Oh my baby is 18 already..

Okay, so it is only gestational weeks and not years, but next thing you know I'll blink and he'll be driving a car, getting drunk and doing what you do with members of the opposite sex. Shudder. So I'm getting a little carried away, I haven't even given birth to the little tacker yet but I keep saying it each week, the time is going really quickly.

Below according to pregnancy.org is roughly what Ernie looks like about now and where his is at progress wise.

Apparently he is now -

• developing vernix along with the lanugo, which both help to protect his skin during the coming months.
• developing tiny air sacs called alveoli in his lungs, a must have if he is going to be able to breathe out here in the big wide world.
• testing out his vocal chords which are now fully formed and he can apparently cry. Luckily for us we can't hear him yet as without air there is no sound, but I'm sure he will make up for this later on.
• about 14.2cm from crown to rump and weighs about 190gm.
  

As Jamie also pointed out on 'Small Wonder' and I noticed a while back as well, the weight and size measurement varies from site to site and book to book. I don't know exactly which one is correct, probably none of them, as I'm sure Ernie is doing what he feels like doing. I thought it was worth mentioning just in case Ernie appeared to be losing weight from week to week. He isn't but I'm looking at so many different resources that I'm getting confused. Not all of them go week by week, my favourite birth.com.au is going every second week at the moment so I'm having to go to other sources for information. Just thought I'd better give an explanation.

As for me, I've had the worst pain down the right side of my next for the last week, which has led to more headaches, sore shoulder and arm and more restless nights. I think it developed as I've been finding it really hard to get comfortable at night. Already. I can only imagine what it will be like later. Anyway yesterday I went and saw a lovely woman called Lyn who does massage and shiatsu, which really seemed to help. I felt a lot better afterwards. So far the headaches haven't gone and my neck is still a bit sore but it has improved. I might have to go back again if it has gone in a few more days. I'm still a bit nauseous but only every few days and am still a bit weird with food. I am getting better though and hopefully if Lyn can get rid of these headaches without me having to resort to pain killers, I'll be on top of the world and will really start to enjoy being pregnant, especially when the happy hormones kick in.

Arrrrr Grasshopper.....

Question - What feels like a grasshopper jumping off your hand?

Answer - According to Jochen that is what it felt like this morning when he had his hand on the baby belly and we both felt movement. I felt it again later too.

We definitely had some movement this morning which was really exciting, especially for Jochen who felt the baby move for the very first time. I was pretty happy as well as I hadn't felt anything much for ages and I must admit it was good to be able to feel a little movement on the outside of my stomach to confirm what I thought I was feeling on the inside.

I'm going to have trouble resisting the urge of calling Ernie 'grasshopper' for the rest of the day.

The magical sound.

Today at our second OB appointment we heard Ernie's heart beat for the very first time. It was pretty magical. We seem to have a little baby in there with a heart beat that according to Jochen sounds like ' a stationary engine ticking away'. Dad would have thought that was pretty appropriate I think. According to birth.com it would have sounded something like the sound found here. We also got our results for the risk of downs syndrome and apparently it is about 1 in 3000 which is low risk. Relief. Thank goodness. We got the request form for the 19-20 week ultrasound and Dr. Simon was happy for me to go to Berwick. I've made the appointment already, but due to being booked out it isn't until Friday 17th June. That seems like a life time away. Apparently everything is as it should be, I have definitely become bigger and I think I'm able to feel where the baby is by how my stomach feels. My next appointment with Dr Simon is in six weeks time when I'll be 23 weeks, Ernie will be huge by then. Obviously Dr. Simon is happy with how everything is going otherwise I'm sure I would be seeing him much sooner than 6 weeks.

After our OB appointment we also met with a hospital midwife to start the process of booking in, not just for the hospital but the antenatal classes, physio and breastfeeding class as well. I've got paperwork to complete and material to read up on to do with both before and after the baby comes. The midwives that I met were lovely and the hospital seems to have a philosophy that will fit with mine to do with what I think I would ideally like (not that I'll necessary get that) at the moment for childbirth in terms of pain relief, intervention and mobility. It was a bit of a relief as I didn't know how progressive they would be.

