40 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

Baby

I write this at 40 weeks and six days, bordering on 41 weeks. The baby is now overdue and I feel like I've been pregnant forever! She is estimated to be around 20 inches long and is the size of a small pumpkin. Weight wise she could be around 7.5lb to 9lb but we will have to wait and see when she is born. I think she will be a little more than Noah's birth weight of 7lb 2oz, perhaps in the 8lb bracket. She's totally ready for the outside world now and we are excitedly and anxiously waiting for her arrival. I hope she doesn't keep us waiting too much longer, I'm beyond desperate to meet her now.  

Mummy

As I write this post I'm six days overdue (though I will be publishing this post on Wednesday so if she's not arrived by then I'll be 9 days overdue! Help!) I don't feel as bad as I thought I would do at the prospect of being overdue, which is surprising as I always thought she'd come a little early. That being said I'm totally ready for the end of pregnancy and to meet our baby girl. Not only that but I feel like I'm constantly aching, I'm so sore all the time and now struggle to walk too. Come on baby girl.

On my due date I had my 40 week midwife appointment and everything was fine with both the baby and myself, which I was really happy about. I was offered a stretch and sweep and decided to go ahead and have one. She did the best she could and it hurt a lot as I was only slightly dilated. Knowing I wasn't even 1cm dilated yet I knew that it sweep wouldn't have much effect. Hopefully the next one will work, if I don't go into labour before it! I've had so many moments now where I've thought labour was imminent but they've all been false alarms and just my body preparing for her arrival. With this happening so many times now I don't actually think I will believe I'm in labour until my waters have gone, until I'm getting strong contractions or I'm being induced!

Wish me luck. Hopefully the next thing I will be writing about is our baby girl. 

My Pregnancy - Questions & Answers

Today is my due date and to mark the occasion I decided to set up a little Q&A with my readers and friends. I thought this would be lovely to look back at one day, to reminisce and remember all the up's and down's of this pregnancy. I put out a call out over on my Facebook page and here are some of the questions that were thrown my way. 

As you're having a different gender, do you feel like your pregnancies were different? 

This is actually a really good question but one that's quite difficult to answer too. In some ways the pregnancies have been similar but then in other ways they've been totally different. My bump has been pretty similar I think, both times I've popped pretty early, been covered in stretch marks and measured big. My main cravings in both pregnancies have been cereal and oranges but different to last time I've been obsessed with beetroot and jelly too! I definitely found pregnancy easier the first time round as I've had a lot more aches, pains and complaints with this pregnancy.  

What will you miss the most about being pregnant?

I'll miss my bump and feeling her move around inside. We have decided to stop at two children so knowing this will be my last pregnancy does make me feel a little sad as I will really miss the kicks and movements. Pregnancy is one incredible journey, warts and all. 

What are you most nervous about second time around labour and birth wise?
It has to be the recovery. The first time around you don't need to worry so much about the recovery and how long it will take, you can take it easy. This time I have a toddler to take care of as well as a newborn baby so this makes me feel a little scared and nervous. Thankfully Nick will be taking time off work to help and hopefully the two weeks will be all I need to recover. 

Are you planning on skin to skin? Delayed cord clamping?

I hope so! I'd planned on instant skin to skin with Noah but couldn't have it for very long as he'd pooed in his waters during delivery. Pretty soon after he was born they had to check his breathing and lungs to make sure he hadn't inhaled any, which thankfully he hadn't. It depends on the birth but I really hope so this time. I'd also love a water birth too as I wasn't able to have one when I was induced with Noah.

How did you find sleeping at night? What do you find helped you get a better nights sleep?

I struggled with sleep, just like when I was pregnant with Noah. As you get bigger and bigger it's so hard to get comfortable and then there's the pregnancy insomnia too! I found my Theraline pregnancy pillow an absolute godsend and have pretty much used it the entire pregnancy. It also helped to have plenty of Rennies and Gaviscon on my bedside table as I would often wake with awful heartburn and indigestion in the night.

Do you feel like you know the signs of labour to look out for? 

Having been induced with Noah I've not yet experienced going into labour naturally so although I think I know what to look out for it will all be totally new to me. With an induction things go from 0-100 very quickly with the pessaries, gel and then the drip, it's not as gradual as natural labour is. I've already had a few moments where I thought things may be starting but so far it's just been the baby getting ready for her big entrance I think!

