On the 4th December 2003 I found out I was pregnant. Sort of explained the intense tiredness, sore boobs (LOL) and funny pains I was feeling. Nausea kicked in about a week and a bit later but I didn't actually throw up until AFTER 12 weeks (when you're supposed to stop throwing up). At 12 weeks we had our first ultrasound, the nuchal translucency scan which is used to estimate risk of down's syndrome. We got it as an excuse to see bubs as there's no history of it in our families and we're both young.

I've had a fairly easy pregnancy, the main probems being tiredness, scatterbrained-ness, flare up of dermatitis (ugh), and headaches. At 19 weeks we had our morphology scan (where they make sure all of bubba's bits are in the right place and looking normal). We found out sex but we're not telling, it's a surprise! I started feeling movements a couple of days before the scan.

I got into the Birth Centre at the Royal Women's Hospital, which I'm stoked about as I'm planning on a water birth if all goes well. I had my first meeting with MY midwife (LOL) at 24 weeks, or 6 months, to discuss how it's progressing, hear heartbeat etc. My second midwife appointment was at 27 and a half weeks... all was well, bubs was sitting breech but I think has now turned. Blood pressure good, blood nutrients good. I'm in the third trimester! On the home stretch now!

Just to prove I'm not making it up...

26/05/2004 - 30 weeks! Not long to go now... although it feels like ages. Have another midwife appt tonight, hope she doesn't catch my cold!! Updated: BP was a little up, though still good, but she thinks it's because I'm unwell. Got to find out how long my uterus is... 30cms! WOW! Haha. I was wrong, bubba is still breech, must just have a foot stuck firmly on my bladder.

5/6/04 - 31 weeks 3 days... Thursday night Jake and I had our first antenatal class. Well, I finally saw a picture that freaked me out!! No need to go into specifics but... owww.... The class was nice and laid back, there were only 4 couples including us and our midwife was hilarious. Didn't learn too much that was new, I've done so much research that the majority of it was stuff I had already read about, although there were some nice tidbits of information. I think it was good for Jake though as he hasn't read nearly as much as me about it!!! Am starting to feel tired again too.

11/6/04 - 32 weeks 2 days... Just had my 32 week appointment. Bubba is no longer breech! YAY! No bloody wonder I keep needing to go to the loo! Fundus height is still in line with dates. Am tired, but I think that's understandable considering that so far this week I've had a relaxation, breathing and labour positions class, an antenatal class, yesterday was awful and I also had to tutor in the evening, and this appointment today! However my midwife wants to check to make sure there are no physical reasons for the tiredness so I had another lot of blood taken. Blood pressure was the highest it's ever been, 147/75, but she said that's still okay, and the 147 reading is most likely caused by the stress I'm under at the moment.

14/6/04 - 32 weeks 5 days... I had my first labour dream last night. Gee if it happens like that I'll be happy! A 5 hour labour, completely natural, however I didn't get my waterbirth LOL. Knowing my luck it'll be more like 30 hours with me screaming for pain relief LOL.

21/6/04 - 33 weeks 5 days... got a message from the hospital yesterday that my B12 levels are low, this explains the tiredness. I'm probably going to have to get a B12 injection as I'm already taking oral supplements but my body must not be absorbing it properly. B12 deficiency can lead to a type of anaemia so I'm happy my midwife insisted on testing for it. I am seeing her tomorrow for my next appointment anyway. First bump in this journey... hopefully the last one too.

22/6/04 - 33 weeks 6 days... ARGH! I am anaemic... except not to the point of being a worry (my levels are over 10, she said if they were under I may have to get injections ewww.) Blood pressure 120/80, a little high for me but not classed as high. Got my water immersion consent forms today too... hehe getting closer. Also handed in my Leave of Absence forms for my PhD... for those not in the know basically I decided to take leave until the birth because it was stressing me out too much.

28/6/04 - 34 weeks 5 days... Ooh, I think I'm nesting. Maybe a bit early for it but I just have this urge to wash baby things and get organised and clean the house. Lucky Jake! Had the baby shower on Saturday, was good fun and we got lots of useful and cute things for bubba. Yesterday we went on a marathon shopping spree getting more baby things and grocery shopping and even managed to squeeze in the latest Harry Potter movie. Was buggered last night though! Feeling less tired now, I'm hoping that's a good sign re: the iron and B12... will get another blood test on the 9th July (at my next appointment). My clothes line is currently adorned with trillions of baby things and I've run out of pegs... am also packing my hospital bag already as I know if I don't I'll lose some of the smaller things. Also don't want to be rushing around at the last minute organising things... oh, bit of trivia, my belly is measuring at 104cms so I'm over a metre in girth! HAHA! (That's 41 inches :) ). And my bellybutton is still an innie... just...

