BABY: 39 Weeks Pregnant Update

39 Weeks! I'm actually writing this at 39+6 and have found that this week has really flown by. This week we have really entered the Baby Skerritt Sweepstake birth dates, so all of the family members involved are keeping a beady eye on their phones, ready to receive any message of my labour. 

Towards the end of this week, I've had a few signs of my imminent labour! For the past couple of days I've had a few weak Braxton Hicks feelings. They don't really last very long and are slightly uncomfortable, but not very painful. Today, though, I have had a few period type pains and mild backache. Is this a sign of things to come?!

 

Baby Skerritt has been very active throughout the day. It has become more of a shuffle and almost feels like he is burrowing deeper into my pelvic area. This has made walking around feel pretty strange. Get me a cowboy outfit and you may mistake me for a tubby John Wayne. 

My actual bump is probably no lower than last week, but it honestly does feel like it comes down to my knees. In the areas of my bump that have dropped, I've found that my skin is getting less stretched. This has, in turn, made my stretchmarks in those areas more faded. 

The same sleeping problems are still present, but I have found that I can sleep longer on each side before the cramps set in. YAY! The bad news is that having the baby lower means my bladder is suffering. My new record of toilet trips during the night was around 5. That was a bad night. So, I've tried to get a better balance of staying hydrated during the day, but just not too close to bedtime.

 

We had a midwife appointment this week and everything was fine. When feeling for the baby, she did say that if he gets any lower we will see the whites of his eyes! So he really must be low!! I was offered a sweep at the same time, but I declined and decided to book in for one next Wednesday, when I will be 40+6 weeks pregnant. I suppose I could live to regret it, but I wanted to try and give myself a chance of going into a completely natural labour. 

 

Fingers crossed, Baby Skerritt will arrive sooner rather than later. We are all so excited to meet him, and being honest, things will be a lot easier if he comes soon before the big move! 

LIFE: Baby Skerritt Sweepstake

About a month ago myself and Chris were starting to get excited about Baby Skerritt's imminent arrival and were joking about setting up a family sweepstake. The more we talked about it, the more fun we thought it would be to get both sides of our family in on the action.

We decided that all parents and siblings (and partners) would get involved. My two nieces joined in, along with Chris' grandparents and his only auntie, uncle and cousin. (At this point, I'd like to add that this is the first baby that will be born on Chris' side of his immediate family, so excitement is huge!) We stopped at this point so it didn't get too out of hand.

First things first, we had to decide on the categories. We settled on the date of birth, the baby's weight and the baby's name. The next step was to add everyone into a WhatsApp group so we could collate all of their guesses. Yes, of course I made a cheeky spreadsheet.. it would be rude not to. We also decided to provide them with an incentive. So, the winner of each category (or who ever comes closest) will be presented with a certificate at the Christening party. They will have to give a speech on why they went with their particular choice and will also hold the bragging rights.

It took a while for people to actually put their guesses down into the group message.. I think nobody wanted to be the first. Pretty much by the end of the day, and after a lot of banter, we had nearly all of the guesses in. A few days later, Chris and I decided to join in too, but obviously not with the baby name.. that would be giving things away!

After that, it was really was just a matter of printing out the table and attaching it onto the fridge door. Now we are just waiting for the arrival. Chris has been crossing the date of birth guesses off as the days go by. I must admit, I keep checking the table every time I open the fridge door and it makes me smile every time.

Have you thought about doing a baby sweepstake? Have you done one during your, or another family member's  pregnancy? If so, leave a comment below as I'd love to hear how it went!

BABY: What I've Packed In My Hospital Bag

In my last blog post, I showed you what I decided to pack in my baby hospital bag. This post is focused on my personal hospital bag. As I mentioned in my previous post, this bag was also hastily packed at the same time as the other bag. I was very conscious of overpacking and looking like a wally, so I've tried to keep my items to the minimum.

 So, here is a list of the things I decided to pack:

• Weekend bag, purchased from Tesco, similar here.
• A towel.
• A nursing top.
• Maternity leggings.
• 2 button fronted nightdresses.
• 4 huge pairs of black full briefs - I've heard the aftermath can be messy and I also wanted knickers that would come up high, in case things don't go to plan and I have a caesearean.
• Socks - I've since purchased some fluffier ones, for possible cold feet during labour.
• Slippers - These were from Primark and I thought were handy as I didn't need to worry about my swollen feet not fitting into them. 
• Flip Flops - Just a cheap pair that I could potentially wear in the shower, if it doesn't look brilliant in there, or for general walking around.
• Pack of approx 20 maternity pads - for after labour.
• Headbands, a hairtie and grips - I'm pretty sure I won't want my hair in my face during labour!
• Lip balm.
• Coin purse with change and notes that will be needed for parking and snacks/drinks.
• Earphones - In case I decide I need music to help me through contractions.
• Tissues.
• TENs machine - Hopefully will help me through labour.
• Washbag.
• A lightweight dressing gown (not shown in the photo, ooops!).

I've tried to cover a lot of bases in this washbag. I've included the essentials like a toothbrushes (for me and Chris), toothpaste, deodorant, shower gel, facial cleanse wipes and moisturiser. If possible, I've purchased travel sized products, just to save on room. I've also put in travel sized hand cream, body lotion, shampoo, conditioner, muslin cloth and a hot cloth cream cleanser. I'm pretty sure I won't get around to using these, but if I did, they're at hand.

Other items that need to be put in at last minute are my hospital notes, hairbrush, iPhone charger and camera (with a charged battery and memory card). We've also got a big bottle of water and 3 cartons of drink for me, along with a red bull and some lucozade for Chris, cooling in the fridge. Snack wise I have a box of Jaffa Cakes, a couple of bags of apple crisps and some Jelly Babies to munch on.

Our midwife suggested we take our swiss ball with us, as our hospital doesn't have these. So, depending on if I'm finding the ball useful during labour at home, this may also get thrown into the car when we set off.

That is it for my hospital bags. If you think I've missed anything vital or that you may have found useful when at the hospital on the labour ward, then please leave me a comment below. :)

BABY: What I've Packed In My Baby Hospital Bag

Throughout my whole pregnancy, I had been looking forward to packing my hospital bags. I pictured myself smiling away as I lovingly folded all the teeny weeny baby essentials into the bag. In reality, like most things in life, this didn't actually happen.