Then it was time for Jochen torture. I dragged him to the baby shop that I like in Warragul and we looked at the stroller and cot that we will probably get. I also tried on and bought my first maternity clothes. I don't need them quite yet but I'm getting really close especially if I want to wear something other than track suite pants and tee-shirts. Jochen had well and truly had enough by the time that we left, plus I was starving and my bladder was almost ready to pop.

All in all it's been a pretty good day.

Last nights baby dream.

Unfortunately for baby dream number three, I don't remember a huge amount but I wanted to write about it anyway.

I'd just gone through labour, not sure whether it was natural or a Caesar, but I was laying in bed holding the baby and it was a little boy, he was wearing all white and seemed to be quite cute. I seemed to be fine and obviously not stressed out by the whole thing. We didn't have a name for the baby yet though. A little later in my dream the baby was happily laying in one of those hospital baby cribs. I didn't hear him cry and I think I was thinking something like 'maybe this won't be so bad after all.'

That is all I can remember, it was a very pleasant dream, it's just a pity that I can't remember much of it. Think I woke up as I had to go to the lou, as you do in the middle of the night when your bladder is the size of a pea.

It's funny but I know why I had this dream. Mum had been around yesterday and we were talking about whether I was going to tell people what it is and if we were going to tell everyone the final name. Obviously I was still thinking our conversation subconsciously as a large part of the dream was about the fact we didn't have a name yet and that it was a boy.

Suss Comments

I don't know if anyone noticed but my last post got three comments... exactly the same comment with a link to another site. This seemed a little on the suss side to me as the comment wasn't even remotely related to my post or any of my posts. So I recreated the post with a slightly different title and deleted the old one just in case there was some malicious spammy/spyware type intent.

If you posted the comment and it didn't have any malicious intent I'm sorry. However, for all my friends and family reading this I didn't want you to gain any possible computer problems because of me.

Just thought I would let you all know and hope that if it was a nasty - that I caught it in time.

B.

What can I say - but I'm now 17 weeks.

Yep, I'm now at 17 weeks and hopefully things are still going well - I'll find out more officially on Monday with my second visit to the OB, where I should get to hear Ernie's heart beat for the first time and maybe see him quickly on the ultrasound. We also get to book into the hospital ready for Ernie's birth. How weird is that. Twenty Three weeks away and we are booking into the hospital ready for a birth that probably won't even occur on the day we book in for. Deep down I'm a little bit excited though, it makes it all that much more real. After our appointments Jochen and I will head to the great baby shop in Warragul, called Generations XY Plus where I might buy my first maternity wear, then again I might not. It's not like I even need it yet, but then again do I really want to wait until nothing fits me. I'll have to see how I feel on the day.

As for Ernie, according to the wonderful book 'Up the Duff' by Kaz Cooke, he should be about 13 cm from crown to rump and weigh about 150 grams. He or she is now fully 'He or She' and with his fully functioning kidneys is now using them every 40-45 minutes. Thank goodness I haven't had to start on all those nappies yet. According to StorkNet, Ernie should also be starting to put fat under his skin and have fully developed reflexs such as sucking, swallowing and blinking. Ernie's legs are now bigger than his arms and his fingernails and toenails started growing last week. Pregnancy.Org also tells me that Ernie -

• is looking more human like in appearance
  
• has forward looking eyes
• is transforming the cartilage that currently makes up his skeleton into bones.

This picture doesn't really look all that human to me though. What do you think?

Houston, we have Movement!

So last night, as happens on most other nights, I went to bed early. I had probably been lightly asleep for about an hour or so when Jochen came to bed, waking me up. We had a chat about Ernie and how I was finding it very hard to find a comfortable position to lay in bed, without hearing my own heart beat, or feeling all sort of 'wrong'. Jochen decided to feel my belly, as he often does, finding it rather strange and hard, not like the squishy, wobbly mass that it used to be. Anyway he was just a little too firm, not that he meant to hurt, but it was very uncomfortable. Very, very uncomfortable.

