35 Weeks!

I cannot believe I am sitting here writing a post at almost 36 weeks pregnant! After having Rocket at 34 weeks (and being in hospital since 33) It's been a shock to everyone that this little man is still clinging on in there!

I've had growth scans which show he is on the top line, as was his brother so I am looking forward to bringing a good size bundle home with me and with every day he stays in there the chance of him leaving hospital with me increases and that makes me one very happy mama!

I have bad SPD now on top of my HMS pains so it has been a struggle and of course going over what I did with Rocket, this is all new territory to me! I'm the biggest I've ever been! (not weight wise though thankfully!)

My midwife popped around this morning and everything was looking great, Bumble is 3/5ths engaged and although I know as a second baby he can pop out my pelvis at any time, I'm taking this as a good sign that he's getting ready to come out for cuddles soon.. even though I feel like I'm walking with a bowling ball between my legs and feel like I'm being kicked up the middle of my girly parts!

My blood pressure which has been consistently high over this pregnancy was absolutely perfect today so that was brilliant news to me as I know my consultant has been flapping over it, I just hope it stays on the lower side now!

Thinking of dates this bambino could be born (tomorrow, Halloween would be awesome ;) ) ha ha having already bagged myself a Valentines baby, how awesome would Halloween or Bonfire night be :P although probably better for bonfire night as its 'full term' then! shame you can't choose!

My next growth scan is next week at 36+4 and I shall be talking to the consultant then about
possible induction at 37 weeks if he's not here before as the pain and immobility I am experiencing is actually stopping me from looking after Rocket on my own, that and every time I get up to pee in the night I almost fall from the pain, it's a hard road!

As incredibly blessed as I am to be given these two miracle boys, Bumble is definitely my last baby as I can't physically carry anymore. I am looking forward to starting the next chapter of my life with my boys and my husband and growing up as a complete family.

Just got to get through the birth next! Eeekkk!

23 Week scare, starting the 24th Week and Pain!

I have been a bit quiet on the blogging front recently and that's because I have been struggling.. but now I have 10 minutes I'm making myself write it down so I don't forget!

Rocket this week :)

When I was just over 23 weeks I was having cramps accompanied with backache for 3 days on and off but it wasn't regular like contractions, however nothing I did or how I moved stopped them and the fact it was with back pain and having previously gone premature I was terrified. So after the 3rd day I called the labour ward and they told me to come in and get checked.

Baby was moving fine, hes a good strong mover in there and the midwife was shocked how hard he kicked her when she had the monitor on for just being 23 weeks!
 My temperature, urine and everything was fine and the doctor came in and had a chat. It was the scariest chat ever as she had to tell me that if baby did come now they wouldn't do anything to save him.. not til 3 days later when I would hit 24 weeks.. I was then scared as I wanted to know my cervix was closed..

Which it was *massive sigh of relief*, however she said this didn't mean that I wouldn't go into labour at anytime, just that the cramps I had been having hadn't done anything to dialate my cervix - that was a blessing. Off I went home.

When I reached 24 weeks I was so happy, its a big milestone for me. I have alot of anxiety with this pregnancy and now knowing he is considered 'viable' if he was to be born he would have a chance and every week I go from not on is another milestone for my silly anxiety (which I am seeing a midwife councillor about still..)

My HMS has been awful, to the point where waiting the 2 hours for my Glucose Tolerance Test was almost too much and the back pain was so strong I was on the verge of tears. Its really hard as this little baby is wanted sooo much but the pain I'm experiencing is making me feel bad about everything.

I had a bad pregnancy with Rocket, I do remember that but it wasn't til much later (29-30 weeks) that the pain was getting too much and this time 24 weeks seems very early. I have my crutches for when I'm bad but I don't think it's SPD, just the HMS flared up.

Heat bags and paracetamols are all I can do at the moment as my cocodamol makes me feel unwell during pregnancy so I try not to take it until its really really bad.

On a good note my little man is wriggling alot and this morning he was woken by the hoover going, that made me laugh!! and Rocket has been taking about when baby comes and that makes me smile :) I adore my boys and cannot wait to see them together!

Anomaly Scan - 21+4 weeks!

The day for my 20 week scan finally rolled around! I hadn't actually been desperate for a scan like I was with Rocket as I had that gender scan at 6 weeks so I already had my scan 'fix' so I waited patiently.
 I had specifically asked for a Tuesday so Bumbles daddy could be with me as he missed the last 2 scans due to work so that's what had pushed the scan date back.

I was so nervous in the morning.. I don't even know why I felt like that, I knew he was fine as he was wiggling about but I guess knowing that something could be wrong with his heart or other organ got me in a panic.

9am was my scan and at about 9:15 I was called through by a smiley looking Ultrasound tech (which made me feel better as my last one wasn't so friendly!) and I also had a trainee tech in there too which was pretty cool as I got to hear more explained than I would in a normal scan.

