We saw our baby today! It was our 20-week anomaly scan. Obviously, I was nervous again. Would our baby be healthy with no disabilities?
Everything the sonographer saw she was happy with. Our baby was really wriggling around making things difficult for the sonographer to take the measurements she needed. When the baby wasn't moving and turning over, they were curled up in a ball! One hand was on their chin, the other in their face possibly holding the cord, their elbow was resting on their knee which was folded up in front of their chest! Flexible little thing! Caz and I both found it funny that the baby was being a little bugger!
In the report the sonographer wrote up, she said 3 vessel trachea view seen and appears normal. No problems of the fetal structure identified. The ultrasound scan was performed to Antenatal Screening Wales standard.
There were a few measurements too. The EDD (estimated due date) is 9th of November. Gestational age 20w 3d based on the dating scan. HC (head circumference) was 174mm giving a gestational age of 20w 0d. The FL (femur length) 31mm giving a gestational age of 19w 4d.
I understand all the measurements are give or take a few days either way so would still suggest that dating scan at 12w is still accurate.
It was emotional seeing our baby looking healthy. It was such a difference to the scan we had on the 15th of August last year to confirm that we had lost Jesse. I'm slowly learning that bad news isn't the only outcome.
I clearly couldn't concentrate for the rest of my day at work! I don't even really know why I went in. All I wanted to do was go out, tell the world, celebrate with a cafe brunch of mostly cake!
I've already given the game away to one person. They were saying to me "You will be able to pick relevant colours and themes now"... I said I still wanted to keep things neutral, because...!
All will be revealed on Saturday though! I don't want to spill any more beans!
When I got back to work I ordered 3 confetti cannons. 1 for me, 1 for Caz and a spare one if everything goes wrong.
We are having a gender reveal on Saturday for our families. I have a few games lined up and have started sorting the favour boxes to thank everyone for coming.
The games I have lined up are baby bingo, build a baby (playdoh) and a nursery rhymes quiz. I will have prizes for the winner of each game. I spent yesterday evening printing off everything needed for these games.
I've also got a sheet guessing the details of the baby like gender, birth date, weight, length of labour and such. That will obviously be a little longer game, waiting to see the result! I may have a little prize for the person who got closest with all their answers!
The favour boxes are coming together pretty well. I think the boxes I have are cupcake boxes but they seem ideal for what I need. I'm going to print little cards explaining the contents - sweets as a treat, a candle to light the way for the baby, bubbles to pop when I pop, a joke to keep everything light-hearted, possibly a fortune cookie to encourage wise advice for the baby and some fizz (20cl prosecco bottle) to celebrate the baby's arrival. The prosecco won't fit in the box but will go alongside it.
Then once we have revealed the big news, there will be a 'wishes for baby' sheet to say 'I hope you aren't afraid of...', 'I hope you enjoy...' and so on. Plus, there will be a print of a bunny holding balloon strings and we will ask everyone to put their thumb or fingerprint on the image, using an ink pad, as the balloons and sign their name in the balloon. We will then frame the picture and hang it in baby's room.
I've contacted our local deli, Menai Deli Sandwich Bar, and they will be supplying a buffet for us. We go there for their paninis when we get the chance. I have to say they are probably my favourite place to eat in Menai Bridge! I am usually boring and pick either mozzarella and tomato perhaps with pesto or tuna melt. There are so many options though, the menus are endless! They also do the best cakes. I love their flapjacks, especially the fruity ones, and I also enjoy their millionaire shortbreads. Yummy!
I picked "The Simple One" buffet option on this occasion (I will no doubt use them again as it just makes everything so much easier and takes the stress out of it all). They can deliver, but unfortunately, they can't this time. Caz will pick up the food on Saturday at midday. This option includes:
-Selection of sandwiches
-Pizza/quiche
-Sausage/cheese & onion rolls
-Crisps
-Selection of cakes (but we've swapped this out for individual jellies!)
£5.50 per person.
Not bad!
26th June
I woke up feeling anxious. Various things are getting a little on top of me.
I'm glad I got a caterer in to do the food otherwise I would be literally drowning in things to stress me out.
I've got the decorations to assemble and put up, I have the wreath to finish (I still feel none the wiser with how to do it), I am fed up with various symptoms like nosebleeds and gas and bloating, I hate that people are invading my space trying to touch my bump, I don't appreciate being given 'advice' (someone said I shouldn't be drinking coffee and that it was naughty) and that just wound me up.
Update, 29th June: The individual has actually come to me to apologise. They said after they said it they realised it was really condescending and they wanted to make things right. Fair play to them. I do feel a bit emotional now! Not often you find someone who is willing to put their hand up and admit a fault or failing. Thank you.
