12 week scan video - long overdue I know!

Proof that the little one was morphine proof, and apparently a wannabe boxer!

Bump paranoia and Bump Watch @ BBC 31 July

Well, I'm officially four months pregnant today. Technically over 6 to go. Who ever said it was 9 months was LYING! It's nine complete months. So I'll be about 10 months and a part week by my due dates.

Anyway, starting to look pretty 'bumpy' now. Doesn't seem to stop me being paranoid that I just look fat though. I find myself increasing patting my belly in public to make it very clear I'm up the duff not into the pies!!! Yes, mad I know, but hey... Anyway, a spot of bump watch I feel:

"The placenta nourishes your baby – and also prevents most infections from crossing from your bloodstream into the baby's circulation. It acts as an effective barrier to many harmful substances, filtering them out, so they can't affect your baby." Well, it certainly seemed to screen out the morphine when I was in hospital. I'll upload the 12 weeks scan video in the next post, so you can see what I mean!

Midwife appointment 2

Well, the midwife appointment went swimmingly, after the obligatory explanation of what on earth had happened to my leg! Got to listen to the heartbeat, and she made the heartbeat to be about 147-154 beats per minute (a girl then according to the old wives tales!) And that was about it! She was a bit concerned about the headaches I've been getting and my urine test, but other than that, everything's groovy! Next appointment, 4 weeks time...

Boy or girl? - let the internet quizzes decide!!!

As it's less than a month to my gender scan on the 24th, I thought for a bit of fun, I'd do some 'Am-I-having-a-boy-or-a-girl' internet quizzes, to see what the interweb thinks! Let's see how right/wrong they are!

Quiz 1 - About.com
You answered 2 items out of 10 Yes.
Your score is 20%. Congratulations! According to the Old Wives it's a girl!

So, that's Girl 1, Boy 0... next!

Quiz 2 - Childbirth.org

You have a 39% chance of having a boy. And you have a 60% chance of having a girl. [Is it me or does that only add up to 99% What's the other 1%? Chance of a mutant?]

And Here's Why...

• You are carrying the extra weight out front, so it's a boy.
• The hair on your legs is growing faster during pregnancy, so it's a boy.
• Boys are carried low. You are going to have a boy.
• Sleeping in a bed with your pillow to the south indicates that you will be having a girl.
• Your feet are not colder than they were before pregnancy. You are having a girl.
• You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread. You are having a girl.
• Dad-to-be hasn't been gaining weight along with Mom-to-be, so it will be a girl.
• The maternal grandmother doesn't have gray hair (dyed or natural), so a girl will be born.
• You had morning sickness early in pregnancy, so you are expecting a girl.
• You are looking particularly good during pregnancy. Therefore, it must be a boy, because girls steal their mother's looks.
• Your chest development has been quite dramatic during pregnancy. You should expect a girl.
• Since the sum of the mother's age at conception and the number of the month of conception is even, it will be a boy.
• A needle on a thread held over your belly moves in circles, so you will have a boy.
• Your urine is a dull yellow color, so you will have a girl.
• You have a craving for salty or sour foods, which means that it is a boy.
• Your nose hasn't changed during pregnancy, which indicates a girl.
• You have been craving fruits, so it is a girl.
• Your baby's heart rate is 140 or more beats per minute, so it's a girl.
• You must have orange juice every day, so it's a girl.
• You are having headaches, so it's a boy.
• Your belly looks like a basketball, so it's a boy.
• You show them the palm of your hand, so it's a girl.
• You use the body of the mug, so it's a girl.

Right, that's girls 2, boys 0. One more for luck I think!

Quiz 3 - GoodToKnow.co.uk
8 x a's, 2 x b's
You answered mostly 'a's, which means you're more likely to be carrying a baby boy.

(If you're really keen to find out, it may be best to go for a scan though, as we can only guarantee our quiz will get it right 50% of the time...)

Finally tally - girls 2, boy 1! Helpful! Maybe if I carried on, it'd get the inevitable 50/50 spread! I might be better tossing a coin!

However, looking at the old wives tales that seem to have some basis that could tenuously be called fact, I'd say the following are indicative...

• Heartbeat. I get 140-145 with my doppler, but my maths is notoriously bad (it got me in this state!), but would say GIRL
• I'm carrying low at the moment. This says BOY but could also be because I'm only 17 weeks gone, and my uterus hasn't even risen above my belly button yet
• Morning sickness. Another big yey for GIRL, but as it's caused by progesterone, I doubt gender really has a say in it - but who knows!?

As for which way I pick up a mug, or whether I have cold feet, well... who knows! Basically, I've got no idea what I'm having. At first I was convinced I was having a girl, but I think that may have been wishful thinking. Now I have no idea, I'm obviously not one of those mums who 'just knows'. I suppose we have to wait until 24th August IF baby co-operates and spreads his/her legs (eek!) If not, I'm on 'team yellow' (unless I can drum up £100 for a private scan... tee hee. Al's a biiiig no on that one. Sensible sod!)

