And we got to hear the heartbeat!
Category Archives: Personal
So Last Night Was A Roaring Success
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!
24 Weeks!
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Letter to My Baby – Gestational Age 24 Weeks
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
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…
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
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! 🙂
Ouch! Must Learn How to Walk…
so I was coming home from work tonight and tripped over a curb. I appear to have landed on my right knee, arm and breast, as those are what hurt. I apparently did not land on my bump, as it doesn’t hurt. I think the baby just got shook up a bit, as it has been kicking me since I got home and sat down.
I have really skinned the hell out of my knee, including blood. And it really really hurts badly.
I do remember thinking, as I felt myself fall ‘PROTECT YOUR BUMP’.
So mummy instincts kick in from the very start.
Mostly I just scared myself. It was really scary. And could have used some liniment for my pride as three people saw me fall and said ‘are you okay…OMG you’re pregnant, are you sure you’re okay?!?!’
There, just got kicked again. Maybe the baby will be a thrill ride seeker. 🙂
Letter to My Baby – Gestational Age 23 Weeks.
Dear Baby
So, here was are at 23 weeks. Your Pops Burt said to me on Sunday that he liked the counting by weeks thing, rather than by months. But if someone prefers it, I am nearly 6 months. 5.75 months to be exact. The third trimester is in sight.
This week mummy’s boss agreed to let her 4 days a week starting this week. And even just the idea of it has taken a huge weight off mummy’s shoulders. 5 days a week is just making mummy tired and cranky. Those Fridays off will be a blessing for all concerned.
And so my years leave is in sight as well. I am so looking forward to having a whole year to spend with you, just me and you and daddy. We’re going have such fun!
Since you are a summer baby, we’ll be going to the Botanical Gardens which are just a bit of a walk away. And we’ll go sit on the lawn at City Hall, if we don’t feel like going all the way to the Gardens. I imagine we’ll stroll down by the river as well. It will be very nice.
You now have skin (who knew you didn’t have skin before?!?!) and some people say you are beginning to think. I can’t imagine what you have to think about in there. Stocks and Bonds? The current economic crisis? Anyway, in another week you are fairly viable outside of mummy, but please stay in there until you’re completely done. Thanks!
Overall mummy doesn’t feel too awful! She’s tired. And has to go to the loo every 2 minutes. But other than that she feels pretty good. Ready to meet you for sure!
Mummy and Daddy made the first major purchasing decision this weekend, when we pick out your Pram. Since we don’t have a car, you’ll be in that pram quite a bit, I think. Unless I do follow through with the whole sling idea. Anyway, its pretty high tech and wicked cool looking, so I think you’ll like it!
23 weeks down, 17 to go.
Love
Mummy
On Advocating for Yourself
Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows at least three things about me: –
- I’m a depressive
- I’m knocked up
- I have diabetes
Its this third one that is the subject today.
You see, I belong to Diabetes UK. Its the one and only charity that Simon and I give money to on a yearly basis, in the form of my membership fee.
Diabetes UK has been around for 75 years and has been instrumental in some major advances in diabetes care world wide. This includes research for a cure, for better treatment and for advocacy with the NHS and World Health Organization for better diabetes care.
Every two months I get their magazine, as a ‘perk’ of my membership. And almost every month it pisses me off.
Not because of their articles, those are quite good. Because of the letters page. Of the 20 or so letters that they publish every other month, at least 5 of them are from people who are bitching about their level of diabetes care. And this pisses me off. Not because they aren’t getting better care (although I find some levels of care at some NHS Trusts to be appalling) but because they just accept this horrible level of care.
The one thing I have learned in my 2.5 years of being a diabetic and my nearly 20 years of being a depressive is that you must speak up. If you are not satisfied with the answers you get from a medical professional, ask again. Keep asking until you understand. Keep asking until you get the treatment you are entitled to.
When I went for my Glucose Tolerance Test it was a nurse who said to me ‘you have diabetes’ after only looking at my blood results. I was angry. It was not her place to tell me, or to tell me so bluntly and it was certainly not her place to tell me in the middle of the treatment room (nothing but fabric wall between me and the world) and after only one set of tests were back. And so, I complained to my GP when I saw her for my official diagnosis. My GP agreed with me, that was completely inappropriate and promised me she’d speak to the Nursing Sister in charge of the treatment room. And she did. And that nurse has never treated me again (although she’s still around).
If you don’t speak up, nothing will change. If you don’t ask questions, you’ll never get answers.
So, please, I beg you, be your own advocate. In your health. In your job. In your life. And especially for your children.
Thank you.