Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Sunday, 7 September 2008
16 weeks
I suppose I ought to update here! What a lax blogger am I. I thought I'd be fascinated by every detail of my pregnancy but I'm, um, not! I think I like it just washing over me!
I've gone spotty this past week, which I think is worth recording for next time. I also had a little bleeding at 14 weeks - I call it bleeding, just brown squidge really. It didn't last long, and a bit of diary-bashing revealed it was my period anniversary, so I've put it down to that.
I have a proper bump now! People even want to feel it, which is strange but OK I think! It's all been women I know, so it's fine. I do not want strange men rubbing my tummy!
I'll put scan pics up this entry too - better late than never, eh. Here they are. Apparently it's quite unusual for the baby to be face down, like Pea was. The lady seemed to think we'd be unable to interpret the pictures. It's really not that hard! The white line at the top is Peazle's little spine. His head's on the left, and one the second one you can see his arms.
Emma, I think you asked why we originally declined a 12 week scan? A couple of reasons really.
First, I didn't think it was medically necessary - we know my ovulation date down to the hour (which the scan proved), and I'm not completely convinced on the safety of scans, especially in early pregnancy.
Second, we love our baby and don't care if he/she is normal. This is a choice, and quite a scary one! Recently a friend of ours had a baby with Down's Syndrome (whom, incidentally, I had a lovely time snuggling yesterday). It was at a routine 12 week dating scan that it became apparent that the baby was developing differently. At that point, my friend was told that the baby had a 50% chance of survival, and a very high chance of having a chromosomal abnormality if it did survive. After that followed 8 weeks of torment for my friend, until at 20 weeks it became apparent that the baby would probably live, but have Down's Syndrome. Throughout, the medical expectation was that our friends would choose to terminate the pregnancy. It is rare in our society for parents to choose to love and cherish an unborn baby with a disability. We felt that if Pea was going to die, we'd much rather not know, and cope with his death rather than have to cope with any amount of worry and concern AND his death. And, if Pea is going to live, we love him. As I said, this is a scary choice as it might mean having a child with disabilities so severe that he is forever constantly dependent. Most likely, it just means commiting to loving a 'normal' healthy child. In short, we declined the scan because we felt there was no emotional or medical advantage to seeing our baby on screen whilst he is scrutinised. We'll decline dating scans with future children for the same reasons. We don't believe anything about our baby is a mistake, or outside of God's plan for our family.
I've gone spotty this past week, which I think is worth recording for next time. I also had a little bleeding at 14 weeks - I call it bleeding, just brown squidge really. It didn't last long, and a bit of diary-bashing revealed it was my period anniversary, so I've put it down to that.
I have a proper bump now! People even want to feel it, which is strange but OK I think! It's all been women I know, so it's fine. I do not want strange men rubbing my tummy!
I'll put scan pics up this entry too - better late than never, eh. Here they are. Apparently it's quite unusual for the baby to be face down, like Pea was. The lady seemed to think we'd be unable to interpret the pictures. It's really not that hard! The white line at the top is Peazle's little spine. His head's on the left, and one the second one you can see his arms.
Emma, I think you asked why we originally declined a 12 week scan? A couple of reasons really.
First, I didn't think it was medically necessary - we know my ovulation date down to the hour (which the scan proved), and I'm not completely convinced on the safety of scans, especially in early pregnancy.
Second, we love our baby and don't care if he/she is normal. This is a choice, and quite a scary one! Recently a friend of ours had a baby with Down's Syndrome (whom, incidentally, I had a lovely time snuggling yesterday). It was at a routine 12 week dating scan that it became apparent that the baby was developing differently. At that point, my friend was told that the baby had a 50% chance of survival, and a very high chance of having a chromosomal abnormality if it did survive. After that followed 8 weeks of torment for my friend, until at 20 weeks it became apparent that the baby would probably live, but have Down's Syndrome. Throughout, the medical expectation was that our friends would choose to terminate the pregnancy. It is rare in our society for parents to choose to love and cherish an unborn baby with a disability. We felt that if Pea was going to die, we'd much rather not know, and cope with his death rather than have to cope with any amount of worry and concern AND his death. And, if Pea is going to live, we love him. As I said, this is a scary choice as it might mean having a child with disabilities so severe that he is forever constantly dependent. Most likely, it just means commiting to loving a 'normal' healthy child. In short, we declined the scan because we felt there was no emotional or medical advantage to seeing our baby on screen whilst he is scrutinised. We'll decline dating scans with future children for the same reasons. We don't believe anything about our baby is a mistake, or outside of God's plan for our family.
