He's here!!!!

Oh my word - what a relief. He's finally here - my very cute baby boy, Olly.

He arrived on Friday the 14th of October at 9.04pm after being induced the day before and being in active labour for about 10 hours. Five hours in I opted for an epidural as I really wasn't dealing with the pain and felt the urge to push far to soon. By the time I was transferred to Delivery from Antenatal I was 8-9cm dilated and the Anaesthetist was questioning whether the epidural was too late.
I did, for a moment, wonder if I could carry on without the drugs, but in the end I am so glad I did as it made the whole birth experience much calmer and pain free!
It's afterwards the problems occur as because I couldn't feel anything, pushing was hard to control and I think I actually pushed too hard - leaving me with second degree tears and a general feeling of everything being ruined down below!!
But that aside, baby Olly is perfect - he weighed 9lb 9oz! Wasn't expecting that! He was 12 days overdue at the end - and I didn't even have gestational diabetes. Despite what so many doctors say, overweight women are more than capable of giving birth without intervention. Yes he did need to be induced, and I had an epidural, but my out of condition body managed to push out a perfectly healthy, bouncing baby boy!
I will post more in the days to come but for now here is a picture of my little creation -

25th September 2011 - 39 weeks

Thought I'd best make an effort to post on time this week! Am officially 39 weeks today, feeling a little cumbersome. Heard that there is going to be a heatwave over the next two weeks so am a little concerned at how I will cope with this! Running out of things to wear and was quite glad that the weather was getting cooler so I could wear some of my winter tunic tops - great for bump coverage!

I feel like I'm not thinking enough about the baby arriving. I find myself wasting time on the internet, then doing stuff for work (!), and making lists, and more lists - but I need to focus on the BIG event that is going to wallop me around the head any moment now.

Blimey am I going to have a shock to the system! Feeling frustrated not being able to jump up and do things either due to my pelvic pain or lack of energy - but I guess that's where most women find themselves at this stage. Haven't reached the point where I want him out yet, I'm quite happy for another week or two - although I am getting a litte concerned about how big he will be! He has really grown in the past two weeks - I've gone from looking fatter to looking very pregnant all of a sudden. It's nice to finally feel almost normal, even if it's still in an abnormal way - if that makes sense?

Running out of steam now so will cut this blog short - as usual - who knows whether I will be blogging this time next week - to be continued . . .

Here are my measurements for the week -

Bust - 53.5 inches (+1)

Waist - 53.5 inches (+1.5)

Hips - 57.5 inches (+2.5)

Weight - +1kg 

Symptoms

• emotional (more than usual!)
• periods of extreme tiredness
• sometimes feeling clammy and hot
• leg cramps
• strong twinges and painful aching in my pelvic area - especially around the pubic bone
• heartburn at night if I eat too late

And now for the weekly shots -

39 weeks plan view

39 weeks side view

22nd September 2011 - 38 weeks

Another delayed post, sorry. Not sure where my time goes at the moment! Certainly have been keeping busy since going on Maternity Leave!

So what's been going on, well we went on the tour of the hospital this week. I'm going to the new Pembury Hospital in Tunbridge Wells. Its very modern and has the feeling of an international airport, rather than a hospital! The wards are all private rooms with ensuite shower or bathrooms, with most of the rooms having views of the local woodland - sounds idyllic. Not sure how much I will be appreciating the views during my stay there!

Night times have been hard lately. It's so painful now trying to sleep. I end up spending too long on each side - just trying to avoid flipping which is an awful feeling. Feels like my pelvis is going to snap. And what with the baby squashing my bladder painfully I rarely feel rested when I get up. Really hope this will all disappear once the baby arrives.

I know I must have sai it a million times but I still can't believe I will have a baby soon - it's going to be so surreal. Today I'm feeling a little more positive about everything, but I must admit I've had some bad days - feeling quite negative and very very emotional. I hate to put it all down to pregnancy hormones, but I guess they must have influence - helping to magnify the bad feelings. I know I need to make more of an effort to keep positive, it's really not fair on the baby. But easier said than done - plus I've always been prone to feeling sorry for myself.