What have you enjoyed the most and least about pregnancy the second time around?
I've loved feeling the baby get stronger and stronger as the weeks go on. The feeling of baby kicks is one of the best experiences in the world and I'll be sad to never experience that again once she's born. I also really enjoyed our scans, especially the 4D scan I managed to win in a competition! I also loved our gender scan and predicting the gender right for the second time! This time around I've felt sick and lethargic pretty much for the entire 9 months so I would have to say that is the part I've enjoyed the least.

What are you most looking forward to after the birth?
It's got be setting eyes on her for the first time and all those newborn cuddles. I'm so excited yet at the same time it still doesn't feel real, it's so surreal. I'm also looking forward to enjoy a very small glass of wine, I have to admit! Not right after the birth of course but we will have to wet her head!

So there you have it, those were the questions and here are my answers. I can't believe today is my due date. This pregnancy has flown by in the blink of an eye and I am bursting in anticipation to meet our baby girl. I cannot wait to become a family of four! 

38 & 39 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

Baby
My baby girl is now estimated to be between 19.75 to 20 inches long and may weigh roughly 6.8lb to 7.25lb. This of course vary's from baby to baby and is an average so we'll have to wait to see how much she actually weighs and measures when she's born. She is continuing to build layers of fat and the placenta is still working hard to provide the important antibodies to help protect her when she's arrives into the world. Our daughter is now also considered full term and she's totally ready to be born. 

Mummy
As I write this I'm 39 weeks and 2 days pregnant. This pregnancy has flown by but as we reach the final hurdle it's like we've hit the brakes and now it feels like I've been pregnant forever! I decided to write this double post a little earlier than planned this week as I have a feeling I won't be pregnant for much longer. Lets hope Mummy's intuition is correct and it's not just wishful thinking. I've had quite a few tell tale signs that labour may be imminent so I'm trying to remain focused that it won't be long now. As much as I love pregnancy I'm ready to trade in the none stop nausea, heartburn and aches and pains for our baby! I'm so ready to meet our baby girl now, so much so that it hurts!

See you next week? Maybe? Will there be a 40 week update or will the next post I write be our daughters birth announcement? I guess we will all have to wait and see!

37 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

Baby
Wow, 37 weeks! I'm aware I'm not going to have many of these pregnancy updates left and although I'm really excited to meet our girl it feels so surreal too. At 37 weeks she should now be roughly 19 inches long and weigh around 6.3lb. She's a fully fledged little baby in there now and I just can't wait to cuddle her. She is now considered term but isn't actually full term until 39 weeks. Her organs are pretty much fully developed now and it's all about when decides to arrive now. She's so very active and strong, especially at night and she quite often hurts me the little monkey! I'm so excited to meet her!

Mummy

I'm going to hold my hands up and admit that I'm at that stage now where I'm counting down the days until my due date. As much as I've loved pregnancy and everything that comes with it, it's been totally different this time around and a lot harder work. I don't think there's been a day that I haven't felt totally exhausted or sick and I know I'll be even more tired once she's here but I'm looking forward to the nausea and heartburn going away! I'm still struggling to sleep and my pelvic and back pain has now returned with her being head down and beginning to engage. I don't feel overly huge bump wise but it must be bigger than I was with Noah as I have brand new stretch marks to add to the collection. My bump is also really sore at the top and I think that's because I've been lifting Noah and have been bending down instead of squatting. I've felt a lot of pains down below over the last week or so and they've been that strong that at times I've felt like I'd be going into labour soon but so far it's all just been false starts and her getting ready for the big day!

I wonder how many days we have left now? Hopefully she won't be keeping us waiting much longer. We can't contain our excitement and just want to meet our baby A. 

See you next week! 

35 & 36 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

Baby

The baby has grown from roughly 18 inches long to 19 and has grown from 5.25lb to 5.75lb. Of course these are just estimated averages and each baby varies but towards the end of pregnancy she will be putting on half a pound a week, she's busy plumping up for the birth. All her major organs are mature and complete at this stage even though I'm not quite term just yet. I'm term next week and another two weeks and I'll be full term. I wonder how far I will get before she decides to make an appearance!

