Seeming we've had the date of our pregnancy adjusted, I thought we should update the dating of these weeks.
So week 7 version 2 it is!
So week 7 version 2 it is!
26th March
We set off just after 10am to go on our little stay away.
The sun was shining and the journey was as good as we could have hoped.
We stopped off at a national trust place on the way - Dunham Massey.
We hadn't ever been to our namesake place previously and so wanted to give it a go. It helped to break the journey up a bit and also extend the holiday slightly.
We hadn't ever been to our namesake place previously and so wanted to give it a go. It helped to break the journey up a bit and also extend the holiday slightly.
We had lunch first. Caz had a cheese and onion slice and I had mushroom soup and a roll.
As the weather was still lovely we walked around some of the gardens first. There was a beautiful formal rose garden with lots of benches dotted around. We sat near a beehive with the gentle buzzing of bees going to and from their hive. The sun had some heat behind it and we were overlooking the majority of the rose garden.
We ambled around more of the garden and then went to the house.
You got the chance to walk through much of the house but you didn't see the bedrooms.
You got the chance to walk through much of the house but you didn't see the bedrooms.
The library was one of the first rooms. It was very well stocked and looked so nice.
A lot of the rooms felt quite dark and almost intimate. It was only when you got to more of the ladies sitting room that it suddenly had a much different vibe and feel airy.
During the war, the house did their bit by setting up as a convalescent home for injured soldiers. One of the rooms we set up as a dormitory to give you an idea of how they would have been cared for.
Only when we arrived at the servant quarters did it feel a bit more normal and more farmhouse like. I imagine that would be where I'd be during these earlier eras. Maybe someone in the laundry room, scrubbing away at clothes!
There was also a mill in the estate. It was a water driven mill and had been a cotton mill, flour mill and then later a sawmill.
We then stopped for hot chocolate in a restaurant above the stables. So creamy and sweet!
After we meandered around the shop and my eyes set on a rainbow woollen blanket. I thought it'd look perfect in the nursery on an armchair. So that was quickly purchased along with a souvenir item with Dunham Massey printed on it - a leather bookmark.
We continued our journey to the hotel and went to our room after checking in.
It's a lovely sized room but despite a large sash window, there is limited daylight entering the room. A dressing table is to one side of the bed and a small table to the other. There is also a little armchair and occasional table.
The view from the window is the exterior of the spa about 4 metres away and some air-conditioning units. Not the most serene view and not entirely peaceful with a constant drone of the units running away.
The bathroom is neat with a shower over the bath.
I was quite tired after the journey and visiting Dunham Massey and so needed a nap before dinner.
I dressed in a maternity sparkly jumper dress. It fits really nicely. Long sleeves which are kind of bat-winged and a roomy but shapely body going into a more fitted mini dress that shows off your curvy derriere! I finished the look off with dark tights and nude heels.
Dinner was really lovely.
We were seated by a window and could see fairy lights around a small courtyard and part of the golf course in the distance. The waiter placed the napkins on our laps.
We ordered drinks and the barman quipped do you want your drink now or with dinner' so I retorted with 'let's crack it open now!' We only had Appletisers!
I had melon and berry confit to start and Caz had ham hock with a crispy bread served on a slate.
Main was Margherita salmon with sweet corn fritters and salad for me and braised beef with mash and vegetables for Caz.
When the waiter placed my meal down the delicately placed salmon tumbled from its perch on the salad to the side of the plate. The waiter was mortified and asked if I wanted a new one. But it still looked perfect to me! Besides, I'd no doubt move the salmon anyway to cut into it.
When the waiter placed my meal down the delicately placed salmon tumbled from its perch on the salad to the side of the plate. The waiter was mortified and asked if I wanted a new one. But it still looked perfect to me! Besides, I'd no doubt move the salmon anyway to cut into it.
Pudding was sticky toffee pudding with caramel sauce with vanilla ice cream and Caz went for cheese and biscuits. I'd always wondered who picked cheese and biscuits on a pudding menu... It felt like an obligatory item you had to list but no one actually ever ordered it. Maybe like granola on a breakfast menu. Of course, you aren't going to pick that when waffles and pancakes are on offer...!
But apparently, someone orders it occasionally!
But apparently, someone orders it occasionally!