5/7/04 - 35 weeks 5 days... yesterday I was officially 8 months pregnant. Into the ninth month finally and on the home stretch! Feeling all sorts of lovely (NOT) aches and pains, from the boringly predictable back ligament pain I've been living with for months now to the exciting (HAHA!) pains that seem to suggest bubba is moving on down... what's known as engagement to any clueless plebs out there. I don't think bub is very far down though (there are several stages, from 1/5 engaged which is only just in the pelvis to 5/5 which is fully engaged... I think if anything bub is 1/5 engaged). But I'm probably horribly wrong hehe. It's funny though as you get these pains that double you over and when you're in public you fight to stay upright and normal looking... the last thing I want is for people to think I've gone into labour!

9/7/04 - 36 weeks 2 days... I am by no means an expert but bubba definitely changed position last night - I think for the better but will find out this arvo as we have a midwife appointment. I *think* that bubba is now anterior, meaning bub's back to my front, which is the perfect position. I had a suspicion that he/she'd been lying posterior because of the lumps and bumps in my belly and now it seems like a more solid mass all along my front. But Marg will no doubt tell me if I'm wrong! Hope not! We're getting professional belly photos done tomorrow morning... should be fun, hopefully we get some nice ones!
Update from the appointment... my blood pressure was a champion! 120/70... very happy about that... Bubs is actually 3/5 into the pelvis - so much for my 1/5! Well, at least I wasn't completely off. I have the back on the left side, and the feet and hands etc on the right side... it's funny when your right side just bulges out! She was meant to take blood as well, but the veins collapsed both times :( so she gave up... will try again next week. Stupid veins. Oh, and she also said bubs will be a good size by 40 weeks... I asked what that meant and she said about 8lbs, so I'm fine with that!

These are some of the photos we got done professionally... photos by Lisa Sherrington.

14/7/04 - 37 weeks!... YAY! I'm officially considered term now, so I can have a waterbirth if I go into labour! WEEEHOOOOOO! Doing well, had a shocker of a night Sat just gone (to the point of wondering if I should start timing the pains) but after that night I've been having fairly good nights. Our photo shoot on Sat was lovely, we go back on Friday night to order our photos. Jake has started working from home 3 days a week from this week, today is his second day at home and it's great! He's getting heaps of work done as he has less distractions here than he does at work (bizarre that - but I'm being good and letting him work). My belly is at 107cms (42 inches) - will be interesting to see if it gets bigger.

16/7/04 - 37 weeks 2 days... Had our 37 week appointment today. Blood pressure was 140/70, second number is excellent but first number a bit high, however probably understandable, as our little mouse Caesar died this morning. He had a shocker of a day yesterday and I'm surprised he held on as long as he did, so I was feeling pretty raw yesterday and today. Add to that how hormonally emotional I am and I'm amazed I haven't collapsed in a blubbering heap today (oh, and I almost walked into a guy in a wheelchair at the hospital, wasn't that fun.) Had blood taken, so I'll get the results on Wednesday I'm assuming. Bub is moving around a lot, was presenting LOA (basically, lying with the back to the left and front, feet and hands to the right) last week but today is ROA (back to the right and front etc). Hoping that he/she goes back to being LOA as that is the most desirable position.

21/7/04 - 38 weeks!... Had our appointment today. My iron levels have gone up a bit but is still not over 11. It's not a problem but it annoys me LOL! Blood pressure was 110/80, so that's okay, and bubs is back to the LOA position. As for me, I'm starting to really feel it! Having lots of Braxton Hicks (practise contractions) which don't hurt but can be a bit uncomfortable. Belly feels TIGHT and heavy (duh) and really would like my body back to what it was LOL. Still can't really complain though! 2 weeks to go... fingers crossed bubs doesn't want to hang around inside any longer than that!

26/7/04 - 38 weeks 5 days... 9 days to go! I cannot believe we're down to single digits! Let's just hope we don't go into negatives... ;) Had a few different sorts of signs etc on the weekend - still nothing to get me really excited but at least there are indications that things are getting ready, if slowly! It's Jake's birthday on Wednesday, so I don't really want to have the baby before then as I'm looking forward to spoiling him a bit on the day since he's been such a legend through all this - seriously could not ask for a better partner, he's been an absolute rock. Can't wait to see him holding our bub - hehe better stop before I get all emotional.

