Pregnancy Diary: Week 34

14/10/13

34 Weeks Pregnant.

A lot has changed this week. I am still getting awful heartburn but it seems to of developed into acid reflux and I now cough up acid which isn't very pleasant. I am still struggling to sleep but it has gotten worse. It's not that I am uncomfortable in bed, it's just that I am unable to drift off. Most days I will see the sun setting and hear the birds singing before I have even had a wink of sleep. Back pain has jumped on the band wagon this week too and if I am on my feet for long periods of time it becomes very sore and stiff which makes it difficult to walk. Thankfully I haven't had to deal with that throughout the entire pregnancy which I know some women do. The final symptom to emerge this week is what people refer to as "Lightening Crotch." My pelvis area feels extremely heavy, almost feels bruised and I get the occasional shooting pain every now and again. I have heard that this is totally normal as it is just the baby getting himself prepared and into the correct position. These changes are welcomed because no matter how uncomfortable they are they are just my body's way of getting ready for labour. 

It's harder to tell how much the bump has grown this week. I know it has gotten bigger though because a T'shirt that just about fit me last week is now too short on my stomach. I have measured big at every midwife appointment but to me I don't feel huge. In early pregnancy when I would think about how big I would be at 34 weeks I expected to be a lot bigger. I know there could potentially be another 6 weeks left to become humongous though so I'm enjoying not being massive just yet although I do struggle to get up off the sofa now and bending down is near enough impossible. 

The baby feels even stronger this week and his movements make my belly protrude at funny angles. I have been enjoying these new feelings thoroughly. When you touch the bump he will respond with a little kick, it's lovely. Also when I listen to my favourite band he will wriggle around like crazy like he is dancing. He either has great music taste like his Mummy or is telling me to turn it off, haha. I know I say this all the time but I am going to miss him being in my belly. 

I'm getting used to being at home on maternity leave. Like I had planned I have been keeping busy cleaning, cooking and sorting but I also have been enjoying plenty of naps and have been indulging in trashy American TV. I love it and I am making the most of the free time while I still can. I also like to spend countless hours just imagining our baby. It almost feels like a dream that he will be here soon! 

Competition: Win a Chocolate Pizza

Entering competitions is a hobby of mine and is something I really enjoy to do. I also enjoy hosting the odd competition or two and I love chocolate! So with those thoughts on board I decided I would give all my lovely readers a chance to win a yummy Chocolate Pizza! Who doesn't like free chocolate? 

The competition is going to run until my due date. Never mind what came first, the Chicken or the Egg? More like what came first, the Baby or the Pizza?! 

It's the same as ever. All you need to do to enter is to use the Rafflecopter form below and please read the T&C's. Thank you and good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

T&C:

1. 1 winner of 1 chocolate pizza of their choice from Toxic Fox website.
2. UK entries only.
3. Competition shall run until 15/11.

4. Incomplete entries will be forfeited.

5. Must be following on the blog, twitter or facebook so I am able to contact you if you win.

13 Personal Questions Tag

1. What do you order at Starbucks?

I don't go to Starbucks often but if I was to go to Costa or Rhode Island I tend to order a Vanilla Latte. Ohhh I could just drink one right about now.

2. What's one thing in your closet you can't live without?

My black boyfriend blazer. It literally looks good with everything and a blazer never seems to go out of fashion. 

3. What's one thing that most people don't know about you?

When I was a child I really wanted to be a wrestler. Yes, I'm being serious.

4. What's one thing you want to do before you die?

I would love to move abroad when I have retired. At the minute I'd like to think we would move to Spain. I love Spain, particularly Majorca and it feels like a home away from home. 

5. What's one food you can't live without?

Without a doubt it would have to be crisps. I could live off them. 

6. What's one quote that you live your life by?

I don't really live my life by quotes. I take each day as it comes. Perhaps that is my quote!

7. Favourite Perfume?

I love perfumes and have a few that I adore such as Coco Chanel Mademoiselle, Dior Addict 2, Miss Dior Cherie, Calvin Klein Euphoria but if I had to chose it would be Dior Addict 2. It's such a lovely scent that you can wear night or day.  

8. What's your number 1 song on your iPod/iTunes?  

It changes weekly but at the minute I can't get enough of Truck Stop Blues by New Found Glory.

9. What kind of style would you describe yourself as having?

Casual and comfortable.

10. Favourite number? 

17.

11. Two hobbies?

Blogging and photography. Sorry, nothing out of the box there. 

12. Two pet peeves?

People who don't respect animals and treat them like objects. When someone bangs into you while shopping and then doesn't apologise, that really gets to me. 

13. Your guilty pleasure?

American TV shows. Cannot get enough! 