I had my 36 week midwife appointment last week and everything went really well. I was measuring high on the graph again, just like I did with Noah but the midwife let me in on something I didn't actually know. She said that these growth measurements mainly go off the Mum's anatomy, if she is tall (like I am) she will probably measure large as they have a longer torso. I'm not sure how true that is but it would make sense in my case as I'm tall and I measured large with Noah despite him being a dainty 7lb 2oz when he was born. She told me that baby was head down now and is almost engaged, she's on the brim! I've always thought that the baby was big as her movements have always been so strong and forceful compared to Noah's but I was also told that she doesn't feel like a big baby, so that gives me a little relief when it comes to thinking about labour! Phew!

Baby girl is still super active and strong, especially in the evening or when I'm in bed at night. There have been times recently when her movements have taken my breath away, quite literally! As time goes on they just get stronger and stronger and more impressive, she can really pack a punch! I love getting into bed at night, speaking with her and feeling her move and wriggle in response, it's magical. 

Mummy

I'm okay! There's a lot of the same symptoms that I've been experiencing for the past couple of months, back pain, pelvis pain, heartburn, indigestion, exhaustion, nausea, insomnia and so on but nothing to shout home about. On a whole I don't feel too bad really. I have however had a couple of moments where I've thought I may be going into labour but I think it's my body's way of getting ready for everything and it still wouldn't surprise me if she came a little early. I've been experiencing pressure and pains down below, been using the toilet a lot, I've been feeling anxious and all sorts of other things which can sometimes mean labour is imminent but it can also just be pregnancy related so it's impossible to tell. Bump wise I feel huge and you can now tell that I've dropped, maybe another sign she won't keep us waiting too long? Only time will tell.

See you next week! 

34 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

Baby

At this gestation the baby is estimated to be around 18 inches long and weighs roughly 4.75lb. She's been busy putting on weight and maturing her lungs ready for the outside world. I had my 34 week midwife appointment last week and she was measuring big as you can see from the photo below. I don't really think these measurements are often accurate as Noah measured huge all the way through and when he was born he weighed a dainty 7lb 2oz. I do however think she will weigh more than Noah did and I'm guessing around the 8lb mark. I suppose it all depends on when she decides to be born! I still think she will come slightly early, we shall have to wait and see!

Mummy

Oh my word, I'm shattered. I feel like I could sleep for an entire month. Noah hasn't been sleeping very well and with being well into my third trimester I'm just exhausted all the time. I remember complaining about being tired when I was expecting Noah and back then I could just nap whenever I wanted to, when I wasn't at work of course. It also takes me a long time to switch off at night, I struggle to get comfortable and as soon as I lay down my indigestion and heartburn flare up. I guess this is good practice for how tired I will be when she arrives, although I really would just love a good night sleep before she does! I've started getting headaches again but I think that's mainly down to the lack of sleep. My pelvic pain hasn't been as bad lately but I feel so stiff and sore at the moment. I still struggle to walk when I've been sat down or led down for a while and tend to walk in a hobble! My bump is still quite big but people keep mentioning how I look like I've dropped lately, hopefully this is a sign that she won't keep us waiting too long!

As much as I love pregnancy (warts and all - literally!) I feel like I'm at the stage now where I'm looking for that finish line. I'm so excited to meeting her and I can't wait to start this new chapter in our lives. Once she's born our little family will be complete. 

See you next week! 

32 & 33 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

Baby

It's estimated that the baby has grown from 16.7 inches long to 17 and is now the length of a pineapple! I never understood the fruit sizing references as they vary in size, you see small pineapples, large pineapples! But yes, she's now the size of a pineapple apparently! She's continuing to put on weight and should have gone from roughly 3.75 lb to 4.25 lb. It's comforting to know that if she was to come early she should have quite a substantial weight now. She should put on another half a pound for the next four weeks! I would love to know exactly what she weighs at the moment because she may double in weight by the time she's born. I think she will be around 8lb 2oz, a pound bigger than her brother, just a wild guess.

I also have a feeling that she's quite a big baby already or that she's just a lot more vivacious than Noah was in the womb. She moves around a lot and often responds to our voice or to our touch, which I absolutely adore. She is also really strong and some of her movements can really hurt, especially when she wedges herself in my pelvis or behind my rib cage. I think she's going to be a feisty one, just like her Mummy. 

I think we've finally decided on a name now too. It's the one that we've liked all a long but we were keeping our options open, that being said I want to wait until she's born before I totally decide!