Thursday, 21 August 2008
13w 4d
Well, Pea is one baby! I'm really chuffed...homebirth, more breast than babies, being able to use the xplory and make do with our car! I don't think I have any pang at all at losing the twin dream - a scan is such a nice way to find out as who could be disappointed whilst looking at their tiny new baby on the screen?
The scan was great - I think we'll still decline a dating scan with future pregnancies, but it was lots of fun. I immediately explained to the sonographer that we'd originally declined, and why, which meant that she understood where we were coming from. She was a Christian too, which was particularly lovely. She made it apparent that there was one baby from the start - last week she began a straightforward dating scan to find three babies inside! Apparently their mother was shocked to say the least!
Pea measures perfectly on my dates - not sure if they'll change my official due date as they are only two days different, and I like the two days buffer before induction talk starts!
Michael's just scanning the pictures. I feel very protective of them...our tiny grey blob is very precious, and I'm not keen on other people thinking he just looks like a tiny grey blob! It was brill to see him wiggling and waving his little arms. It still seems very bizarre that there's actually a baby in there!
The scan was great - I think we'll still decline a dating scan with future pregnancies, but it was lots of fun. I immediately explained to the sonographer that we'd originally declined, and why, which meant that she understood where we were coming from. She was a Christian too, which was particularly lovely. She made it apparent that there was one baby from the start - last week she began a straightforward dating scan to find three babies inside! Apparently their mother was shocked to say the least!
Pea measures perfectly on my dates - not sure if they'll change my official due date as they are only two days different, and I like the two days buffer before induction talk starts!
Michael's just scanning the pictures. I feel very protective of them...our tiny grey blob is very precious, and I'm not keen on other people thinking he just looks like a tiny grey blob! It was brill to see him wiggling and waving his little arms. It still seems very bizarre that there's actually a baby in there!
Monday, 18 August 2008
Scan Thursday!
Just a quick entry to say that the scan appointment has come through for this Thursday! I'm all of a flutter...I don't like uncertainty at all, but I'm not entirely sure if certainty is better. Twin certainty seems rather alarming, particularly. I'm rather enjoying my twin fantasies though - if it's a singleton, I shall have to get back down to earth. Mind, I can start thinking happy homebirth and babywearing thoughts once again!
Sunday, 17 August 2008
Thursday, 14 August 2008
12 weeks 4 days
Well, I saw the midwife today as promised. All well with me, lovely rich red blood, nice clean wee, and beautiful blood pressure.
We heard Pea's little heart beating away...he really is in there! She found it straight away, after the customary do not panic if I don't find it straight away/at all talk. Michael was thrilled, and had the presence of mind to record the sound on his phone. Pea sounds like a little steam train going through a tunnel.
The fun part is that she felt my uterus was much more like a 14 or 15 week uterus. Can you see where this is going?! She assumed my dates were just a few weeks out, but I could assure her that they're not! I watched my tests go from BFN at 7 DPO, through pale second lines to a digital positive at 10 DPO. Plus I know my temps and my body! So, either Pea is a big baby enjoying much personal space in a super deluxe giant amniotic sac, or he's two Peas! TWO Peas! Possibly twins people! My golly gosh!
Given this, we agreed to book in for a scan in the next couple of weeks. If I have a license to eat for three, I need to know! The midwife didn't seem to imply that the extra growth could be down to anything sinister, so I'm just excited. I know there's a healthy baby in there - and possibly its brother or sister has come along for the ride! :-)
I'm actually very reassured that I'm measuring big. I certainly feel that I look far more bumpy than anyone 12 weeks pregnant should. I love it really...I've waited a long while for this bump!
We heard Pea's little heart beating away...he really is in there! She found it straight away, after the customary do not panic if I don't find it straight away/at all talk. Michael was thrilled, and had the presence of mind to record the sound on his phone. Pea sounds like a little steam train going through a tunnel.
