The 20 Week Scan - Baby #2

It only feels like yesterday when we went for our 12 week scan but believe it or not today I'm here to write all about the 20 week scan. It's crazy how fast this pregnancy is flying by, it really is. I don't know if it's because you don't count the days as closely with your second or if it's because you already have a child who takes up a lot of your attention. Perhaps it's a little bit of both?

On the 5th October we had our 20 week scan booked for first thing in the morning. We dropped Noah off at his Nan's before we went as children aren't allowed at the 20 week scan. I was so nervous whilst we waited in the waiting room, more so than I was with Noah. 

Thankfully I didn't need to wait long on a full bladder as I was called into the scan room a few moments later. I hopped onto the bed and the sonographer applied the warm gel (they have a water bath now which keeps it warm - I think I preferred it cold?) Within a few seconds we saw our baby on the screen, wriggling and squirming around. My heart skipped a beat and I couldn't help but smile when I saw her again.

The sonographer asked permission to begin the anomaly scan and told us she would check everything, take the measurements and photo's that she needed and then let us know how everything was. In those moments where everything is silent, when they are looking at everything with such concentration and into so much detail you can't help but feel like you can't breathe. My heart was pounding in my chest and I kept looking from screen to the sonographer to see if her face was giving anything away. The minutes feel like hours and you just want to know that everything is okay. 

Around 15 minutes into our scan the sonographer stopped and said so far everything looked fine but because of the babies position she couldn't get a comprehensive look at the heart and a few other things so I was asked to leave the room and walk around. Walking around with a full bladder is no easy feat and neither is deciding to climb a couple of flights of stairs for good measure either. It was quite nice to walk around the building though as it's where I gave birth to Noah. I'd roamed the same halls trying to kick start labour once my induction had started and I remember coming down the same stairs when we were taking Noah home too. It left the both of us feeling very nostalgic.  

After I'd walked about for a five minutes or so I was called back into the room and we picked up where we left off. The baby had thankfully played ball and was in a great position to allow the sonographer to check everything else that she needed to. Around 15 minutes later we were told that everything appeared fine and I can't tell you the relief I felt. She then asked if we'd like to know the gender and although we already know I of course said yes because two confirmation is better than one, less room for error! She had a look for a few moments and then said "looks like a girl to me!" So that's my instinct and two gender checks saying girl now. I think it's time to start buying pinks, frills and florals. Oh wait..  

Taking a look back

It is crazy to think that this time last year I was 7 weeks pregnant. It makes me so emotional thinking about it. I loved being pregnant, every second of it. It was the best time of my life, until Noah was born of course. I keep thinking about how those 9 months seemed to fly by. How we created someone so beautiful. How I carried and nurtured him all those days, weeks and months. How I thought I knew how it would feel to be a Mum and how much I would love him, but I didn't have a clue. Being a Mum to my son Noah is just unimaginable and I sit here and struggle to find the words to describe how in love and happy I feel right now. 

I can't wait until I get to experience pregnancy all over again but for now I just want to enjoy my baby boy but there's nothing wrong with taking a look back..

12 week scan - Baby diary 12 weeks

My very first glimpse of my baby boy. I remember going into that room so nervous. I was so relived when I saw my baby up on that screen and I shed a tear or two. It was so overwhelming and I had never felt anything like it before. It was instant, overwhelming love. The minute you see your child on that screen your world is all about them.

16 week private gender scan - Baby Diary 16 weeks

I was 90% sure I was having a boy from day one and even had a couple of baby boy dreams. I am terrible with surprises so we paid for a private gender scan to find out a little earlier. Of course I was right, he was a boy! We could tell he was a boy even before the sonographer told us, it was plain to see. It was lovely to see him again too. It was incredible to see how much he had grown in 4 weeks.

20 week scan - Baby Diary 20 weeks

Again we couldn't believe how much he had grown, he was huge! I was also nervous at the 20 week scan as they do so many checks. Thankfully everything was ok. I got the lady to confirm if he was a boy too. I thought two opinions, he must be a boy. The next time I would see him would be when he was in my arms but I didn't think that at the time.  

15 weeks

22 weeks

25 weeks

31 weeks

38 weeks 

One of my last bump shots at 39 weeks. Love this photo. 

In case you missed it you can read my birth story here, beware I am very honest! And of course here is my introducing Noah entry. I loved pregnancy, labour, birth and now being a Mummy! 

Pregnancy Diary: Week 20 & 21

12/7/13

20 & 21 Weeks Pregnant. 

I'm writing this a little later than expected! I decided to do another double post again as 20 & 21 weeks were very similar. I need to keep on top of these posts. At the minute it has been hectic at work, home and had lots of commitments so the blog had been put on the back burner. But I am here to make up for the lost time! 

I've felt absolutely fantastic the past week or so. My energy levels are slowly going back to normal, I feel great on a whole, I've been in a great mood. I can't really complain! Well there is always something to complain about, my feet! As it has been so hot my feet and ankles have really suffered. The heat, standing up for long hours at work and pregnancy don't mix well. But at the end of the day they are only swollen feet and after a lounge around they go back to normal. What's a pair of swollen feet when you are carrying a little bundle of joy inside you, eh? 

Anyway onto the fun part! We had our long anticipated 20 week scan on the 28th of June! I literally could not wait to see our little fella again. I didn't feel nervous until we were in the waiting room at the hospital. So at the 20 week scan it is basically to make sure everything is okay with the baby. Firstly the midwife did all the checks that she needed reporting them back to the other nurse who added all the data into the computer. She measured everything from his thigh bones, to counting his little toes to even checking if he was still a boy. Which he is! Thankfully! Everything looked fine with the baby and all the while I was just in awe staring at the screen. I couldn't believe how much he had grown since the 16 week scan and I was just amazed by him. I can't believe how much I love him already. Later on Nick told me that he was worried that the sonographer was going to say something wasn't normal but honestly I was that mesmerised by our son I didn't even think that way. It was a great relief to know that everything they could check was fine and on track. True to nature he was being naughty again. She really struggled to get a good scan photo of him and kept having to shake him around to make him budge. He really is camera shy when it comes to these ladies! 

Here is our scan photo:

I think he looks like his Dad already, just from his little profile! A Nick Jnr! 

On each of our scans too he has been sleeping or lying with his hand beneath his head. That is how I sleep at night. I wonder if that is a habit he will have when he is here?

Another milestone on the 20th week as I began feeling proper kicks for the first time too! Not little butterflies but what I call pokes. The first time it happened it had me thinking was that a kick? But every day they gradually got stronger and stronger. On the 21st week they became even stronger. He also has a schedule for his active time. I call it his afternoon aerobics class and nightly yoga session. He is always most active after I have had a big meal or when I am resting. I am adoring the kicks. Enjoying them while they are nice and gentle and not uncomfortable.

I don't feel like my bump is getting much bigger but maybe cause I obsess with watching it grow everyday that I don't seem to be noticing as much. What do you think? I think it still looks rather big. The photo was taken at 21 weeks.

I'm extremely happy at the minute and really at ease. So overwhelmed with love for our little boy and so excited for our future. More than half way there now!