Knowing the sex of the baby has also given me mixed feelings. I really thought I wouldn't mind what gender the baby was. Initially, I felt like it was a girl and then more recently I wondered if maybe it was a boy. I just wanted a happy and healthy baby. But since finding out I have been quite emotional about the various battles they will face in life and how this world can be a very horrible place sometimes.
Life can be difficult enough without additional hurdles holding you back.
I'm probably worrying about nothing or perhaps I should just fight their corner rather than conceding that they will have to go through some struggles. We can support them, open doors for them, listen to them, encourage them but not push them, protect them and love them fiercely.
It will be okay in the end. Things might be difficult but we are strong and can overcome whatever is thrown in our path. We as humans are very resilient.
We have a couple ideas for names, but Caz is super fussy. I can read out hundreds of names and he dismisses like 99% of them! It is funny, you think you might not have much of an opinion about something until you come to it and then suddenly you are quite opinionated!
I've been suggesting a few names myself so we will see if these get crossed out too or not. I want a strong name meaning warrior, resilient or strong. Or be inspired by strong people of history that really achieved something with their lives. This little baby has seemingly battled a fair bit already and I am always overcome with love with how much of a fighter they are.
My feet and ankles are getting puffy again with the hot weather. Summer is lovely, probably my favourite season. But why or why is it the hottest summer in years when I'm pregnant! The summers for the last few years peaked in May and then it was all cloud and showers. This year the tarmac is melting. Like C'mon! Play fair!
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| Biggest fairy clock I've seen! |
These two articles were the most helpful for ideas.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/peaceful-parents-happy-kids/201506/12-ways-raise-competent-confident-child-grit
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/psychologist-says-parents-should-18-things-raise-more-confident-child-a7453631.html
At least we could give them the best start possible to ready them for the real world.
So, the advice they were giving was:
Coach your child not to do tasks for them (science projects and homework in particular).
Set easy tasks so they can learn success but build on it so they have to keep progressing.
Don't speak negatively about yourself (I'm such an idiot, I'm so fat) as they will learn that behaviour.
If you make a mistake, like drop your phone, don't berate yourself too hard, just say oh well and pick it up again this teaches them that failure is okay.
Give them responsibilities but make it enjoyable.
Don't shoehorn them into after-school classes - give them options! They might be arty when you are more sporty.
Don't just say "well done" when they achieve saying something more constructive "you practised so hard and it paid off, well done!".
If something doesn't work out, tell them you appreciate how hard they worked and their efforts and that they might be disappointed. Don't focus on the failure.
Teach them everything you know, you want to do yourself out of a role eventually! You are helping them find their feet and spread their wings to fly the nest. Show them how to cook, how to do the washing, teach them about money. Teach them at the age relevant level and they will grow up to be well-rounded children.
27th June
It is still so hot! I think it will be hot for the foreseeable future now, so I had better start getting used to it!
I managed to go for a 2km walk at lunchtime. The furthest I've been in a while. I just wanted to get to the sea basically. To be able to see water. Even purely seeing the water made me feel cooler.
My walk did maybe take a little longer than my lunch break but it was only a few minutes over.
I've also had to finally admit defeat with my bra size. The band was starting to really dig in along my back and ribs. I've gone up a band size but kept the same cup size. It feels so much more comfortable. I don't know why I didn't buy them sooner!
I bought the bra from Figleaves in the sale. As I wasn't 100% sure this would be the right size, I only ordered the one. Now that I've tried it on and it feels perfect (for now at least) I will order a couple more different styles.
I'm expecting to perhaps go up a size again. As baby starts taking up all the space in my abdomen and pushing up into my rib space my ribs might become wider. I won't leave it as long this time, I'll just go out and buy what I need as it is so much more comfortable.
28th June
I was super productive at work today. I am a mix of excitement from staring at the scan of my baby and anxiety with planning the gender reveal party and hoping it goes smoothly. But somehow, I managed to crack on with my work and do tonnes. I'm quite pleased with myself. It feels good when you achieve.
Rebecca at the renal unit phoned me to ask if I could pop in on Monday to get some tests done. They want to check my blood pressure and dipstick a urine sample to make sure nothing untoward is happening in that department. I guess it is also to rule out pre-eclampsia still. So far, so good from what I can tell. My blood pressure is nice and low and my urine tests have been free of anything so far.
When I got home, I did a fair bit of tidying. I just want to get a little ahead of the game for the party to make sure everything is just so.
29th June
Remember back in April Caz had a suspected hernia? Well, after weeks the aches and pains finally subsided and he started building up with heavier tasks like gardening and cleaning. Unfortunately, he has managed to set it all off again.
Caz popped out one-day last week to collect a bookcase, bedside table and set of drawers from his parents. His Step-Dad's Mum has not long had to move into a care home and so they are trying to clear some of the excess clutter to make her own house more saleable.