As I mentioned in a previous post here, quite late on in my pregnancy we had booked a trip to Liverpool for Chris' Liverpool FC Stadium Tour. We both decided, running up to this time, that it would be best to pack my hospital bags and take our hospital notes and the car seat, in case the unthinkable happened. Well... fast forward to the day before we were due to travel... still no bags had been packed. Finally, I bit the bullet and made a list of things I thought Baby Skerritt would need, once he made his big arrival.

I found it a lot easier to just lay everything out on our bed before packing it all into the bag. Obviously I have no idea how long my stay in hospital will be, so I didn't want to have too much or too little. What I decided to pack was:

• Weekend Bag, purchased from Primark.
• Pack of 23 newborn nappies.
• Nappy bags.
• 2 blankets - a fleecy Winnie the Pooh one and a cotton cellular blanket.
• Antibacterial wipes, in case I become a germophobe overnight.
• Cotton wool squares, for nappy changing.
• Water wipes - I know cotton wool and water is the preferred method, but water wipes are practically the same.. plus I've heard that the meconium poo nappy change can be a bit sticky, so wipes may well be easier.
• Lasinoh nipple cream, just in case.
• A handful of breast pads, in case my milk comes in.
• Tissues, for when I'm getting all emotional!
• 2 comfortable sleep bras which are nursing friendly.
• 3-4 muslin cloths, 1 being an extra large sized cloth, ideal for swaddling attempts!
• A few bibs, no idea if I'll use them, but they don't take up much room in the bag.
• Newborn sized socks, hats and some scratch mitts.
• 6 sleepsuits and 6 vests. 

Yes, I feel I may have gone overboard with baby outfits, but hear me out! In the back of my mind I still keep having this panic where the baby comes out, and the midwife announces.. 'It's A Girl!!'
So, just in case, I've packed a few plain white sleepsuits. But if all goes as planned and he is a he, I still wanted some more boy themed sleepsuits for photos. I also plan to pop in one of his newborn toys, but I still need to decide which one!

Anyway, there was no surprise arrival of Baby Skerritt, so the bag has just been waiting around in the nursery for the moment it will be quickly grabbed and put into the car! I did get everything out a week or so ago, to re-pack and check, knowing that it was originally packed in a rush.

Is there anything vital you think I'm missing? What were your essential items from your baby hospital bag? Let me know in the comments, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

BLOG: New Blog Design

So, since I started my blog, I have never really been that happy with my blog design template. At the time I wasn't too bothered as:

1. I didn't know how long this new hobby would last.
2. I was so clueless that I wasn't even really aware you could have different designs other than the ones available on the Blogger website.

Now that I am posting a lot more frequently than I ever used to, I started to get frustrated. The blog design wasn't 'me'. It was dull, boring and if I thought that, then surely any visitors to my blog would be thinking the same thing.

Fast forward to last week... I was browsing Etsy for things I don't need (anyone else do this?) and I just typed 'template for blogger' into the search box. Two words instantly sprung to mind.. WOW - look at all the pretty templates; and  OOOH - these are a lot cheaper than I thought they would be.
In that moment I decided to bite the bullet, choose a design and just go ahead and purchase one.

I wasn't looking for a complete custom design, it seemed a bit pointless (and more expensive) going for such a thing when my blog is still very much in its early days. Bearing in mind there are hundreds of templates available on Etsy, I spent the rest of the day clicking through pages and pages of different styles and then managed to narrow it down to a select few.

I'm very much aware that in the blogging world there is a whole monochrome fashion going on at the minute, with black squiggly handwriting in the header. I really do think they look great, but in all seriousness I am not 'cool' enough to carry off that design. As a person I tend to be quite bright and breezy, a little bit daft and probably still don't act my age, or ever will. The stylish monochrome designs seemed to suit the more sophisitcated bloggers out there. I love pastel colours and pretty things so I knew as soon as I saw this template that it was the one.

The template was created by Adrien from Eclair Designs and her whole shop on Etsy is full of more beautiful designs. The template was easy to purchase, you get a file to download and have instructions to install it. With me being such a nube (with a serious case of baby brain) I paid extra to have Adrien install it for me. Adrien probably regretted having the 'ask seller a question' button that day, as I had plenty of questions that I wanted to ask before making the purchase. All of these questions were answered promptly (which I found surprising as I believe Eclair Designs is based in America) and put my mind at ease.

Once I had made the purchase, I still downloaded the file, so I could keep a backup of the template. About an hour or so later, I received a message saying the blog template installation was complete! And that, as they say, is that!

I'm so thrilled with the outcome and am already feeling more excited to write more blog posts. I'm still tweaking things, adding some more links to my social media sites etc, to make it easier for any followers to keep up to date with things. So, I hope you appreciate the design more than the old one and enjoy it as much as I do. If you haven't checked out my new blog design, then you can do so here!

*This is not a sponsored post and everything was paid for by myself.

BABY: 38 Weeks Pregnant Update

So.. the baby still hasn't made an appearance. Family members are getting impatient now as everyone just wants to meet Baby Skerritt. I can't wait too, but I keep telling him to just come out when he's ready.

This week my bump has visibly lowered. I now look more like one of those men who have a huge beer belly that sits over their trouser waistband! Baby Skerritt has also lowered and has made it hard for me to walk properly, not that my walk has been normal for quite a while. It has definitely developed more of a shuffle into my waddle. I feel sorry for anybody who gets stuck behind me when going going upstairs.. ahem.. sorry Chris.. is comparing it to climbing Everest a bit over the top?

The same sleeping issues are still burdening me .. sciatica, cramp, problems rolling over etc. I have loved having a baby bump and you can't describe the closeness you feel when the little life inside you is moving around. However, the larger my bump has got, the more I look forward to being able to quickly run upstairs to fetch something, sleep on my back or even to bend down to pick things up off the floor.

It's hard to say for certain, but I feel like I've had a few mild Braxton Hicks throughout the week. There has been some tightening and mild pain lower down in my bump and pelvic area. It was enough for me to stop and take notice, but not enough for me to think it was real labour.

Swollen feet and ankles have returned with a vengeance. They made a reappearance when the weather improved. My personal masseuse has been great and really helped to make them feel so much better.

Apart from that the only other thing worth mentioning is my bath time struggles. Physically trying to lift my legs to step into the bath for a shower really hurts my groin area. That's another thing I won't miss after the baby arrived!

Next week the only plans we have are to go to one of our last midwife appointments (if Baby Skerritt doesn't arrive before then). Really though, we are just clock watching and hoping we may get to meet this little boy who is so loved and so wanted.. sooner rather than later.