Mummy

Thankfully my pelvis and lower back pain has now subsided slightly and I'm getting a little bit of relief. This is a surprise because at times I can feel the baby really low down and you'd think that would cause me further pelvis issues but it's not been the case as of yet. I've been feeling quite lethargic lately, forever tired and quite often feeling sick. I'm getting to that stage now where although I love pregnancy and everything it entails I'm looking forward to feeling human again and of course I'm so excited to meet our baby girl.

This pregnancy has totally flown by but I think from this point going forward it will now it will start to go slowly. I'm huge bump wise, just like I was with Noah and people have mentioned that they think I look like I've dropped, but I'm not too sure. I do still feel like she's going to come early but as I said on my last update, we will have to wait and see. I'd hate to go overdue but I wouldn't mind waiting as long as I can experience a normal labour and not have to be induced again. I really want to experience going into labour naturally and a water birth would just be a dream come true. 

I cannot wait for our family of three to blossom into four. Noah is so excited to meet her too, he's forever kissing and stroking the bump on his own accord and he keeps telling her to hurry up! I really do think he's going to make an amazing big brother.

See you next week. 

30 & 31 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

Baby

Baby girl has grown from an estimated 15.7 inches to 16.25 inches long. On average she could have grown from 2.75lb to 3.3lb and is really starting to fill out now. Over the next few weeks it's all about bulking out and forming some fat beneath her skin. I can really tell she is growing rapidly now because there's less room for her to wiggle around and her movements feel different, it's like there's a baby dolphin swimming around in there! She's hard at work practising to breathe and often gets bouts of hiccups which is such a strange but lovely sensation! Her eyes can now dilate and change in the light and she often responds to hearing our voices, especially Noah's.  

Mummy

This Mummy is aching from head to toe! This pregnancy has been so similar to my first in some aspects but so totally different in others. I've had a lot more symptoms, aches and pains this time around and I think that is mainly because it's my second pregnancy, labour and pregnancy the first time around must have wrecked my body! I have quite bad pelvic and lower back pain at the moment and when I wake up in the morning I can't walk for a few minutes. It also makes it difficult to be on my feet for a long time and getting asleep at night is quite tricky too. Nausea has also returned and heartburn is still rearing it's ugly head. I've also got low iron which I had with Noah so I'm on the supplements again which also add to the not so pleasant symptoms, ha ha. All this aside I'm still really enjoying pregnancy, I don't think much could ever change that. Even now on the last stretch of my second pregnancy I'm still totally in awe at the whole experience, I think it's incredible. I'm really trying to savour every moment as I know this will probably be the last time I will be pregnant and I know that I'll really miss it.

I still can't get my head around how quickly this pregnancy has flown by. It only feels like yesterday when we were trying to conceive and I was documenting my first trimester of pregnancy. To think that she could be here in just 9 weeks time is just crazy! I feel so unprepared this time around because with Noah I had everything sorted quite early on. I think with your second pregnancy you are a lot more relaxed about the whole thing and you have another child occupying your attention too so there's not as much free time. As soon as we get into the new year I have to start getting everything ready for her because I have a feeling she may come early. We will have to wait and see!

See you next week! 

28 & 29 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

Baby
Our baby girl has grown from roughly 14.6 inches to 15.2 inches long and from 2.25lb to 2.5lb in weight. When we had our 4D scan a few weeks ago they mentioned that she's measuring exactly what she should be, to the day. This makes me think that she probably is between these estimates in length and weight. Her brain has developed more in these last two weeks and she is starting to sleep in 30 minute intervals. Over the next couple of weeks she will be growing rapidly and space will become quite cramped in there!

She's a very strong baby, going off her movements and kicks. I don't remember Noah ever being so strong really! I think that could be down to having an anterior placenta with him though, perhaps it buffered some of those feelings. Baby girl sometimes feels like the Incredible Hulk and she can really startle me with her kicks and prods! I keep saying it's a sign of things to come, she's going to be a feisty one just like her Mummy!

Mummy

I'm happy to report that my chest infection has now long gone and I feel so much better now! It's such a relief as I honestly don't think that I've ever been so poorly. It was so hard trying to take care of myself, my pregnancy and my toddler while being so unwell but what else can you do! I just had to get on with it. I still have heartburn from time to time but it's not as relentless as it once was. My appetite still isn't right, it hasn't been normal since I conceived and my taste buds are way off too. A new symptom is pelvic pain which I never had with Noah, it can be so painful and difficult to walk and sometimes it makes me wince. With my bump being so big and with being in pain with it already it does make me wonder how I'm going to fare over the next ten weeks or so. I'm scared!

