Midwife and all is well!

We had our 34 week midwife appointment yesterday and all is well! We discussed my birth plan which she seemed very happy with and checked in on Toto.

He is lying in the correct position, head down etc. We could even feel his head when we pushed our fingers into my belly! His heartbeat was fine and he wriggled away as always.

My weight, BMI, blood pressure etc etc are all just fine. Nothing exciting- or scary thank god!

Not much else to tell. Toto continues to be very active and is keeping me awake plenty, my belly grows every single day.

It shouldnt be much longer till I get to meet our little boy! I cant wait!

NCT Class- Session two!

Well yesterday was the second session of our NCT class. We covered induction for labour, baby care, relationships and our new role and Mom and Dad.

It was yet again a fantastic session. We learnt how to swaddle babies, change bath and dress, we talked about our new roles and how we might feel.

I think both of us are worried about different things, but all our concerns are very common. We split into two groups (Dads in one, Moms in the other) and each group had to list Bad Points and good points of becoming a parent. Strangely enough each group found about five bad points before we all started on the good. We know how hard this is going to be, but for that first smile or giggle- it will all be worth it!

Baby Shower!

Well, last night was my baby shower. I had the most fantastic time! What an evening. I got home and walked into the house which had been decorated by Yvette and Jo whilst I was out. It looked amazing! WOW! The whole lounge had baloons, banners, ceiling danglers, curtain style decs, cardboard cutouts, matching plates, tablecloths and more! The conservatory and outside had banners and decs too! FAB!

Jo and Yvette also arrived early to help get the food out and arrange things. Both of them were just fantastic and I am so happy they are my friends x

We drunk (shloer for me), ate, nattered and laughed. It really was a perfect evening and meant so much having so many friends there for us.

Presents! They are amazing. People have been so, so kind and generous. I feel very humbled by how nice everyone has been. The gifts we got were:

Jo, Matt and family: Gift basket containing tons of baby stuff, bib, wipes, nappies, powder, a gorgeous Humphreys corner plate and bowl set, the cutest pair of Lonsdale baby shoes and more!

Yvette & family: A gorgeous blue taggies blankie- soooo cute and soft, a touchable and lovely teddy and a taggies baby book.

Sophie: 37 degrees baby wear! We got a vest suit and a baby grow- this stuff is awesome and we just wouldnt have treated ourselves :) http://www.37degrees.co.uk/

Mum & Stu: Baby bouncer/ vibrating chair that we can carry round with us AND a 3 in 1 rocker which is exactly what I wanted for Toto! He will be a happy baby with these- I LOVE this stuff! Also baby grows, teddy etc http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3754030/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CBaby+and+nursery%7C9556510/c_2/2%7Ccat_9556510%7CBaby+bouncers+and+swings%7C9556541.htm

Charl and Kerry: Very cute crawling Pooh bear- he is lovely AND extra baby gear! Awww

Laura and Steve: Beautiful baby blanket and teddy from Mamas and Papas

Sue: Soooooo cute baby lumberjack outfit with matching felt booties.. OMG sooo cute!

Martyn and Becky: All stuff they found most useful! Dummys with individual teat covers and sterilising box, baby grows and a V cushion with cover- fab especially the cushion- I am already using it!

Yvonne: Wonderful baby gym! Bright colours, dangly toys- Toto will adore this I am sure- we do!!!

Kerry: Fantastic baby bag with baby wipes, toys, bath stuff etc- all the bits we need!

Richard & Gemma: Fab playmat with colours and textures! Wicked!

Heather: couldnt make the party but got us a beautiful nappy cake containing nappies, socks, cotton wool etc- stunning!

Mari: Couldnt make it either but got us a mini nappycake with Muslins, Nappies, socks and a teddy bear! Awww

We just had the best evening ever. What awesome friends we have :) Love you all xxx

NCT Class

Well, we had our first NCT class on childbirth and labour yesterday. It ran from 11am until 5.30pm so was a long day!

I must say I thought it was absolutely fantastic. We were one of seven couples, four of the girls are due just before me and two of them not until the end of August, everyone had their husbands/ partners with them which worked really well.

We covered a huge amount of information but Rachel (who runs the sessions) made it very enjoyable and fun!

Main things we covered were: What your body does during labour/ childbirth, stages of labour. Contractions and knowing when to go to Hospital, call midwives etc. Coping with early stages of labour, relaxation techniques, positions, breathing, massage etc etc. We then went through pain relief methods including everything from Hypnotherapy to water labour/ births, Gas and Air, Pethidine and Epidurals. We discussed Home Births, Midwifery led units, Consultant led units etc and the difference and advantages/ disadvantages.

The men were also given a bag in which they had to add items to the weight of what Mum is carrying around, including the baby, placenta, waters etc I think every single guy there was amazed at the sheer weight of it all!

One of the items we used a lot during the session was birthing balls/ gym balls. They are fantastic during pregnancy just to sit and relax on, just watching TV even! This also helps to get baby into the correct position for birth! Then once labour starts are perfect for helping you in different positions etc. They really seem invaluable so we brought one on the way home :)

There is a good mix in our group of different planned births. From Home water birth to epidural births. I think we all agree that we will just take it as it comes.