BABY: 37 Weeks Pregnant Update

We made it to Full Term! To think that we are finally in the last few weeks of our first pregnancy seems so unbelievable! Who would have thought that nearly this time last year Chris came home for a couple of weeks of R&R and we decided that we would definitely start trying for a baby when he returned for good later in the year!

Anyway, enough reminiscing, what happened last week? Not much really would be the answer. For the past month it really has just been the same ailments. The past week has been a little warmer and I've had plenty of foot massages from my lovely husband. Swollen feet are really rubbish.
Waddling short distances is all I can really manage now. Little Bumpy feels so low down in there, like he could pop out at any time. My bump is lower too. Chris keeps feeling the weight of it from the bottom and it surprises him every time. The struggle to step into the bath is now very real and painful. If it gets any worse I will need help to step in. Putting my feet up, having plenty of rest and bouncing on my ball are helping with the lightning pains that I'm now getting more frequently. Movements from Bumpy are still at a similar time throughout the day and, what a surprise, a lot lower down!

Sleeping is definitely at its worst now. It's not just the lightning pains, but the weight of the bump is the main culprit. I may have the odd nap in the day to help catch up on sleep, but not for long else I feel awful. The one thing I will be looking forward to once the baby is born is being able to turn over in bed without the full on mission that it is now. Granted I may not be getting a huge amount of sleep, but being able to sleep on my back... utter bliss!

I had my midwife appointment this week and it went well and all the normal checks came back fine. Feeling for Little Bumpy's position is probably the most painful thing to happen to me all week though. She really delves into the bump to feel for Bumpy. Ouch! She thinks the head is down and his back is facing the left side of my bump. His heartbeat still sounds like a train and makes me smile every time I hear it. I also had 2 MRSA swabs.. one up my nose and one in my groin area. I think these are mainly just done on pregnant mothers with a slightly higher BMI. We are booked in for another appointment in 2 weeks, which is 2 days before our due date! Will we even make it to that appointment?! Eeeek exciting times are ahead!

Did you make it to your due date? Feel free to leave a comment below.

BABY: 36 Weeks Pregnant Update

This should have gone up on Thursday, but I didn't get around to finishing the post off. Sorry! Better late than never though! I can't believe I've got to the point of being 1 week away from a full term pregnancy! This is pretty nerve wracking, yet exciting, to think the baby could arrive at any time. Eeeek!

I feel like my bump has definitely lowered this past week, I'm not sure it has significantly grown in size though. Little Bumpy, however, seems to be getting himself much lower down, to the point that I am very aware of him whilst walking. It has been a little bit awkward and uncomfortable walking upstairs, which I fear is only going to get worse as the weeks go by. My sleeping issues are still the same.. turning over and getting up to wee are both still a mission. My nightly trips to the toilet have multiplied from once to maybe twice or three times now. Trying to sit up does involve the husband's help, as sometimes I feel like my bump has me pinned to the bed. My belly button has partly come out at the edges but still no full POP!

My lower back has been a lot better, but then, I'm not moving around as much as before. My nightly massages really help me to get off to sleep (thanks Chris!), before the dreaded sciatica starts giving me gyp in my bottom.

I'm being careful in not squishing the bosom too much in everyday life, as I know if I do, the likelihood is that they will leak. Luckily my main leakages have been during my sleep, so no embarrassing wet patches whilst I'm out shopping.

I've been so thankful that the weather took a turn for the worse as it really helped my swollen feet and ankles. I also ordered some size 6 trainers, so I can actually fit my feet into a pair of shoes! I'm probably the only person who doesn't mind this cooler summer we have been experiencing!

Activity from Little Bumpy is similar to last week, but I do feel like he doesn't have as much space for big wriggles. They are definitely now more of a smaller fidget. He also still manages to get hiccups on occasions.

I had one moment last week when I desperately needed a wee and had a real strong pain, but after going it was still there. I did wonder if that was a Braxton Hicks moment. I'm still not certain if it was, but it is a possibility.

We finally had our first meeting with a Health Visitor. She wasn't actually the one assigned to us as that lady has been poorly, but she kindly paid us a visit on the behalf of the poorly lady. I was nervous about meeting a health visitor as you hear all of these horror stories. I needn't have been worried as all she really did was get to know both of us a little and also take us through our red record book for Little Bumpy. She also wanted to see how much we knew about labour and our plans for after the birth. She was very inclusive with Chris and sent him a 'Dad's Club' pack which included a changing mat, bib and a baby aide memoire aimed specifically at fathers. Our situation is a little different as we may possibly only get one visit before we move away from Cornwall. Hopefully the Health Visitor in Lincolnshire will be just as nice!

Finally, for a bit of fun we have started a baby sweepstake within our immediate family. They have all chosen a date of birth, a baby name and a baby weight. We just thought it was a nice way of bringing both sides of the family together and to bring a bit of excitement to the waiting game of the arrival of Little Bumpy.

That's it for this week. What sort of experiences have you had with Health Visitors? Did you ever do a baby sweepstake? Feel free to comment below.

BABY: 34 and 35 Weeks Pregnant Update

Well, I've had a bit of a fail with my updates these past couple of weeks. I know there isn't really any excuse, but we have had family down to visit, followed by a cheeky trip to Liverpool. If I'm truly honest, combining both updates is probably a good thing as nothing has really changed too much during this time.

The obvious changes during this time was an increase in the size of the baby bump. It is so much heavier now and has created its own mobility issues. During both of these weeks I did find that I would get out of breath quickly and my only speed was equivalent to a snail's pace. Oh, there have been more stretch marks cropping up on the bump, near my hips, as well as a few on my thighs. None of these are a surprise to me as my bump is feeling really stretched and I've been sat down more than I'd like because of my swollen feet. Belly Button Update.. It definitely looks a lot more shallow, but no POP yet!

The lower back is still painful when I'm on my feet for longer periods and is at its worst when I'm stood on the same spot doing the washing up. Ouch! The husband now has a second job as my personal masseuse.. he is pretty good!

My breasts are still leaking, mainly when I sleep, which I hope is a good sign for when my milk comes in. Breast Boil Update.. It has taken a few weeks but the boil is definitely deflating and is no way near as painful as it was. Not wearing a bra at night and wearing a sleep bra during the day has definitely helped, as well as making sure the area is dry throughout the day (The warm weather doesn't help matters).

My main issue over these weeks has been my swollen feet and ankles. I did bring this up during my midwife appointment last week and she wasn't worried about it being a sign of pre-eclampsia, as my blood pressure was fine and I wasn't having dizzy spells or headaches and nausea. The main culprit is a combination of the warm weather and this latter stage of pregnancy. Drinking lots of water and raising my feet has helped to a point, but I still can't fit into a lot of my size 5 shoes.

