time!