For me I went in being fairly sure I would have an epidural to being less set on this. An epidural will extend your labour time significantly and I really want to be quite fast if possible!!! Also the baby is much more likely to have an assisted delivery (ventouse or forceps) which shouldnt give any long term issues but must be painful and more stressful for the little one. Also you are likely to have to stay longer in hospital afterwards to recover. There is also a fair percentage of Epidurals that just DONT WORK! At least one in every eight simply doesnt work- Just hope at that time that you have practised your other birthing techniques- although they can resite the epidural if needed. The other issue is the headaches. Sometimes (in fact about 1 in 30 epidurals) will cause some cerebo spinal leakage! This causes the Mother of all headaches, think of a terrible migraine and treble it! There is also nothing they can do if this happens you just have to sit it out and the next day or so they can inject blood to seal it, this should then help! Oh also you are more likely to need a cut or stitched with epidurals! Finally as you have to be totally still to have an epidural, a lot of women by this point in labour just cant stay still therefore cant get one!

For me I am going to try to go into this open minded. I think I will start with baths at home then onto Gas and Air at Hospital, If I find that I am really not coping I have no problem with an Epidural but would like to try without- we will see how it goes! The only thing I am not keen on is Pethidine as this is the one thing that can affect baby and for the benefits it gives me I don't feel it would be worthwhile.

This is quite a good site for reading about pain relief in labour http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/labourandbirth/painrelief/

I must say that I feel much more prepared and excited after attending the class- reality is setting in!!!

Sunday we have our next NCT class. This time we will concentrate on caring for ourselves and baby after birth! Nic is looking forward to that more than this one :)

Ouch Belly!

Well belly continues to grow and grow bump is now 43.5" all round and my muscles ache!

At the moment I am getting a lot of muscular aching right on the top of my bump. It is all so stretched and solid it feels like if someone poked it with a pin it would pop!

Last night I was lying on my back and massaging my bump with moisturiser, it allowed me to push quite hard and I was amazed at what i felt... I could feel the hard bumps of Totos back and legs etc. Nic got all freaked out and wouldnt feel him LOL... I think I will keep winding Nic up with this for a while now :)

NCT childbirth classes start Monday coming! Will let you know how they go!

Ooo and heres a quick sketch of what Toto and me should look like now!

Fat Tum!

Suddenly realised i havent taken any measurements lately! Well I just measured around my bump and it is 42.5" now! Good God will I ever get my waist back!?!

What I didnt expect is the extra weight that seems to have been distributed everywhere else on my body. Now apparently this is to store fat for when you are breastfeeding after the baby comes along.

Ok, whoevers listening 'up there'... my baby DOES NOT need that extra fat thank you very much, there will be plenty stored up without you adding a few inches to my butt!

I am still active.. eating pretty much the same (give or take the odd MARS ice cream) still doing my agility, walking the dogs etc but my butt seems to want to grow. Ah well, at least it balances the big bump round the front, out a little...

tee hee BFN! x

His Name...

Well we don't know what it is yet but we heard some of you were getting worried that his name would actually be Toto... LOL but NO!!!

Toto is just our nickname for him until he is born and we decide on an official name x

I WANT: Taggies Blanket

Well, I have decided to add an I WANT post every now and again. These are baby/ kiddie items that are not a necessity by any means but I just WANT ONE coz they are either so nifty or cute!

First into the I WANT vault is...

TAGGIES!

I have just discovered a CUTE item called 'Taggies' for babies! Apparently babies love the labels on things, so following that idea, a clever person created 'Taggies' which are soft blankets with tons of tags on them for baby to play with!

They are such cute designs I just HAVE to get one!!!

Yvette I love you! My fab and funky mate Yvette has asked to get me one of these as a Baby Shower gift (along with arranging the whole thing and paying for it)! Yvette you are a star!

Final Scan

Well, we went for our final scan today. I am 30.5 weeks gone and my belly is big and uncomfy. I feel like I have eaten a meal, got overfull and then had pudding and then another dinner!!!

Dru our scanner said all is well with baby Toto. She got some fantastic photos and we watched him gulping, swallowing and waving his arms around. He even gave her a hefty kick in response to her trying to make him move his hand.

We finally went and brought some bottles. I have stuck with getting Dr Browns even though Nic has tried to change my mind! I was reassured and pleased when the pharmasists at Boots csaid that they are absolutely fantasic! We are planning on breast feeding and formula feeding Toto. We decided that we want him to be able to take either but want the benefit of Moms milk if possible. We also got some more dummys/ soothers for him!

Well Dru was fab and worked out his birthweight for us. She is expecting him to be over 8lbs nearly 4kgs which is a good, healthy size... no, easy-to-push baby for me! Ouch!

Anyway, here are some photos from the scan. I have marked these as they obviously arent as clear as the last ones. (As the babies get bigger they get more difficult to see clearly on the scan shots).