How far along?29+6. Crazy to think I'll be 30 weeks tomorrow!
Stretch marks?Some quite low down, I keep being told I look like I'm carrying low so that'll be why. I didn't get a single stretch mark with Willow until she dropped right at the end of my pregnancy.
Sleep?Sleep as night is good, but I do feel like some days I could easily have a couple of hours nap. But then maybe that's just boredom as opposed to tiredness.
Best moment this week?Definitely Saturday when we decorated the Christmas tree. Willow was 100mph from the moment she woke up, sometimes I wonder how her tongue hasn't fallen out she chats that much! She went to bed that evening and told Kyle she'd had the best day ever and that she wanted to do it again. It made my heart burst when he came down and told me. Sometimes I forget how magical and exciting it must be for her.
Miss anything?Not at the moment, enjoying this new slower pace.
Movement?Still so active for the majority of the day. It's quite hard though at times and I do wonder if baby is maybe currently lay transverse or breech. Tonight was the first time I've actually felt a foot in my rib so maybe baby has moved?
Food cravings?Absolutely nothing. I have the occasional evening where I fancy a bit of chocolate but I think that's just normal female behaviour.
Anything make you queasy or sick?Nope nothing this week.
Gender?Still got a boy feeling but still absolutely clueless.
Labour signs?The Braxton Hicks haven't been so strong this week. I'm convinced I'll have to have a c section though, the closer I get to my next scan the more anxious I'm getting. I'm really trying to send out positive vibes that my placenta will have moved but it's hard, the anxiety does quickly creep back in. I think being told I look like I'm carrying low doesn't help, it seems like everything is so low down. I've got a midwife appointment again on Friday though so hopefully she can at least tell me what position baby is in, even though I know it has still got plenty of time to be flipping around.
Symptoms?I never heard back about my iron stores blood test so I'm assuming everything came back fine from that. I have been really out of breath today for the first time in over a week though so I'm guessing I'll probably have my levels checked again on Friday.
Belly button in or out?There's no going back for it now and it's the weirdest feeling when the baby presses a foot or a hand or an elbow, I'm not even sure what part of its body it is but you can push it from the outside and it's so weird.
Mood?Feeling good, maybe a little bit naggier than usual but nothing Kyle can't handle.
Maternity clothes?I bought a new pair of maternity jeggings which rival my New Look faux leather ones in the comfy department. I didn't end up buying anything else even after my meltdown last week but it's tiding me over for now. All my knitwear came out of the loft the other week and the majority of that fits me at the moment.
Looking forward to?Not sure at the moment. Everything is a little mundane at the moment isn't it so we haven't made any plans for the foreseeable.
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How far along?28+6.
Stretch marks?I'm going hard on the Bio Oil now but things are getting very tight. There's some new ones quite low down I think but I can't see them so that's that.
Sleep?I'm still getting some really good night's sleep thank god. I'm gonna make the most of them whilst they're I still can.
Best moment this week?I think I'm just savouring our slow weekends a little more now. It was nice for us all to get out for a long walk together on Saturday. It's about the most we can do at the moment so I'll just take what I can.
Miss anything?I don't think I do atm. Feeling very content.
Movement?I was saying to the midwife how considering it's foot problem it's still so much more active than what I remember Willow being. She was shocked when she used the doppler at my appointment on Friday how active it was.
Food cravings?Still nothing major. How boring.
Anything make you queasy or sick?Nothing. The cat has stopped pooing in the bath so that's a bonus.
Gender?Your guess is as good as mine.
Labour signs?Apart from the Braxton Hicks we're all good, but even they've calmed down since last week.
Symptoms?One thing I completely forgot to mention last week (I really don't know how it slipped my mind!) was about how out of breath I was. I phoned triage about it because it was at the time when I was isolating so I wasn't really overdoing it, just pottering around the house. The midwife said it could be my iron levels, which I'm already on two iron tablets a day. Well I had my 28 week appointment on Friday and she did a blood test again, I think more because I had my anti-D injection on the afternoon and they have to check if you have any antibodies in your system. They called me Saturday to say my iron levels had dropped again, which explains the breathlessness. I went for another blood test not long after that so they could check my iron stores, and if they're low I'll have to have an iron infusion.