I Love Pregnancy

I thought I would write a post all about everything I've loved during my pregnancy. Becoming pregnant has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. Nurturing this life inside me has been a life changing experience and one I have enjoyed thoroughly. It's almost sad that it will shortly be coming to the end but I will then have my baby then, at long last. 

Firstly of course I love my boy. I love the thought of him being in my belly, the thought that I am never alone. He is always with me wherever I go and his big kicks are a reminder that he's strong and well. Words can't express how much love I feel for him already and I can't even comprehend how I will feel when I lay eyes on him for the first time. It brings tears to my eyes imagining it and I get goosebumps. I already have this super protective maternal instinct over him and I can't wait for it to develop and grow.

My bump, I have been bump obsessed. Watching my bump get bigger and bigger week by week has been incredible. The stretch marks as unsightly as they look are and will always be a constant reminder of carrying him and I am already proud of them. I know for a fact that once he is here I will miss my bump so much. I find so much comfort from giving it a rub and totally used to it being there now. I will miss his little wriggles. When I first wake up in the morning and he is nice and still if I begin to talk he will move around in response. When you feel your baby move inside you it's a magical indescribable feeling. 

I love how pregnancy has brought Nick and I even closer. The countless hours we've spent talking about the life we've created and about our future as a family. About our hopes and dreams for our son and what values we want him to have. It is the biggest, most exciting period of our lives and we can't wait to be a family. 

The crazy dreams. I have given up watching films as I may as well sleep as my dreams are so much more entertaining. From playing domino's in the big brother house, to giving birth to kittens there is never a dull moment in my mind at bed time.

The excuse to eat whatever I fancy. Waking up at 2am and eating cake then thinking well I am eating for two! I will really miss using that excuse. I don't think my scales will miss it though as I must of put on at least two stone during the pregnancy.

I probably could go for another hour but I will end it here. As you can see I have enjoyed every second of my pregnancy and really looking forward to the next chapter!  

Pregnancy Diary: Week 32 & 33

4/10/13

32 & 33 Weeks Pregnant.

All in all I am still feeling relatively good. You can't expect to feel 100% at this stage in pregnancy. I am tired but can't sleep. My bump is getting bigger and it feels uncomfortable. I want to eat constantly but everything gives me heartburn. But saying that is all so so so worth it. After all my body is going to feel run down, I am nurturing a life in there! Although I am still feeling similar to previous weeks there have been some new sensations joining us this week. I have begun feeling his head really really low down and sometimes get shooting pains there. If I have been sat or led down for a while and stand up there is a lot of pressure down below and it feels like he could just drop out. I've been reassured that this is normal and it's just our boy getting ready and practising where he needs to be, so I welcome all those new feelings. 

I feel a lot bigger on the bump scale. It's really difficult to find a comfortable position to sit and sleep in. I also struggle getting up off the sofa or bed. I feel like a sumo wrestler! The baby's movements have developed again. He is running out of space quick and with that I feel so many more big shifts and changes rather than the little movements. His favourite time to play is around 1am, he seems to be a night owl just like me. I don't appear to have gained any more stretch marks but to be honest I don't think there is room for many more. Sometimes they go really itchy and sometimes are sore to touch. 

We had our 33 midwife appointment this week and everything was spot on. He is still in the head down position, on my left hand side. He is low down but not in my pelvis just yet, let's hope he stays that way and doesn't have a switch around. The baby had been measuring big all through the pregnancy, big but not too big. But now he is evening out a little. It is such a relief when you go into one of these appointments and you are in there for just ten minutes. Although you want to spend more time talking about the baby at least you know everything is fine. My next appointment is in three weeks and after that one I won't have many left until our little one is here.

I am now on Maternity Leave and I wrote all about it here. I have found since coming onto Maternity Leave I now feel more exhausted then when I was going to work. I have been keeping myself busy; cleaning, reading, blogging. I'm really enjoying the free time but it does feel strange not waking up to get ready for work in the morning. 

Not long to go now, just six weeks left if he arrives on his due date. Just three more weeks until I am full term. I can't believe how fast this pregnancy has flown by. 

Baby's First Clothes

Last week Nick and I decided to pick out our son's coming home clothes. I have to say we spent a good hour or two looking through all the clothes we have for him. His due date is in the middle of November so we know it's going to be cold by then so we have packed lots of layers. I didn't want him coming home in blue or any brights and we both decided on this neutral outfit for him.

  
The long sleeved vest, hat and mittens are all from good old Mothercare. The pram suit and sleep suit are both from The Essential One. The quality of each of these items is next to none. They are so soft and cosy which is the main reason we chose them. The cute comforter was from George and it just so happens that it matches. The whole outfit is in 0-3 months so we still need to plan a newborn outfit just in case! 

I can't wait until our little one is dressed in this outfit ready to come home with us!