All that aside I absolutely love being pregnant, it really is a beautiful experience and I'm so lucky that I've been able to experience it twice. I've found myself soaking in every moment of this pregnancy, so much more than I did with Noah. This is because we are stopping at two children so I don't want to rush away the experience, that being said this pregnancy has flown by scarily fast. As I type this I can feel her kicking away in my belly and it really is a feeling that I wouldn't want to speed a long or change in any way. I can't wait to meet our baby girl but for now I'm just enjoying every minute of carrying her.

See you next week!

27 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

Baby

The baby is now roughly 14.5 inches long and weighs around 2lb. Her immune system is continuing to mature and her lungs are getting in lots of practice by breathing amniotic fluid. She will begin to put on lots of weight in the following weeks and currently looks like a more wrinkled version of what she will look like at birth.  

Mummy

As mentioned on last weeks post I'd been feeling really under the weather lately. My cough and cold symptoms were getting worse and worse as the days progressed and I was beginning to struggle to breathe. To be honest, I don't think I've ever been so poorly. I couldn't get in to see my GP despite being so unwell and with the added risk of being pregnant so I had to ring 111 and basically I was passed from one service to the next, none of which helped me at all. After three hours of being on the phone and one anxiety attack later I was advised to go to A&E. I had to go and seek emergency medical care just to see a Doctor because no one would manage to fit me in anywhere, absolutely ridiculous. Turns out I had a chest infection and after a week of antibiotics I finally feel like I'm on the mend. I can't tell you how difficult it is to look after yourself when you feel so ill, while being pregnant and having a toddler who's also poorly! Other than that it's just been the usual feelings of heartburn and exhaustion. I also feel absolutely huge! 

Towards the end of the week I had a 4D scan appointment which I was lucky enough to win in a competition! The scan was at Precious Glimpse and I can't rate the place enough, our experience was perfect. We were so excited to attend and to see our baby girl once again, it felt like a lifetime ago when we saw her at the 20 week scan. We were certainly not disappointed, look at her little face. She was smiling a lot and we caught her covering her face and sucking her thumb too. We got some really great photo's and even a couple of videos of her live in the womb, technology these days is out of this world! Going off the scan she looks just like Noah but we will have to wait and see if she does when she's born. I'm totally in love with her and I know she'll be here before we know it.

25 & 26 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

Baby
My baby girl has grown from roughly 13.5 inches long to 14 and from 1.5lb to 1.75lb. Of course this is just an estimate of her size as all babies grow at different rates, this is just the average. Her body is now growing rapidly and is becoming more and more in proportion to her head. She's also aquiring fat beneath her delicate skin and growing hair with pigmentation. Now her lungs and brain are much more developed and she can pick up on light and noises so much easier. I've noticed she now responds to her voice so I often find myself having a little chat with her. 

Mummy

I started feeling a little run down around the 26 week mark as I picked up a bug from Noah. It started as a sniffle but got worse and worse as time went on. I normally handle a cold pretty well but with being pregnant and Noah being poorly too it really knocked me for six. With being unwell my emotions have been all over the place and my anxiety has been through the roof. Thankfully I have a couple of blogging friends who are keeping me sane, in particular the wonderful Rebecca P over at Mum of a Premature Baby and my fellow pregnancy buddy Rebecca S who blogs at Futures. I need to start taking it a little easier I think and having a bit more down time in the evening. All that aside everything is much of the same. I feel massive, I dread to think what I'm going to look like come February but it's all worth it in the end! My cravings lately have been all about cheese burgers, carrot sticks and Weetabix. Not all at once though, yuck! I can't believe I'm almost in third trimester already!

See you next week! 

24 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

Baby

My baby girl now weights roughly 1.3lb and is around 12.5 inches long. Her senses are rapidly developing and she is starting to realise when she is upside down or right side up. Her respiratory system is developing very quickly and her lungs are developing in preparation for breathing. She's practising breathing by moving amniotic fluid in and our her little lungs. She is still as active as ever preferring to move the most very late at night until the early hours. Right now her movements aren't keeping me awake or waking me up but I have found myself staying up later so I can feel her move and watch her move beneath my skin, I adore those moments. We think she has a name now although I'm stuck between two! I think it'll be a case of seeing which name she suits the most when she's born and hopefully we will be certain on it and won't want to change our minds. I can't wait to meet her! At the rate the pregnancy is flying by February will be here before we know it. 

