36 weeks pregnant

 

Today I had my 36 week midwife appointment.

I always get nervous about each midwife appointment in case I have missed something but as with each appointment everything has been perfect. Baby CA appears to be growing as she should be, her heartbeat is loud and clear, we discussed her movements not having any sort of routine but was assured as long as I am feeling her throughout the day all is fine. We found today that her head is right down at my pelvis, so just waiting for her to engage now. Safe to say I will be making good use of the yoga movements I learned at my daisy birthing classes to help move her along.

Over the last couple of nights I have been feeling what I can only describe as periody where I literally feel like I could wake up and find my period has started. My midwife said not to worry about this as long as I am having no bleeding as she said it’s probably just all my ligaments stretching to accommodate baby now that she is lowering down.

I do enjoy my midwife appointments as they make me panic less, as they reassure me everything is going to plan and just as I expected I was told that she will see me in two weeks but if I labour any time after 37 weeks then baby CA will be perfectly fine as this is thought to be full term. It is terrifying to think that from next Tuesday my little bundle will be fully developed ready to enter this world when she is ready.

I hope she is like her mummy, I am always early, or even like her daddy who always arrives right on time. Two weeks after her due date my husband will not be here so I am praying she arrives at her original due date, but as long as she arrives healthy and safely I will be a happy mummy.

How far along: 36 weeks and 1 day
Next appointment: 11th of May
Exercise: been doing a lot more on my birthing ball and going long country walks
Any Baby/Pregnancy-Related Purchases? Today I got a scan frame, it seems a bit late but we never did get round to getting one and I saw one I really liked today so had to buy.
Sleep: Broken sleep with toilet trips
Food cravings: none
Food aversions: none
Symptoms: Increase in toilet trips, nausea, period feelings at bedtime
What I’m looking forward to: Meeting our little one
Best moment this week: Finding out the iron tablets have been working and iron levels are perfect now for birth. Also hearing baby CA’s heart beat is always a great moment ❤

 

 

Recap from 30 weeks and 31 weeks

 

The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a challenge, and I feel very lucky to have the little challenges that I have faced as there are worst things that can happen in pregnancy.

Over the last couple of weeks I have really struggled with my breathing, I am asthmatic and originally thought this was exactly what was wrong. I was sitting in work and felt as though something was sitting above my chest, it was so tight and just like with my asthma when I panic it got worse. So I got a last minute appointment at my doctors surgery, they could only give me one with a nurse who ended up having to get a doctor in to advise. He did all the tests checking my peak flow, listened to my chest, he couldn’t really give me an answer. This was all on a Monday so he said to go home and if I felt I was not any better then I was to go back to Wednesday. They said I may need a short course of steroids but because I was pregnant he did not really want to do that.

So I went home and worried about what was going to happen, simply going up the stairs or a short five minute walk was exhausting me. Sitting at my desk most of the day was hurting my hips and back to the stage I was either crying in the toilet on my lunch break or as soon as I reached my car at the end of the day. So by Wednesday I needed an answer. Trying to get an appointment wasn’t the easiest as apparently they have no doctors until late afternoon in surgery, which made me wonder why he even asked me to go back on a Wednesday but anyway I ended up seeing the locum and she was incredible. She put my mind at rest she checked my blood pressure, oxygen levels, checked my temperature, listened to babys heartbeat, and checked what position she was in. The only thing she could think of was that although my iron levels were fine they were 15 off of the average so she has given me a course of iron tablets. I was to take a week off work to see how I felt and she advised that if after a week off I was feeling better then not to go back to work and take maternity leave early. Of course I then decided after week off to go back to work because I really didn’t want to take maternity leave early, which I have chosen to do anyway, 8 weeks until due date so very early but I am looking forward to relaxing and getting prepared for our little one arriving.

Since taking everything at a slower pace I have felt much better, so I just have three more shifts at work left to get through.

Baby is developing well, I love seeing my bump grow, although I do feel like I am getting more stretch marks that I would like but at least I know it is because she is growing and developing ready for her arrival!

 

P.S. I did eventually get the whooping cough vaccine, a post to come on that!

