24-week update

I have found a questionnaire that I will answer - that way I am more likely to keep on doing the updates!

How far along? 24 weeks on Sunday (soory picture below won't rotate, but this is the baby's face in profile) 

Maternity clothes? YES!!!Even starting to fit into some of the giant pants with waistbands up to my armpits. Some normal clothes, a couple of loose tops still fit or were lent to me in bigger sizes are still ok. But maternity clothes are really the most comfortable because they dont ride up and are comfortable over my stomach  

Stretchmarks? Not yet, despite my lax attitude to moisturising. I have started this week, but am not using anything special. Sorbolene cream in the morning, and some of my perfumed moistriser at night. My skin does feel tight and itchy, so I think it was a good time to start... Having said that, it is apparently genetic - you either do or you dont have them? Not sure what happened for Mum or either of my grandmothers  

Symptoms: I am feeling so good! Of course a bit tired, and sometimes I feel heavy. But I am loving this stage of my pregnancy!  

Sleep: Ok - depends on whether or not I am overtired. I have to sleep with this giant long pillow thing as I have been waking up with really bad back pains due to some weird sleeping positions. The pillow helps me to stay comfortable & non-contorted. I am waking up less too from being uncomfortable. Maybe pregnancy sleeping problems are a way to prepare new parents for being sleep deprived?

Miss Anything? Having to watch what I eat. Both foods to avoid, and making sure I avoid being hungry. Having said that, I have only put on 2kg! I'm trying to listen to my body and not let busy work days get the better of my eating habits  

Movement: Lots and lots! My little acrobat loves to move around - generally just before dinner time and when I'm in the car home. I often sing along to music in the car - maybe it doesnt like my singing?

Best moment this week: Marc finally feeling the baby moving! It's kicks were particularly strong on Sunday night, and it was pretty awesome for him to feel how the baby moves around! Another great moment was at the ultrasound - the baby was swallowing / breathing and even yawning alot!And I always love hearing the heartbeat...

Baby yawning (again can't rotate the photo, grrr!)

Food cravings: Ice-cream, greek yoghurt, casear salad and avocado... All relatively creamy things? I am also madly craving Indian food but I dont think this is baby related - Marc bought me an amazing Indian food cookbook for Christmas (Rick Stein - everything I have made has turned out awesome so far!)

Anything making you queasy or sick: The idea of tomato pasta sauce is still turning me off - but I'm trying to slowly test re-introducing cooked tomatoes back into my cooking  

Belly Button in or out? In - but noticeably shallower. I think it has a good chance of popping out by the end  

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy most of the time. A bit worried and sad yesterday, as I found out that it is most likely I will have to have a caesarian due to a very low placenta blocking the baby. Otherwise, baby is happy and well - growing as should be with a model-like size! I'm hoping that I will be the exception to the rule, and everything will move into place in time to let me give birth naturally (of course helped by alot of drugs hehe). In the end though, I have to come to terms with whatever happens - and I know that no matter what I have to do, I will do whatever is necessary to have a happy and healthy baby!

Looking forward to: Meeting our baby!!!! Some time off work at Easter in the near future, and starting to tackle the baby room... Ok now time for some ultrasound pictures - make of them what you will!

Bonjour... At last!

Hi everyone,

We have finally gotten our act together and started this little blog to keep you all updated about how things are going as our baby prepares itself for it's arrival... To start with probably an update of where we actually are now. At 5 1/2 months, time is flying, and seems both like it was yesterday and a year ago that we found out the good news! I still remember calling Marc into the bathroom extremely scared and nervous with a positive home preganancy test in my hand. A week later the doctor confirmed immediately - not with a blood test as I expected - but with a heartbeat and an ultrasound straight away! Hearing the heartbeat and seeing this little peanut really was the most immediate confirmation.

 
 Having being somewhat ignorant to the fact that the fatigue and nausea was actually all of those wonderful pregnancy side effects, I only really was conscious of morning sickness etc for about a month. Oliver and Anna can attest to both strange cravings (ice-cream and milo, corn chips everything!) and aversions (any sort of tomato based sauce), and of course the crippling tiredness (though whether or not this was my natural laziness manifesting itself is another question!). Baby continued to grow, and I am loving the monthly ultrasounds provided by the generous Belgian healthcare system.

 However halfway through the 4th month, this all started to get better, I had lots more energy and regained some of my appetite! It took a little while for the baby bump to emerge, but by the end of Janaury the bump was there along with some little champagne bubbles in my tummy!

Feeling the baby move was one of the most amazing things, and I am loving every second that I can feel it move - I like to imagine the baby is dancing, playing and swimming around! It is getting stronger and stronger everyday, and now Marc can feel the kicks and punches as the baby moves around... Marc spent last week in the French Alps, and it was a nice surprise when he came back to see a much more rounded bump! I am definitely looking pregnant now :) I am going to keep updating - trying to keep some info secret (the sex!!!)- and of course adding lots of photos Wish you were here...