Belly button in or out?As you can see by the picture it's definitely popping now.
Mood?I've been okay actually considering the lockdown. My midwife asked me how I was coping at my appointment and to be honest i'm enjoying being at home. I was so ready to finish work. It reached a point where it just felt like so many customers weren't happy with the rules and regulations that were in place, as if you'd put them in place yourself. I've got a nice balance of Willow being at nursery and home so I can get my to do list for the day done by about 11.30 then at least I know when I pick her up we can do something fun like go for a walk or bake cookies.
Maternity clothes?I had a mare on Sunday morning when I was just sat in front of my wardrobe with not a clue what to wear. I spent a while after that looking for some maternity outfit inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram. I definitely feel like I lose a bit of my style when I'm pregnant. I want to look nice and embrace my bump but it's hard when you've got this new shape to dress for such a short amount of time.
Looking forward to?I think we're going to put our Christmas tree up this weekend, as long as Scrooge, I mean Kyle, get's the decorations out of the loft for me. Me and Willow watched the video of us decorating the tree last year and she loved it so I definitely think we'll make a video out of it again.
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How far along?27+6. Rolling into the third trimester as of tomorrow!
Total weight gain?
Stretch marks?There's definitely more coming, but I still don't think they look angry and red. I've started using Bio-oil (better late than never eh) but it does say to use it from the start of the second trimester. But I was looking at my stretch marks this morning and I thought, they really don't bother me. Don't get me wrong I doubt I'll be flashing them off if we were to go on holiday in the future, I just don't think that's my style but I'm more than happy to rock a high waist bikini or a swimming costume.
Sleep?Good this week. I'm getting the hours in whilst I still can! The dark mornings definitely help, especially whilst me and Willow were isolating, and Kyle's good at the weekend that he gets up with Willow and lets me sleep in (most of the time).
Best moment this week?There's been no stand out best moment this week. I had the phone appointment with the orthopaedic hospital last Wednesday that I said I'd been waiting for. The consultant just went through the Ponseti method which is the treatment method used nowadays. A lot of it I already knew, because like I've said before knowledge is power in a situation like that. One of the main things Kyle and I were worried about is that baby's treatment might get delayed because of Covid, but it was a relief to know that it won't affect it's treatment whatsoever.
Miss anything?I miss how the world used to be. I really do. I miss having a weekend off and being able to go to the caravan and spending time with Kyle's Mum. Willow broke down in tears last week saying she missed her Nanny Nia so we facetimed her and I just sat behind her in tears because she was so upset. It just broke my heart. We said we'd see Nanny Nia as soon as her lockdown in Wales finished but obviously now that's not going to be the case after Boris's announcement on Saturday. It's just hard at the minute to see a light at the end of the tunnel with it all, no matter how positive we try to stay with it all.
Movement?Still loads of movement. Willow loves putting her head on my bump and letting it kick her in the head.
Food cravings?Still nothing major, but I realised the other day that I'd happily have peas on every meal I cook. Kyle always jokes about my love for peas since the one time when I said "I love peas" in a really creepy voice. I've always loved peas though but I just especially love them at the moment, like we get through a bag of peas a week at the moment.
Anything make you queasy or sick?I heaved and was nearly sick on Sunday when I had to clean cat poo out of the bath. Cat's are disgusting you know.
Gender?I haven't really thought to much about it this week. I was saying to Kyle the other day though how I don't like when people ask Willow what she wants or what she thinks it is. I hate that there's an emphasis put on the gender where she's concerned because she doesn't fully understand that it's completely out of our control and she won't get a sister just because that's what she wants. Whenever she says about a baby sister I always make sure I remind her that she might have a baby brother.
Labour signs?None yet.
Symptoms?I've been getting so many Braxton Hicks this week. I had to google whether what I was feeling could have been them because I thought they was something that came much later in the game but turns out you can have them from really early on but you just don't feel them. I've definitely been feeling them this week!
Belly button in or out?Yep, it's definitely out now.
Mood?Up and down, as I can imagine a lot of people are feeling at the moment, pregnant or not.