Maybe I should run a poll/book nearer the time?

Doppler fun and Bump Watch @ BBC 29 July 09

Well, on take two today I managed to get the doppler working - woo hoo! It's so lovely hearing the heartbeat.

Happy! :-D

Whilst I'm at it, today's bump watch is...

"Your baby is very active, and your uterus may be large enough for some of these movements to be felt as they touch your abdomen – if you haven't already felt them, that is." Well they certainly can from the inside, not from the outside yet - it's a bit early. Most people seems to start feeling this from about week 20 - so not long now!

Doppler disappointment

Well it arrived today and neither Al not I could hear a thing, other than my heartbeat. I'm not worried, I bought a chap doppler with no instructions - typical cost-cutting me! I'm going to keep trying and I'll ask the midwife to check on... oh God, when's my midwife's apt again? Thursday? Oh my brain is GONE with these headaches and the chronic nausea... who said being in the second trimester was the easy time? I don't know about blooming, I feel blooming awful! *sigh*

I'll report back if I can get the doppler to work...

Grrrrr...

Stupid morning sickness... every afternoon and evening... headaches... stomach pain... hate being pregnant some days... grrrr....

Why have I got morning sickness at 17 weeks? Stupid.

Bump Watch - week 17

17 weeks and looking fat! lol

Bump Watch @ BBC 24 July 09 and morning sickness

"Say goodbye to your waist. Your uterus is rising and is now about halfway between your navel and your pubic bone, pushing your abdomen out."

Oh yes! I've been sorting through my clothes today, and an alarming percentage has already been boxed up for the next six months! Bye bye little t shirts!

Eugh, I have horrendous morning sickness AGAIN! At nearly 17 weeks, you'd have thought I'd be over this! Yesterday and today have been murder for it! Oh the joys of pregnancy

It's very faint, but here's the dreaded line...

Cue some pictures of my bumpy belly - sorry!

The weird holes above my belly button are where I've removed my belly button piercing! Fingers crossed the line doesn't get any darker!!!

Linea Nigra

I thought I'd escaped it, but no - today I noticed for the first time I've developed a linea nigra, a brown line that goes down the centre of the stomach from the belly button to the pubic bone. Wikipedia helpfully explains it here. It's very faint at the mo, but most definately there - bugger!

Ah well, I'll post a picture later, when I get over the shock!

Baby Kearn!

A massive congrats to Laura and Martin Kearn who announced the impending arrival of baby Kearn today, after their 12+4 scan. A fellow January 2010 baby - they're the best!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Naughty...

... I just bought that doppler - eeek! Wanton unnecessary expenditure of.... £14.50 inc postage! Whoop! I get to hear the bean's heartbeat. :-D

Midwife take 2

I've booked the midwife for my second appointment. I'm going to post the details here as with my ever-increasing pregnancy jelly brain, I might remember! So, I'm off to pee in a bottle and be prodded next Thursday 30th at 12.40. I'm hoping they'll listen for the heartbeat, but it's not guaranteed these days, which seems rather foolish.

Especially as with that in mind, I'm watching several dopplers on eBay (dopplers allow you to listen and even record the baby's heartbeat) There's one ending at 12 today.... hmmm tempting.... it's only at £9.50 at the moment, as it's second hand... a bit naughty when I'm unemployed, but.....

Applied for Employment and Support Allowance today, so I'll soon be a benefit monkey! However, at 20 weeks I'll get a Mat B1 certificate which, in conjunction with the ESA means we might be able to get a grant from Warm Front to get our boiler done. It would delay our move :-( but would save hundreds, possibly thousands of pounds :-) We'll see eh?

Bump Watch @ BBC 22 July 09 and other rage

Well isn't that great. Just sat on the phone for 50 minutes on hold to apply for Employment and Support Allowance, only to get cut off! I've got a splitting headached and suffered their crap hold music for what!? I just want what I'm entitled to now I've lost my job AGAIN through no fault of my own....

aaaaargh

Anyway, a spot of bump watch to vent the rage...

"Is your baby aware of your voice? Almost certainly yes, and your heartbeat, and the sounds your body makes. You or your partner should talk to your baby. Lie in a quiet room with no other distracting noises."

Poor sod, (s)he's going to have to sit and listen to our ramblings - poor little mite!

On the plus size, less stressed about midwife's appointment - have had the Downs tests in the hospital, just was too out of it to remember! Will book tomorrow (and knowing my luck, she'll be fully booked up ad infinitum!)

Not having a good day :-(

Bump Watch @ BBC 21 July 09

"Your baby can hear sounds from outside. Loud noises can appear to startle some babies"

I bet get the ukulele out - I want this baby to be musical like its Dad! On second thoughts, mayeb I should leave the serenading to Alex...?