Our baby is still active and he likes to make his presence known mainly in the evenings and when I turn over in bed. Talking of bed, my sleep is getting increasingly disrupted. After 2 or 3 hours it's time for a wee. Then I need to switch the side I'm sleeping on as the sciatica in the buttocks gets way too achy. Turning over in bed is also really difficult for me. The pains in my pelvic area make it hard to move my legs comfortably, so I've resolved to getting myself onto my back and then grabbing the headboard to turn me onto the opposite side. Sitting up in bed is another challenge! It's the weight of the bump that is my problem, as it makes me feel like I've been pinned to the bed! Luckily Chris hears my groans and will push me into a sitting position. Once I'm sat up, everything is fine!

Last week we had a home visit from our midwife. All of the usual things like blood pressure and baby's heartbeat were good. We also talked through our thoughts on labour and made a basic birth plan together. We haven't made a hugely specific plan, as we know that they mainly get thrown out the window when labour actually starts. We just covered things like Chris wanting to cut the chord, wanting skin on skin with the baby ASAP and being open to different methods of pain relief etc.

That's it for this update, hopefully I won't get into the same pickle again as we have no plans now.. just to wait for the arrival of our Bumpy!

LIFE: We Are Moving!

So, this was unexpected! We are indeed on the move, and we will be doing it sooner rather than later! The reason for this swift move is because my lovely husband has been promoted! If you're reading this Chris, well done, your wife (and bumpy) are very proud of you.

The difference with being promoted in the military compared to your run-of-the-mill job on civvy street is that with a promotion you become a new rank! With a new rank you will then get posted into a new job that is suitable for your new rank. With a posting you then typically have to move to where the new job is situated.

Alas, our 3 years down in Cornwall will be cut short rather abruptly. This is such a shame as we have been loving life down here. I also feel like we haven't made the most of our time here, mainly because I have been pregnant for the nearly 9 months that we have been here.

Moving a month after our due date is probably not the easiest of times, especially if this little one decides to not come out on time. However, we will just suck it up and get on with it and hope that the cat and our little baby can cope with 6 hours (maybe more for baby feeding stops) in the car.

So, I've put a hold on doing anything more to the nursery than is necessary and decided to just wash every single tiny item of clothing and bedding that we have purchased. It seemed like the most sensible thing to do.

The Cons of this move are just how soon it will be after the birth of our baby. It will mean organising a new GP and Health Visitor, so myself and our baby don't miss out on vital appointments.... not forgetting the general upheaval of having to move across the country.

There are Pros though! We have been posted to Lincolnshire, which is where both my husband and I grew up! We've both not lived there for 12 years now, so we are ecstatic that both our families will now be on hand to help us unpack, settle in and spend precious time with their Grandson!

So, onwards to our next adventure! Have you moved close to the arrival of your baby? If you have any tips feel free to comment below, they will be very much welcome!

BABY: 33 Weeks Pregnant Update

This week has been a week of tiredness and swollen feet. We had quite an uneventful weekend, Chris was away most of the week on a course so we had a chilled evening with friends on Saturday and just a generally relaxed Sunday. This was probably for the best as I've had to spend a lot of my time with my feet raised to keep the swollen feet under control. It is a bit of a catch 22 situation, as this may help my feet but it doesn't help my lower back.

My lower back has been awful this week. It aches when I'm stood up doing chores, it aches when I walk around. It even aches when I'm sat down for too long and is very clicky when I stretch it out. The worst is when I go to sleep... I dream about being able to sleep on my back and front. It would be pure bliss! Only being able to sleep on my sides is fine for the first hour or two, but after that my legs get cramped up and my bum cheek goes to sleep. Then there's the turning over! The pain in my groin and hips does not make this the easiest of processes. I know this loosening of the joints is all in readiness for labour, but it isn't helping my sleep!

 Little Bumpy has still been pretty active and Chris has loved watching the movements in the evenings when we are relaxing on the sofa. There's been a few bouts of hiccups too!

There hasn't been so many leakages in my breasts this week and they haven't grown much in size or got any more veiny. I have, however, developed a boil on the underside of one of my breasts. I had previously had a small spot there, but wearing bras 24 hours a day (for comfort and leakages) and being clammy from the mini heatwave hadn't helped matters. It is basically a lump under the skin, which is inflamed on the surface of the skin. It is really painful if any pressure is put on it, like bending over to pick up something. The position hasn't helped with it being right where the band of your bra sits. The doctor said it will either shrink and go away or it will burst. Ouch! I'm definitely not looking forward to that happening!

My midwife appointment was on Tuesday and it all went fine. My bump measured 1cm over the expected measurement, but wasn't something that she was worried about at all, as my blood sugar is fine and it is quite a firm bump, meaning there isn't too much fluid in there. She feels that it could be because I'm quite short and the baby may be taking after his Daddy, and may turn out to be a long baby. (Chris is nearly 6ft 5!)

I feel like my bump has got a little lower as well as heavier. Chris put his hands underneath my bump to gauge the overall weight and I think it surprised him how heavy the bump currently is! It really feels like all of the pressure is now moving lower into my pelvis.

That's pretty much it for this week. Any tips for swollen feet or lower back ache would be welcomed!

BABY: 32 Weeks Pregnant Update

So, another week bites the dust! I'm pretty sure that nothing particularly eventful has happened this week. If anything, it has been solely focused on keeping my swollen feet and ankles up. The mini heatwave we are experiencing hasn't really helped matters. This has meant I have mainly been laying on the sofa with my feet propped up on piles of cushions, drinking as much water as my bladder would allow.

Spending long lengths of time doing housework is taking it's toll on my lower back. The same goes for sleeping. My routine of following my toilet break with a few minutes of hip circles is still helping though. I'm definitely sounding like a dying whale, clutching my tummy when I attempt to turn over. The groaning definitely helps me, but it probably doesn't help Chris get a good night's sleep!

The tiredness is still kicking in around the early afternoon. Naps are my best friend! One minute I'll be reading the paper or checking my phone and then I wake up 10 minutes later wondering what has happened.

Every day this week I have been on belly button watch. Multiple times a day I've been keeping my beady eye on it. It is just so shallow, I'm so surprised it hasn't popped out. (Yes, this is as exciting as my life gets.)

My bump does feel like it is sticking out a bit more and we can really feel and see the baby moving under my skin. A few stretchmarks appeared a bit further up on my tummy, which really was no surprise at all.. Can my bump get any bigger! Watch this space...

