38 weeks & some change

I know I know... I haven't written in ages... things just got so carried away.

I have spent the last 10 weeks trying to get this baby to turn out of the breech position - acupuncture (in the form of needling and moxibustion), chiropractics, homoeopathy (using pulsitilla), various forms of physical exercise, rebozo (a Mexican technique used to turn the baby), massage etc. Unfortunately for us the baby was still breech and we decided to go through a very painful procedure between 36 and 37 weeks called External Cephalic Version (ECV) which normally has a 60% success rate in turning the baby. Unfortunately, after 3, very painful attempts, the baby would not turn and we could not risk putting the baby into danger and having an emergency caesarian.

I have been given the option to go into labour and in essence have an "emergency caesarian" but I have chosen to rather go for my second choice - and just have a plain old planned caesarian. Unfortunately neither of my caregivers; as experienced as they are; are comfortable for me to birth a breech baby. I was a breech baby and my mom's birth story is kind of scary to hear, so it's not something I really want to put myself or my baby through.

I am disappointed, but I am excited too to meet this little button in just 5 days. Next time I will definitely have my water birth - it'll just be a VBAC - lots of hard work will need to go into the pregnancy and planning of the birth, but after all I've done this pregnancy - no-one can say I didn't try!

Thanks for following the blog so far, will update as and when. xx

27 weeks tomorrow - midwife update

Well I had my 27 week appointment this morning. I've been swelling and in quite alot of pain the last 3 days in my legs and feet - so we're watching that, but the swelling is not enough to be concerned about. I've put on about 7kgs so far in this pregnancy, feels like 100kgs - think only cos my feet are taking serious strain lol

Baby is breech, and because of my teeny uterus we have to start turning it now before he/she gets too comfy. So we're doing baby turning exercises, the torch thing, taking pulsitilla and also seeing the homoeopath tomorrow. There's lots of amniotic fluid so there's enough space still to turn.

Otherwise tonight's our second last ante-natal class. I've loved them even more the second time around, and J really enjoys them!

Otherwise all still on track for a water birth at Genesis, really looking forward to it! Time is going so quickly now, I have a feeling baby will be here before we know it.

Midwife reckons it's a girl still, this week I'm "feeling" like it's a boy though. :)

I now see the midwife every 2 weeks! Thanks for reading :D

Here's a pic of the bump - sorry it's from my cell

26 weeks pregnant

Sorry I've been MIA - things are really hectic with work and repainting the house and all the other things we're trying to get done before the baby comes. I'm really excited about Christmas and we're almost done with all our shopping! YAY :)

So the shower is going to be on the 31st of January, we haven't done invitations or anything just yet so don't panic, you'll get yours :)

This week I am 26 weeks pregnant - and feeling lots of movement. I think it's even more amazing now because baby responds to music, singing and talking and loves hearing our voices. There's certain music "it" likes too and I try and play it as often as possible. Baby's most active times are in the morning just before I get out of bed - so no more rushing out of bed in the mornings for me (YAY) and at night just before I go to sleep. It also loves moving in the bath, and my whole stomach shakes, it's quite weird LOL.

I am getting rather large, and I do have more uncomfortable times during the day now. The heat doesn't help things along but overall I'm loving my bump!

I'm getting more and more excited for the birth - I can book my bed any time from 28-32 weeks, so I'll pop around early next year to do that :)

After a month of having his eyelids sealed shut, your baby begins to open his eyes again this week. Your baby's eyes are almost completely developed. Your baby's eyes are blue in the womb and may change colors later in life. This is true for all races because the pupils do not have their final color until a few months after birth. However, some babies are born with darker or lighter shades of blue. Your growing baby will continue to put on layers of fat until he is born. He is still lean at this point of the pregnancy though. By the time your baby is born, he will assume the typical newborn's plumpness. Your baby's skin will still be wrinkled and red, but the fat continues to fill the skin out.

Finger and toe nails continue to grow.

Blood vessels start to develop in the lungs to prepare the baby for life outside the uterus.

Your baby's blood circulation is completely functional. The umbilical cord system continues to grow and thicken as blood travels with considerable force through the body to nurture the baby. The placenta is now almost equal in size to the baby.

Even though it is still way too soon for your baby to be born yet, the chance of survival without severe abnormalities is now 70% provided it is born in a hospital.

27 centimetres big! I can't believe it!

