20 week scan

This morning I left for my 20 week scan, anxious and excited at the same time. Jonathan and my Mum came with me.

The scan was rubbish, I have to go back at 24 weeks as the sonographer couldn't get any measurements due to my weight and the fact that the baby was lying against my spine. He said it was due to my build don't know why people can't just say fat! I expected not to get a good scan picture but to not even get any measurements or confirmation that the baby was healthy was devastating. It means if anything is seriously wrong i.e. it won't survive birth then I will have a matter of hours to decide what to do about the pregnancy. I know I should think positive about it but I just can't help but be anxious and worry about it. By the time the next scan comes along we will only have 16 weeks to sort everything out, providing it arrives on time.

The sonographer didn't show me the screen so I never saw baby, Jonathan said it had both arms and both legs and was moving about. He also said it was much bigger than at the last scan. My Mum commented that she could see the toes.

Other freebies

These are freebies I have managed to pick up from various places.

These cuties are from Cow and Gate and Aptamil. I love these and they will look great in the baby's nursery.

Next up is some freebies from Nuby UK, just like their facebook page and click on the bump, birth and baby. It will ask you for details and they will send you a free gift. This page is also great as it hosts regular competitions to win other baby related things. Below is a couple of dummies I was sent. 

Finally, these are freebies I received in my bounty pack and Emma's diary. I got the bounty pack from my midwife as well as Emma's Diary. You recieve a series of vouchers to pick up packs throughout your pregnancy. Below is a selection of the things that I received.

Also, included in the bottom picture is a sample of Oral B Pro Expert which will be handy for my hospital bag and some white glo toothpaste I received in one of my beauty boxes, again useful for my hospital bag.

Freebies: Supermarkets

I thought I would do a post on freebies I have managed to pick up from supermarkets since being pregnant and I hope the post will be useful for some people.

First up is the Asda baby club . Sign up online and it will allow you to print out a voucher for a free Huggies newborn starter pack. If you have no printer email customer services and they will send you a voucher in the post.

In the pack you get a packet of 27 newborn nappies, pack of 64 wipes and some cotton soft sheets.

Next up is the Sainsburys baby club you will need a nectar card. This offer will give you a voucher at the till when your card is swiped, they will email to let you know when the voucher is ready. To received the Huggies mum and baby bundle all you need to do is buy a pack of Huggies newborn nappies which cost £3.71 when I got mine. 

In the pack you receive a foldable changing mat, pack of 64 wipes, breast pads, comfort fabric condtioner, sanex shower gel, kleenex tissues and barrier cream. 

Tesco also have a baby club you can sign up to. I can't see an offer for a free gift but you do get offer emails sent to you. 

18 Week update

I am now 18 weeks and 5 days pregnant :-) it means I am 1 week and 2 days away from being halfway there and also my 20 week scan.

Since I last blogged I have had my 16 week midwife appointment which went well. She didn't listen to heartbeat though :-( she felt for my uterus which was exactly where it should have been, my urine was clear and my blood pressure was good 125/70. I mentioned that the consultant had written my blood pressure down wrong at last appointment and she said that was fine, they are more concerned if the bottom number goes up and as long as it's 70 or below they are happy. I find it amazing how my blood pressure has not been the same at any appointments. We also had a discussion about my weight and she said I shouldn't worry too much about my weight but reiterated what everyone else has said about putting on weight. She told me the average is 2 stone (28lbs) but she sees a lady who is 8 months pregnant and has only gained 9lbs. She also told me about aquanatel classes that are run every week, I was meant to go to my first one last Friday but managed to miss my alarm, so this Friday I am going to set several alarms so I get there.

My symptoms are OK, tiredness is the worst thing at the moment, I am finding it difficult to sleep for more than a couple of hours at a time but I am hoping to catch up on my week off which starts on Thursday. I am still suffering with bad skin and woke up with two huge spots this morning to add to my ever growing collection.  In fact without the tiredness I wouldn't even know I was pregnant!

The baby this week is 5 to 5.8 inches long from crown to rump and weighs about 148.8 grams. The ears are moving to their final position and the eyes are beginning to face forward, the retinas may be able to detect light. The bones are continuing to harden and the pads of the fingers and toes will form. The finger and toe prints are also developing. The heart is pumping 25 to 30 quarts of blood a day.

Prams

One of the first things we wanted to do was look at prams, it is early but the fact I have the worlds smallest car boot and we are both tall we thought finding the perfect pram would take a while. We also wanted one with a carseat and that was both parent and forward facing. 

In fact, it was fairly easy and we think we have settled on the babies r us jig pushchair which is pictured below. This folds up nice and small, has a really tall handle and for £350 we can get the pushchair, carrycot, footmuff, raincover and car seat.

So after deciding this is what we wanted I thought we would take my Mum as it will be her and my Dad who are paying for it. Before we went to babies r us we went to a local shop where I completely and utterly fell in love with the uppababy vista, again pictured below.

There isn't much difference in the styles but the uppababy feels a lot sturdier and well made and fits a bit better in my car boot. We can get the same as the package above but unfortunately the price doubles to £700 :-( I cannot expect my Mum and Dad to pay twice as much for a pram I utterly love opposed to a pram that does the same job that I like.

I am not sure when my Mum and Dad will be getting the pushchair as it is up to them, however, we have agreed not to buy anything until we have had the 20 week scan which is 3 1/2 weeks away. I am not completely happy with all this waiting about, this pregnancy has already lasted forever and I just want October to be here.

Consultant Appointment

I had my consultant appointment today and if I'm perfectly honest I found it a complete waste of time. The consultant was nice enough he just asked me how things are going which is fine I said I don't even feel pregnant to which I got a look that meant 'you weirdo!' . There was a midwife in the room who took my blood pressure which I am sure she said was 138/60 and it was 130/70 last time but when  I looked in the notes my consultant had written 110/60 so next time my blood pressure is going to shoot up a lot!!

All my blood tests came back clear and my urine sample was clear too.

I was booked in for my Glucose Tolerance Test which is on the 5th July, the nurse booking me in asked why were they doing it so I said family history, weight and polycystic ovaries. She remarked that she would be very surprised if I didn't have it as the only factor I didn't have is a previous pregnancy with diabetes. I am currently researching the best way to manage this now so that I don't get it or I can make it easier for me and my baby.

I also have to see an anesthetist, he didn't explain why and I'm assuming either everyone sees one or it is because of my weight.

My consultant has written to my GP to get them to prescribe me a low dose of aspirin to help blood pressure stay normal. I don't understand why he couldn't have given me a prescription for them.

My next appointment in with the midwife on 16th May.