We're really nervous about tomorrow's scan and hope to sleep but no doubt we'll be too worked up about it.
27th March
Scan day.
Scan day.
I had a surprisingly restful nights sleep considering I have so much on my mind at the moment.
Breakfast was served in the same dining area as dinner.
It's set up as self-serve. The breakfast components are under hot lamps in the same style as a carvery might be.
I decided to have something lighter than a cooked breakfast. Something to settle my nerves more and not be heavy on my stomach.
I had a slice of toast with marmalade and a bowl of live yoghurt, prunes, watermelon, honeydew melon and a bit of granola. I also had a Danish pastry with an apple filling.
Caz went all in with a cooked breakfast followed by a cherry Danish pastry.
Caz went all in with a cooked breakfast followed by a cherry Danish pastry.
After showering we set off for Stockport.
It was an easy enough journey there and we aimed for a multistorey carpark.
We went to a shopping centre and just browsed around a few shops.
I bought a cushion which said 'love you to the moon and back' in the card factory shop. I just had to buy it for the nursery. Maybe another nice addition to make the armchair comfy!
I bought a cushion which said 'love you to the moon and back' in the card factory shop. I just had to buy it for the nursery. Maybe another nice addition to make the armchair comfy!
We also bought an Easter card for Sheila - Caz's step Dad's Mum. She had been unsettled for quite a while and was taken ill and admitted to hospital for a good few weeks.
She has now said she doesn't feel up to going home and so a place at a care home has been found for her. We also have a small Lindt bunny for her.
She has now said she doesn't feel up to going home and so a place at a care home has been found for her. We also have a small Lindt bunny for her.
We ended up in a coffee shop where I had peppermint tea. This feels so against what I'd normally do, but I'm trying to limit my caffeine intake at the moment. No more than 2 instant coffees, 1 filter coffee or 3 cups of tea. Chocolate and hot chocolate also includes some caffeine, so you do need to keep wise to what you are putting in your body.
We also wondered around Debenhams and stopped for lunch too while we were there. We just had soup and bread. Something simple and easy.
We finished our shopping in Marks and Spencers.
We spent the last little bit sat in the car. You could see a viaduct with a railway running over it. It was quite relaxing to just watch the trains go by.
I had to drink a pint of water or squash during this final hour. With a very nervous stomach, it felt almost impossible to drink that much!
I had to drink a pint of water or squash during this final hour. With a very nervous stomach, it felt almost impossible to drink that much!
We drove up to by the clinic and found some parking on the road. We only had to walk a short distance so it wasn't bad at all.
Inside we went to the reception desk and we were pointed to a doorway and told there was a small waiting room on the right.
I can't even tell you how nervous I was. My stomach was flipping in every direction, I felt so restless and was swaying in my seat. Caz had to tell me to breathe... I tried to zone into the small, tinny radio. I let the music seep in, allowed my breathing to fall into the same rhythm as the tune.
We were called in.
First, we answered a couple of questions about who I was, who Caz is, our dates of birth and the LMP (last menstrual period). Before I knew it I was asked to climb on the couch and expose my abdomen.
Emma was the sonographer and she could sense I was nervous and it was down to a previous loss.
She squeezed on the jelly and pointed the screen away from us as I didn't want to see how anything unless it was good news.
She squeezed on the jelly and pointed the screen away from us as I didn't want to see how anything unless it was good news.
Literally seconds later she smiled and said here's a healthy baby and turned the screen back to us.
The sense of relief was great.
Happiness, excitement, awe.
Happiness, excitement, awe.
There we could see a tiny, perfect baby.
Their heart was pumping away. Just a simple circulatory system but there it was flickering away strongly. You could see the heart was made up of 2 parts which almost looked like valves or chambers. Apparently, they are like tubes at the moment. Fascinating!
Their heart was pumping away. Just a simple circulatory system but there it was flickering away strongly. You could see the heart was made up of 2 parts which almost looked like valves or chambers. Apparently, they are like tubes at the moment. Fascinating!
Baby measured 12.3mm long.
Their heartbeat is 153 BPM.
They are showing around 7 weeks 3 days.
Their heartbeat is 153 BPM.
They are showing around 7 weeks 3 days.
It can be difficult to accurately measure something so small and so measurements can be an mm or 2 off, changing the estimated due date.
You can also see the beginnings of arms and legs.
