40 weeks!!

Ok so 40 weeks came & went yesterday... and we're still "baby in belly"  What a stubborn little thing!! No signs of any imminent labour. Daddy wants baby to wait until Monday now as Superbowl is on tmor night and he always stays up to watch it

The braxtons are still occurring - but nothing painful. How frustrating! COME ON BABY!!!! EXIT TIME!!!!!

JellyBaby's update:

This is it. If you haven’t already gone into delivery, we’ve officially arrived at that time where all you’re doing is trying to patiently play the oh-so-maddening waiting game. Your long-awaited miracle is undoubtedly just as impatient as you to get things moving along. You can generally expect a head-first delivery unless your healthcare provider is unable to coax them out of breech position, in which case their feet come first. After nine months of waiting and even after your wonder-baby is finally out, your doctor or midwife will probably make you wait another five minutes while they give your child an Apgar score (see below); suction any fluids or mucous that may be blocking their newly exposed airways; and clean the remaining vernix and blood from their little body. After all the waiting, you’ll finally get to hold your exhausted little love-bug. Just a heads up: it’s fairly common for newborns to have a bit of chapping or even red rashes on their skin. Gerber babies don’t just pop out sparkly clean and smooth from the womb.

It’ll come whether you’re ready or not, so grab your bag, call the doc, get a hold of the grandfolks-to-be and get ready to execute your much-rehearsed plan of action. PLEASE DO NOT put the pedal to the metal. Labor typically last 13 hours (8 hours for mothers who have delivered once already), and getting to the birth center 10 minutes earlier isn’t likely to make a big difference. Try to keep a level head and drive safely: there’s a lot at stake.

40 week midwife appointment

Nothing exciting to update lol!

Blood pressure fine, urine fine, baby fine. Nothing worrying. They wouldn't do a sweep  I expected they wouldn't but still a little disappointed! I have to go back next Friday, and they have booked me into the hospital for induction for Wed 11th Feb if nothing has happened by then  That's such a long time away  

Feel free to leave a sprinkling of labour dust!!

39 weeks!!

I'm a little late in updating this week. It's been a lazy weekend until last night. I went to bed around 11pm, and woke up at 1:30am with horrendous stomach cramps - I knew it wasn't labour. I thought perhaps wind. I lay until 2am but had to get up, resulting in 30 minutes on the toilet... yup... diarreah!! I took to the sofa to try to sleep. OMG the pains carried on for an hour until I fell asleep. I was so close to calling for an ambulance!

This morning I felt a little better, still slight tummy cramps and another dose of gross diarreah. I'm guessing I ate something bad, but unsure what. It was either a pasta dinner from Saturday evening or a pork pie from yesterday.

No signs of labour - I'm ok with that today though, I'm very tired from my adventures! I'm looking forward to a good sleep tonight. Bring on labour vibes for tmor

I booked my 40 week midwife appointment for Friday. Hopefully I don't make it, but at this rate, it looks like I will. I'm hoping the midwife will do a sweep if I do get there, but as I wont be technically classed as "overdue" but only "due", apparently they wont do anything, not even check my cervix Which means my next appointment would be the following Friday - 41 weeks - before they would try anything to set off my labour Let's hope it's not required!

Jellybaby update time!

Whether you give birth tomorrow or next week, it's pretty much all the same for your baby, who is now truly R-E-A-D-Y to face the big bright world outside of your womb. Speaking of wombs, your body is priming up for the big moment and hopefully, you're as prepared mentally as you can be. Your baby is well stocked up on fat, all their organs have put on the finishing touches. Here's hoping your child is already in the birthing position and basically just "hanging out" waiting for that elusive moment when all sysytems synchronize in your body to trigger the labor process.

So bored!

Yup... It's official... I'm bored... BORED BORED BORED!!!! Sooooooooo BORED!!!!

I haven't left the house since Friday, apart from a 5 minute walk to the shop around the corner - which really shattered me!! So even if I wanted to go do something, I get tired so easily. I'm just sooooooooooooooooooo bored!!!

38 weeks!!

Wow!! 2 weeks to go huh!! Not too much to report on this week. I'm still feeling pretty good. Heartburn doesn't seem to be as frequent but when I get it, it's annoyingly bad, especially through the night. However, it's nothing too harsh! I'm getting more indigestion after eating, but I guess with everything so squished, it's only natural! Again, nothing too bad really. I feel like baby has dropped a bit the past few weeks, and the midwife app yesterday confirmed that. DH tells me when he sees a difference in how low my tum looks as well.

I'm enjoying my maternity leave, although getting a bit bored at times. I'm not really one to sit doing nothing, but I don't have the energy to do much! Finally got my hospital bag finished at the start of the week, and got some food shopping in. I think it will be the last time I go to the supermarket until after baby arrives... thank goodness for online grocery shopping!!

I ordered a chair from Ebay to go in the baby's room, for nighttime feeds. My plan (whether it works or not), is to do all feeds through the night, in baby's room, so hopefully we can teach him/her the difference between day and night. I had an email yesterday to say it has been despatched so I guess it should arrive Monday or Tuesday! Then we'll have to clear a space for it... goodbye ironing board - who keeps an ironing board in a nursery anyway

And how is JellyBaby doing this week?!:

As you know, you've arrived at the final leg of your pregnancy journey, and if you're still carrying your little love around, they've just about reached their birth weight (somewhere between 6 to 8 pounds is average depending on whether they're a boy or girl). There really isn't a lot to report on baby this week, so lets do a quick recount of where we're at: all internal organ systems are pretty much ready for the outside world, they've got their meconium stockpile building up (their first black baby poo), lots of healthy baby fat, a rapidly developing brain (that'll keep growing with them for years to come), and they've more or less reached official baby status-- all they need to do is "head out" and say hello to the rest of the world and especially their ready-to-pop momma.

