A miracle!

That's right a miracle has happened the baby has finally gone head down after over 36 weeks of deciding it doesn't want to do what every other baby does  it has now got into a position where I can have a normal delivery. I was booked in to be induced next Thursday the 4th October which will make me 38 weeks, so by next weekend I should have my baby.

I have now just realised I have to get this baby out, I  have pretty much spent my whole pregnancy convinced I would need a c-section so haven't really thought about any other way of getting the baby out. I think part of this is denial as I am not great when I am in pain but the options of pain relief given leave a lot to be desired so fingers crossed I am one of these people who just pushes the baby out in a few hours!

My blood pressure is good 120/75 which is lowest it has been for a while, my blood sugars are controlled really well, my urine showed leukocytes and white blood cells so it is being sent off for further analysis, it could indicate an infection. They measured the fundal height as 38cm so just a little over a week bigger than it should be.  I mentioned to the consultant that I had reduced movements from the baby but hadn't worried as I still felt it move a little and assumed it was running out of space to move. Anyways, she wasn't happy so wanted me to be monitored, the midwife couldn't find the heartbeat as she said there was 'too much of me' I mentioned that at 31 weeks the heartbeat was found straight away to which she replied well there is more of you now, baby is bigger and placenta is bigger. For a start I have put a couple of lbs on since 31 weeks and surely if baby is bigger the heartbeat would be easier to find. Anyways, they decided to scan me again (even though I had one on the portable scanner at the consultant appointment) baby's heartbeat was fine, blood flow was fine, it wasn't moving but that was because it was asleep. It's good job I wasn't anxious about it all, I knew the baby was fine otherwise I would have referred myself to the hospital. I think part of the reason that I haven't felt it as much is because it has moved as I am definitely feeling baby a lot more today.

This week was also exciting because I got to meet my best friends one week old son who is so cute and unbelievably tiny considering he was 8lb 6oz when born. I got to hold him for ages he only cried when he wanted feeding and I managed to not drop him or break him. It also made me realise I have no idea about babies, how big they are or how to look after them I am basically only good at cuddles! I feel I should have given antenatal classes a go but at the same time realise that human's do not come with a manual and that women have been having babies for thousands of years and we are all still here. Also, when thinking about it I have learnt much more from life than I ever have in a textbook.

Weight wise I am hovering between 12 and 14lb gain which as always I am very pleased about, I am planning a bit of a 'eat what I want day' before getting back onto Slimming World, I already have meals made up in the freezer including bolognese sauce, lamb and colcannon pie, cottage pie and mince beef stew. I also plan on making some fish pie and some potato and leek soup. I have a lot to do from when I finish work tomorrow until induction day.

Baby's hospital bag

After finally finding a bag I liked for the baby's hospital bag it is now packed and ready to go.

 My bag was £10 from Tesco, I love it an it will be handy for overnight stays. The photo below contains:

• packet of nappies
• packet of muslin cloths
• cotton wool pads
• nappy sacks
• two pre made milk cartons (in case breast feeding doens't work)
• baby wipes
• swaddle blanket
• fleece blanket

For clothes I have packed;

• 3 pairs of socks
• 1 hat
• 1 pair of booties
• 1 pair of scratch mitts

• 4 long sleeve vests
• 3 short sleeve vests

• 6 sleepsuits

• Hungry Catterpillar jacket
• I love Mummy and Daddy outfit

36 weeks pregnancy update

I am now 36 weeks and 1 day pregnant, meaning less than 4 weeks till full term (40 weeks) and 6 days until I am classed as term, meaning that if the baby is born at 37 weeks there should be no complications. 

I am still feeling quite tired and really heavy around my middle. I have to go for a wee several times a day which is annoying and I have some lower back pain. I have gained a couple of lbs meaning my weight gain is now 12lbs, I am still confident that I will be at pre pregnancy weight once baby is born. 

I had another growth scan, obstetrician appointment and diabetic appointment on Wednesday. The scan went fine, the baby is now back following the same line it has been, it is still larger than average measuring on the 75th centile line (anything between the 10th and 90th are considered normal). Measurements were:

• Femur length 71mm which is 3mm larger than 2 weeks ago
• Head circumference is 331.5mm which is 28.5mm larger than 2 weeks ago
• Abdominal circumference is 325.5mm which is 3.5mm larger than 2 weeks ago

The baby is predicted to weigh 2983g which is 6lb 9oz, so in terms of weight the baby is around 6oz bigger than it should be at this stage, so measuring around a week bigger. I was surprised at how little weight the baby had gained in the last two weeks and am glad that the baby hasn't gained more chunk on it's tummy. However, the measurements can be 25% out either way. 

After the scan I spoke with a obstetrician and was glad it was the same woman I saw last time as I find she listens and will answer all my questions. The baby is still transverse meaning I have two choices at this stage, I could opt for an elective cesarean section or I could have an External Cephalic Version (ECV) where they try and manually turn the baby head down. With an ECV it only has a 50% chance of working and of those that they do turn 6% turn back. Basically they will inject me with a drug to relax my uterus muscles and then grab the baby to turn. I am still researching the pros and cons to this, however, if I opt for this and it works it means I will be able to have a normal delivery. I have to go back next week to either book in for the ECV or the cesarean section. My urine was clear and blood pressure was 131/84.