You can also see the beginnings of arms and legs.
I just find it amazing that they've pretty much doubled in size since only 5 short days previous.
They are growing so well.
They are growing so well.
Long may it continue!
We had dinner at the bar tonight. I had Mediterranean pizza and Caz had a stacked burger. It felt really nice and relaxed in the bar compared to the more formal dining in the restaurant.
The pizza was lovely! A proper stone baked base. Yummy!
The pizza was lovely! A proper stone baked base. Yummy!
All in all, we made the most of a stressful and highly anticipated day.
The only way was up for us. We feel a lot more reassured and relaxed, although I'm sure the coming weeks will be up and down and draining.
I think it'll be difficult to 'enjoy' this pregnancy but I'll try my best to take it a day at a time.
I think it'll be difficult to 'enjoy' this pregnancy but I'll try my best to take it a day at a time.
28th March
Today, we are just having a chilled out and relaxed day.
Today, we are just having a chilled out and relaxed day.
We had a leisurely breakfast. The plan is to have afternoon tea later today and so I thought I should have something more savoury today.
I picked up a hash brown, grilled tomato, fried mushrooms, baked beans, a fried egg and a slice of buttery toast.
That's a good way to start a day!
I picked up a hash brown, grilled tomato, fried mushrooms, baked beans, a fried egg and a slice of buttery toast.
That's a good way to start a day!
We planned to go to the spa today, have a swim and relax. We made our way over with a bag for our swimming costumes but when we arrived a member of staff said the clarity of the water in the pool wasn't at the right level and so only the jacuzzi and steam rooms were open. In pregnancy, you have to be careful about overheating and so the jacuzzi and steam rooms were off limits to me. Nevermind, we'll book in for a prenatal pamper package at a local spa midway into the pregnancy.
We ended up going for a bit of a stroll around the hotel in the short-lived sunshine.
Later we settled on taking our books down to the bar and drinking herbal tea while reading.
I do feel very relaxed now. I love the slow pace of life. I find I'm often rushing from task to task. I can't just settle and be. I've always got to be doing. I flitter from thought to worry and my mind isn't often just quiet.
I need to learn to do more self-care and slow it down especially for this first 12 weeks.
I do feel very relaxed now. I love the slow pace of life. I find I'm often rushing from task to task. I can't just settle and be. I've always got to be doing. I flitter from thought to worry and my mind isn't often just quiet.
I need to learn to do more self-care and slow it down especially for this first 12 weeks.
I glammed up a little in a maroon maternity dress for afternoon tea.
We were seated in comfy chairs at a table by the window.
We did exactly this around a year ago. I think that was the last time we had afternoon tea!
We were seated in comfy chairs at a table by the window.
We did exactly this around a year ago. I think that was the last time we had afternoon tea!
Like last time, it started to hail while we were eating. We are hoping it isn't a whiteout like last time as we had to drive down through the patchy snow!
On the cake stand, there were finger sandwiches - ham, egg and salmon.
On the next later there was a scone each with a blob of clotted cream and a mini jar of raspberry jam. The scones were the perfect combination of slightly crispy on the outside and fluffy and crumbly on the inside. With the cream and jam, it was just perfectly delectable.
On the next later there was a scone each with a blob of clotted cream and a mini jar of raspberry jam. The scones were the perfect combination of slightly crispy on the outside and fluffy and crumbly on the inside. With the cream and jam, it was just perfectly delectable.
On the top layer were tiny chocolate Swiss rolls, pink macarons with a greeny marzipan flavoured filling, trough-shaped shortbread biscuits filled with a mango puree and mini Victoria sandwiches.
So delicate, so mini and so perfect!
So delicate, so mini and so perfect!
Dinner tonight was at the bar again. Today Caz had a chicken curry and I had a salmon Cesar salad. Light and healthy!
I've had some unusual discharge today, very sticky and gloopy and opaque greeny pink colour.
My initial worry is this can't be good. Could it be the mucus plug that holds in the pregnancy? After a bit of a session with Dr Google, I've found that the mucus plug doesn't develop until around week 8 and it can also regenerate even if parts come away.
So, maybe it's an infection but I have no other symptoms or just another quirk of pregnancy.
Pregnancy is just a roller coaster ride. Can't it just be an easy life and before you know it, the baby is here with you?!
