Letter to My Baby – Gestational Age 25 Weeks.

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Dear Baby

Will you look at that…only 15 weeks to go! Practically the 3rd Trimester!

Mummy hasn’t had an easy week again.  One of her friends lost their baby last week.  Their baby was about as far along as you are right now.  Mummy was very sad for her friend and a bit worried.  But then she realized that you have been kicking her like crazy!  And we had two scans last week!

Mummy’s OB (that’s the doctor who specializes in babies, BTW) decided to scan you just for the heck of it during her 24 week appointment last Tuesday.  So I got to see your legs (which look very muscular, OB says that’s normal!) and your hands waving at me!  And your heart beating.

And, speaking of your heart, mummy and daddy got to go have that scanned on Friday.  You see, my darling, because your mummy has diabetes, it can cause your heart to be too large.  So around 24 weeks a specialist (called a foetal cardiologist) does a very close in scan and measurement of your heart.  So daddy and I got to go see your heart and hear it beat and everything. There is also some additional concern with your heart because your Uncle J was born with a hole in his heart the size of a quarter.  But nothing was found in yours! And it measured right on size. 🙂

So, how big are you anyway…well mummy’s book says you weight about 720 g and are about 22.5 cm long.  You can hear what I and your daddy say to you, as well as other sounds from outside mummy’s tummy.  I knew that, because Daddy was watching Matrix the other day and you were kicking like crazy during the fight scenes! Definitely mine and your daddy’s baby!!

Counting down the days, as always my little love.  And buying you some clothes to wear.  And daddy got you your first elephant this week!

25 down…15 to go.

Love

Mummy

Loss

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So one of the women who I have been chatting with on Mumsnet through the Due in June thread had a stillbirth on Friday.  She’d been having some severe pain in her bump for a week or two and the doctors were just calling her a worry wart and neurotic.  My heart is breaking for her and her family.  She was due about a week before I am, so it hit very close to home.

So many people ask me how I can call people I’ve never met my friends.  Well, because I care about them.  I am crying for my friend at Mumsnet.  We’ve spent the last 24ish weeks talking about nausea and heartburn and baby movements.  We’ve discussed furniture and labour and birth plans.  We’ve laughed at each other’s cravings and worried when one of us didn’t post for a few days.  We are friends.  Just much friends as people I actually see every day.

And now my friend is grieving.  And so are all the women who post on the June thread at Mumsnet.

Why Am I Always The Last To Know These Things?

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I mean that US is going to Summer time tonight?  We don’t go there until the end of the month.

I only know because someone one on my Facebook friends feed mentioned it.

So why am I always the last to know about these things?

In other news, went baby clothes shopping today.  Bought some cute stuff, and some practical stuff.  It was fun!  Nothing as adorable as little socks and hand mitts and hats!!!  Just wish I could predict the weather for June.  Impossible to do in this country.

Other than that, just a quiet Saturday with quesadillas for dinner.  And hot chocolate pudding for dessert. 🙂

So Last Night Was A Roaring Success

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Last night was the dinner to celebrate 10 years of NISP, where I work.  I organized a dinner for 53 people, including a speech by  Minister Arlene Foster, who is the Minister for the organization that first funded NISP starting 10 years ago.

A good time was had by all. Even me. Although today I am totally exhausted!!

Also today Simon and I are heading to the hospital to have a detailed scan done of the baby’s heart. Diabetic mummy’s can give their baby’s enlarged hearts, although it is apparently very rare. This is a ‘better safe than sorry scan’ so if there is an issue a neonatal cardiology paediatrician can be there for the birth. How’s the for a specialist in medicine!

So watch this space. Possible more scanned pics (if they give us any) and definitely a report on the baby’s heart coming up!

Letter to My Baby – Gestational Age 24 Weeks

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Dear Baby

Well, mummy scared herself silly this week when she tripped over a curb at City Centre and nearly landed on you.  Her mummy instincts kicked in, though and she twisted to her side, landing on her arm and knee.  I seem to have missed you completely, not even a light bruise, but it was very very scary.

You were pretty much instantly comforting in that you kicked me very hard once I was home and calmed down.  So I knew you were okay.  According to some, you probably enjoyed the ride!!  Don’t get used to it kid!

Daddy and I went and picked out your cot on Saturday, although we haven’t actually bought it yet.  Everyone keeps saying to me, why do you need a cot when you are getting an Amby hammock?  Well, I don’t think I agree with this rooming in for 6 months idea.  I am hoping to get you to nap in your cot from the beginning so that when I do transition you to your own room after a couple of months, it will be easier to do so.  I may transition you into your own room in your Amby, but I really think I will mostly just use that the first couple of months and then use it to take up to your grandparents after that!  At least until you get too big for it!

Everyone is being very generous to you.  Your Grandma Shelley and Pops Burt have paid for your pram.  Your Grandma Grace and Grandad Tom are buying you your cot.  And of course you received two loveys, one from Grandma Karen and Pops Bill and one from Aunt B and Uncle J.

Speaking of Uncle J, Mummy was talking to him on IM earlier today and mentioned that you were kicking me a lot.  Uncle J said to tell you ‘good job’!  But that’s how brothers are!

So this week, you are finally viable outside of mummy.  But, as I’ve said before, keep put for about 16 more weeks, okay?  Its nice to know if something happened and you came out you could survive.  But let’s not try that.  You are about 21 cm long and weight about 630 grams.  You’re turning into a real baby in there!

So 24 weeks gone, 16 weeks to go.

Love

Mummy

P.S. Happy Birthday to Grandma Shelley!!!

Honestly, I’m A Little Freaked Out

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I bought actual baby things this week.  Not just some clothes, but a nappy bin and a ‘breast feeding starter kit’ (pump, bottles, things like that).

I mean, obviously, I know I am having a baby.  Its either that or a very long lasting bout of stomach rumbles and kicks!  But somehow ordering things from the Tommy Tippee website sort of brought it all home.

I have a feeling I may hyperventilate when we actually purchase the cot and the buggy.  It just makes it so real.

There will be a baby.  Who will use these things.  And others.  For the next 18ish years.

And I’m the mummy!

Okay, freak out over.  Bring on the baby!

I Think We May Have Picked A Cot…

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This one.

I still want to look closer at Mamas and Papas and Mothercare, but that Ikea one is very sturdy and the price is right!

We are also going to buy one of their changing mats and double sided tape it to the top of the bureau we already have, rather than buy a changing table, which we really don’t have room for.  People keep telling me to change the baby on the floor, but just not an option with my bad knee and Simon’s bad back.

We also bought some glassware in Ikea.  Gotta love 6 pint glasses for £ 3.61!

People and My Bump

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I may name a book that.

Anyway, it is interesting to see the different looks you get when people see you are pregnant.

Little old ladies smile indulgently.

So do little old men.

Young working type women look a bit horrified.  But not as horrified as their male counter parts.  You can almost see them counting the condoms in their wallets.

Young mothers look knowing.  Young fathers don’t seem to notice!

It makes walking down the street at City Centre quite an adventure! 🙂