20 Week Scan

                           PINK or BLUE.. We didn't find out!

Our 20 week scan was booked for the day after I landed back in the UK, when I was 22 weeks. The midwife and doctors said this was not a problem when I discussed booking the scan 2 weeks later than the usual 20 week appointment.

We decided not to find out the gender of baby Paicey and we held strong when the sonographer asked if we wanted to find out. Mr P basically yelled 'No' at her when she asked, probably thinking I would change my mind. We had to close our eyes at one point as she scanned over 'that' area. So we will get the most amazing surprise of our lives come birth day when we get to meet our little one and see if its a lil rugby player or ballerina in the making!

We were both so excited to see our little baby on the big screen again and we weren't disappointed! The 20 week scan or Anomaly scan is very in-depth as they check over the whole baby paying great attention to the 4 chambers or the heart and the 2 sides of the brain as well as the spine and complete anatomy. Our tech at Kingston Hospital was really great and explained everything to us as she went along. Some things we could make out and others not so much. The babies spine and rib cage were very easy to see and the technology is so great, they can highlight the blood flowing through the baby so it shows up in red and blue on the screen.

Baby Paicey was not playing ball and was hiding, facing down so we couldn't see his or her little face and its legs were all tucked up. After I jumped up and down on the spot, turned from side to side and went to the toilet, baby Paicey would still not move so we were asked to go for a walk and come back to get the rest of the measurements. Second attempt and the little one had rolled over so we could see its lovely profile and snap a pic (see below), but the little ones legs were still curled up, so we were asked to rebook for the following week.

Four days later and back in to finish the scan measurements and baby Paicey was in the weirdest position like a little yogi, legs bent at the hips with both feet touching its forehead! Babies have such soft bones and are so flexible but it looked so uncomfortable being basically bent in half. After viewing the lower limbs and feet, we got the all OK that all the measurements looked fab so we are very happy!

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!

14 Weeks

How far along: 14 weeks, 2 days.

Symptoms: I think I may have spoken too soon last week, saying I felt great. Ive had quite a lot of being sick this week, vomiting 3 times! I had plenty of all day nausea early on in my pregnancy but wasn't actually sick so this week came as quite a surprise. We put it down to not eating enough and I've had to increase my food intake by adding in snacks of apples and grapefruit and nuts throughout the day to ward of being sick and it seems to have helped. Fingers crossed. I am also quite tired during the day and feel really lazy.

Sleep: Im still having plenty of sleep and lovely morning lay ins but find myself waking up often throughout the night, I'm currently a very light sleeper. I have been waking quite tired even after 10 hours in bed. This business of making a human is tough work!

Weight Gain: I've put on another half a kg or 1 lb which I am happy about as the recommended weight gain for the second trimester is 1 lb per week as a guideline. Total weight gain is at 3.5 kg.

Food Cravings: Ive been eating quite healthy since being sick this week. Lots of homemade cheese and salad wraps with boiled eggs and not much chocolate at all surprisingly. Hope this healthy food craving sticks around as I really do eat what I feel like at the moment.

Best Moment: Not related to my pregnancy but my very good friend had quite a shock and delivered her baby 8 weeks early on Saturday morning. Hearing that they were both very well and happy was a wonderful moment.

Worst Moment: Being sick in the kitchen sink!

Movement: I am desperately trying to feel flutters again and resting my hand on my lower tummy whenever I get a quiet moment. Nothing definite to report!

Looking forward too: Feeling our baby move in my tummy! Come on baby Paicey. Im at the stage where theres no scans for quite some time, usually 20 weeks, so feeling movement would be so lovely.

Bump: Coming along nicely. I think I was quite bloated in my last pics as my tummy feels and looks smaller this week. My husband asked why I was pulling my t-shirt in tight for this photo, but you can't really see my tummy if I don't, so its really not too big but I still love it!

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.

Nuchal Translucency (NT) Scan

On Tuesday we had our NHS scan at 12 weeks and 6 days which was at Kingston hospital where I will be giving birth. The NT scan includes a few measurements of baby including fluid on the neck and a blood test which makes up The Combined Test. We had a negative screening which was fab news and another milestone ticked off the list.

It was wonderful seeing baby Paicey on the big screen again, not very active this time except for a few full body jumps which the sonographer said were hiccups! Unfortunately, Mr P drove around and around looking for a carpark at the hospital and he missed the entire scan! We were so grateful that we had paid for our early scan 2 weeks prior as he was there for that... So we definitely need to arrive 30 mins early for our 20 week scan!