22 Weeks Pregnant

Baby’s Development


The baby is gaining weight during this period. The baby weighs approximately about 430 to 450 grams. The crown to heel or rump length is about 27 cms.The baby resembles a newborn child at this stage, only difference is that it is much thinner as there isn’t much development of baby fat yet. Though the baby is steadily gaining weight, the skin still has a wrinkled appearance. The baby’s body is undergoing continuous growth and development. All organs in the baby’s body are developing at a rapid rate. The liver of the baby has started production of various enzymes that are required for breaking down of billirubin. The billirubin is produced as a result of the breaking down of red blood cells. The fetal red blood cells have a shorter life span and so there is more production of billirubin in a fetus. The billirubin from fetal blood goes into the placenta and then passes into mother’s blood. The mother’s liver gets rid of the fetal billirubin. The pancreas ofthe baby is developing and growing at a steady rate.

The baby shows distinct lips and eyes at 22 weeks pregnant stage. The iris or the colored part of the eye is still lacking pigment. The eyelids and eyebrows are well formed. The tooth buds are formed and can be seen lying under the gum line. At this stage of 22 weeks pregnancy,the baby’s brain is developing very rapidly. The sensory systems of the baby are also developing very fast during this period. The brain has developed a good network of neurons by now, and baby is learning about the sense of touch.The baby may start exploring its face by stroking and start moving legs and arms to touch and feel. In the case of a female fetus, the ovaries and primitive ova or egg cells have developed well. The female fetus will also have a completely formed uterus by now.

Our very last scan appointment

Yesterday was our last scan appointment, the one where they check all the organs etc. It was awesome to see our gorgeous baby – amazing how you can be so in love with something.

J is away in the Ivory Coast at the moment, and so I invited my mom along for the scan. I think she really enjoyed it :)

Our little nudger has 10 little fingers and 10 little toes. We are still measuring a week ahead, but all is absolutely perfect with our baby. The doc DEFINITELY knew the sex and was teasing me by saying he’d give me a clue and then he’d move the scan wand quickly. LOL. Now I’m feeling like it’s a boy after I was SO convinced it’s a girl. But we’ll find out in 20 weeks or so :D

My concern, as it has been from the beginning, is preterm labour because of my mini sized uterus. But he reassured me again that if I hadn’t had bleeding, contractions, a show etc. I should have no issues. He also asked my mom a little about her history (I found this interesting) and he reassured me again that all will be fine. He also said there is no way I can actually “prevent it” so I needn’t worry about my lifestyle etc. obviously other than the normal healthy things.

Weight wise I’ve put on 1kg but Doc reckons I’ll out on weight quickly now. My bump is quite a lot bigger and my uterus measures 23 weeks.

I see him again at 36 weeks! Next year! I can’t believe I am half way through this pregnancy! In 8 weeks it will be Christmas, and then we’ll be counting down to the birth another 10-12 weeks after that.

Otherwise I am doing well, I am so in love with my bump and my new body. I feel baby kicking every day now, still very lightly and sometimes it turns completely – which actually feels strangely like an electric shock. Don’t know if I’m making sense. I get niggles like ligament pains, heartburn, and headaches but I so think it’s worth everything. I feel so so blessed!

We start antenatal classes in 2 weeks and just found out that a friend of mine (who is pregnant now after TTC for 9 years and 4 IVFs) will be doing the classes with us! :)

Below are some pics - this is one of the baby's legs, feet and little toes, my favourite from this scan :)


And here's one of my tum - a comparison between 6 weeks and 19 weeks

18 weeks!

Well we are between 17 and 18 weeks this week. Almost halfway! YAYA :)

The pram and car chair arrived nice and neatly in boxes yesterday. I was hopping around like an excited Kelsey, and ripped open those boxes before the Fedex guy was out the door. I spent 15 minutes assembling the pram, got tired and went to have a snack. The pram is now half assembled and I don't know how to attach the car chair either. At least I have several months to figure it out!

Otherwise I'm starting to think about a babyshower - I have several (and mean mulptiple) friends having babies around the same time so I'm starting the think of dates early, really don't want to intrude on someone elses special baby day. Rather I don't want them to intrude on mine ;)

So time is going much too quickly - yesterday another stranger noticed I am pregnant and she showed me some prenatal vitamins she bought. I felt like we were in some conspiracy together. That was kind of sweet. Maybe I'll catch onto this womanhood/mankind-togetherness-thing eventually. Still not joining the yummy mummy club though.

Justin and I went shopping at Baby City on Sunday, "just to see" you know. We were very disciplined and only bought a little timing gadget that tells you when you last fed/what side you fed from/changed a nappy etc. Judiet swears by it, and it comes in green. So I had to have one.

Next two big-gish purchases are cloth diapers... Yar yar I don't want to hear it. And the baby monitor - we're hoping there's some magical technology that gets invented in the next 4 months that will include a breathing mat, humidity controller, sound/listening device AND a camera. We can only hope.