I'm sure Ernie was not a happy camper and did not like being pushed around like that. It was after that, that I think for the first time, I felt Ernie move. It was very light. Fluttery. Bubbly. Faint. But I don't think I can put it down to anything else shall we say, internally related. I think Ernie was probably rudely awoken and decided he best show his displeasure. The feeling went on for quite a while afterwards that I was aware of.

I think it was probably Ernie, but what if I just want to feel Ernie move so much that I'm feeling normal, unrelated actions of my body and getting them confused. Time will tell I suppose. Needless to say I won't be suggesting Jochen push my baby belly like that again to retest Ernie's reaction.

The Saga of the Continuous Headache

I can't believe that I have hit 16 weeks already. I suppose I say that each week, but the time is really going so fast. Before I know it I'm going to be holding a baby wondering where the last nine months went.

Anyway I feel like I have a confession to make. Yesterday I caved and took some pain killers. I feel really awful about it as I really didn't want Ernie to have any drugs. I felt really strongly about it and still do. I've basically had a continuous headache for the last six weeks with only a day or so being pain free days. That whole time I just put up with it and refused to take anything for the pain. Yesterday morning though I woke up with what was essentially a migraine. I put up with the pain for most of the day and it wasn't until about 7pm or so that the pain became too much for me and I couldn't stop crying. After some discussion and consultation with a medication guide, Jochen convinced me that I should take some pain killers to give myself a break from the pain and that being so much in pain couldn't be good for the baby. So I took two tablets and felt very, very guilty. The pain eased and I was able to get a pretty good nights sleep. Today I've had a very slight headache but it was so much better than yesterday and luckily I haven't had to take anymore painkillers.

I feel guilty that I wasn't able to deal with the pain without having to resort to the easy solution of painkillers and guilty that Ernie also had painkillers the he didn't need. However, it is done now and I just have to hope that I haven't done any damage to Ernie in a permanent way and that I don't have to take any more painkillers during the rest of my pregnancy. We will just have to wait and see.

I've bought Ernie's first baby clothes.

Today I went to Mid Valley to look for Mum's Mother's Day present... which I haven't been able to find so far and to also check out Pumpkin Patch to look at possible clothes for Ernie.

I have to admit I went a little nuts and spent a fair bit of money... think I am making up for lost time. But I did get some of the sweetest little things that I think Ernie is going to look absolutely gorgeous in. I stuck to the neutral colours and won't buy specifics until we know for sure what we are having... hopefully only a few more weeks to wait. But overall I think I did a reasonable job for my first time.

Check out the following.. much of which I bought.

I think I bought all but one of the things here. Isn't the little hat with ears just so cute. I also came home with.....

little socks and grow suites. I couldn't find a picture of it but I also got a lovely jacket as well to keep Ernie nice and snug. And if our Ernie is this cute.....

Awww..... with parents like us (smile) I know he will be a stunner and smiley above will just not compete.

Afterwards I went to another shop located in Traralgon called 'Sweet Lullabies' and they had lots of good stuff too. Although I had regained my restraint by then and didn't buy anything (thought Jochen would be shocked enough already with how much I had spent). I did have a good talk to Andrew (the owner) about joggers, nappy bags and cots. I think having looked at the Swiverite Deluxe Jogger again, it is starting to take over as favourite over the Beema Q. Also it will be coming out in black in the next month or so and then I'll really love it. Wonder what Jochen will think when he sees it.

I think we can safely say that the shopping problem has been resolved and my confidence has returned somewhat. I'm still a bit nervous but I just did what I would do when I'm shopping for clothes for me... make sure the outfits can mix and match.

My First Mothers Day.

Today was mother's day... my first mother's day... with my first mother's day present.

Yesterday Jochen and I were talking about Mother's Day. Jochen wasn't too sure if I could actually be considered a mother yet as I didn't actually have a baby and it has been something I have been thinking about a lot over the last few days.