My initial worry is this can't be good. Could it be the mucus plug that holds in the pregnancy? After a bit of a session with Dr Google, I've found that the mucus plug doesn't develop until around week 8 and it can also regenerate even if parts come away.
So, maybe it's an infection but I have no other symptoms or just another quirk of pregnancy.
Pregnancy is just a roller coaster ride. Can't it just be an easy life and before you know it, the baby is here with you?!
29th March
Before we knew it, it was home time already.
I showered before we went down for breakfast and decided to have a very similar fare as the first morning - yoghurt and fruit with a slice of toast.
I really enjoyed our little break and would highly recommend anyone to go there!
You can either just go for a peaceful retreat away or use it as a base and visit Manchester for shopping and the nightlife or perhaps go walking in the peak district or even as we did and visit one of the many National Trust locations during your time there. There is plenty to do to keep you occupied during your stay. I've no doubt that we will return again one day.
Caz wanted to head off pretty sharpish as he has a lot to do when we get home. So we set off not long after breakfast and trundled our way back to North Wales.
The journey wasn't bad but I had woken up with a raw sore throat that was painful to swallow or breathe.
We stopped off at a service station to get me a fruit smoothy and some Maltesers; that seemed to help a little to make me feel better!
Once we were home we had lunch and Caz was in the garden before we knew it.
We had ordered a hedgerow pack to plant some bushes around our developing orchard. The pack was a native variety that included blackthorn, wild cherry, bird cherry and many other varieties. For the length of the hedge, we needed 150 plants in total.
I was surprised how quickly Caz managed to plant everything! He did such a good job and even dug in bonemeal to give the plants the best chance possible.
The plants vary from about 30cm high to 3ft high, some are thorny and others are fully in bud already. Fingers crossed they take and we have a high success rate.
Caz's Dad text us and said he would pop over tonight.
We'd not long put a pizza in the oven when someone was at the door!
His Dad congratulated us for our news! We showed him the pictures from the scan on Tuesday. I still find it fascinating that such a small being is developing and growing by an mm each day within me! It is magical!
Nigel updated us about what he has been up to lately, we told him about our breakaway, he told us about his holiday plans and Caz showed him his handiwork in the garden!
It was nice to catch up. Just with feeling rubbish, I worry that I'm not the best 'host'.
30th March
How grim to wake up and still have such a sore throat.
It is at the level that you have to really concentrate and think about it to swallow and even breathe. Urgh.
I have embarked on a big project - a labour of love.
One of my favourite hobbies is cross stitch where you put little stitches on a piece of fabric until you have the desired pattern you have been following.
Well, for some reason I have settled on "space" as the theme for baby Moomin. Anything with relation to the sky and beyond will be featured in their nursery. I love the moon, stars, rainbows, clouds and space in general! I have high hopes for baby Moomin, perhaps an astronaut, perhaps a mad engineer to rival the likes of Elon Musk!
So, my project is to sew the solar system...
In theory, it will look something like this once I'm complete:
This photo is the property of Stem Stitch, on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/StemStitch?ref=l2-shop-header-avatar
I ordered sewing supplies, from SewandSo, before we went away for Mercury and these arrived and I've made a start! It is looking really good already.
Caz has said he will help me frame the cross-stitch designs once they are complete.
Elaine and Hugh, Caz's Mum and Step-Dad, popped over for coffee in the afternoon. With it being Caz's birthday tomorrow, they wanted to deliver his presents. It was good to catch up, even if it was only brief as they had places to be.
I spent a bit of the evening wrapping up Caz's presents. When I saw things I knew he would like I just bought them. Nothing he has really asked for, he wants for nothing! I just got him bits and bobs, here and there when I spotted things.
Hoping he enjoys tomorrow! :)
31st March
Happy Birthday to my wonderful Husband!
We had a leisurely morning with some nice pastries for breakfast.
Afterwards, we headed out to go to Holland Arms - one of our local garden centres. The cafe was our first call and after jacket potato, with garlic mushrooms, vegetable lasagne, Malteser tray bake and Victoria sponge we wandered around the shop for a good while.
A few little things were bought. We were so tempted to buy some things for baby Moomin but for fear of jinxing it, we didn't.
It is a shame I'm still feeling under the weather. My throat isn't as sore but it is still there and now my sinuses are starting to ache.