I'm loving the names we have chosen and I'm even happier that we are not spreading them around, my friend's are having a hard time from their families because of names they're considering. Ours aren't considered, they're chosen - so we're not letting anything change our minds!

90% of friends and family reckon this baby is a girl - I too feel like "it's" a girl. Justin is now broadening his mind to the fact that it might be a boy OR girl. Well it's got to be one of the two ;) Didn't Julius say?

18 Weeks Pregnant

What You're Thinking

"Either I have an ongoing case of indigestion or there might actually be something moving around my gut!"

Your Body
At about 18 weeks, you might begin to feel a suspicious flutter in your belly. The professionals call it "quickening," we call it "baby's makin' waves!" Within the next few weeks, those tiny bubbly feelings will become more obvious. And soon enough they'll be unmistakably identifiable—especially when you (and anyone within 10 feet of you) can see tiny feet, elbows and knees moving across your belly.

Gas pains are a way of life now, so it's common to mistake fetal movement for a little indigestion. If you don't start feeling your baby's flutter kick right away at 18 weeks, don't worry. Quickening happens at different times for different people. If you notice a distinct lack of fetal movement after feeling your baby move for several days, contact your health-care provider.

If you're feeling hungry these days, indulge (in moderation) . It's especially important to load up on carbs right now to fuel both your and your baby's energy needs. So hold off on the Atkins diet for another 22 weeks or so.

Your Baby
Your baby's ears are now facing forward and are completely formed so she can actually hear you talking now. You don't need to abandon your potty mouth just yet, but you might want to start thinking about it! Other highlights this week:

This week is also the beginning of ossification. And while that sounds like some long and involved paperwork you'll have to fill out, it's really a fancy medical term for the hardening of your baby's miniature bones. And that's a good thing.

Your baby's nerves are making more and more complex connections. Her sense of smell, taste, sight and hearing are all developing. A substance called myelin, which makes nerve connections travel faster, is now coating your baby's nerves.

Your baby now weighs between 5 and 7 ounces and is about 5½ inches long—about the size of a pickle from the corner deli. (You're familiar with pickles, right? Your regular accompaniment to a big bowl of ice cream?)

Oh and a new belly pic

I know I promised a video update

But I didn't feel like putting make-up on this morning, so it's not going to happen. I'll do one at 20 weeks :)

Sorry BNers, it's the same update as on the forum.

I went for my first consultation with my midwife yesterday at 16 and a bit weeks. I'm sommer confused about my due date now, but I'm saying the "end of March" :)

The appointment was just over an hour and a half and we went through all mine and J's family history. We went through how I'm eating (ensuring high protein diet), DH complaining that I don't eat enough sugar, and we heard the baby's heartbeat with the doppler. I must say I enjoy this more than the scans because the focus is on you and the baby, not on a screen halfway across the room. She could also feel the head and we heard one or two kicks through the doppler. Anyway she felt my uterus and said I felt a "good 16 weeks". I haven't put on any weight yet but she reckons I'm going to put on 2kgs in the next month and get big quickly from there. I hope so because I barely look pregnant. The only small worry was the size of my uterus, the gynae is not concerned at all as my uterus is about 2/3 the size of a normal one. I'm uterus is growing quite heavily to the left at the moment, but gravity should level it all out.

This is the midwife that I have done several births with as a doula and I was a bit concerned that we had crossed the patient/caregiver line into friendship KWIM. She was so professional but at the same time SO happy for us because she knows how we struggled to fall pregnant.

We are starting antenatal classes in the middle of November. I've done her course already (and I don't get a discount). It's pretty early to start, but if we only start in mid Feb next year, I would have already given birth by the time the 5th class comes round.

Otherwise I am feeling great. J and I agreed that I will go on maternity leave from the beginning of March and will go back to work at the beginning of August. I feel comfortable with that and glad I will also get some time to chill before the birth. I wish I would start "looking" pregnant now.

We are so prepared (most of you know the room was done before we fell pregnant even) and I'm enjoying doing the fun stuff now, buying cute things and not fretting about all the stuff we need.

Thanks for reading my loooong story :D

The Paraphernalia

Give my anything about birth and breastfeeding and I can go on for hours, ask me about car chairs, nappies and prams and there will be silence!

So after tons of research and a rather unsuccessful car fitting (apparently the dude didn't know what he was doing), J and I have chosen THE car seat and pram. This is a big choice because it is the last major expensive thing we will be paying for. Other than the birth (but Momentum's covering that bit :D).