Sheila loved books. She particularly loved books about theology and religion. I think the count was around 1500 books or somewhere in that region. So you can imagine how much excess furniture and items she had in her little cottage!
We think him carrying the bookcase and drawer unit the other day may have strained his stomach muscles again a little. I understand the drawers were a lot heavier than they imagined, even with all the drawers out of the unit.
Then on last weekend, he spent the day with his Dad on the historic steam railway. He wondered if having to stoop in the guard's carriage for one of the trips might have put him in an awkward position aggravating the muscle more.
So, after a bit of persuading, he has gone to the GP again. When you start having hot and cold sweats and dizzy spells when you accidentally touch the area you know you need to have it looked at!
She did a good check on him by the sound of things and has referred him to have an ultrasound scan to check for a hernia and also put him in for a course of physiotherapy. The doctor thinks it might be a weak point in one of his muscles and hopefully not a hernia. I think the physio will do him the world of good. It will help him to strengthen the surrounding muscles and build him back up so he can do everything he wants and needs to do.
He was getting particularly stressed because I'm pregnant so am unable to lift anything and with the baby on the way, he desperately wants to be able to hold them and help with the pram in and out of the car and the nursery furniture building.
Let's hope it all comes through soon so he can start getting back to normal. I know it has been frustrating for him in recent weeks and months.
There was flip-flopgate at work.
Due to the hot weather people have been wearing weather appropriate clothing to keep cool. Well, a memo went out today:
"I would like to take the opportunity to reiterate the message about considering your day and dressing appropriately. This applies equally to footwear. The Company policy requires that “appropriate footwear should be worn that portrays a professional image for the office environment, which should cover all or most of your foot”.
Needless to say that sandals and flip flops are not appropriate in the office and shouldn’t be worn. This is especially relevant to activities where there is a risk of items dropping onto your feet or where you might stub your toes etc.
Can you please consider your attire ahead of next week as the hot weather is forecast to continue."
I kicked up a stink. The UK Operations Manager stepped in and said I can have an exception to the rule and I may continue to wear comfortable footwear. This is on the proviso that I continue not to do any manual handling and carry on the assigned QC work.
Problem solved!
When I got home, the Tesco shop arrived. We have had to resort to ordering our groceries online to be delivered since Caz nor I can push a trolley or lift heavy bags... It is a pain and more expensive but at least it is the safest option for both of us for the time being.
Once the groceries were here I was able to get started on baking some cakes. I used gluten free flour as I knew Hugh, Caz's step-dad would be there and he is coeliac. I made a batch of cupcakes in a cupcake kit I got from The Range with pink and blue cases and pink and blue cake picks. I just iced them with vanilla buttercream and topped some of the cakes with blue smarties and the rest in pink smarties.
I then baked a Victoria sponge. I plan to sandwich jam and buttercream in the layers. I will cut a section out in the middle sections to be able to load it with the relevant coloured buttercream for the reveal!
Pretty soon after dinner, Caz's new toy arrived.
A few weeks ago his ride on mower died a death and it seems unrecoverable from that now.
He looked into a used ride on mowers but you don't know the history of them and they might have been left outside or not undercover. The cost wasn't much below the price of a brand new ride on mowers.
But then part of him thought, do I like mowing or would I rather be able to do the things I actually enjoy n the garden like tending the orchard or sitting and reading.
Well, he chose the latter and ordered a robot auto mower.
I'm unconvinced. I think it might be a bit of a gimmick. An expensive gimmick!
Well, the guy from the mower place came and installed the mower. It has a charging deck where it parks itself to recharge its batteries. It also needs a perimeter wire to be laid around the outside edge of the lawn. The mower will then know not to go beyond that wire. Because we have the hedged orchard, we had to have a guide wire too so the mower knows to find its way into the gap in the hedge to get in there to cut the grass.
I grudgingly admit it is quite clever.
It cuts the lawn with a couple of razor blades that you replace every couple of months. You start it on a high cutting position and then gradually lower the position over the coming weeks. You don't want to overwhelm it!
It goes out every day to do a little bit of cutting. Apparently, that does the lawn amazingly well. Like getting your hair trimmed promotes new growth and stronger hair, the same happens for grass.
The poor mower guy was there for at least 2 hours laying all this cable in the sweltering sun.
I just left them to it and went for a bath! I wanted to feel good for tomorrow! I thought it might also help my puffy ankles from all the standing I did to bake and clean...
30th June
It's a girl!
I've written a separate post about the gender reveal party. Take a look at that for pictures and see how all the planning worked out!
I was awake from 5am. I just couldn't sleep. So I took a series of pictures of the sunrise and made a gif thing.
1st July
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