Bump Watch - week 16

Bump @ 16 weeks. I tried to make myself look less huge with a belt. I failed....

Back to stressing...

Well, just turned 16 weeks, and realised that if I do as the midwife says, I won't get my next midwife until after 17 weeks and 4 days. Everything I've read online says the appointment should be in week 16, not nearly 18! Plus lots of people talk about a Downs Syndrome test - why have I not been offered this? Plus apparently if I go at 18 weeks, it'd be too late. So do I make the appointment early and go against the advice of the midwife, or risk missing these tests, if I even need them?

God I hate Lewisham maternity service. And now we've realised we're skint, the house move will probably have to be put back, I'm stuck with them. The rate we're going, I'll have to give birth in the dump that is Lewisham Hospital, which consistantly is one of the worst performing delivery units in the country.

Marvellous.

Bump Watch @ BBC 19th July 09

"Your baby can now suck its thumb."

Coooooooool!

Bump Watch @ BBC 16th and 17th July 09

Well, today is the one month anniversary of my accident. A lot has happened, with the baby and me. Hopefully, now there will be less hospitals and pain, though I have woken up a new infection in my scars - great. Anyway, as a distraction, here's today's and yesterday's BBC bump watch...

16 July 2009
"The hair that will cover your baby until the last week or so of pregnancy – called lanugo – starts to form. This hair is very fine, more like down, and it probably serves as some form of insulation and protection for the skin." Werewolf - Al's favourite!

17 July 2009
"By now you will be visibly pregnant - be proud of your 'bump'!" Proud isn't quite the right word, fatty might be! Tee hee

Oh God, I'm so poor but I want one of these!

http://www.pinklining.co.uk/shop/ss09/changing-bags/

I need to find £65 from somewhere now! It even has a pink changing mat in it! Ah, who cares if I'm having a boy or girl, pink rules!!!

My belly is just getting ridiculous now!

OK, I'm only 15 weeks and 2 days gone and I look like I'm having bloody twins! Look... (yes another dreadful homemade pic - sorry!)


I look like I'm having an elephant, not a baby! Plus I took this in the morning, so my belly was smaller (it gets bigger throughout the day.) I'm hoping this is a growth spurt and I might stay the same size for a bit. I wouldn't mind but I'm still firmly a dress size smaller than I was (I can't believe I'm a 14 again!), but the belly is making up for it!

On another note, the bean has been making its presence felt all day, fluttering and moving about. It's so weird how it's gone from zero to so much in two days! Funnily enough, yesterday's bump watch said...

"This is the week you may just feel the very first fluttery movements, but don't worry if you don't. It's more common for 'quickening' (as these first sensations are called) to happen later"

Hell yes, bang on to the day! Today's is very cool:

"Your baby now has finger nails and toe nails, eyebrows and eyelashes" Aaaaaaaw!

Little fingers

Well, at 15w 1d I got my first daytime movement of the bean. Had about a minute of what felt like little fingers drumming at my insides - very freaky. I've had a few night time 'flutters' before, but none in the daytime. I don't think the bean liked having a laptop jammed against his/her house!

Anyway, this is the start of a long slippery slope of not feeling on my own anymore. Good, but also I have a feeling it might drive me mad!

Eeeeek!

Development Update - weeks 13-16

As I'm 15 weeks tomorrow, a Wikipedia update is long overdue! Here's what's been happening, and what's left to come by the end of next week (OMG will I really be 16 weeks soon? That seems like quite a big number, 16-20 is key starting-to-feel-movement time. Eeeeek!

Weeks 13 to 16

Gestational age: 12-15 weeks old.

Embryonic age: Weeks nr 11-14. 10-13 weeks old.

* The fetus reaches a length of about 15 cm (6 inches).
* A fine hair called lanugo develops on the head.
* Fetal skin is almost transparent.
* More muscle tissue and bones have developed, and the bones become harder.
* The fetus makes active movements.
* Sucking motions are made with the mouth.
* Meconium is made in the intestinal tract.
* The liver and pancreas produce fluid secretions.

...and the goose was getting fat!

I'm the goose and I'm getting really fat.

The rate I'm expanding, I'm going to look like I'm having twins!

Hmpf!

Day 100

Well, I've been officially pregnant for 100 days... though not in reality, as that's taken from the date of my last period. But hey, it's a landmark and with my recent history, any landmark is a blessing!

Whoop!

Bump Watch @ BBC 07 July 09

" If your baby is going to have dark hair, the cells which colour it start to produce their colour about now."

You'd assume as I have dark hari, and so does Al, that the bairn would have dark hair. However, this is how Al looked as a nipper (on the left)...

(yes this is an excuse for an embarrassing baby pic!)