Maternity clothes?I've not bought anything new recently, I've actually got a bag of items from Primark that I'm going to return tomorrow because I'm not going to wear them in the next month whilst we're in lockdown.
Looking forward to?Although like I said I'm feeling very up and down about this second lockdown, I am looking forward to being able to pick Willow up from nursery everyday. I'm gutted the store is closing, I literally had about 4 weeks left anyway but it now means that Wednesday is my last day. I am mentally preparing all the Christmas films I'm gonna watch whilst Willow is in nursery and all the cleaning I'm going to do. I suppose at least this year we've really got our money's worth out of our rent having spent so much time at home! Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin
How far along?26+6. Six whole months today!
Total weight gain?
Stretch marks?No angry red ones still thank god.
Sleep?I had a bad night the night that the clocks went back. I actually watched it go from 1.59am back to 1.00am again. Then I did that hour wide awake again. But then on Sunday night I had such a good sleep. You know the ones where you don't stir at all from the moment you go to sleep to the moment you wake up.
Best moment this week?It's been a very quiet, very slow week. I've spent it all, apart from one day, in pyjamas. We've been isolating after being in contact with someone who tested positive for covid. It's had its ups and downs but it's been lovely spending some time with Willow.
Miss anything?I'd love to go for a walk but I don't think we're even allowed to do that. I actually have no idea what we can and can't do whilst we isolating so we've just played it safe really. I feel like over the last seven days I've watched the tree over the road turn so autumnal, it's beautiful. I just want to get out there for a long walk with my camera.
Movement?Oh my goodness so much movement! I feel like it's hardly stopped moving around and kicking this week. Probably because I've not been walking around as much as I would at work so I've probably noticed it more than usual.
Food cravings?I very briefly on Friday craved chocolate but I think that was more because I knew I couldn't just nip out to get any.
Anything make you queasy or sick?Nope.
Gender?I was thinking about it the other day and a lot less people have put their input in this time than I thought they would. You still get some people that automatically assume because we've already got a girl that we'd want a boy but that's absolutely not the case. I genuinely hand on heart just want my baby to be born safe no matter the gender.
Labour signs?None, but I do feel like my kicks are getting higher up, which in some ways is a good thing because at least it means baby is potentially head down.
Symptoms?I've been getting some very tight feelings in my lower tummy this week, the kind when you feel like your bladder is really really full. I don't know but I'm guessing it's just that things are getting super stretched down there.
Belly button in or out?Yep, it's definitely out now.
Mood?I've enjoyed the slowness this week. It's been that slow at some points I'm surprised we haven't stopped. I'm fully embracing it because I realise that even in the newborn bubble we'll still have to rush out for the nursery run every morning.
Maternity clothes?Like I said I've only been dressed one day since last Tuesday, I've lived in my pyjamas and truth be told I've not even bothered with underwear.
Looking forward to?Not so much that I'm looking forward to it but we finally got our referral from the orthopaedic hospital about baby's foot and I've got a phone appointment on Wednesday. I'm not sure what it will entail and whether we'll find out anything new but we'll see. I'm glad to see things are still moving and Covid hasn't put it on hold.
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How far along?25+6. The weeks just seem to be running away with themselves lately! Next Monday i'll be 6 months!
Total weight gain?I haven't weighed myself again this week.
Stretch marks?I can't tell if they're new or old ones on my belly. If they're new then they're not angry red ones which is somewhat of a relief I suppose but I'm not sure, they might just be my old ones that are more obvious because my skin is so stretched.
Sleep?Still getting good nights sleep around here, apart from very early Sunday morning when Willow came and snuck in by me and was just a nightmare. I was in work on Sunday at 8am and I swear I could have slept standing up.
Best moment this week?Nothing massive jumps out this week. It's just flew by in a flash. As I've mentioned a few times last week was my first week dropping down to four days at work and it was so nice. It means I'm on the home stretch now. I think I've got about six-ish weeks left at work. I'm not sure what my exact last day is but I know I still wanted to be in store for my 10 year H&M anniversary on 30th November.