Mummy

On a whole I'm great, I can't complain. I just have some of my regular symtoms but they aren't anything to shout home about. My reflux and heartburn seems to be getting worse as the weeks progress but I've found avoiding certain foods, sitting a certain way and taking Rennies helps a lot. I've been experiencing Braxton Hicks again but knowing what they are and how quickly they pass puts my mind at ease when it does happens. I've had the odd dizzy and nausea spell but nothing as bad as last week and it usually subsides after I have some sugar or a drink. When it comes to my cravings it's still all about cereal although I do indulge in some oranges when my heartburn gives me a little respite ha ha. Bump wise I think I'm absolutely huge and I dread to think how big I'm going to be in third trimester! Nick may need to push me around in a wheelbarrow when the time comes!

As the weeks progress we are all getting more and more excited about meeting our newest addition. Noah is extremely excited about having a sibling! He often comes running up to me and gently places his hand on my bump with the biggest grin on his face! He refers to the bump as "his sister" and keeps suggesting that we name her Yoda! He's going to make such a fantastic brother, I just know it.

See you next week! 

23 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

Baby

The baby now weighs roughly 1.1lb and is 11.5 inches long. She is now more proportioned when it comes to her head and body and she now looks a lot more like a newborn. I've noticed a pattern in her movements lately which is great as I will now monitor it going forward as it's so important to count the kicks. She moves every now and again during the day but at night time between 11pm-3am she is extremely active. She's so much more powerful now and some of her movements and kicks can startle me! I absolutely love it though. Feeling your baby move and feeling the movements get stronger and stronger is one of the best parts of pregnancy. I was led in bed a couple of night ago with the duvet was pulled up right to my neck and she kicked so hard I could see the movement through the covers! I have a feeling she's going to be a feisty one just like her Mummy. I love her so much already.

Mummy

There have been a few changes in symptoms this week but a lot of feeling the same too. I'm tired a lot but at the same time I'm struggling to sleep. My heartburn and indigestion just keeps getting worse and I've been prescribed Gaviscon again. I've also been experiencing braxton hicks type feelings in my stomach. It tends to happen when I've been walking around for a while and my bump will go tight, cramp and feel a little contraction like. It usually goes away once I sit down and relax though. I've also had a couple of weak and dizzy spells the past week which I've put that down to a mix of not drinking enough water and low blood sugar levels. My cravings have now changed too and I don't have much of an appetite. With the acid reflux I'm not able to manage oranges or citrus fruits anymore which I once craved but I'm still all about cereal. 

Bump wise I think I'm huge! People are surprised when I say how far a long I am and think I'm due in a few weeks time. In fact I looked similar to this size when I was in third trimester with Noah! Big bumps don't always mean big babies though as I was big with Noah and he came out at 7lb 2oz. So fingers crossed baby girl takes after her brother! Exhaustion, dizziness, indigestion and looking like a beached whale aside I'm loving every moment. I adore being pregnant.  

See you next week! 

21 & 22 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

It's going to be a double post this week from me because everything has been so hectic here lately, in the best kind of way. It's sort of a good thing though because by posting my 21 & 22 week update it means I'm more up to date and not a week behind.

Baby

With this being a double this week the baby has done some serious growing! She's grown from roughly 10 inch to 11 inch and from 12.7 oz to 1lb. This of course is an estimate as it all depends on the baby but gives us parents a nice idea of how they are coming a long. I've always thought she was a little bigger though because I've felt her from so early on and she's already so powerful for her gestation.

The babies digestive system is developing and she is beginning to swallow amniotic fluid and absorbing small amounts of sugar though of course most of the nutrients are delivered from the placenta. Her senses are really coming through too as her taste buds and nerve endings are forming. Lots of changes in just two weeks of time.

Mummy

Symptom wise the only thing which has changed somewhat is my heartburn and indigestion, it's just getting worse. I requested a repeat prescription of Gaviscon this week as I did with Noah so that will probably take the edge off a little. Whilst I was at my GP's I also had my whooping cough and flu vaccine at the same time which left me with two totally useless arms for a couple of days, ha ha. Nice to have them done and out of the way though, one less thing to think about.