Bump Watch - Week 14

Well, it's been a while but here's how the bump is progressing... I look awful, thanks to two weeks in hospital and a lack of hair straighteners! Ah well...

Baby Blanket Progress Report @ 6th July

Well, I thought a blanket progress update was long overdue, so here it is!


It's starting to look like a blanket, but as you can see there is a loooooong way to go!Three stripes in the first trimester - this is not going to be a very big blanket at this rate. Better use my convalescence to get some progress made!

Start of a new era (well trimester)

It seems like a miracle after two emergency scans, a road traffic accident, four operations, and a bucket load of noxious (but medicinal) chemicals; that I have made it to my second trimester! That's 14 weeks in lay terms. I can hardly believe the poor little mite has survived being inside such a liability for so long!

Anyway, it's a miraculous milestone to reach. It's also my second day in my new maternity wardrobe! I'm wearing my fabulous new 'Mama's Home Grown Melons' tee.... can't wait for my bottom melon to grow more, it'll be nice when they start to balance out my other melons, which are sodding huge, even with the weight loss!

Right, I'll keep this short. I'm still recuperating and I find writing for too long scrambles my brain, which is probably a good thing! lol

I'll try and update with a new Bump Watch pic into the slideshow later, if I remember. The last, and only other was at week 11 - it feels like so long ago now....

Back in the land of the living.... just!

It's the last day of my first trimester! I'm entering the second tomorrow, as I'll be 14 weeks gone. Jeez, it's amazing how hospitalisation can make time fly!

Well, I'm out of hospital and convalescing in the Midlands. It's been a busy weekend celebrating Al's birthday. I'm amazed how much I could do, considering I'm a pregnant cripple at the moment. It was weird being 'publicly pregnant', but at least the leg splint, crutches and wheel chair offered some distraction!

God I'm so spaced out with lack of sleep and pain tonight, I'm going to give up writing this blog post and go and watch Top Gear. I'll just leave you with the past few days' bump watch @ BBC:

2 July 2009
"Your uterus is continuing to grow. At this stage, it's about the size of a grapefruit. It may be pressing on your bladder causing a slight irritation, making you need to go to the loo more often." Yeah, you try dealing with that when you're on crutches!

3 July 2009
"You may notice your arms, hips and face are beginning to look plumper" Nope, thanks to the Morphine diet, I've dropped from a 16 to a 14 in two weeks!

4 July 2009
"Your foetus has eyebrows, but no eyelashes. Fine, light hair is also beginning to grow." Weird

Today
"Throughout pregnancy, the amniotic fluid remains at a constant temperature, half a degree higher than your own body temperature." Cool (or not, in fact)

Best of Bump Watch @ BBC - 18th June-1st July

Here's what's been going on with the baby whilst I've been in the hospital.... other than my expanding belly!

18 June 2009

“You may be feeling quite emotional and tearful. This is normal, and is due to increased hormone levels in your body.” Funnily enough having your tibia shattered in 5 places does make you cry a spot!

19 June 2009

“The placenta is now well-formed, though it's not yet doing its full job... it takes over fully in week 14.”

20 June 2009

“Still feeling sick? The end is in sight. Most sickness and nausea starts to disappear by now, unless you're really unlucky.” I wouldn’t know – I’ve been on anti sickness treatment for the morphine!

22 June 2009

“Miscarriage is less of a risk now, and if you've been concerned about losing the baby, you should now be able to relax and look forward to enjoying the rest of your pregnancy. If you do have any concerns, talk to your doctor or health professional.” WHOOP!

23 June 2009

“Your uterus is now larger and your midwife or doctor will be able to feel it quite easily from the outside. It's starting to rise up out of the pelvis.” Kinky

24 June 2009

“There are about 100 millilitres, or three ounces, of amniotic fluid surrounding your foetus”.

25 June 2009

“The head can move easily from side to side and up and down, and the facial features are starting to form.”

26 June 2009

“Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters of approximately three months each. You are reaching the end of your first trimester.” And finally...

1 July 2009

“You're one third of the way through your pregnancy – the average pregnancy lasts 266 days, or 280 days from the first day of your last period.”

20 weeks scan booked

Well, just booked 20 week scan - August 24th at 4pm, Chavish- er I mean Lewisham Hospital - WHOOP!!!

It's a day for good news as I'm getting out of hospital (after 2 looooong weeks) at 1pm tomorrow - hurrah! To celebrate, hows about a spot of bump watch...?

"Your uterus is continuing to grow. At this stage, it's about the size of a grapefruit. It may be pressing on your bladder causing a slight irritation, making you need to go to the loo more often."

No? Really?! I hadn't bloody noticed lol!

Right, am off to do some eBaying maternity clothes hunting and maybe to do a bump watch catch up.... if I can be bothered! lol

PS I swear I felt the baby move last night about 3am.... hope it's not my overactive imagination, or worse, wind!