BABY: 31 Weeks Pregnant Update

I'm writing this at 32 weeks exactly. That is pretty scary! 8 weeks until my due date.. 5 weeks until I'm classed as full term. This pregnancy is most certainly going at some!

Last Thursday I had my whooping cough vaccination. The nurse was lovely and I probably spent all of 2 minutes in her room. My arm had the slightest of dull aches for the next few days, but no worse than when you wake up aching after laying funny in your sleep.

I have had a couple of days of really bad back pain. It was all completely of my own doing. Chris and I decided to do a big clean up in our house at the weekend. To be fair, all I did was dusting, window cleaning and toilet cleaning. Apparently that was all I needed to do to get puffy ankles and the worst back ache I've ever experienced. Standing hurt like hell, sitting was even worse. Plus, don't get me started on when it came to bedtime.. Ouch! I tried some hip circles and bouncing on my swiss ball, but settled on getting Chris to give my lower back a massage. Luckily it loosened up after a few days, YAY!

Like the past few weeks, I am still suffering from my leaky breasts on numerous occassions. Most of the time I do remember to wear breast pads, but when I don't and I end up with stains on my tops, Chris finds it hilarious.. I don't!

My belly button is really shallow now, I'm fascinated at the thought it could pop out at any moment. Will I feel it? Will it just happen in my sleep? Will I be grossed out? I'll keep you updated!

Swollen ankles and feet are still the bane of my life. I try to not be on my feet for too long, I am drinking gallons of water and putting my feet up when I can. Does it help? No! Chris, If you're reading this, it's time for you to get my foot lotion out and give them a soothing massage. You will be rewarded with chocolate digestives!

Early afternoon naps are also fully back on the agenda. If I sit down for too long, I will zonk out for 20 minutes. It's all good though, power naps really do help to maintain my energy levels.

I also had my midwife appointment yesterday. It really went well! There was a lovely student midwife shadowing my midwife and it was not awkward at all. My blood pressure was good, my urine sample was fine and our baby boy's heartbeat was also perfect.

My bump was measured and is actually the correct size for my week of pregnancy! This has actually made my week. For the second half of my pregnancy all the comments I've had have been accompanied with shocked faces when I tell them that NO, I'm not having twins and YES, I still have a fair few weeks of pregnancy left! My midwife has strong opinions about people who comment on bump sizes... small or large. If I take time to think about it, I have to agree. Pregnant women are paranoid enough throughout their whole pregnancy without having to deal with strangers' rude comments. At the end of the day, would you tell a woman how fat or skinny they are whilst walking down the street? I know I wouldn't dream of it!

That's all of my updates, fingers crossed I have a great week next week!

BEAUTY: The Body Shop Haul

Did I ever mention my love of The Body Shop? For nearly 20 years now, I have always loved venturing into their shops and sniffing the many different ranges they have had over the years.. Saving up my pocket money to buy a strawberry lip balm. Oh, those were the days. These days, I usually make most of my purchases online. It saves both time and effort, especially when you live so far away from the shops. *sobs*

So this cheeky order was really meant to be just for an eye cream. The other items may have just slipped into my basket..

I decided on the Vitamin E Eyes Cube for my eye cream purchase. I liked that it was in a stick form, has a moisturising consistency and is cooling on application. My pregnancy skin has become a little more dry, so I thought this would be ideal.

Although my skin has generally been a bit more dry during my pregnancy, I have still had the odd breakout around my chin area. The Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask had great reviews on their website and is supposed to help draw out impurities. Fingers crossed this does the trick.

The next two items that I purchased were also both pregnancy related. Now that I am into my third trimester, along with the warmer weather, I am definitely finding my ankles and feet swelling when I've been walking and standing for long periods. The Peppermint Cooling Foot Lotion was immediately added to my basket in the hopes that my poor husband will massage some lotion into my now chubby feet (bribes may be necessary..). I can't find the next item on The Body Shop's website currently, but I also got the Deep Sleep Body Mist as I thought it may be a good dupe for the Deep Sleep Pillow Spray by This Works. Sleeping is so much more uncomfortable when you feel like a beached whale stuck on your side. If this can keep me relaxed then it will most definitely be worth a go.

The final two purchases were not really needed but who doesn't need a handbag sized Hand Cleanse Gel, especially when it smells so refreshing! I like having a bottle of these gels in my bag for those times when you cant get to a sink. The Green Tea and Lemon Home Fragrance Oil was just a naughty purchase to go with my oil burner that I reviewed here. I'm under the belief that every woman needs a choice of scents when it comes to home fragrance. This one is beautifully citrusy and I regret nothing!

Have you purchased anything good recently? If so, I'd love to hear about it.

BABY: 30 Weeks Pregnant Update

Posing at Chapel Porth

Wowsers (do people still say wowsers?), this has been a busy week! Not in a conventional way, just an "I'm 30 weeks pregnant and everything seems to be such a big effort" kind of way.

This week was a week of waiting in for deliveries, and sorting out lost deliveries which was a pain but nothing that couldn't be sorted with a little patience and great customer service in some parts.

Saturday was our final NCT ante-natal session, and it was a really good one. Induction was discussed at great length and the more practical baby care part was really fun. I never thought I'd be changing a mustard filled nappy on a doll! We have organised a reunion when all the babies are born, which is really exciting to see us all as parents for real.

On Sunday we decided to forget about all things baby and drive to St Ives for a day out. On the way we took a wrong turning and stopped off at Chapel Porth. It was such a great way of stretching my legs (and back) and having a lovely stroll on the beach. When we arrived at St Ives we had a spot of lunch and then wandered around the narrow streets. After a few hours I was glad to get back in the car as my ankles and feet decided now was the time to swell up.

The rest of the week I have spent waiting in for deliveries. I have been a bit more tired this week due to the sleepless nights I am now suffering. I can probably sleep for 3 or 4 hours before I find that my my legs and bottom are stiff and crampy. Then the turning over process is just as traumatic. Who knew turning over would take such a build up! My V pillow still helps to an extent but I really just put the blame on the third trimesters trials and tribulations.

During the day I have been making use of my newly pumped up swiss ball. It really has helped my posture and definitely aids in lossening up my hips and lower back... not forgetting the fact that it is bloody fun!

I'm still getting the odd breast leakage, but it hasn't been as bad as the past few weeks. There has also been maybe a few more stretch marks appearing on my hips, but it's really hard to tell! My bump size feels a bit more prominent, not necessarily larger but maybe a bit higher. The little one is still moving around regularly in my tummy. It is great to watch his movements. Chris has been kneeling down to have a man to man chat with him and frequently keeps getting kicked in the face. Brilliant!