Am I a mother yet?

Yes I am! I always will be! Even if (and I really hope this doesn't happen) my little Ernie doesn't make it, I am his mother and I love him (or her) already. Even if it turned out to be for a small amount of time I am his mother.

So for my first ever Mother Day present I wanted something that I would always have and could look at and remember my first Mother's Day. Jochen was going to get me some flowers but when I explained how I felt about my first Mother's Day and the first present he agreed that something that would last would be much nicer than flowers. So what is my present of choice? Of course, it had to be jewelry - because you can never have too much. So we went into the Jewelers and wouldn't you know it (must have been fate), the shop had a 40% off Sale. I found a beautiful gold and diamond ring that is currently a little big, however I think I'll probably puff up as I get bigger and then it will fit wonderfully well. If not I can always get it resized.

So today, I got my Mother's Day present from Jochen. Made myself a nice breakfast. Threw up breakfast and then spent most of the day with some of Jochen 's friends from work and their families having a lovely barbecue lunch and enjoying the fantastic weather. Not bad as far as Mother's Day goes. I also visited my own Mum (of course) to say Happy Mother's Day to her too.

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers,
soon to be mothers
and mothers of the future.

Fifteen Weeks.... Fifteen Weeks!

So today I'm fifteen weeks pregnant. Jochen and I both agree that the shape of my body has well and truly changed and the other day at the Chiropractor when I lay down on the table (face down) it definitely felt different, with added pressure on my baby belly.

As for Ernie, according to Birth.com Ernie's vocal chords are now formed and he can now make different facial expressions. Ernie can grasp with his hands and suck his thumb and may explore the inside of my uterus with his hands. If my uterus is pressed from the outside, this may produce a small startle response. One of the many normal newborn reflexes present after birth.

Ernie should now be about 15 cms in length from head to toe, or about 10cms from 'crown to rump'. He probably weighs about 120 grams and is now more in proportion physically, but his head still accounts for about 1/3 of his body. Ernie is now bigger than the placenta but I could still cradle him in one hand he is that small. Ernie probably looks something like this at the moment.

The amniotic fluid is increasing around Ernie, so he moves freely, floating like an astronaut in space and his umbilical cord is now completely mature. The cord contains two arteries and one vein, enclosed and protected by a thick gristle-like substance called 'Wharton's Jelly'. This makes the cord slippery and allows it to move freely around Ernie and avoid compression.

As for me, I have been feeling a bit better this past week, probably only being sick once every couple of days or so. I still have low blood pressure and have to often sit down when the weird feeling in the head strikes, have had a headache non stop for the past 4 weeks (I won't take anything for the pain - Ernie is too young for drugs) and am still very tired. However on the good side, food is finally becoming a normal thing again and I have not lost any more weight.

Thank goodness things seem to be improving.

Another Baby Dream.... But first.....

Last night I had another baby dream... a dream in which I was back in Year 12 and living at home with my Mum, Dad and Kell - but pregnant.

But first, yesterday during my dentist visit, a visit recommended to all pregnant women, the dental nurse told me about a new baby shop in Warragul. It is owned/run by the head of Midwifery at Warragul Hospital where I will be having little Ernie and was apparently very good. So of course, after my teeth were cleaned as that was all that needed doing, I headed off in to visit the shop.

Ann, the lovely owner/midwife was wonderful and had a fantastic shop with everything an expectant or new mother might need for both herself and the baby. There were the nicest maternity clothes that I have seen by a company called 'Ripe', the type of clothes that I would wear if I wasn't pregnant, but made to suit a pregnant body. I'm sure I'll be getting some of these, especially some pants fairly shortly.

Finally with Ann's help I did my first baby shopping and came home with some toweling nappies (great apparently for wiping and mopping up baby sick), baby wipes and somethings called snib fasteners which she assured me were on the list of things that I would need to take to the hospital. I also looked at some other cots by a company called Sunbury Nursery and they seem to be even better quality than the 'Childcare' ones I had been looking at and unlike the Childcare which only seems to come in a colour that won't suit our house, the Sunbury ones come with a lot of choice including Cedar, which would fit with in well with our house.