38 week midwife appointment

I had a lunch with my work colleagues today, whilst out the midwife phoned DH to say I needed to go in (she didn't realise I was due in today anyway). This scared me a bit as I had loads of blood & urine tests sent off last Friday.

Anyway, I went in for my app, she said my iron is verging on low and I'm to start iron tablets  Not constipation pills!!! I already struggle to poo as it is!! Least it's nothing serious, thank goodness!!

My app went well. No glucose in my urine today I had a slight trace of protein but she wasn't worried at all, she said it's most likley my pee was contaminated by CM?! Baby is now 3/5's engaged which is 1/5 more than last week and 3 wks ago Heartbeat was 140 again. Baby is head down, back down my right side. She said bubbs feels absolutely perfect. My bump measured 37cm so spot on

That's me done until 2 weeks today if I haven't had baby before then.

37 weeks!

Technically, we are full term!! This baby can come at any time! I finally got my hospital bag finished completely today. I got new PJs and a dressing gown, also some magazines and snacks. I then proceeded to unpack everything and then re-pack to make sure I have everything. So, yup, we're ready to go!!!!

I finished up with work last Friday, it was very strange leaving them, kinda a mixture between "i'm on a weeks holidays" and "OMG I'll never see you guys again", even though I will lol!! Baby got very spoilt indeed. The whole department clubbed together and bought the cot mobile and a play gym. We also got personal gifts from 3 girls. One of the gifts has become our "coming home" outfit... click here to see the outfit.

All I want now, is to get the house cleaned and I'll be a happy camper and ready for this babba!! The Braxton Hicks have increased over the past few days, nothing sore just a little uncomfy. Good ol' uterus getting prepared!!

Jellybaby time!!

It’s the calm before the storm. Changes in your baby's weight have leveled off with only a few ounces of fat added this week. At this point your baby should weigh in at around 7 lbs and 20 inches (with boys somewhat heavier and longer than girls). Happily, as far as internal organs go, they are now developed enough to function in the outside world although the oh-so-important immune system is still developing and will continue to do so after birth. With a large boost of antibodies provided by breast milk when nursing begins. Fighting infection and staying healthy should be well within their physical capacity when your little fighter is born.

37 week midwife appointment

DH came with me today as he didn't want me to drive myself  Thank goodness cos driving is so uncomfy for me

So, the m/w took bloods - the typical ones that should have been done last week, but she's doing extra cos I had protein, glucose & ketones in my urine :( She isn't too worried being I'm only 3 weeks from EDD. She's testing for a urine infection as well due to my light-headednedd and headaches - and advised me to drink as much as I can and drink cranberry juice as it flushes the peepee system out.

My rash on my bump, she wasn't overly concerned but I've to go back next week instead of in 2 weeks so she can re-check. Blood pressure was fine. My iron count is 114, their cut off point is 106 so she'll get that checked again from today's blood - I pray I don't need to take iron! OMG @ the constipation!!

Baby's heartbeat was perfect, I have a slight temp and my skin is hot to touch but she thinks it's the rash and cold from last week. She didn't seem overly concerned at all. And if anything shows up, the worst case scenario would be induction of labour   but   I don't think anything will show up though.

Baby is head down, 4/5 engaged. He/she has their back down my right side, looking over to my left with limbs to the left. I knew that though, he/she has been that position since 28 weeks. Good wee soul!!  All in, a fab app really. DH got to hear the heartbeat 

36 weeks!

Yep, only 4 weeks to go now!! Starting tmor, this is my last week of work. I'm getting to the stage where I'm needing the rest now. Especially after having a weeks holidays... going back in last Friday was very hard going!! 5 more working days though!!

We have the parenting class on Thursday night. This week is about labour and "typical, normal" delivery. Should be interesting!! And I have the midwife on Friday for my 36 weeks appointment, despite the fact I'll be 37 weeks. Our doctors were closed last Friday so it's delayed a week. I am looking forward to seeing if the midwife says baby has engaged further, I feel like there has been a slight drop. I am feeling movements lower down *there* so I'm guessing so!!

My cold have virtually gone now, I'm left with the horrible catarrh aftermath now lol!

JellyBaby time!!

The countdown continues… and in fetal developments: most of the bones (soft skull aside) in their little body are now completely hardened, providing a solid structure from which they can now make their grand debut into the world. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we are structurally ready for a secure launch. In physical fitness news: their muscle tone has also improved over these past few weeks, and you’ll definitely be impressed by their steel-like Ulnar grasp (a newborn reflex that occurs if you lay your finger in their palm). And in genital development: if you’re having a girl, her labia are now fully developed. Finally, in the fluids/excretion department: the amniotic fluid-to-baby ratio has fallen over these past weeks, although they’re still swallowing fluid (building up even more meconium for that historic first poop), and some vernix caseosa. They will be more than ready to swallow and digest milk after birth. Just in case you didn’t get it quite yet: you’ve got yourself an adorable and hungry 6.5 lbs 20 inch baby—are you ready?

And the very last picture in "how big is baby"... the next one will be a birth weight & picture of our baby!!!