Bump 40 weeks pregnant

40 weeks pregnant

Due date's been and gone and I've done many things to encourage the onset of this baby's birth:

Pineapple and curries - though abandoned when I realised it would take at least 7 pineapples to make the slightest difference and my stomach wouldn't appreciate too many curries. Several tweeps also advised against the idea and suggested acupuncture instead. I pressed my thumbs for 3 minutes in hope of a twinge and then got bored. Will look up a local acupuncturist or ask my reflexology friend for mates rates. She has a 50% success rate for birth induction through reflexology but costs £45 a sesh... I've cleaned the flat again, and again and been keeping active mainly running after Leon and jumping around with him to the tune of Hop Little Bunny. My man's been doing his bit too by giving me a fair amount of prostaglandins..

Now baby. Where are you?!

*er... this was meant to be posted on Sat 21st Jan ;)

Bump 38 weeks pregnant! Fears, names and belly cast

38 weeks! I'm almost at the end of my second pregnancy and have slowed down a lot. I feel heavy, tired and a responsibility to Leon to avoid labouring too early: I'm due on the 21st Jan and Leon's birthday was 5th Jan so it wouldn't be fair to him to have his little brother's birthday in the same week, right? I've been staying local, not doing as much housework, not walking as far, being strict with foods and avoiding sex :S

I felt the baby drop around Christmas time and yesterday at my check up the GP couldn't feel the head so sent me for a positioning scan- thankfully the baby does have a head and it's pointing south and ready to go! I'm very excited and nervous at the same time. He's still moving a lot and I feel a lot of pressure low down- I feel he could come at any moment! 

We're still stuck for baby names, though I think it's mainly me vetoing all suggestions crossing them off as too boring, too girly, don't sound right in English, not strong enough... We have a few OK names on the list, but I'd like something brilliant! I love Zorro, Zoltan and Danté, but Diego and Joseph are pushing past as they're 'safer'. I'm waiting for the inspiration but may have to settle on a nice name soon... Or a least a feasible short list and pick one when we see him. Eek I can't believe he'll be coming so soon!

38 weeks pregnant Jan 2012

Plastered

We cast my bump last night- very fun! I bought a 15cmx14m roll of Mod Roc £7.99 from a local art shop (as opposed to £25 'bump cast' kits) and it was very easy! I cut the roll into shorter strips (approx 30cm), gave husband a large bowl of warm water, lay down a load of newspaper on the living room floor, donned some old knickers then slathered on some stretch mark oil I had a lot of (you can use Vaseline, baby oil etc) and knelt on the floor with my arms above my head (to appear perky!).

There were no instructions but I figured it was basically soaking the bandages in water. A quick look on the Modroc website explained nicely that the warmer the water, the quicker the setting time - it should take 2-4 minutes to dry- super quick! It took hubby 20 minutes roughly to complete the job (start up high then work your way down) and I could feel it drying and pulling away from my body.

**NB. Make sure your plasterer squeezes out the excess water or you'll find it takes too long to dry AND mix a smaller bowl of PVA glue and water 50/50 mix and paint on a final coat inside and out to avoid a crumbly effect**


Et voila! I was happy with the result and pleased to have a memento of what could be my last pregnancy. Though- according to other half- it won't be as we'll have eight kids... Errr yeah right!

38 weeks pregnant bump cast

Now, I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to paint it, or where it'll go- but it was lots of fun and I can always whip it out to remember the pregnant feeling...

Bump 35 weeks pregnant!

35 weeks pregnant... 5 to go! I can't believe how fast it's all gone.

The first trimester was a bit nauseating and tiring, but although delighted at the thought of another creation growing inside of me, I didn't give it as much thought and wonder as my first pregnancy. Leon kept me busy enough as it was and I felt like I already understood what was happening- what was developing inside of me. It felt more animalistic than the first time. On another note, there's a huge difference between finding out at 11 weeks that you're surprisingly pregnant, and planning on creating a child. It's hugely romantic.

I love the feeling of second trimester when all that energy kicks in and I found myself bouncing about, very happy- feeling strong and healthy... But then that all flew out the window as my dad had a stroke at the end of July- it was critical and well, he didn't make it. I thought he'd pull through but after a couple of days it didn't happen. I don't know how this affected my foetus but he must have felt an onslaught of emotions and wondered what was up. I talked to my bump a bit just to reassure it, while explaining how sad I was that he wouldn't meet his grandpa. I also spoke to my dad, comatose in hospital, hoping he could hear me, saying my thank yous, sorrys and hopes and fears for the future- anytime I'd think of the future I'd break down, sad that he wouldn't be part of it anymore. It's actually affecting me more recently than at the time.