That is about it for this week. Next week I have my midwife appointment and my whooping cough immunisation. I never knew that being pregnant basically means you become a human pincushion.


How has your last week been?

LIFE: The Pregnancy Tag

Today I just wanted to do something a little more fun so decided to do more of a "Tag Blog Post". Typically, you tend to find these kind of Tags in the form on videos online, so I'm just taking inspiration from that format and answering pregnancy related questions. So, here goes nothing..

How and when did you find out you were pregnant?
I found out I was pregnant on the 14th December 2014 at around 7.40(ish) AM, by taking a pregnancy test. (I only know this as I took a photo of the test immediately after on my phone!)

How did you feel?
Excited! We both knew that we wanted children and were trying, but thought it would take much longer!!


How did you tell your partner?
I remember it was a Sunday morning, so we were still in bed and I'd got up to let the cat out, needed a wee, decided to do a test and hey presto... I was PREGNANT. My plan was to go back upstairs to bed with the test wrapped in kitchen roll, in case Chris had woken up, then wait for him to need to go to the toilet. At this point my plan was working as Chris stirred and decided to get up for the toilet. YAY! I carefully placed the test on top of the kitchen roll onto Chris' side of the duvet, so he would notice it when he tried to get back into bed. My heartbeat was going mental at this point and I was picturing his face when he saw it etc. I heard the toilet flush, the sink taps get turned off, Chris plodding back to the bedroom, but he didn't come to the bed! I looked over, his back was facing me and he's reaching behind the door for his dressing gown and then said, "Now I'm up, I think I'll go downstairs and finish watching Match of the Day". (Soccer Football catch-up programme). At this point he was on the verge of walking out the room and I'm not really sure what I said but I somehow managed to get him over to the bed.. I probably said "LOOK!". I think I was getting a little teary now with happiness, knowing Chris he probably remarked, "Why is there a marker pen on the bed?", as he's full of quips, but I knew he knew. He looked at it and then looked at me with amazement and said, "REALLY?!" and I nodded. Then we hugged it out as I was a blubbering away.

Did you wait three months to tell people?
No! The plan was to go to the Doctors to do a test there for official confirmation and then perhaps tell our parents. Turns out, my new surgery doesn't do that so we filled in a Midwife Form, did a few more home tests (same result), then made the decision to tell our parents, swear them to secrecy and tell everyone at the 13 week scan. We sent out group messages to both sides of immediate family and very close friends with the baby scan photo, but chickened out telling all of our other friends. When we had our 20 week scan we then told everyone, mainly via Facebook.

Is this your first?
Yes.

Do you want more children?
Yes, at least one more, as we both grew up in families of five and like the idea of our baby having a sibling.

When is your due date?
20th August 2015.

Will you find out the gender? Do you have a preference?
Yes I convinced Chris to find out and we are having a BOY! We didn't have a preference, we just hoped to have a healthy little one. (Although if we were having a girl, I think Chris would keep making us try until we got a boy, mainly so he can train him to be the next football superstar *rolls eyes*)

Your biggest craving?
For a while I was addicted to having toasted bagels with cream cheese for lunch. But nothing really stood out craving wise.


What's the best part of being pregnant?
Feeling your baby move inside you is magical.


What's the worst part of being pregnant?
The tiredness that comes and goes at different stages and awkwardness of turning over in bed. It's such a chore.


Will you have a baby shower?
Probably not. These baby shower things are only just starting to get really common in England. If i was closer to home where my family and close friends are then I definitely would do something. But I'm the other side of the country so it just wouldn't be feasible. Maybe me and Chris will go out for afternoon tea!


Will you have a Maternity Photo Shoot?
No. I think they can look really tasteful and some women look brilliant, especially when they have these neat bumps. But I probably resemble a whale, and I don't think it is something we would ever hang up in our house. I do a weekly bump photo on my Blog and am quite satisfied with that!

Do you have a nursery theme planned?
Yes! We have white nursery furniture and our theme is a nautical/sea related one with whales and fishes etc. We live in married quarters so won't be painting walls and changing curtains, but have got some wall stickers to put up that peel off. 

What's your birth plan?
We haven't actually written one yet! The overall plan is to have a natural birth (unless intervention is needed) at the local hospital. No birthing pools are available there, but hopefully I can do without an epidural, but it isn't completely ruled out. That's as far as we have got in our thinking!

Who will be your birthing partner/s?
My husband Chris. Nobody else lives down in Cornwall so he will have to cope all by himself!! Honestly though, I'm not sure I would want anyone else in the room with me.

Will you breastfeed?
Yes, I do plan to breastfeed, but if it gets to a point where our baby isn't putting on enough weight and I'm really struggling, then I am open to the idea of formula feeding. As long as the baby is nourished, it shouldn't matter which you opt for. I just like the idea of the bonding and that it is free!

Do you plan to work or be a stay at home mum?
When we found out I was pregnant we decided that I would not work and we would live off one wage.


Will you be getting all of the baby vaccinations?
Yes, both myself and Chris were fully vaccinated and it seems the right choice for us to make for our baby.


Will you be blogging once the baby is born?
Yes! It may take me a few weeks to get back on track, but I do plan to keep blogging and including our baby in the blog posts too.




I hope you enjoyed this Tag and got some insight to my pregnancy that might not have been previously mentioned in my other posts. Feel free to do this Tag, and if you do, comment below and send me a link to your own Blog. I'd love to read your answers!

BABY: 29 Weeks Pregnant Update

Well this week has flown by so fast! I honestly feel like I've had a really productive week. Last Friday we finally ordered our IsoFix car seat base. We opted for the new Maxi-Cosi 2WayFix, which will allow us to attach our current car seat and the larger 2wayPearl in rear and forward facing positions. It finally arrived... yes we've tested it out and yes it fits perfectly!

Saturday we had our first NCT ante-natal class. it was a full 10-4 day and I loved every minute of it. Just learning about the process and different stages of labour was so interesting and we both learnt a hell of a lot more than just reading books. We are one couple in a group of three couples, so it is quite an intimate affair, with lots of opportunities to ask questions. I did notice that from Saturday my frequency in going for a wee has increased dramatically. The baby must really be shrinking the size of my bladder!

For a few days this week I have found my breasts leaking a bit more often, to the point that it came through to my tshirt I was wearing. Needless to say, breast pads have been inserted into my bra on a few occasions now.

