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...