This last, third tremester, has tired me out a bit- Leon (almost 2) has become more active and engaging, wanting to play on the floor a lot, but I've noticed his games have become more imaginative since I've been doing that and he's content to play by himself again, building cities with towers topped with animals, a huge transport mix, varying bus passengers from people to stones and coins and singing along all the way. I'm enjoying his naptime more whether its a chance to snooze or take a couple of hours for myself. I've certainly got that nesting feeling put together with the likelihood of moving abroad in March. My energetic second trimester is catching up with me now and I'm feeling some back pain, one braxton-hicks contraction that I didn't have last time, and very slow and emotional- missing out on a lot of fun and nights out because I'm preggers and getting that 'useless' feeling about my life purpose blah blah. I snap out of it and am most content when I've cleaned my flat or made a delicious meal... But this isn't how I'd planned my late twenties to be like!

Anyway, I'm due a checkup soon to see how the little brother is getting on, and last time he was still upside down so trying to work out exactly where he is by feeling his movements! It's very hard but this site on belly mapping spinningbabies.com has been helping clear that up and I intend to determine exactly what's what! It's a great way of understanding your body, bone structure and baby!

And the bump? My, it has grown and won't stop moving- he's a feisty one he is... but I'm not as big as I was with Leon. He was 9lbs 9oz at birth so I'm hoping a smaller bump means smaller baby... (Please excuse the mess and the washing!)

35 weeks Dec 2011

19 weeks Aug 2011

A move to Madrid with tot and bump? Gulp.

Friday night hubby comes out with: "How do you fancy moving to Madrid my dear? We can leave next month" An opportunity had come up and he could potentially open a new office out there, but would have to leave soon.

Erm... Well... I'm 4 months pregnant, would have to give birth there, deal with a newborn AND a toddler sola with no family around and a slight fear of spaniards. My dad passed away this summer and my sisters will be away at university leaving my mum by herself. Wouldn't I be a terrible daughter?

"But look at these amazingly huge apartments smack bang in the centre, next to this park, with a terrace, a lift and a pool for the same rent as our 1-bed flat in Twickenham! My London salary with Madridlenian costs = living like Kings and saving. I guarantee you'll adore this city and you can fly home once a month for a week if you like."

Ooohhh...

When we met, hubby had already spent 2 years living it out in Madrid and obviously had a fantastic time between internships and studying, living in the heart of the city and absorbing it so well that he knows it like the back of his hand and speaks like a native. (I'd even say he speaks better Spanish than me - which sucks!). I had visited a good friend there once in my student years and although found it very pretty, and adored the food, there appeared to be a more enforced class division that was a bit uncomfortable and it seemed a bit behind the times compared to London. But hubby convinced me that was the Madrid de pijos and he'll show me the 'other side' that he knows I'd love.

So here I am, Monday morning researching maternity hospitals, the health system, playgroups, childcare, nurseries, job Market (for me) and waiting to hear if there is any more news on this decision that will most certainly jolt me welcomely from my comfort zone. No proximity to our families, no river or sea in Madrid- I'll miss my river walks, the rain, the new friends I've made since becoming a mother, the familiarity of day-to-day life, but mostly, the place where Leon's grown up.

But that's silly! I'm after something exciting, changes, warmth, freedom and challenges. We always planned to move around a bit and we haven't (largely convinced by my parents that the Richmond area was the best place to live in Europe if not the world). Motherhood has pretty much turned me into a rather traditional housewife whether I like it or not and I feel the need of a release to propel me to a more exciting life. We were expecting to move to Paris early next year, but Paris now feels like a second home to me anyway. Hubby's family will surely be disappointed as we've put off moving there for 2 years. Leon has a little cousin there too. But sometimes we have to do what's right for us. We're still young, don't own a property and can still be mobile. The cost of renting a larger place here in SW London is huge, and Paris is not much different as we'd be looking intra muros.

My worries that Leon (and I) will have to learn a whole new range of songs to join in at playgroups is the height of it and I'm ready and happy to take on this challenge.

I'm starting with www.mumabroad.com/Madrid as a resource for expats in Madrid but if anyone has tips of moving abroad with a toddler or pregnant they'd be very welcome.