So here's our choice - it looks so cute and nippy with the car seat in.

We have a midwife appointment this afternoon, will update tomorrow with a video journal update. Thanks for reading xx

16 weeks

We went to granny and grandpa on the coast, and nudger was spoilt with little sock monkey blankies and a bib. So cute! Nana also spoilt our little one with a soft soft monkey comforter and the cutest toys.

I've started feeling movement a little bit more, though not always regular. Some days I feel it quite a few times, other days not at all. And it's a little more than butterflies as some people describe it, more like little popcorn popping! I'm feeling good during the day, alot more energy but hit a dip in the afternoons and then the nausea hits some evenings. Still huge food aversions to garlic, mushrooms and bacon... ewwwwww!!

Oh yar, and I can hear my own heart beating all the time... in my ears and can feel it all over my body. Weirdest thing!

At this point of your pregnancy, your baby is approximately 4.3 to 4.6 inches long and weighs 2.8 ounces. Not only is your baby growing, your uterus and placenta continue to grow to accommodate the growing baby inside of you! Just six weeks ago, your uterus weighed about 5 ounces. This week it now weighs 8.75 ounces! The amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby is increasing and there is about 7.5 ounces of fluid. You will easily be able to feel your uterus approximately three inches below your navel.

Your milk glands start production at this time and this causes some tenderness and swelling in early pregnancy. Your veins will become more visible because there is an increased amount of blood flowing to the breasts.

At this time, your baby is holding her head erect. Because her muscles are developing, she can make some faces now. Your baby is able to squint, frown and open its mouth. There is enough calcium in the bones that they will show up on an x-ray. Your baby's fingernails are well formed now and the legs are longer than the arms. Because your baby is moving well now, you may begin to feel his movements! Some women say that the early movements feel like gas bubbles or a slight flutter. If you have not yet felt the baby move, don't worry. Fetal movements are usually felt between the 16th and 20th week of pregnancy.

16 Weeks Pregnant

New Tummy Bump

In the last week I have grown quite a bit (I'm even starting to walk a little funnier than I normally do), so here's a pic :)

13/14 week update

So I figured I'm between 13 weeks and 14 weeks now. Apparently 14 weeks tomorrow according to the doc, but still 13 weeks according to me. So will do both updates at the same time :)

13 weeks pregnant:

13 Weeks Pregnant

14 weeks pregnant:
Baby is about the size of your fist. WOW!


So yesterday I go to my auditing meeting, and the accountant says to me (all sweetly, he's old) - oh are you carrying a baby or are you just getting fat? Ummm... lucky I'm pregnant otherwise I might have been slightly insulted. It was nice that someone noticed though without me telling them.

We also added a curtain to the baby's room this week. We'll be buying the cloth nappies in the next month or so, and I suppose I need to decide which travel system we're going with. Though we can get the pram later, more interested in the car seat at the moment.

Thanks for reading! We have the midwife appointment in 2,5 weeks - really looking forward to it! We'll book antenatal classes at the same time, considering I've done them already as part of my doula course - do you think she'll charge half price? HAHA fat chance.

I've had a bit of a cold this week, started on Tuesday evening - I was pretty achy yesterday, but I already feel so much better today. So maybe it was a 24 hour thing. My GP said I should just take Panado (what's the point in taking ANYTHING then I ask?) and some nose spray. But I've just been taking the recommended dose of Vitamin C for pregnancy (2000mg) or a bit less if I've had fruit that day and it obviously seems to be helping. No H1N1 here, people love to terrify you - specially when you're pregnant!

Love to all xx

We're getting somewhere with the room

Other than the BEAUTIFUL cot, compactum and shelves Justin has made for us - we are slowly adding to the baby's room. We've chosen a monkey theme, with the colours being white, brown and a light green. My mom in law bought this duvet set - it had orange in it, but we changed it to brown instead.

TFR!

Belly pic

I promised to post a pic, so here it is. I just look fat. This is at 11 weeks 1 day or 11 weeks 6 days according to the doc.

Video Journal - Scan Update

I forgot to say in the video that the good news is that the pregnancy is no longer considered high risk and we can birth wherever we want (most birth centres don't allow even marginally high risk patients). So we're smiling :)

I love summer!

Gosh I love springtime, the smell of the jasmine and the sunshine just makes everything so exciting :)

So before I depart the notorious first trimester, I need to make some social commentary.

There is an unspoken "mommy club" that I am not sure if I want to be part of or not. I'm generally the minority when it comes to natural birthing, extended breastfeeding, delayed vaccinations etc. but all of a sudden I have been thrust into this mommy club and I am just like everyone else. Those who know me, know this is not my favourite thing. It's like some undercover secret society where the untold is acknowledged and only the pregnant are allowed to know.

