16 Week Update

Oh my gosh I finally have a minute to update the blog! What a full on week this has been. Its always busy when I have exams and they always take a lot out of me but even more so while growing this tiny human being inside me! I had a 3 hour exam yesterday afternoon and another this morning so can everyone keep there fingers crossed for me that I did enough to pass pretty please?

Now onto baby Paicey, the little munchkin is doing fabulous. I know this as I just came out of my 16 week midwife appointment. I am 16 weeks, 5 days so the appointment and this post are a little late. I had my blood tests reviewed and all came up great. Blood pressure and urine samples today were good and our jelly beans heart rate was really strong at 146 beats per minute.

I had a scare last week when I had a very minor accident in the car. I ran up the back of a motorcyclist but going very slowly as I had slammed on my breaks. It was more scary than anything, no-one was hurt and very minimal damage. Thankfully the lady I ran into was lovely and really nice about it all as I was so shocked that she was comforting me when I imagine it was more scary for her!
I booked in to the GP for a check up the next day and the doctor could not find my little ones heartbeat on her doppler. She booked me into the early pregnancy unit at the hospital for a scan but couldn't get an appointment for 5 days. So we had a long wait and my husband was quite worried but I just felt everything was fine with the baby so tried to put it out of my mind. On Monday I went into the hospital and the nurse found the heartbeat on the doppler immediately and didn't proceed with the scan. The nurse at the hospital was appalled that I had waited 5 days without knowing if the baby was ok and said I could have come right in that same day if my doctor had told them that she hadn't found a heartbeat. Needless to say, I will not be going back to that doctor as she had no empathy towards a first time mum to be or any mum to be really.

I think its safe to say that my bump has finally popped out and I feel pregnant! But not in that awful feeling sick kind of pregnancy way, just that I am super proud of my little bump and I love it. I wonder if I will feel that way at the end?! I've been feeling great this week. No nausea at all and tiredness kept at bay. There has been a huge difference so far in the second trimester to how I felt in the first trimester. The only issue i've had the past week has been a very sore lower back.

Mr P and I have booked a holiday to Lanzarote for a week on Sunday. The temperatures are a high of 21 and low of 16 so not boiling hot but so much nicer, dryer and sunnier than the British winter we are having. I am really looking forward to a week of relaxing, spas, eating, sun baking and reading books all whilst enjoying my husbands company. A little babymoon for us! Ill post a pic of the bump on holiday in Lanzarote for my 17 week update, but for now here are 2 photos of my bump popping out. Excuse the photos, I had just finished my exams and been running around like a mad woman!

Week 13

How far along? 13 weeks, 2 days.

Symptoms: This week I am feeling great! Nausea has subsided as has complete exhaustion and I am feeling so happy!

I had my first dizzy spell when I was out and about at one of my favourite cafe's. I was queuing and started to get hot and bothered and then started to see 'stars'. I quickly grabbed a seat and some lovely customers noticed I was unwell and got me a drink of water, asking if I was OK which I was, within 5 minutes, albeit a little embarrassed. I have since found out that pregnant ladies have an increased blood volume and it takes our bodies time to adjust to this which can lead to dizziness.

Sleep: I am sleeping wonderfully at night, getting at least 10 or 11 hours with only 1 quick trip to the bathroom and then straight back to sleep. I am very lucky and get to sleep in each morning which is so lovely.

Weight Gain: I think its probably too much too soon but I am up 3 kg or 6.6 lbs

Food Cravings: Anything sweet.. Chocolate or Ice cream! Could you call this a craving?

Best moment: Seeing our jelly bean again at our scan and getting the negative NT screening results in the post.

Worst moment: Definitely nearly fainting in a busy cafe!

Movement: I thought I felt flutters first thing in the morning when I had my hand on my tummy to protect it from my cat Archie who was running around on our bed. I haven't felt anything else so I can't be sure and it is early for any movement.

Bump: Getting bigger but it still changes size from morning to evening when its bigger, which means its still bloating and water retention rather than all baby. I love it though!

Evening bump at 13 weeks.

My first pregnancy purchases.

Topshop super soft Leigh maternity jeans. 
I couldn't be happier with these, super comfortable and seriously stylish. 
I brought the same size as my regular Leigh jeans and they are perfect.

Mama Mio Tummy Rub.
To combat stretch marks I have started to apply this all over the bump. 
I'll review the product once I have been using it for  a while.

Jojo Maman Bebe 'duck print' baby grow.
Our first baby purchase was oh so exciting!
Notice it is neutral as we don't know if our Jelly Bean is blue or pink!

12 Weeks! The end of the first trimester.

Yesterday marked the big 12 week milestone and the end of the first trimester. I am very happy to report that all is well with Baby Paicey. We had our first midwife appointment yesterday which was quite uneventful. I had bloods taken and gave a wee sample as well as answering loads of standard health questions.
What we are really looking forward to is our NT scan next week when I am 13 weeks.. I do have to admit that I got rather impatient and we paid for an early scan last week which was ridiculously amazing! Best £99 we have ever spent. Our little Jelly Bean (or JB) as my Mum now calls it, was wriggling and kicking away which was so cool to see. Mr P was shocked and couldn't believe I couldn't feel the acrobatics but the sonographer filled us in that our baby was only teeny tiny and I wouldn't be able to feel any movement for at least another month.

Hubby and I started taking pics of the 'bump' at 10 weeks and took another at 12 weeks and we were both very surprised at how much my tummy had grown. I still look like I ate too much pasta (which i probably have) instead of pregnant but its still really cool seeing my changing shape. I had to go bra shopping today and I have gone from a B cup to a D cup! 

10 Weeks..

12 Weeks..

So now that I am officially entering the second trimester I am patiently waiting for that gorgeous pregnancy 'glow' to kick in. In this twelfth week I am still feeling super tired and am suffering from indigestion and heart burn (already). The midwife suggested I sleep with my pillow up high so that I am slightly upright. Last night was a good nights sleep so she may be onto something xxx