Bump wise I think that I look more 30 weeks than 21 and 22 weeks pregnant, I'm huge! I was the same with Noah and everyone expected a big baby but he was only dainty at 7lb 2oz, let's hope his baby sister is just the same! My belly button sticks right out now too and every time I touch it I feel queezy! It feels like a popped balloon! Also did you know that stretch marks can get stretch marks? Well you do now as this week I noticed a new stretch mark on an old one and I couldn't help but laugh as I'm so prone to them!

See you next week! 

20 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

Baby 
The baby is now the size of a small cantaloupe and is roughly 6.5 inches long. It's estimated that she may weigh around 10.6oz at this stage but I have a feeling she's going to be a little chunk! This week she has started creating a waxy like substance called vernix which protects her delicate skin from becoming scratched or chapped. She's also started to produce meconium. Her movements are becoming so much more noticeable now and Nick was able to feel her kick for the first time this week.

Mummy
I'm still feeling good, nothing has really changed. Just feel very tired all the time and have bad heartburn on and off. Emotionally and mood wise I've felt great too! Craving wise it's still all about oranges, I really can't get enough. I get very very hungry from time to time and find myself snacking often. It's no surprise I've put on just over a stone already, whoops! My bump is really noticeable now and I'm in my element. I love having a bump.

I can't believe we are at the half way mark already, the pregnancy has gone by in a blur. I'm absolutely loving every moment, just like I did with Noah. Weight gain, heart burn, hair loss and so on is such a small price to pay to be able to experience something as incredible as pregnancy. It's truly magical and I wish I could bottle up this feeling. I'm really looking forward to meeting our baby girl and expanding our family but at the same time want to really enjoy these next twenty weeks of pregnancy.

See you next week! 

19 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

Bit of a different type of bump picture this week. I usually ask Nick to take a bump shot on a Friday afternoon but we were on our way to London for the weekend so totally forgot. I took this photo in the hotel mirror as soon as I remembered although it was right before I went to bed, hence the messy hair and no make up!

Baby
Baby girl is now the size of a heirloom tomato, is 6 inches long and weighs roughly 8.5oz. Her senses are developing as certain areas of the brain are being designated for smell, taste, hearing, vision and touch. The baby can now move in a more controlled way and can be felt a lot more. She's getting stronger and stronger and I'm noticing a pattern in her movements which will be great to monitor going forward. We think we've settled on her name now but not 100% so keeping it to ourselves until she's born. 

Mummy
I'm still feeling good despite the exhaustion. I remember feeling so energised around this time when I was pregnant with Noah but this time I have a toddler to chase around after, one that doesn't sleep as well as he used to do and one that doesn't nap any more either. It's so much easier the first time around, that's for sure. Another not so pleasant symptom is that my heartburn is getting worse, especially in bed at night but sleeping a certain way on my pregnancy pillow helps a little. I've probably put on weight this week and my bump seems to have gotten a lot bigger, it's really noticeable now! When it comes to cravings I'm still loving my oranges, I can't get enough. I'm also insatiably hungry at the moment, it's so bad! I'm going to be a blimp by the end of this pregnancy!

See you next week! 

18 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

Baby

The baby is now almost 6 inches long and weighs around 6.7oz. The bones in her body are beginning to harden so vitamin D and calcium is really important at this stage and going forward. Among these first bones to develop is the inner ear so baby girl will be starting to hear my heart beating and tummy growling any time now. She's certainly gotten stronger this week as I'm feeling her kicks and wriggles more. I had my hand on my belly the other night and I felt her kick my hand, it was amazing! 

Mummy

Same as last week really as I've been feeling really good. I'm shattered but that's nothing new and is to be expected when growing a tiny human all while looking after a toddler. Emotional wise I feel a lot more level headed which is a relief but I have had anxiety flare ups but I think that's due to Noah starting nursery. I've also had an unwelcome visitor return, Mr Heartburn! I had it really bad with Noah and was prescribed Gaviscon which didn't really help much, hopefully it won't be as relentless this time around. I haven't weighed myself for a few weeks and dread to think how much I've put on. That being said I haven't been eating as bad as I did in my first pregnancy. I'm not craving full fat milk this time either so that's got to count for something, ha ha. Speaking of cravings I still can't get enough oranges! Jaffa oranges, satsumas, clementines, they are tasting like pure heaven at the moment. On the bump front there's no mistaking I'm pregnant now and have I'm starting to see people notice and smile. I still can't believe how fast this pregnancy is flying by! 

See you next week! 