How far along: Today I am exactly 32 weeks
Next appointment: Wednesday the 13th of April
Exercise: Last Monday I had my last yoga class, so have been practicing what I learned in class at home
Maternity clothes: I got a new maternity bra from bravissimo as mine was getting far too tight
Any Baby/Pregnancy-Related Purchases? We received a large bag of knitted baby clothes from baby’s nan and I tough a thermometer for the bath from Tesco
Sleep: Mostly I have been sleeping well, but I have found it a struggle since the clocks going forward to get to sleep early
Food cravings: At the weekend I had a huge craving for chips and cheese, that I ended up behaving like a two year old having a tantrum
Food aversions: nothing
Symptoms: Restricted breathing
What I’m looking forward to: Going on maternity leave and getting to focus on bump and I
Best moment this week: Feeling her kicks get

Hospital Bag Planning!

It’s getting closer to that time (9 weeks, 2 days to be exact) when I am itching to pack my hospital bag even more than usual but I have realised I needto know exactly what I need to get for it so here is my list. If there is anything you would recommend please do let me know 🙂

For me:

• Maternity Pads
• Breast Pads – I have a bought of superdrug ones, tommee tippee ones I got with my breast pump and at the mothercare event, but I plan on getting the Lansinoh ones too as heard such great things about them
• Lansinoh nipple cream
• 1 pack of cotton briefs that I can dispose of
• 1 pack of disposable pants just in case
• 2x nightdresses
• 2x nursing/button up pyjamas
• a lightweight dressing down
• warm socks and/or slippers
• iPod with hypnobirthing soundtrack
• iPad for entertainment purposes & iPhone & charger
• flipflops for shower
• large fluffy towel & facecloth
• Nivea travel set of toiletries this includes: facewipes, lipbalm, deodorant, mouisturiser
• Toothbrush & toothpaste
• Hair brush, hair bobbles and kirby grips
• Massage oil
• Mini hand held fan
• Water spray
• Nursing bras
• Support Pillow
• Going home outfit – undecided but will be something very comfy
• Drinks & snacks
• Change for car park & hospital if needed

 

For baby:

• A pack of nappies
• A pack of waterwipes
• Cotton wool balls
• Nappy bags
• I have a little toiletry set by johnsons for newborns with nappy cream & wash if allowed to use/needed & a changing mat, I thought would be useful for the hospital
• Teddy
• Blanket
• 2x swaddles
• 4x sleepsuits in both newborn & 0-3 month sizes
• 2x going home sets one in newborn size and one in 0-3 months, both have matching hats, vests, sleepsuits, bibs and one even has a blanket and cardigan. These outfits are undecided but I think they will be the ones we go for.
• Mitts
• A pack of muslin cloths
• Car seat

 

Snacks & Drinks are still undecided but will definitely include:

• Small sport size bottles of water
• Lucozade sport drinks
• Cereal bars – probably my favourite of nutrigrain elevenses
• Chocolate covered raisins – if my obsession with them continues

 

When my bag is actually packed I will do a further blog post, possibly a vlog

X

28 weeks 4 days pregnancy update

Officially in my THIRD trimester!!!

This is a very late post this week, I have been meaning to write but life has sort of got in the way this week and I haven’t really found the time. Have felt slightly stressed this week so I think that has added to it.

This week I had my 28 week appointment, which I had been dreading as I knew it was going to mean getting a blood test, and I have a terrible needle phobia. My appointment was at 10am so I spent my morning having a relaxing bath, with a relaxation candle lit and used radox relax shower gel. The whole morning I listened to the relaxation music part of an audio app I have. When I got to the appointment my usual midwife was off so I had a new girl and her student midwife. Thankfully they could not have been nicer to me.

I thought the worst part was going to be me being brave enough but it actually was that they couldn’t find a vein and they didn’t want to just take the blood if they were not sure. However after about 20 minutes we got there with a butterfly needle. I was so impressed this time with how I handled it, I think it’s easier when you can feel your baby kicking and you know you need to it for them. The pictures below are right round my arm, she used the blood pressure slieve really tight to make sure my vein didn’t disappear, I did say my arm was going numb….