Miss anything?Missing all my knitwear from last winter that is currently vacuum bagged up the loft. I asked Kyle to reach it out over the weekend but I think he copped out of that one by saying he couldn't reach with the step ladder. It's gotten so chilly recently and I'm desperate for all my long polo necks back in my life. I'm hoping they'll be long enough over bump.
Movement?Loads of movement still. As I'm sat here writing this I can something brushing right across the front of my belly. It's such a weird feeling isn't it. One that you so quickly forget about when it's gone but I'm appreciating it all the more right now.
Food cravings?Nothing!
Anything make you queasy or sick?Nope thank goodness.
Gender?I still have a boy feeling. I keep suggesting names to Kyle and he keeps questioning why I'm only suggesting boys names. I think I just hear a lot more boys names that I like than girls names. I have about four girls names that I like but I like slightly unusual names, nothing massively out there, but definitely more individual than what Kyle would typically like.
Labour signs?Nothing.
Symptoms?I've had a few more achy days this week than I have been having more recently. The pain has been down my left side but right into my groin. I've also noticed that I get out of breath so quickly. Even just walking around work and talking to staff I'm finding myself having to stop and catch my breath.
Belly button in or out?Yep, it's definitely out now.
Mood?I've been feeling a little anxious about the thought of a C-section. I'm really really trying not to dwell on it too much until I have my scan at 31 weeks because right now it's just out of my control and I suppose if my placenta hasn't moved and I do have to have one then I'll make my peace with it when I know for definite. I had a chat with my friend about it a couple of weeks ago, she had a C-section with her twins so I feel like we've discussed the worst parts of it.
Maternity clothes?I've been trying to find a few new pieces this week and ended up having to send some pictures of me in a couple of outfits to my sister down in Surrey. I can always rely on her for honesty. I'm not finding maternity jeans comfortable at all so picked up a fitted dress from Primark which is way out of my comfort zone and a knitted skirt and jumper which out of the two outfits my sister was not so keen on.
Looking forward to?Looking forward to Willow breaking up for half term on Friday. We've not really got any plans, we would have gone to the caravan for Halloween weekend but they've just announced a two week lockdown so that won't happen so I think I'll do a Halloween sweet hunt around the house and just do some baking and chill at home.
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I think this pictures a bit of a cop out since there's a pumpkin covering my belly, but hey! tis' the season and all that!
How far along?24+6. I definitely didn't have time to sit down and write this last week. I was busy building a balloon arch and wrapping presents like the birthday fairy I am.
Total weight gain?I haven't weighed myself again this week.
Stretch marks?I do look from time to time but I think the only ones there at the moment are still old ones.
Sleep?Sleep is good at the moment thank goodness, although I am starting to feel that need to pee a few times a night...
Best moment this week?Well obviously Willow's birthday last Tuesday was a highlight, I didn't stop on the Monday and Tuesday but it was so worth it! Then Sunday we went pumpkin picking and she loved that. It's the first time we've been and it's definitely a new tradition.
Miss anything?I don't. Just feeling grateful.
Movement?So much movement. Willow's even started to feel it and it's the cutest thing ever when she pops her little hand on my belly.
Food cravings?Nope still absolutely nothing.
Anything make you queasy or sick?Nope thank goodness.
Gender?Still don't know, but I'm swaying more to boy feelings at the moment but I think that's partly just because I know that the talipes is more common in boys. I was convinced Willow was a boy all the way through her pregnancy so who knows.
Labour signs?Nothing.
Symptoms?I saw my midwife for the first time on Friday and I'd spoke to her on the phone a couple of weeks ago about my worry about having to wear a mask all day at work. When the rules first changed in July I ditched wearing a visor and started wearing a mask, but then one of the days I had a funny turn and thought I was going to pass out. Needless to say since then I went back to wearing my visor. Anyway, she said she'd take some blood which I don't think is done routinely at 24 weeks but thank goodness she did because my iron levels are low so I've started iron tablets today - pray for my bowels haha. I've also got low blood pressure which my sister said can be improved with regular fluid and salt so I'm just trying to remember to drink plenty and more often because I'm definitely not the best at that.
Belly button in or out?I think we can officially say it's out.