At Caz's request, we had a chippy tea for dinner! He was given options for all cuisines and local restaurants but his option was to have a chippy tea!
We had a relaxing evening and watched the movie "The Martian". I thought it might be really boring and far-fetched but actually, it was quite enjoyable. About the strengths of one person if they just put their mind to it.
1st April
We don't have much planned for today but I wanted to put the following warning out there.
You might believe it is funny to play a "prank" like pretending you are pregnant to scare or surprise your family and friends, but it is far from it.
First, there is a miscarriage. Miscarriage is the commonest complication of pregnancy. The estimated UK miscarriage rate is 250,000 each year. Doctors believe that roughly 50% of all conceptions never make it to a pregnancy test, and once there is a positive test 15-20% of those miscarry before 12 weeks.
Then you take into consideration stillbirths. In 2016, 1 in every 225 births ended in a stillbirth in the UK. For every 1,000 babies born in England and Wales, 4.4 are stillborn. Around 9 babies were stillborn every day in 2016. Of 696,271 births in 2016 in England and Wales, 3,112 resulted in stillbirth.
Not even then are you safe, a lot of people, unfortunately, experience their babies and children die early in life from various causes, including sudden infant death syndrome. In England and Wales in 2012, there were 221 deaths from SIDS. This is the equivalent of 0.3 deaths per 1,000 live births. In the UK as a whole, there are around 270 deaths per year due to SIDS. 8 out of 10 unexplained infant deaths occur between 28 days and 1 year.
Then there is infertility. Infertility is when a couple can't get pregnant (conceive) despite having regular unprotected sex. Around 1 in 7 couples may have difficulty conceiving. This is approximately 3.5 million people in the UK.
This is "prank" will affect so many people. Some you might not be aware of their struggles. They are afraid to reach out because it is something they are hiding away due to the taboo of grief and fertility struggles. They might be afraid of upsetting or disappointing others, again, and so keep their feelings to themselves.
This is not funny so please do not do this for April Fool's day. You will only make yourself look a fool.
In other news, I've finished Mercury! I really cracked on and got it done!
Plus, Happy Chocolate Egg Day!
What came first, the egg or the chicken? I'm not sure, but I got a chocolate chicken!
Unfortunately, with my cold, I'm not particularly wanting to pig out on chocolate. I'll have to save it for another time.
You might believe it is funny to play a "prank" like pretending you are pregnant to scare or surprise your family and friends, but it is far from it.
First, there is a miscarriage. Miscarriage is the commonest complication of pregnancy. The estimated UK miscarriage rate is 250,000 each year. Doctors believe that roughly 50% of all conceptions never make it to a pregnancy test, and once there is a positive test 15-20% of those miscarry before 12 weeks.
Then you take into consideration stillbirths. In 2016, 1 in every 225 births ended in a stillbirth in the UK. For every 1,000 babies born in England and Wales, 4.4 are stillborn. Around 9 babies were stillborn every day in 2016. Of 696,271 births in 2016 in England and Wales, 3,112 resulted in stillbirth.
Not even then are you safe, a lot of people, unfortunately, experience their babies and children die early in life from various causes, including sudden infant death syndrome. In England and Wales in 2012, there were 221 deaths from SIDS. This is the equivalent of 0.3 deaths per 1,000 live births. In the UK as a whole, there are around 270 deaths per year due to SIDS. 8 out of 10 unexplained infant deaths occur between 28 days and 1 year.
Then there is infertility. Infertility is when a couple can't get pregnant (conceive) despite having regular unprotected sex. Around 1 in 7 couples may have difficulty conceiving. This is approximately 3.5 million people in the UK.
This is "prank" will affect so many people. Some you might not be aware of their struggles. They are afraid to reach out because it is something they are hiding away due to the taboo of grief and fertility struggles. They might be afraid of upsetting or disappointing others, again, and so keep their feelings to themselves.
This is not funny so please do not do this for April Fool's day. You will only make yourself look a fool.
In other news, I've finished Mercury! I really cracked on and got it done!
Plus, Happy Chocolate Egg Day!
What came first, the egg or the chicken? I'm not sure, but I got a chocolate chicken!
Unfortunately, with my cold, I'm not particularly wanting to pig out on chocolate. I'll have to save it for another time.
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