After that I had to go to the dentist to get a filling, ever since I have been pregnant I have had issues with my teeth, my dentist says this is normal but its really frustrating when you have a needle phobia. However I have a lovely dentist and it wasn’t so bad. I lay there and listened to my hypnobirthing audio which helped relax me. It’s made me realise how useful it is going to be in labour so I will be packing my iPod in my hospital bag with it ready to go.

Along with these appointments my dog had the vet and came home with a load of medication for his allergies, thankfully he happily takes tablets! My car is not working properly and I went five days without any contact with my husband due to his work. It really has been one of those weeks, but I am feeling super excited for the week ahead. I cannot believe that in just over 11 weeks we will be at my due date and that next month I go on maternity leave!! This pregnancy really is flying in 🙂

So here are the facts this week…

How far along: 28 weeks 4 days
Next appointment: 23rd of March 2016
Exercise: Daisy foundation yoga classes and extra walking this week as I am having car troubles!! Thank goodness our new car is getting picked up this month!!
Maternity clothes: Not bought anything new again this week.
Any Baby/Pregnancy-Related Purchases? No not this week…for once!!!!
Sleep: Having crazy dreams, but sleeping reasonably well, wake up around 2am or 5am for a toilet stop still though!
Food cravings: None
Food aversions: None
Symptoms: Today has been a good week, not any new symptoms, but been feeling baby a lot stronger this week which has been lovely
What I’m looking forward to: My husband works away a lot and has been away a few weeks now. I am super looking forward to seeing him and for him to see bumps growth
Best moment this week: Hearing her heart beat loud and clear at the midwife appointment this week, it was amazing ❤

 

 

Baby Haul From Mamas & Papas

Hi Everyone!!

So please bear with me for this long post of items. I thought I would share with you the items we have bought so far for baby CA from Mamas and Papas. All of the photos I have used in this post are from their website simply because we are still waiting on items to be delivered and if they have been they are mostly still in their packaging. It will feel like Christmas when we start getting them all organised!!

So let’s get started, all of the items can be bought from the Mamas and Papas website (well they could last time I checked).

Ok so first things first… Our pram, this is the cybex priam in the autumn gold colour with the carry cot, lux seat and chrome all terrain chassy. When we went shopping we both fell in love with this pram,  because it is gorgeous!! It took a lot of looking around to find ones we liked, some were so expensive but their material felt very “cheap”. Also we knew we didn’t want a black pram but we also wanted one that was gender neutral so we could potentially use it again if we are lucky enough to have more children. There is so many features I love about this pram, there are far too many to mention, but if you like the look of it seriously get on to the website and look in to in more detail, it’s amazing.

Our car seat again is from the cybex range and is the cloud Q plus is desert khaki, we have also gone for the cybex isofix base for this as it takes away any human error when taking the car seat in and out of the car. I much preferred the desert khaki colour in the car seat, so I do not mind it does not match the pram. This car seat has a high spec for safety, plus it reclines to a lie flat position perfect when baby is sleeping when out and about, so I am very happy with this choice.

For the beginning we have bought the chicco next2me crib in dove grey, I am so happy with this item because I really love that it can be adjusted at one side for height to help with reflux and colic, my nephew had reflux so I know how handy this will be should my little one be the same. Plus it comes with a travel bag so you can easily transport it about if necessary.

Her swing is the mamas and papas starlite swing – catch a star, this was a bit of a splash out purchase, but we really loved it when we saw it in store and got a bit carried away.

With the steriliser we went for the tommee tippee closer to nature essentials kit and separately got a set of tommee tippee vari flow teats for the bottles to help in the beginning for expressed milk. We went for this because I plan on breastfeeding and this set is advertised to be used with expressed milk as well as items to help with bottle feeding. We have got it in the limited edition black colour, simply because it matches everything else in our kitchen.

My breast pump is the tommee tippee manual closer to nature one, I look forward to seeing what I think of this item, I wanted a breast pump so that my husband can enjoy feeding baby CA too and this pump was recommended by both family and friends. It is pretty basic but it is a great set for the price.