Sweet Dreams by Sunbury Nursery

It has the most gorgeous teddy bears on it or you can have other designs as well. I also started looking at another Jogger that will let you put a toddler seat on it. The Beema Q doesn't let you do that, something I need to weigh up against the smaller size of the Beema Q.

Swivelrite Deluxe by Steelcraft

So lots to think about... and more research to be done. But at least I've started shopping. Oh and I've done my first load of baby washing... without actually having a baby.

Anyway, back to that dream. So I'm at home, the parents seem very understanding that I'm pregnant, although I don't seem to be married and Jochen is no where to be found. I'm not even sure that he is still the father and I definitely didn't use IVF - it seems to be an accident. So I've been to Ann's shop (the tie in from that days activities) and told her that I don't need maternity clothes yet. The next morning (in my dream still) I wake up and I'm huge... probably almost about to pop in size but still only almost fifteen weeks. The main part of the dream involved me telling Mum and Dad that I had nothing to wear and that I couldn't possibly go to school wearing my tracksuit pants below my very big belly. Kell and I would have to drive to Warragul first so I could get some clothes that fit and then we would go to school. Everyone was happy with that solution, so off we went. This seemed to resolve the problem and I woke up before I actually got to do any shopping.

So that was my second dream... I'm not sure what the meaning is... maybe it's still along the lines of not being prepared... Who Knows.

Shopping - Where to start?

I have an admission to make....I have lost my ability to do anything other than window shop.... What? I hear you say. How could that possibly happen?

The other day after our ultrasound on Thursday when I was feeling really good, Jochen took me to Babyco so that we could start looking at some of the bigger items that we will need to buy for Ernie. Boy was there a lot to look at.

We did find what I think will be Ernie's Cot, which comes recommended by Choice magazine as being very safe, well made and good value for money.

'Windsor' Cot by Childcare

It does all this nifty stuff like convert into an infant bed and then later a double bed so that you can get more use out of it.

We also road tested another highly recommended product by Choice in the way of 3 wheeled strollers. It took out the highest rating in safety, durability, value for money and was great in the user test as well. Ernie will most likely be a passenger of the -

Beema Q by Swallow

Hopefully I will get my shopping ability back shortly as there is so much to buy and in no time it will be October.

And the pregnant Belinda went Wee, Wee, Wee all the way home.

Okay, to cut to the chase, I think I have a bladder infection. Just a little one at this point but one that I think I will have to get checked out. At times I'm going to the toilet every fifteen minutes or so, especially at night when I'm trying to go to sleep. My brain is telling me that I'm busting even after I have just been to the toilet. What is worse is when I have just been, I'm completely empty but my brain is still receiving the message from my bladder that it is FULL....!!!!!! Arrrrhhhhh... This is definitely not right. So I think I better go and see my G.P.

I'm also just a little concerned about my blood pressure. Yesterday when I checked it on Jochen's parent's monitor is was 97/42 and then about an hour later it was 83/57 apparently this is low and everyone seems to be quite concerned when I tell them. I wasn't too worried until everyone else started being worried. So I think I'll speak to my G.P. about that too.

The good news is that I have been starting to feel a little better, not throwing up as much or feeling as nauseous and have even managed to cook a couple of meals, including tonight's spring rolls and fried rice. However, I've only had one really good day so far and that was Thursday, the day of the first ultrasound. For the first time in a long time I didn't have a headache and I seemed to be full of happy hormones - I think it was probably the relief of not having the pain of a headache that had lasted for weeks. I was so good we went and had a look at baby stuff at Fountain Gate. But I seem to have slipped back from then and have resumed the permanent headache, the occasional throwing up and nausea sessions. I'm looking on the positive side though and hope that this bit of an improvement means I'm starting to turn the corner. I also reached 14 weeks yesterday...I can't believe that another week has passed already. At the rate that I'm going, I'm going to blink and I'll be in labor.