I also spoke with the diabetic doctor, it was someone who I had never met before but she was lovely, very English, very middle class and eccentric (think a female Boris Johnson!) she also had a student in with her. She was really pleased with my glucose levels and this was the first appointment that I didn't have to up any medication, she did say I may find my levels are getting lower so I need to be aware of having a hypo (low blood sugar) and to contact them if this happens. She also took my blood pressure even though it had already been done 10 minutes before, she got my blood pressure as 128/72! She used the old fashioned way of taking blood pressure, whereas the obstetrician used an electric machine. I much prefer the old fashioned as it hurts less. 

Hospital Bag

I thought I would show what I am packing in my hospital bag.

• Bath towel
• 3 packs of Maternity pads 
• 2 packs of Breast pads
• Nipple cream
• Toiletries 
• Slippers
• Flip flops (for the showers)
• Nightshirt
• 2x PJ's
• Tissues
• Chewing Gum
• Dressing Gown

My toiletries are pictured below:

I have packed, some things aren't pictured as I keep adding things!

• Shampoo and conditioner
• Hand sanitiser
• Toothpaste
• Shower gel
• Moisturising body spray
• Flannel
• Moisturiser
• Eye cream
• Dry shampoo
• Face wipes

My bag is just a bog standard holdall I did want a new bag but it really is pointless for a few days in hospital. Once I have the baby's hospital bag sorted I will do a post of that too. 

35 weeks pregnant

I am now 35 weeks pregnant which means 2 weeks before I am classed term and 5 weeks before I am full term. However, as mentioned on my previous post it is likely I won't go past 38 weeks, so is 3 weeks Baby Crompton should be here!

This week has been rubbish, I am currently sat in work on my 6th day out of 7 which is a lot more tiring that it usually is. I then have 5 days off which will be nice, means I can sort out any last minute bits and bobs. Including tomorrows shift I have 8 shifts left until my maternity leave starts on the 28th September :-)

I have had a lot of lower back pain this week and I am not sure if that's the baby or the fact I have been extremely busy at work and having late nights, I am currently finishing work at 1am. I am still waking up 3 or 4 times during the night which is annoying but I guess my body is getting ready for the baby's arrival.

Today I got a phonecall from the shop that I am buying my pram from, they are having trouble getting the pram in red as the range is changing and they are unsure as to whether or not red will be in the new range. I am fuming! I ordered the pram 8 weeks ago and they have only told me today and I have possibly only 3 weeks to go. I don't like any of the other colours in the range, so I will have to spend Saturday seeing if I like any of the other prams the store has. Otherwise, it's operation pram again. The one I love is a lot more money that the one I was meant to be getting and I am not sure if I can justify spending an extra £200 on what is essentially the same thing.

34 week update

I am now 34 weeks and 1 day pregnant, my due date is 41 days away! However, it doesn't look like I will get that far.

I had my growth scan, diabetic appointment and consultant appointment on Wednesday. At the scan the baby was bigger than expected, it's head and femur measurements are within target, however, it's abdominal circumference is measuring 3 weeks ahead and as the sonographer put it 'baby has a chunky tummy' The measurements were:

Femur Length: 68mm
Head Circumference: 303mm
Abdominal Circumference: 322mm

The estimated fetal weight is 2637g which is 5lb 13oz around 10oz more than it should be. I find it amazing that the baby has gained over 1000g in 5 weeks! The sonographer also checked the blood flow through the cord which was perfect. The baby is now transverse, head on my left side, bum on the right with it's hands and feet pointing downwards, meaning baby is still not where it should be, again like the breech position if it stays that way it will be a c-section.

At my diabetic appointment I had more insulin added in as my evening levels have started to creep up. I am now on 10 units with breakfast, 10 units with dinner, 8 units at tea and 14 units over night. I'm still eating well and am still finding that certain meals that work one day will not work the next day, it's so frustrating and I cannot wait until it goes away!

My consultant appointment was really useful as I went in with a list of questions due to not really having a clue about what would happen at the birth. I was told that I would be induced or c-sectioned at 37-38 weeks. If I am able to have a natural birth and there are no complications I should be out of hospital after one night, with a c-section it will be a 2-3 days stay. So slightly longer than average if there are no complications. I was also assured that my baby wouldn't be taken away to special care just because of my diabetes, I had read that they are automatically taken away for their glucose levels to be monitored but this is not the case. I was also assured that I would have community care once I was out of hospital as it didn't matter that I had refused to see the community midwife, the labour ward would let the local team know to expect me.

My blood pressure has also begun to rise which is concerning me, it was 143/83 and I also had a trace of  protein and leukocytes in my urine as this could mean preeclampsia but could just be an infection, the urine has been sent off for further analysis.

Baby's Room

We have finished the baby's room, well we still need a mattress for the cotbed but it shouldn't be in the cotbed until after Christmas as hopefully it will settle in the moses basket or pram carrycot.

Below are pictures of the completed room, it's a bit difficult to get really good pictures as the room is small.

I have linked some of the products below:

Paint - Crown Happy Daze

Star light from Ikea

Table lamp - Ikea

changing table - we got this for £5 from a local baby sale, however it is available in Ikea

Cotbed -Kub Madera
Curtains - Littlewoods
Lamp shade - Argos

The cassette cushion was from Matalan in the sale, the bookshelves and wicker baskets we already had, the laundry basket was a present from my Mum and Dad, my friend bought s the baby monitor and the teddy bear is what I rescued from our carboot sale. The chair was my Grans, then my sisters and now mine :-) So all in all our nursery cost less than £250 to complete.

In the cot is a baby bouncer I picked up from Ebay for £5.50 and a play gym that my Mum got us.