He is still most definitely my little boy ;) and all was going well with the scan apart from him being in a really awkward position (transverse upside down!) but she saw the brain and lips, all was OK.... then she tried to see the heart and she went quiet and seemed to spend ages looking. She then got me to lay on my side and when that didn't move him she sent me off for a walk for 20 minutes to try get him to move so A and I went to the cafe and had some food and drink and jumped up the stairs.

When we got back she said she still couldn't see properly (although he had moved *success*, printed off some pictures then told me she needed to go get another ultrasound tech.. I was terrified at that point and thought for sure there was a problem with my little boy and the wait seemed like forever and a day.

In came the second ultrasound tech who took over to look for herself and they chatted amongst themselves for a while and it was just because he was in an awkward position and finally they agreed that everything looked OK with his heart *Que massive sigh of relief*

So all in all it was a roller coaster of emotions and I was glad to walk out with a lovely picture of my second little bundle!

Next appointment is next week.

20 Weeks Pregnant! Feelings and update

So in a 'normal' pregnancy I'm now half way there! (if you go by Rocket's pregnancy then I'm quite over half way already! That's crazy!)

 For some reason, this pregnancy is whizzing by alot faster than Rocket's pregnancy did. Maybe its because I'm running around after him, maybe it''s because I'm more chilled now.. or just because as you grow up, time disappears!

I'm quite OK with the speed of it though. I feel him move alot each day now.
 He has his quiet times but then will give me a big kick and I will know all is well.

Prior to getting pregnant, I had spent a few months working hard to lose weight and I lost 2 stone and was feeling a lot better in myself and I honestly believe that helped me get pregnant after trying completely unsuccessfully for 20 months.

 Recently I have been struggling with my body image and the way pregnancy is changing my body. Being a bigger girl I was aware that I wouldn't have a 'bump' for quite a while but after my stomach shrinking earlier in the year, watching the baby push out the fat was absolutely terrifying for me and I haven't really talked about it til now.

Luckily in the past week I have started to see a difference myself (I'm not too sure if strangers could tell though!) but even with the dreaded 'B' belly, my upper tummy seems to have 'popped' and I know that it's because Rocket ruined my stomach muscles and that Bumble is still only up to my belly button but have a feeling I'm going to be huge by the end of this pregnancy, especially if I go past the 34 week mark!

I love nothing more than waking up first thing in the morning and looking down to see if the bump has grown! I remember doing the same thing when pregnant with Rocket and it puts a smile on my face.

Rocket is now really into becoming a big brother, he talks about holding him in November and how my tummy is going to grow and how he will help with nappies, it's so sweet.
 When I listen to the baby's heartbeat on the Doppler, Rocket has to listen to the baby in HIS tummy! He tells strangers too ha ha.

My 20 week scan isn't until July 23rd as I wanted a specific day so my husband could come so it's a little later than when I had Rockets. But as I had a 16 week scan that seems to have tided me over, especially as I already know he's a little boy.

I had follow ups after having borderline high BP but that seems to be under control now and the next consultants appointment I have is shortly after my 20 week scan.

As it's only a couple of weeks away I leave it there and I'll update with the scan pictures on the 23rd!

16 Weeks Pregnant (tomorrow)

Wow! time sure is flying by now, condidering I found out at 3 weeks with a HGC level of just 20 something!

I turn 16 weeks tomorrow then on Saturday I have a private gender scan booked so hopefully we can find out just who is growing in there! I didn't find out til the NHS 20 week scan with Rocket and it wasn't a brilliant experience as the ultrasound tech wasn't the most friendly person in the world but I totally understand that the anomily scan is there for them to do measurements and not to spend time explaining things to the parents and looking for the sex, so infact we were lucky we even found out.

This time I wanted it to be a special experience where I could see on the big screen and share the experience with family (mum, dad and Rocket). Bumbles daddy can't make the scan so will be bombarded with pics after, and il try find a creative way to tell him the sex rather than just blurting it out on the phone!

But I couldn't think of a better way to spend my upcomig birthday money than bonding more with the little bellybug! I'm sooooooo excited!

Girl or Boy? What am I?

Symptoms wise, i'm still suffering with dizzyness, which started around 12 weeks and I even had a bout of it at Cybher! It's nothing to do with not eating or  my blood pressure, iv'e been reassured by the doctor.

Stretching pains I'm getting alot this week (15-16) lots of pains and period type aches but the doppler picks Bumble up everytime and it's a godsend having that for reassurance.

Still no hint of a bump, just pushed out spare tyre! But I looked back at pregnancy pics with Rocket and my bump with him started around 19 weeks so thats not long to go.. I just dont like the looking extra chunky look!

Finally, I have started feeling the occasional little flutter which I am sure is baby!! It's not all the time and sometimes I won't feel it for a day but it's awesome to know those little movements will be getting stronger soon and the full blown kicks!

I'l update next week as I have 3 antinatal/consultant/pain clinic appointments next week!!

Oh and i'm sure il be posting the gender on Saturday night ;)