On a positive note - a stranger realised I was pregnant last night! I was meeting up with the girls from my nct class at a local restaurant and the maitre d said I know which table you are here for and took me straight to the group - I felt normal for once!

Trying to kickstart my nesting instinct but really not getting in the mood - feeling a little lazy in general really, which doesn't help as there are still lots of things to do - nothing major, and nothing that can't wait - but everyone keeps telling me that life will be so hard and so different soon than I want to be as prepared as possible!

Will try and post earlier next week - unless I'm busy giving birth!!

Here are my measurements for the week -

Bust - 52.5 inches (no change)

Waist - 52 inches (-1)

Hips - 55.5 inches (-2.5)

Weight - -0.1kg 

Symptoms

• emotional (more than usual!)
• periods of extreme tiredness
• sometimes feeling clammy and hot
• leg cramps
• strong twinges and painful aching in my pelvic area - especially around the pubic bone
• heartburn at night if I eat too late

And now for the weekly shots -

38 weeks side view

38 weeks plan view

14th August 2011 - 33 Weeks

Another week missed - sorry! Had my Mum, Nephew and Niece over to stay last weekend so my Sunday morning routine of photographing, measuring and weighing went out of the window again!

So - the past two weeks . . . Bumpy has been making his presence felt ever more lately. Just as I type this he has booted me in the side! I've felt heavier and less mobile. I think I look bigger too. Just noticed tonight that I have the start of a fresh stretchmark around my waist. This is where the skin is tightest - but as before it is still a waistline - the round bump hasn't magically appeared! Now on the subject of stretchmarks - I have loads already. On my tummy, sides, base of my back, tops my arms and my boobs. I go to great lengths to hide them and although most are very faded now they are still upsetting to me. I'm not overly bothered about getting new ones - not like most new mums are that maybe have never experienced stretchmarks before. But still I am covering myself in cocoa butter on a regular basis to minimise the effects.

Only three weeks left at work, this makes it all seem so much more real now. I'm not sure if I will then get four weeks before he arrives as I am thinking he may be early. So I do need to get prepared and pack my hospital bags and wash his clothes! I've been procrastinating about this lately, but I have been so busy at work and in my spare time so when I do get an evening to myself I just flake out of the sofa!

Saw my midwife last Tuesday. Everything was ok. She had a feel of my tummy but couldn't work out where the head was. It was a little embarrassing as I know my bottom podge was the reason why, it doesn't help as her examination table is really short and I have to bend my knees, so with being on a slope all my podge ends up at the bottom and she had to lift it (eurghh!) to use the heartbeat amplifier! The shame - but I'm sure the indignity will just continue when I'm in hospital! Personally I still think he is in the breach position as most kicks seem to be down below. But as I'm having another scan in three weeks we will know a little more then. I wonder if they will recommend a c-section if he is breach - as they did this for my sister. Not sure how I feel about this. In some ways I would be relieved as I know I will be a wimp when it comes to the pain, but of course I am in no way disillusioned in thinking that a c-section is an easier alternative - and the idea of recovering from major surgery with a newborn baby in tow is not an appealing one!

Here are my measurements for the week -

Bust - 52.5 inches (no change)

Waist - 51.5 inches (no change)

Hips - 55.5 inches (-1 inch)

Weight - +0.5kg 

My waist has definitely grown although the measurements don't back this up - what I think has happened is that it's just changed shape. I almost feel like my waist looks smaller from the front - but if you look at the plan view you can see how Bumpy is sticking our front now.
Weightwise - I'll be interested to see how my weight goes over the next few weeks and if I will end up lighter than I started after giving birth. Still not making an issue of it and am eating normally, but probably a little naughtier than usual as a few biscuits and chocolate buttons have sneaked their way into the shopping lately!

Symptoms

• leg cramps at night - getting worse if I sit with my legs up for too long
• increasingly vivid and weird dreams
• Periods of extreme tiredness
• more heartburn - but still irregular
• twinges and painful aching in my pelvic area - especially around the pubic bone
• increased discharge down below
• headaches in the morning

And now for the weekly shots -

33 weeks pregnant side view

33 weeks pregnant plan view