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.