28/7/04 - 39 weeks... One week to go... yeah right! LOL Saw Marg today and she cheekily told me I'd go 40 weeks plus... I told her I was ignoring her. ;) Jake's birthday today! He's an ancient 27, and he's sitting in the office gleefully playing with the remote-control car I got him... yes, such a mature man. HAHAHAHA! Apparently I rock now. Anyway, appointment went well again, BP 110/80, bubs still 3/5 but not likely to move any further down at the moment as he/she is a "bit" posterior - apparently posterior bubs don't engage until labour - so my mission now is to try to coax bubba back into an anterior possie! DON'T want a posterior labour! OUCH! Also found out some fantastic stats on the Birth Centre - their caesar rate is about 9% (most hospitals are 30% or more, including the RBWH normal labour ward), and there are a few other things that made me feel nice and confident but of course my brain can't handle all the stats at the moment!

2/8/04 - 39 weeks 5 days... 2 days till EDD. Got an email from a friend who's due tomorrow, she went into labour this morning (she was going to be induced today so damn good timing!) I had an interesting weekend, starting off with my solitary contraction in the early hours of Saturday (nothing eventuated obviously) and ending with my little scare at the movies yesterday (probably too much information for people who read this but anyway it was another false alarm). So here's hoping bubs decides to put in an appearance sometime this week! More than ready for it... oh except for this silly lingering throat thing... :(
3/8/04 - 39 weeks 6 days... 1 day to go! Then I'm into negatives LOL. My friend ended up having an emergency c-section due to her bub just not wanting to come out even with vacuum assistance. They are both well though which is the main thing! I had REALLY swollen feet today so when we went in for our breathing and relaxation class we stopped in at the Birth Centre first to get me checked out - everything's fine, swelling just normal pregnancy swelling. BP was excellent 120/70. My throat thing has developed into a real lovely cough and I'm guessing there's an actual throat infection but there's not much we can do about it so hopefully it clears up! Had a shocker of a night last night because of the dogs grrr so hopefully they let me get a decent sleep tonight.

4/8/04 - 40 weeks... D-Day... but no sign the little monkey wants to join us yet. Come on, mummy wants to take some cough medicine... I've almost lost my voice due to this stupid throat thing! At least it means I can't yell at Jake if I go into labour LOL.

6/8/04 - 40 weeks 2 days... had our 40 week midwife appointment today. Blood pressure was good 130/80 (the higher number is slightly elevated because I'm sick), bub is LOA position again yay but still not engaged any further. :( My midwife asked if I had any particular signs and I do so she seems to think I will go naturally... things are happening! We did however discuss plans for if bubba doesn't come naturally as she likes to have a plan of action and not leave people hanging. If I get to next Friday (the 13th LOL) I'll be having a "strip and stretch" (if you really want to know what that is, google it, but if you get squeamish easily, don't). If I get to 12 days over they'll want to monitor bub and the amniotic fluid levels to make sure bub isn't distressed, and I'll probably have to talk to the Ob. :( At 14 days over they'll start talking induction methods, and it will depend on the state of my cervix as to what sort of induction methods they try... it might be as simple as artificial rupture of membranes (waters being broken) or I could end up with gel and drip... I REALLY want to avoid that! BUT, as I said, she thinks it will happen naturally, so that's a positive. I'm feeling very good right now (even though my throat is still killing me - at least my back isn't as sore as it was!) so I'm happy to wait... must be nice in there!

9/8/04 - 40 weeks 5 days... still here, still pregnant. Poor Jake must think he's living with Jeckyll and Hyde at the moment - I go from being all happy and fine with everything, to a teary babbling mess who "just wants it to be OVER!" I think it wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for the signs that start and stop, it's pretty exhausting trying to second guess every little ache and sensation that you feel. Plus, I don't think people realise that it's pretty frustrating continually being asked if you've popped yet - if I had we'd be telling people! The worst thing is the advice from people who haven't even had kids on how to get labour started! I mean, I'm not just sitting on my butt here! (Well, I am right now but that's far from the point ;) ). I guess people don't know what to say but I'm hormonal people! I want this baby out more than ANYBODY else! Now, where was I? Um, physically I'm great, my throat is still a bit husky but is coming along nicely. Mentally I'm a basketcase. It seems insane to be sitting here wanting to be in pain, but I do. LOL Well not too much pain but a little would be nice. Enough to get monkey out. Still loving playing footsies though. COME ON MONKEY! You don't get extra points for staying in there!

11/8/04 - 41 weeks... a week later and we're still sitting here. *sigh* Today is EKKA holiday so it would be pretty funny if it happened today (since our hospital is across the road from the showgrounds). So many women in my due in group have given birth already, I feel like the odd one out. Not fair. I guess the end is nigh (next week) but I really want to go naturally and soon. And I think Jake wants a holiday (teeheeeheeeheee!). Nothing to see here, move along!