For the nursery interior we went for the zambeezee range from mamas and papas. Again we got carried away and got just about everything in the range but I love it, it’s so sweet and we both love safari animals so it’s perfect really for us. Again it’s unisex so we could hopefully reuse if we have another child. Everything we got in the range includes:

Two of the ranges soft toys

Changing mat

Coverlet

Bumper

Large fleece blanker

Dreampod sleeping bag 0-3 months in 2.5tog

Cot mobile

Lampshade

Bunting

Cot bar bumpers

Curtains

Hooded Towel because we couldn’t not its a giraffe… so cute!!

I am also using mamas and papas pregnancy pillow I got as a birthday gift and it’s been a godsend for getting comfy.

Our nursery furniture is the kingston mamas and papas range, as we have built in wardrobes so we just went for the cot and changing table. I love the fact that on the changing table there is a separated bit on the top to keep items in, also with set you get two sets of handles so you can choose what look you want. We went for the metal ones in the picture below.

There are a few more items that I would like from Mamas & Papas but these are more wish list items. I love everything we have got so far, our order is arriving in April with most of the items and safe to say I cannot wait!! Everything screams quality from this shop, so I feel like it is a must look when you are looking for items to purchase for your little one.

 

Samantha

Xoxoxo

26 weeks 2 days

 

This week hasn’t been great, I was losing my voice and thought I was just coming down with just a cold, turns out as my 26 weeks pregnant present I got tonsillitis and I am now on a course of penicillin my doctor assured me was safe to use during pregnancy. To be honest I’m so glad there was something I could take because I’ve had tonsillitis before and it gets so bad fast if I try to let it run its course. So I’ve spent the last few days off work, drinking water, sleeping loads and making sure I’m getting plenty of rest. I think to be honest I haven’t been getting as much rest as I should have been so it’s been a wake up call. A lot of the time I forget I need extra care when I’m pregnant, so it’s been a lesson learned. My husbands away at the moment and I definitely forget to rest when he’s away.

I have been loving feeling how strong her kicks are getting though, so they will be reminding me to relax.

On Monday evening when tonsillitis hit I went along to my first Daisy a foundation birthing class, unfortunately I couldn’t complete all the moves because I felt so rotten but I loved it it make me feel great and gave bump and I just over an hour together, the yoga moves were perfect to stretch out my body which I didn’t realise was so tense, and the relaxation at the end nearly had me falling asleep, it was incredible. I am very much looking forward to the next 5 weeks of classes. I think my favourite bit is being around other pregnant ladies in my area, one of the girls is due a little girl the same day as me! It’s a class of 4 but one lady didn’t turn up so was just the 3 of us, I like that it’s small but wish there was a few more people to bond with.

I’ve also had a couple of packages delivered this week for my little princess. I got my baby beau Isabelle changing bag which I am ridiculously excited to use, I ordered it from http://www.very.co.uk and was a little worried I wouldn’t like it when it arrived. However it has and I’m in love, it’s even more gorgeous in real life. It will be getting packed as baby’s hospital bag and then her changing bag there after. I will do a proper blog post on this bag and hopefully at some point the babybeau clutch bag I have my eye on for when we are just nipping out.

 

Also from very we ordered ladybird sleep suits simply because I adore the words “some bunny loves you” which I thought was so cute, I adore bunnies and Spring time so I couldn’t resist, the set is of 3 and they are great quality, these are newborn size, so I’m hoping she is small enough to get a little use of them.

 

Now that I’m on the road to recovery I’m looking forward to seeing how the remainder of week 26 goes.

Speak with you all soon x

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25 weeks and 2 days – update

 

So yesterday I had my 25 weeks update with my wife appointment.

It was a quick appointment, she tested my urine and blood pressure and listened in to baby’s heartbeat, all were great. It was funny when she was using the doppler though because my little princess kicked it haha clearly unimpressed with being prodded!! I was expecting for her to start measuring my bump because that’s what the hospital said but she said she would prefer to start that at my next appointment at 28 weeks. I am really nervous about the next appointment because she will be taking blood tests and giving me my whopping cough vacine, and I am beyond terrified of needles. I just need to “man-up” though because they need to be taken and done for both myself and babies well being.