17 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

Baby

This week the baby is approximately 5 inches long and weighs roughly 6oz. She's been focusing on forming layers of fat underneath her skin and from now on her weight will sky rocket and she'll hopefully be putting on a nice little bit of weight every week. She is also mastering simple reflexes such as swallowing, sucking and blinking too. She can also get hiccups which I'm pretty positive I've felt ever so slightly.

Mummy

I've been feeling great! No nausea, heartburn, back pain or headaches. I do seem to get tired really easy but that's expected as it's hard work growing a baby inside you all while chasing around a toddler. I've also started struggling to get comfy at night and often find myself wide awake when I get in bed despite being shattered. I think my bump has gotten bigger this week as I'm getting more comments on it and it feels more rounded too. Movement wise I'm still feeling her little wriggles and the odd prod but nothing overly strong at the moment. On the craving front there's nothing new, it's still all about oranges and I can't seem to get enough water. One craving I keep getting that I won't be acting on is sparkling wine! I'm thinking of getting a non alcoholic alternative to try and see how I get on! I'm not a big drinker usually so it's a very strange craving to have! We've been trying to think of names a bit more since we found out the gender of our baby but we are struggling with them which comes as a surprise as we didn't have that problem when I was pregnant with Noah. I still can't get my head around how quickly this pregnancy is going!

See you next week!

16 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

The day I turned 16 weeks pregnant we attended our private gender scan and I was so excited. I woke up that morning and was adamant that I was carrying a girl and I said to my partner just as much. I'd always thought I was having girl but for some reason that morning I was certain. We drove over to Manchester for the scan and within a couple of minutes of being in the room with the sonographer she confirmed that our baby was indeed a girl and I couldn't believe it! Well I could because I always felt like she was a girl but it felt so good to be right, mothers intuition and all. She confirmed that she was a girl three times and said she was absolutely certain too. So there you have it, we are team pink! (We hope because we've bought about 101 dresses already!)

Baby
This week the limbs are more developed and are more controlled when it comes to movement. My baby girl is now the size of an avocado and weighs roughly 3.5oz although at our gender scan the sonographer said she weighed roughly 5oz. The baby's weight will also double by next week. I've been enjoying her little movements and she seems to be most active around 1am in the morning. I can't wait to feel stronger movements and kicks.

Mummy
I'm feeling okay at the moment. I get tired very easily but on a whole I feel good as I don't feel sick or have any back pain anymore. I can be up and down with my moods though I have to admit. I feel really emotional at the moment and I think that is a combination of my crazy pregnancy hormones, everything that's been happening around me lately and the fact my boy has just started nursery. Craving wise it's still all about orange or citrus foods and drink. My bump is getting harder and rounding out a bit. Like my first pregnancy I popped early but my bump is such a different shape this time around as I'm carrying really high rather than low.


See you next week! 

15 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2

This pregnancy is just flying by! I can't believe I'm already 15 weeks pregnant (16 weeks by the time I post this!) It certainly goes a lot faster the second time around when you already have a toddler to chase about. I've also felt so much more relaxed in this pregnancy too having done it all before. I don't find myself googling twinge or symptom and just feel like I'm enjoying it more.

Baby

The baby is now the size of a navel orange and weighs roughly 2.5 oz. The babies skin is transluscent and if you could peek inside my womb you could see the blood vessels forming beneath the skin. The baby has also starting to grow hair not just on the head but on the body which will help protect them from the exposure to the amniotic fluid. They are also quite active now and I already know that because I can feel the baby move quite frequently now, ever so gently but a constant reminder that they are there.

Mummy
I've been feeling great lately. I do always feel tired but not half as bad as I did in first trimester, my nausea has completely gone too. Craving wise I've been obsessed with anything orange! Fanta Zero, fresh orange juice, oranges, tangerines, carrots! I keep thinking what happens if my skin turns orange, ha ha! Mood wise I've been a bit emotional which is understandable with so many hormones rushing through my body right now. My bump has gotten a tiny bit bigger but I still think to people who don't know I'm pregnant they'll just think I have a fat belly! I'm at that awkward middle stage when it comes to the bump! I've also felt lots of stretching in my stomach muscles over the last few days and I remember that panicking me in my first pregnancy but this time around I know what's happening. My belly button is also threatening to pop out at any given moment just like it did with Noah too! Yuck!

On my 16 week post next week I'll be writing about our gender scan but if you can't wait till then you can read it here where I announced the gender of our little one! 

Team blue or team pink? What do you think?