24 weeks - woohoo!

So we've finally hit that milestone. Simon, me and little Bump have made it to 24 whole weeks.

This is such a relieving, reassuring point in the pregnancy. Hitting 12 weeks is great, hitting 20 weeks - half way, is brilliant, but managing 24 weeks is something else.

Our little boy would have a chance of survival outside the womb, with special care of course, but still.. What an amazing thing. If I did go into labour as of now - our boy would be a proper little boy and Doctors would consciously fight to save him. I love it! I love how we're here, finally!

So that's the positive for the day. Although I am now actually 24 weeks and 1 day, it's a good feeling.

I went to Aquanatal with Kim, Abie, Jemma and Heidi yesterday, and once we'd arrived, I'd realised I had a big bout of "baby brain" - I'd forgotten my swimming costume. I felt like an absolute idiot!

I had to borrow £25 from Kim, to buy a bikini (size 10, not maternity - woohooooo!) I was seriously annoyed however, because money is an issue presently, with the NHS failing to pay half of December and the entire of January's pay - I have to wait until the end of February - not useful when I need to pay a deposit on a house in the near future - and I generally need to live.

I also had my 24 week Midwife appointment yesterday. Everything was good, until she asked if he moves more than ten times a day - to which I nonchalantly replied "not really"... I genuinely had no idea he was meant to be moving this much, until 30+ weeks.

The Midwife, called Musgrove, and asked what the protocol is for 'reduced movement at 24 weeks' - I sort of tried to butt into the conversation to explain that I didn't feel I had "reduced movement" - I simply just didn't feel him move hugely often - only if I'm lying down or lent forward, restricting his space and making him kick me to free him! Anyway it turns out there's not much they do about it until you're 26 weeks anyway, but they decided a growth scan would be a good idea, just to check.

I was a little overwhelmed really, as truly didn't believe him to be moving too little. When she checked his heartbeat, everything was fine and Lisa said "ah, there's a kick - didn't you feel it?" I didn't. This could possibly mean he hasn't grown enough for me to feel little movements. This could be normal for my pregnancy - and hopefully the scan will reassure this.

I'm not particularly worried - because he does move :)

23 weeks, 5 days.

I had my 20 week scan at 21 weeks. It seemed like forever from my 12 week scan 'til this one. It was very detailed and we looked out for the four chambers of the heart, kidneys etc.. Everything was fine with the little one. I didn't feel as if the Sonographer was going to ask us if we wanted to know the sex - so I told her we'd like to. She turned the screen towards her, to have a good look and then said "Well, it's certainly not shy - you have a baby....................................

BOY!

This was entirely what Simon was expecting - he wanted a boy and referred to "Bump" as a he from day one. He was chuffed, my Mum was really happy too - even though she thought we were having a girl! I was convinced by the time of the scan that he was a boy, too - probably from Simon calling 'it' 'him' all the time! It was great finding out - I don't regret it at all. It makes it so much more real.

Here he is - weighing approximately 15oz already!

So we've arrived at 23 weeks. Nearly 24. A viable human, outside the womb.
I've had some ups and downs. Some days I've felt happy to be pregnant, other days I just want to cry and get the baby out. I still feel pretty crap, and I'm wondering if I'll ever experience the infamous "pregnancy bloom" - it would currently appear unlikely! Although I am feeling better now, whereas over Christmas I had the chest infection and viral cold which lasted five weeks.
Simon is a lot more relaxed. He expresses his love for Bump, and kisses my tummy.
Mum and Dad are also protesting their excitement, even if Dad is a little less obvious!
I love seeing my tummy move, when he has a little shuffle, or kick about with my organs. It can be really uncomfortable, but I love the feeling.

My 24 week appointment, with the Midwife is this coming Wednesday. I'm not sure what to expect at this one - not much different from the others, I don't think!
Also, I've been going to Aquanatal, at Splash, with a couple friends. It's great to spend time with them and chat about babies, pregnancy hormones and the like.. and I love the exercise - I can't wait to get back to how I was before I was pregnant.

I'm not even going to go into the house situation as it stands. I found a perfect place - but will see in a day or two if I've definitely got it. It's stressing me out big time - as is working at Musgrove. Boo.

I think that's about it!

It's Been A While...

Well, I haven't really updated in the past few weeks.

I figured I actually want to have something to read in the future, about my pregnancy, so I will update more often.

I'm twenty three weeks and four days today. I can't believe I've gotten this far.

I'll write about previous weeks briefly, from my written diary - to catch up.

Fifteen weeks - Simon and I went shopping to Bristol. We spent a fair bit of money on "I Love My Bear" bedding set, which we both fell in love with. It's neutral colours, as even if we had known the sex, we preferred it.

We then bought some clothes and socks etc.. Was a good day, followed by a well deserved TGI Friday's.

Eighteen weeks - I was leaving early for work in the morning, but had a little bleed during the night, I decided to pop into Maternity, at work, as was still bleeding and had stomach cramps. The Midwife managed to get me a bed and do my obs. The consultant took my blood and checked the baby's heartbeat, all was well. I ended up staying all day due to still being in pain - and the doctors were generally unsure whether to scan me or not. Too bad they decided it wasn't necessary!
Evidently, they think it's adhesion pain, caused by my Endometriosis, and possibly from the operation I had in June.
I was allowed home, after a very stressful day - and to top everything off, I have Bronchitis.