This last week I got more deliveries of baby packages, one that I am super looking forward to using is maxi cosi easia baby carrier(pictured below). This is going to be so handy for our dog walks and maybe even getting things done around the house.

 

This week health wise I have been super tired after long days at work and feeling myself get grumpy because of this. A good thing though is that I will now officially be starting my maternity leave on the 29th of April, so not too long to go and I have a countdown to focus on!!

For next week I have booked in to a daisy foundation antental class, which I am really looking forward to, its 6 weeks long and starting on Monday, I feel like I am going early but the next set of classes took me to my due date so it seemed a bit silly to go for that. It works out better this way too as my husband is away so will fill up my evenings and let me bond with bump while educating me and let me meet knew mums to be too. Win win. The classes will be covering the following principles which I think will be great to go a long with my parentcraft classes at the hospital in April:

So I will keep you updated on how these go when they start 🙂

6 weeks, 6 days <3

Hi Everyone,

So this has been a funny little week of trying to convince myself everything is normal and trying not to panic!! I have not felt normal at all this week and I swear if I didn’t know I was pregnant I would think something was seriously wrong. I cannot decide at all what I want to eat and on top of that every time i think of something growing inside of me I feel ridiculously nauseous and if I think about losing our baby I feel faint because I want it so much…. Yes I am a nightmare!! My stomach feels so squished and full all the time it feel so abnormal to me, and on Saturday I felt like a puffer fish, lol so unattractive! Trying to be very positive and I am a strong believer of what you think about comes about ❤

Anyway here is my update for week 6 of my pregnancy:

What Fruit are you? Sweat pea (a tiny 0.25inches)

How far along: 6 weeks and 6 days

Next appointment: I am awaiting for letters to come through from my doctor and the hospital now for my next appointments

Total weight gain/loss: Not sure as I honestly cannot even remember what I was in the doctors, I know I am a healthy weight but my head was so full of questions I did not pay attention. I will check when in next what the difference is from my first weigh in!

Exercise: Again just my 30/40 minute dog walks I have been looking in to pregnancy DVDs but sticking with walks just now and my doctor says this is good exercise as regular and manageable. She did point out further on in my pregnancy I might want to try pregnancy yoga.

Maternity clothes: YES!!! I got the maternity sleep bras from mothercare and what a HUGE difference this has made, I have been able to toss and turn like I like to do without any issues 🙂

Any Baby/Pregnancy-Related Purchases? Following my doctors advice I have swapped my vitamins to the brand pregnacare and I am taking their plus option. I do wish I had chosen the max option but I was not thinking at the time!! As I have to take two tablets and they are ones I am not used to I have been taking these with dinner in the evening as the last thing I want is to go to work feeling sick.

I have also bought bio oil to start using, it is early as usually you start using these kinds of things on the start of your second trimester but as I am constantly bloated and my breasts are getting bigger already it just made sense to use it now, better safe than sorry right?!

The only other things I have got is a boots baby catalogue, mothercare catalogue and my emmas diary magazine from my doctor. I think I will feel better about buying things after my scan and I know everything is ok.

Sleep: Napping has not been as bad just had one on saturday and I have been sleeping right through happily with my new sleep bras 🙂

Food cravings: I spent my whole lunch yesterday trying to find a cheese and branston pickle sandwich for my lunch as nothing else would do (I found one!!) oh and last week I really wanted galaxy ripples! I was good and only had two though.

Food aversions: Nothing yet, but I have a hard time trying to decide what I feel like eating

Symptoms: Still sore boobs, but not nearly as bad as week 5. Bloating. Nausea when there is bad smells around. Today I walked in to tesco and could smell rotten veg and loudly gagged!! My sense of smell is strong usually but now its ridiculous! Oh and I randomly start gagging at nothing and I have to try breath and stay calm before my stomach acid starts and makes me sick. Oh and at the weekend I felt pains in my stomach and back, I was really worried but google pointed me to websites that said this was completely normal and just my body stretching. They had completely gone on Sunday.

What I’m looking forward to: Getting a date for my scan, I know once I have that I will feel so much better when I get to know everything is ok.

Best moment this week: Feeling so supported by my husband who has really helped this last week as I have been feeling so uncomfortable.

Much love

xXx