On Sunday, we ventured to Plymouth to buy baby things. The pushchair was finally purchased (Bugaboo Cameleon3, if you're interested) and we got other bits and bobs that were also needed. Walking around the shopping mall, well it was more of a waddle really, made my ankles swell quite quickly. This happened throughout the week when I'm on my feet for longer periods, but it gives me a great excuse to put my feet up!

Baby movements throughout the week have been really intense. Most elbowing and kicks have been physically visible. It still amuses me even now. At times I have felt like the little one is sitting really awkwardly. I would definitely say this has made it harder to turn over in bed (numb bum cheeks are the worst) and getting up from the sofa.

Breathlessness levels have stayed the same. Long walks or rushing upstairs can be a killer, but taking it slow definitely solves the problem.

One or two more stretchmarks have sneaked onto my tummy and I think my bump has pretty much stayed the same size. That is probably it for this week. Fingers crossed for another "easy" week! That's not too much to ask for, right?

BEAUTY: Mini Boots Haul & Review

A few weeks ago, I popped into Boots to look at some baby things and may have made a detour to the cosmetics section. More often than not, Boots will have great offers on like a "3 for 2" or a "2 for £10" etc. Luckily, I went in on one of those particular days. Just on a side note, I only went in for some more concealer. Oops!

My concealer of choice is the Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Eraser Eye Concealer. What a mouthful! I use the colour, Light, and it really does hide a multitude of sins. The spongy applicator is actually handy to blob on your dark circles and then just blend out with your fingers or a brush. I have quite oily skin, so I normally set my concealer with Bourjois Healthy Balance Face Powder. It takes many hours for it to disappear off my lids or even go into the under eye creases.

I decided to get myself two colours from the Maybelline Color Drama Lipstick range. These are more of a lipstick pencil than your typical lipsticks that come in a bullet. You definitely need a good base for these as they are more on the matte side. I would suggest applying lip balm whilst doing your make up, then blotting it off a little before applying. Shrivelled up lips is never a good look. Colour wise I found the more pale shade in Nude Perfection to be a handy nude that I'll probably keep in my handbag. The slightly darker shade in Keep It Classy still looks really nice on, but I did find that it smudged quite easily on my lips and couldn't hold out when eating and drinking at a barbecue an hour after application (some ended up on my chin when I bit into my burger).

The Bourjois Colorband 2-in-1 Eyeshadow and Liner  in Rose Fauviste was definitely an impulse buy. I decided to get a paler shade which could be good for those days when I fancy a subtle make up look. I did apply this without an eye primer and it didn't last that long on my eyes (the curse of the greasy eyelids strikes again). I'll definitely be giving it another go with a primer though.

I decided, as I had a "2 for £10" offer and I really don't need any more make up, I would get myself the Bourjois Pencil Sharpener. I have a habit of misplacing mine and never have one at hand when I need one.

So, that's it for now... who knows when I'll next get the chance to spend money on make up... I fear it  is mainly going to be nappy and baby clothes hauls. Is there anything I need to get before it's too late?

LIFE: The Expense of Having Children

Money. We all need it. We probably all want more of it. It's the reason why we all get jobs. Yes, some people may adore their job, but at the end of the day, we are all waiting for the payslip that we get at the end of the month. After all, we all need to live! If you are in a position to be able to save a part of our wage each month, then it is well worth doing. This gives the security we all need to have money put aside for various reasons. This could be for a wedding, a holiday, retirement, a house deposit, a rainy day or even if you plan to have a baby.

Chris and myself have always tried to save a little each month as our long term plan has been to buy our own house. By the time we were posted to Norfolk, I had left my much loved job and was struggling to find a full-time job with us living in a more remote area. In the end I settled for a part-time job, nothing special, which allowed me to contribute to the monthly bills. During our 5 years together Chris has done two 6 months tours away from his base which allowed us to top up our savings quite significantly. After the first tour, Chris proposed and we spent most of our savings on our ideal wedding and honeymoon. We regret nothing as we have some beautiful memories from our most special day. Chris came back from his last tour last year, which put us back on track with saving for a deposit, but then we were posted to Cornwall.

We moved into Married Quarters for the first time and were given a three bedroom house. It really is a lovely home, but it made us realise we would be unlikely to afford to buy a house down in the South-West and would likely be in Married Quarters for the next few years. So, the decision was made to put buying the house on a back-burner for the time being. We had decided that when Chris returned from his tour, we would start trying for a baby. A month after Chris returning, we conceived and were (and still are) so happy and excited! Then the reality set in that we really didn't know much about babies and all of the things you need to buy to keep them alive.

So, for the past few months we have been doing some research and the "Baby List" appeared to be getting longer and longer... baby clothes in different sizes, nursery furniture, blankets and bedding, nappies, feeding equipment, a pushchair, a car seat, a moses basket, changing bag, maternity clothes etc, etc. The list is endless! How can one tiny little human need so many things!

According to The Money Advice Service, parents in the UK will typically spend between £1565 and £7270 on their baby in the first year of its life. This is dependant on whether you are on a budget or if you you are going to have the "no expense spared" attitude. I would say we sit somewhere in between. We have been quite lucky that we have a lump sum of money that we can delve into whenever we decide to buy things. We are willing to spend a little extra on the important things, mainly because we hope to have another child in the future and plan to re-use everything we buy now. A lot of our main purchases have been from your typical high street shops like Mothercare, John Lewis, Argos etc. We have also purchased things online from Amazon. Even though we don't mind spending a little more, I still love a bargain. This has meant me comparing lots of baby items on various websites to see which has the best price. I think we have saved over £300 by doing this, so it may seem a bit tedious, but it is the ideal past-time when Chris is hogging the TV, watching the football.

For those that are on more of a budget, there are various ways of cutting costs. If you don't mind second-hand then check out sites that are selling things in your local area like Gumtree and Preloved. If you are on Facebook then you can join a group in your local area where people are selling items. EBay is always a safe option and keep an eye out for "Nearly New Baby Sales" in your local area. These are typically like indoor car boot sales and you should be able to pick up a bargain there. You can also check out the NCT website which host Nearly New Sales around the country.

Hopefully this may have helped out anyone who is struggling with the cost of buying things for their little bundle of joy. I'm sure there are many other ways, but these are just what I have found in the past few months. If you have any more thrifty advice, feel free to comment below.