Mood?Like I said I'm just feeling so grateful to be carrying this baby. We've reached the viable stage of pregnancy which is somewhat of a relief but at the same time I know just how precious the pregnancy journey actually is. I think the fact that it is baby loss awareness week has brought it to the forefront of my mind even more.
Maternity clothes?I've still been living in my leather look leggings. I'm not even joking they are the comfiest trousers I've got at the moment. I've been browsing Primark quite a bit this last week and found some lovely autumnal pieces including some midi dresses so I might get a couple to try.
Looking forward to?It's my first week doing only four days so I'm looking forward to my few days off this week. I'll be so glad to go on maternity leave so I can just stay at home in my own little bubble. I'm not someone that's really anxious about the virus but the working environment hasn't been the same since we reopened (as I'm sure nowhere is) and not a day goes by that a customer isn't happy about the new rules that are in place, even though they are fully out of our control.
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How far along?22+6. How rubbish am i at taking photos this time around?! I'm going to make sure I have the photo out loads over the weekend.
Total weight gain?I haven't weighed myself again this week.
Stretch marks?My stomach is definitely feeling tighter. I think there must be some heading my way.
Sleep?It's been a good week in the sleep department. And my favourite thing is when Willow first sees me in the morning she has asked me if my tummy is okay.
Best moment this week?There wasn't one particular moment but Friday turned out to be a good day. I spent the morning fretting about maternity leave, unsure what to do, when to plan on finishing work. I've been feeling really swamped later. I said last week about missing having more time and it's really taking its toll on me. Something had to give. So my manager, who I have to say, I'm so grateful for, mocked up some rotas if I was to go down to 4 days a week and use a days holiday every week until I go off on maternity. I'm so ready for it.
Then my instagram started working! Totally unrelated to baby or pregnancy or anything but I've gone really quiet on there lately because it seemed a little pointless uploading a photo without a caption, and I'd get more and more annoyed every time I'd forget and tried to like a photo and get the message pop up saying it wasn't allowed.
Then towards the end of the day I had a message from a lady who was selling a Snuzpod on Martketplace to say the person who was supposed to be collecting it hadn't shown up. So Mum came with me for company and we headed over to the next town to pick it up that evening. I am honestly so pleased with it! I was going to have a moses basket from my sister but I'd been thinking about it and with baby's foot/leg potentially having to be in a cast I figured something with a little more room would probably be better. The lady I bought it from said her twin daughters had only grown out of theirs at 10 months so hopefully it'll last a while. Mum joked that if I have the side down next to the bed I'll wake up covered in bruises from Wonky's cast.
Miss anything?I don't think I do this week.
Movement?Saturday baby was going crazy, really big strong kicks. Then Sunday hardly anything. I can normally rely on a good kick about in the evening when I'm still after a day on my feet but I was almost getting to the point where I was considering phoning triage. It must have just been having a chilled Sunday because it's made up for it today.
Food cravings?I've had more savoury cravings this week. Like I could eat one bag of crisps then eat another straight after. I've always been a bit of a crisp monster though.
Anything make you queasy or sick?Nope, it's been a good week!
Gender?Still a surprise. I do honestly just love this feeling of not knowing. It's so special.
Labour signs?Nothing.
Symptoms?I've noticed the need to wee a hell of a lot more has started again.
Belly button in or out?I think it's the last week I'll be able to get away with saying it's just about still in.
Mood?Feeling better knowing it's my last week of working 5 days. I worked yesterday too so I'm doing 6 days in a row which is also something my manager has tried to do is give me no more than 3 or 4 days in a row just in case my SPD flares up, but thankfully, I've not ached too much lately. Only the usual aches from being on my feet nearly all day.
Maternity clothes?I bought a pair of faux leather leggings from New Look and they are honestly the most comfy pair of trousers! I've also been wearing a pair of beige colour trousers that I just grabbed from H&M in the sale. They're the perfect colour for a lovely neutral autumn outfit, but they go baggy so quickly!
Looking forward to?My Christmas present from Mum and Dad this year is a tumble dryer, I'm all about the practical presents these days and to be honest I think Mum was probably fed up of me asking to use hers all the time. But anyway, it arrives tomorrow and I cannot bloody wait!
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