For example, I have suffered quite badly with nausea. I tell another so called mommy club member, and they nod in understanding and say "it's crap hey?" and then they laugh a loud Ursula-the-evil-one in the little mermaid laugh *shocked* like they were waiting for someone else to go through this misery that is the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Seriously I would have listened if someone had told me this beforehand. They should have said it's like 6 weeks of food poisoning!

I would never trade this time for anything in the world, I am definitely realising more and more every day that I was definitely born for this, but I think I'm cancelling my subscription to the evil mommy club.

Happy Spring everyone!! Love you all MWA MWA

11 weeks

I'll do a regular update now and a video update on Friday after our scan and first appointment with the gynae - moving on from the fertility specialist.


Baby's development
Up until 11 weeks pregnant you could see right through your baby's skin. Now, your baby's skin will remain paper thin but becomes a multi-layered membrane losing much of its transparency. By this point in time your little one should be able to open and close her fists, and is starting to form little buds that will one day pop out as teeth!

By pregnancy 11 weeks your baby's fingers and toes have lost their amphibious like resemblance, now separated instead of webbed. Your little one is taking advantage of the huge space she is floating in by pregnancy 11 weeks, by kicking and squirming about. In the next three weeks your baby will go through a tremendous growth spurt, almost doubling in size. At no other time in your baby's life will she undergo as many rapid changes as are occurring during this stage of your pregnancy.

Your Growth and Development
You may be starting to show a bit by 11 weeks pregnant at this point (but not very much unless you have already had a baby). You are almost at the end of your first trimester by pregnancy at 11 weeks but you still may not look pregnant to onlookers, which some women find frustrating. Take comfort knowing that your uterus however is now just about big enough to fill your pelvis and is probably poking up above the middle of your pubic bone. Before you know it your tummy will pronounce to the whole world that you are pregnant!

By 11 weeks pregnant you should be feeling pretty pregnant, even if you don't look very pregnant. You might start to notice that your hair and fingernails start growing very rapidly. For some women this doesn't happen until closer to the third trimester, but others notice it right away. However, some women also find that their hair is more unruly than normal, so don't count on thick locks during pregnancy necessarily. If you have been suffering from terrible morning sickness, take heart knowing that in just another week or two you should start to feel remarkably better. Many women start gaining weight, about a pound per week during the second trimester, as they find their nausea subsiding.

11 Weeks Pregnant

Pregnancy is contagious

I just have to laugh - 4 out of 7 of us at book club are now pregnant. As I mentioned before, there must have been something in the wine. Something that cancels the birth control pill or to that effect :)

Anyway, so here's to celebrating another 2010 baby!

Oh and Nudger is now known as a Foetus, it graduated from embryo just this morning :D

10 weeks - Dedicated to a very dear friend

A close friend of mine (who was exactly as far as I am) unfortunately had a miscarriage yesterday. I am so so devastated for her. I can't imagine the pain and hurt she is going through. I'm so sorry my friend, you are in my prayers and I know that you will have a little baby in your arms one day soon. This post is dedicated to her, her hubby to be in a few short weeks, little Luka and bubble that has gone to heaven. xx

10 weeks
By the end of pregnancy 10 weeks your baby will have moved past the embryonic period, and will begin the 'fetal' period. The fetal period is the time when your fetus will grow rapidly. By week ten your baby is less at risk for congenital malformations, which usually occur during the first nine weeks of pregnancy. You should breathe a big sigh of relief by the end of pregnancy week 10 now that this important developmental stage is past!

Changes in You
Hang in there, now that you are 10 weeks pregnant just a couple more weeks and you should start realizing some significant relief from morning sickness!

By 10 weeks pregnant you are probably starting to feel more and more positive about your pregnancy. You have probably had the opportunity by now to hear your baby's heartbeat for the first time at your doctor's office. The sound of your baby's heartbeat for the first time will probably send you and your partner to the moon and back.

10 Weeks Pregnant

We have been given the option to get a detailed scan by one of the top 5 doctors in the country, that specialize in detecting defects and congenital abnormalities from 10 weeks 6 days to 13 weeks 3 days. They count the fingers on the hands etc. Though they spend in excess of 30 minutes scanning the baby, which has actually not be proven to be safe. Justin and I have not completely decided if this is something we want to do, though for now we are just letting it be. God has told us everything is going to be just fine, and we trusted Him with this pregnancy, so I believe that that trust should extend throughout the pregnancy.

9 week video update