Spring is very much here

A lot has been happening since I wrote my last blog post. Four weeks feels like a long time because I’ve been thinking about so much. Some days I feel really quite slow and cumbersome, sometimes falling into bed in the evening relieved to have reached the end of the day. Henry’s been working many, many, many hours and I’ve not been disciplined at properly relaxing in the evenings without him. Instead, watching tv shows, zoning out rather than winding down. It’s odd, I’m driven and focused on one defining future point, counting down the weeks as our due date comes closer and closer. There’s something relatable to awaiting the end of an exam period. But at least in that you have a defined date and time for the end, the return to normality.

As I attend more appointments and classes, I’m feeding impatience for our next adventure to start. Prepare, research and plan, whatever happens next is going to be life changing. Pregnancy will end and an even bigger experience will begin. 

Now that I’m sitting comfortably at home in my rocking chair I can most ardently say being pregnant is way nicer than exams periods. Baby has been jiggling away this evening, almost knowing when to grab my attention with a big rib-ward kick.

- Preparations -

We finally made it to my sister’s house for a day of gear chat and advice, as well as assistance from my gorgeous 3yr old niece. Elisabeth is lending us a mound of things which will make bringing our little one home much easier and significantly cheaper. I’m using her birthing ball at home each evening which I was very sceptical of but now think is brilliant. It’s so comfortable, gentle bobbing on it after a day of sitting on chairs and plodding on tired legs. She also lent us a huge stash of baby clothes to get us going for hopefully the first few months. (I love picking out baby clothes myself but it would be silly to buy more when little one will grow out of them so quickly).

This is the baby’s wardrobe filled with clothes from 0-3 months(ish). The white onesies and vests are Elisabeth’s and the coloured ones are my own. I’ve kept the newborn bits ready in our room, where baby will sleep.

Henry and I have been to the first few sessions of our anti-natal preparation class run by Bump and Baby. I was incredibly nervous for the first one but everyone is friendly and I think we all feel similarly apprehensive about all there is to learn. I’m learning a lot and the course leader is a lovely, reassuring midwife.  

All the nappies I bought on Facebook Marketplace; washed, stuffed and ready for when baby gets a little bigger. (Supposedly sized from newborn but I’m going to hire smaller ones to get us started with cloth).

- My 3rd Trimester -

This week I’ll be 32 weeks pregnant. 8 months, a big milestone. At my last midwife appointment I learnt that our baby is spending quite a bit of time laying transverse across my belly; low down in my pelvis. It’s quite comfortable except when I get up to exercise and my right legs goes numb. I discussed this with a physiotherapist who suggested baby is pressing on a nerve. It’s not painful but after a few minutes walking I start hobbling as my right leg goes tingly and I struggle to bend my foot to the floor. It’s rather funny, unless I’m at the yard rushing to feed Kiwi and not be late for work. Baby is still moving around at this point and sometimes I’m sure he’s vertical again as I can feel him solidly down my chest. The midwife suggested that if he becomes fully situated transversely I’ll need a Caesarean Section. There’s lots of time for him to wiggle around so we’ll see where he decides to nest over the next few weeks.

Bluebell season is here. Each day I drive past the woods to feed Kees I see the purple carpet peeping from beneath the trees. We took Oscy for a walk on Sunday after a pub lunch.

I love how happy he is and how green the surroundings are. The verges and trees are lush with growth which makes me smile with thoughts of summer.

I’m adjusting steadily now to my increasing shape and girth. I felt quite vulnerable for a while. I realised I can’t move like I used to. Getting up and down from a chair or bed, putting on shoes and socks have all become a bit harder and therefore more deliberate. It took a while to feel okay with not being able to move swiftly and easily as I used to. I suppose the sensation must be similar to that of age affecting your body. I currently can’t imagine ever trying to run or use the rowing machine. But I’m hoping, after baby arrives and given time, I’ll one day reach down and touch my feet again.

My least favourite developments this trimester have been; the return of night sweats and laying awake in the early hours of the morning, as well as being prescribed an Iron supplement to increase my level for labour and post delivery. I’m on the border of being low and given my experience of the supplement I wish I had just a little more in my blood result. The iron tablet is tremendously constipating and the prescribed solution, lactulose, is a sugary syrup taken every day morning and evening. I’ve gotten used to the taste now but I’m still unsure what direction my bowl movements are heading in each day. I eat more than enough prunes to stop enjoying the flavour of them. So, so ready for the end of iron tablets!

I had another Keppra blood test at the beginning of March and the results have just come back. Unsurprisingly, my concentration has dropped significantly. Surprisingly, I’ve had no reaction. I haven’t experienced any seizure activity at all, which is a great relief. I’m upping my dose again to keep safe, adding another coloured pill to my daily regimen.

I feel pregnancy has been so steady and enjoyable for me (so far). It’s almost magical. I’m as relaxed as normal, physically well and growing fiercer in mind. Reading about labour and birth has made me think about my body with a pride I’ve not considered before. Greatly influencing my experience has been the medical care I’ve had since becoming pregnant. Which has been amazing. I’ve had appointments with multiple departments; doctors, specialists and midwives and everyone has been supportive and kind. I feel extremely fortunate in this..      

This is an Egyptian goose we saw on our visit to Boulters Lock on Easter Monday. A rather magnificent looking creature.