BABY: 28 Weeks Pregnant Update

Wow... another week is over! This week has had its ups and downs. At times the lethargy has really set in and everything has seemed an effort. I'm talking about even getting off the sofa for a toilet break. Chris has been pulling me up like I'm a sack of potatoes, just because I moan at the effort it is to get up [hangs head in shame]. Luckily we didn't really do much last weekend, it somehow became a weekend of watching a mixture of the end of the premier league season and the cricket. Anyone else have an other half who is sports mad? I really couldn't complain as I got to have a good reading session (Because She Loves Me, Mark Edwards - intriguing page turner). Some days though, I've been pretty sprightly, even walking up the stairs better than I have in weeks!

We saw the midwife on Friday to get my Anti-D injection and to take my bloods, checking for anaemia and any abnormalities. I may need a second dose of Anti-D after labour, if our little baby has a positive blood group. It's no biggie for me, I'm not at all phobic of needles. Anyway, no news was good news, and I never heard back from the midwife so all must be well!

My feet and ankles have decided that I must be punished if I walk or stand for too long by swelling up. I'm drinking gallons of water like it's going out of fashion, but it doesn't always help the situation. Now would be the time to get my cooling foot lotion out and persuade the husband to give them a cheeky massage. So Chris... if you're reading this.... nudge, nudge, wink, wink... my feet are ready when you are. 

Sleeping is now becoming more interrupted, I sleep well for 4 hours until I wake up needing a wee. At this point, I realise the side I've been laying on has cramped up, and said bum cheek has gone to sleep. This makes for great viewing when I attempt to sit up and get out of bed. In turn, Alfie the cat wakes up, which maybe a blessing in disguise, as one of us has to go downstairs to watch him eat and entice him to go outside (he's not your average cat). When it is my turn I get a chance to stretch my legs and loosen up my back a little.

Lastly, the baby's movements are now stronger than ever. At times my tummy moves so much it looks like it could be Mount Vesuvius about to erupt at any time. It is brilliant! Which also leads me to bellybutton watch. Every day, whilst rubbing in my moisturiser,I've noticed that my bellybutton is getting more shallow. Will it pop out soon? Only time will tell, but don't worry, you can rest easy in your beds knowing I'll keep you informed!

BEAUTY: Liz Earle Skin Essentials

Liz Earle Skin Essentials

For many years now I've been a huge Liz Earle fan. I've never really had the budget for the high end skincare brands [sobs uncontrollably], but was willing to spend a little more than the usual budget brands found on the high street. I've always found that Liz Earle is a great brand that sits in-between the high end and more budget brands and works for so many skin types. I used to work at John Lewis and I remember when the Beauty Hall finally got a Liz Earle beauty counter. One of my old colleagues had mentioned visiting the counter and using some Liz Earle products they had helped to change her problematic skin, so I decided to give it a go.

Like many people, I started off using the Cleanse & Polish Cleanser. Even back then, this product had won many awards, and it was my first experience of using a cream cleanser that is washed off with a warm cloth. I love how rich and creamy it feels on my face and combined with the delicate fragrance from the chamomile, rosemary and eucalyptus. It does remove most of the make up from my face, but I usually use a micellar water and eye make up remover for a first cleanse.

As time went on, I started using more skincare products from their range. The Instant Boost Skin Tonic is the perfect toner for me. There is nothing worse than that astringent, stinging feel that you get from many alcohol based toners. The Skin Tonic is alcohol free and cooling on the face, which combined with the naturally active ingredients, feels so hydrating on my skin.

My skin type is typically oily/combination. For that reason, I tend to go for the Skin Repair Light Moisturiser. This is a really nice light consistency, which soaks in really quickly... perfect for when I'm in a rush to put my make up on. In the above photo I actually have purchased the Normal/Combination Moisturiser. This is mainly because my skin has become a little more dry during this pregnancy.

When I moved away and changed jobs, I found the most cost effective way of purchasing my skin essentials was through the Liz Earle website. I tend to run out of a lot of my products at the same time, so to purchase them simultaneously, with free delivery and a free gift that changes each month is a bit of a no-brainer. And if I haven't run out... well it's never a bad thing to stock up! Another bonus is when they include a small sample of their cleanser or tonic. I usually save these for when I am on a weekend away.. they are a great space saver in my toiletry bag.

Last month, the free gift was a huge bottle of their Botanical Body Wash. I chose the Orange Flower fragrance and I'm saving it until after our baby is born as a little treat to myself for when I get the chance to shower!

Do you have and favourite skincare brands? Is there any product I NEED to be using? If so, let me know in the comments below.

BABY: 27 Weeks Pregnant Update

OK, I'm actually writing this when I am 28 +5 weeks pregnant. Last week was a busy week as we travelled from Cornwall to London to go see Fleetwood Mac (Yes, they were amazing) and it took me a few days to recover from the travelling. Then I just got lazy. But, if you can't be lazy in your third trimester of pregnancy, when can you?!

Before I write anything else, I must apologise for the photo. I've actually taken this today so it is probably more of a 28 week bump photo (Sorry). Also, I'm not wearing pyjamas, I promise, these are wide legged trousers and a vest top. I may have just got out of the shower and was in the middle of a hot flush after setting up the camera. I really couldn't be bothered to do anything with my hair or put any make up on, so this is me 'au natural'. I hope you haven't had too much of a fright!

We spent the Saturday before last stocking up on yummy food for a Eurovision gathering we went to later on in the evening. We had the good idea of nipping into LIDL and then walking over to Morrison's next door, instead of having the hassle of finding another parking space. This is probably a 4 minute walk for non pregnant people. I swear this took me 15 minutes! And even then I was a bit out of breath and ready for a sit down. So, to say walking is getting harder would be an understatement.

Throughout the week I have been waking up with more breast leakages. Some days have been hardly worth mentioning but other have been more substantial. I have now got myself a sleep bra and some breast pads, so no more ruined PJ tops or bed sheets!

I've not seen any extra stretch marks on my tummy, but maybe a few on my hips. I'm still liberally applying lotions and oils twice a day, mainly to keep my skin hydrated and prevent itchiness.

My midwife appointment went without a hitch. Blood pressure was fine, no glucose in my urine (YAY), our baby's heartbeat was also good and our baby was lying on the right. Supposedly, according to my midwife's knowledge of old wives tales, if the baby is a girl the heartbeat sounds like a galloping horse and lays on the left. If the baby is a boy the heartbeat sounds like a train and lays on the right.

The 5 hour journey to High Wycombe (then the tube to London) followed by the same journey back to Cornwall involved a fair amount of walking (who knew The O2 was so large), which in turn lead to the dreaded swollen ankles and feet and sheer exhaustion. The afternoon naps may be making a comeback.

That pretty much sums up this update. Have you heard many old wives tales regarding the gender of babies? If so, let me know in the comments.