The fun part is that she felt my uterus was much more like a 14 or 15 week uterus. Can you see where this is going?! She assumed my dates were just a few weeks out, but I could assure her that they're not! I watched my tests go from BFN at 7 DPO, through pale second lines to a digital positive at 10 DPO. Plus I know my temps and my body! So, either Pea is a big baby enjoying much personal space in a super deluxe giant amniotic sac, or he's two Peas! TWO Peas! Possibly twins people! My golly gosh!
Given this, we agreed to book in for a scan in the next couple of weeks. If I have a license to eat for three, I need to know! The midwife didn't seem to imply that the extra growth could be down to anything sinister, so I'm just excited. I know there's a healthy baby in there - and possibly its brother or sister has come along for the ride! :-)
I'm actually very reassured that I'm measuring big. I certainly feel that I look far more bumpy than anyone 12 weeks pregnant should. I love it really...I've waited a long while for this bump!
Thursday, 7 August 2008
11 weeks 4 days
Yikes! I'm getting really pregnant! And updating, because Alice told me to :-)
I'm feeling lots better - week 10 was something of a watershed for me. The sickness is much more morning sickness and hunger sickness than all day, which is a relief. I'm still feeling a bit grotty, but lots better. Pea has been behaving beautifully, no cause for concern anywhere. I had some awful period style pains today, but think it might be my uterus protesting at my normal jeans! I've got quite a bump now, although I felt rather hurt today as my friend at work described it as being 'all food'! There's a baby the size of a lime in there somewhere, so I can't think it's all food! I think I'm going to need to graduate to maternity jeans soon as I'm very fed up of having tummy ache from baby compression.
The baby now has a buggy - a Stokke Xplory, the buggy we chose many months ago! It's enormous and very imposing, but means Pea can face me at chatting height until he's a confident walker. It was an ebay "bargain", still very expensive! We have money for Pea's things based on some money left to me when my Gran died last year...otherwise we'd really struggle.
I'm convinced Pea is a boy. He just feels like a boyish tenant! My Dad had a dream about a little boy too. We now have a frontrunner boy's name (which I love!), so I'm rather excited! We hope to find out for certain at my 20 week scan (on the 6th of October...squeak!). We're seeing the midwife on Thursday (a week today) to hopefully hear Pea's heart, which is rather exciting. We can also then TELL PEOPLE!!! Hoo-jolly-ray! Part of me wishes I had a doppler (and thank you for your kind offer, Ali), but most of me thinks that I'd either get a bit obsessed or panicky if I couldn't find the baby's heart, and I'm seeking to avoid that kind of intervention as much as possible. I just want to trust Jesus and Pea to sort it out between them, and I'll keep on providing the womb.
I had new baby squidges with my friend's baby yesterday :-) I'm so glad I'm growing one of my own!
I'm feeling lots better - week 10 was something of a watershed for me. The sickness is much more morning sickness and hunger sickness than all day, which is a relief. I'm still feeling a bit grotty, but lots better. Pea has been behaving beautifully, no cause for concern anywhere. I had some awful period style pains today, but think it might be my uterus protesting at my normal jeans! I've got quite a bump now, although I felt rather hurt today as my friend at work described it as being 'all food'! There's a baby the size of a lime in there somewhere, so I can't think it's all food! I think I'm going to need to graduate to maternity jeans soon as I'm very fed up of having tummy ache from baby compression.
The baby now has a buggy - a Stokke Xplory, the buggy we chose many months ago! It's enormous and very imposing, but means Pea can face me at chatting height until he's a confident walker. It was an ebay "bargain", still very expensive! We have money for Pea's things based on some money left to me when my Gran died last year...otherwise we'd really struggle.
I'm convinced Pea is a boy. He just feels like a boyish tenant! My Dad had a dream about a little boy too. We now have a frontrunner boy's name (which I love!), so I'm rather excited! We hope to find out for certain at my 20 week scan (on the 6th of October...squeak!). We're seeing the midwife on Thursday (a week today) to hopefully hear Pea's heart, which is rather exciting. We can also then TELL PEOPLE!!! Hoo-jolly-ray! Part of me wishes I had a doppler (and thank you for your kind offer, Ali), but most of me thinks that I'd either get a bit obsessed or panicky if I couldn't find the baby's heart, and I'm seeking to avoid that kind of intervention as much as possible. I just want to trust Jesus and Pea to sort it out between them, and I'll keep on providing the womb.
I had new baby squidges with my friend's baby yesterday :-) I'm so glad I'm growing one of my own!
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