40 Weeks

Today is the 31 May 2012 - Baby Wells due date! I have been counting down this date for so many months now, and when I woke up this morning it just felt like any other morning. I wasn't expecting bells and whistles to go off, but I did think I would of had my baby by now. But no I'm still waiting for that day to arrive, you never know it could happen today still - but as each hour ticks over the thought of this happening is starting to evaporate. Baby Wells will make his or her appearance into the world when he or she is good and ready - obviously I've been too good of an incubator so far for that to of happened sooner rather then the later. The day will come - what date that will be is anybodys guess! I'm hoping it's not too far away! So happy due date baby wells - we hope to be meeting you real soon!

How far along? 40 weeks!!!

Total weight gain/loss: 12.2kg gain

Maternity clothes? Love anything that isn’t too tight around the under of my belly. I must confess I have started to wear a couple of Keegans t-shirts around the house and my pj bottoms when no one is around. It feels so nice to have nothing constricting you.  

Stretch marks? I have so many now I don’t know what to do with them all. I was looking back at photos of my belly 2 weeks ago and there was nothing there! Now it’s like a giant fest pit for stretch marks! They have been so itchy and yes I have been scratching them, I can’t help it!! Because of all my scratching they are even redder, raised and slightly scabby if that’s possible. I hope this doesn’t cause them to scare even worse, only time will tell I guess! Keegan is on scratch watch at home and if I go to scratch them he has to stop me - so technically it's not my fault! You try having an itchy fire on your stomach and not touch it!

Sleep: Sleeping is going ok, I have been having power naps most afternoons this week, it gets to like 3pm and I can’t keep my eyes open so I go lay on the couch find some crummy pregnancy show on Austar and have a quick kip – only half to an hour or so then I’m up and ready for Keegan to come home and to cook tea. I thought this might affect how I sleep at night but I still seem to go to bed and wake at the same time.

Best moment this week: Keegan and I got to see baby wells when we went to the drs earlier on in the week. Haven’t had an ultrasound for about 6 or more weeks I guess, so it was nice to have a look to see how everything was.

Miss Anything? Being not pregnant and able to move around with ease!

Movement: Heaps of movement most days. It will feel funny when there will be nothing inside of me wriggling around.

Food cravings: Anything and everything – I am like a bin for food.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing this week.

Gender: It’s a Mystery…

Labour Signs: Still nothing, I have been having more pelvic pain of late, but that’s about it. When I went to the Drs earlier on in the week and we had a scan, he confirmed that the baby is now laying in a full posterior position with the head still not engaged. He thought that may be why the head isn’t engaged because of the position it is in. He measured the head size and it is measuring at a 36 week baby size so he said that the head isn’t the issue why it won’t get into the pelvis as he thinks ill now have a small baby and that when my waters break it will just get in there….so once again I’m playing the waiting game! No c-section for me by the sounds of it! I am booked in to see the drs again on Monday and see what they say then! I will be over my due date so I’m hoping that they will book me in for an inducement later on in the week. I do not want to have to wait until I’m nearly 42 weeks to have this baby! That seems forever away! Fingers crossed it comes naturally over the weekend!

Belly Button in or out? Out!!    

Wedding rings on or off? On, but not by choice! I can no longer get them off and my fingers continue to swell. It’s mostly worse at night and early morning so I’m hoping this baby will come out soon!

Happy or Moody most of the time: Still anxious! I hate waiting and the days ticking over seem to be taking forever!! Every twinge of pain I get I hope it is something to do with me going into labor, but no they just seem to be random twinges of pain. Bugger!

Looking forward to: My next Drs appointment and hoping they will induce me next week sometime! I keep thinking it’s nearly all over, but as each week passes and as each drs appointment comes and goes, it’s always the same thing - come back next week for a check. I guess it will have to end one day but it seems like I have a carrot (chocolate one of course) dangling in front of me and I can’t seem to catch it. Fingers crossed once again that this will be my last pre-baby post! Next time I will have copious amounts of baby photos to share, that of course I will think are utterly amazing.   

 Facts about posterior babies

Just some reading i've been doing on posterior position babies - it doesn’t seem all too bad does it??

·         There are a  few babies that start labour in a posterior position. This is when the baby's back is facing the woman's back inside her uterus, on either her left or right side. Posterior babies are simply a variation of normal. They are not in themselves a complication.

·         About 90% of posterior babies will turn to the more common anterior position, during the course of the woman's labour, before the birth. About 10% of posterior babies will come down the birth canal, still in the posterior position, being born looking up at their mother's belly (instead of looking down towards her bottom!). Caregivers often refer to this as the baby being born 'face to pubes'.

·         Prosterior babies produce more pain in the woman's back, rather than in her front.

·         Takes a little longer, as the baby rotates around to the front.

·         The baby's head being 'deflexed' (or looking forward), rather than 'flexed' (and looking down with their chin on their chest), meaning that the baby's head may not fully engage, until the labour is established.

·         Taking longer to push the baby, out as their head rotates, and flexes.

·         Causing the mother to tear if the baby's head is born in a posterior position.

·         Progressing just as efficiently as anterior labours, especially if the woman has good contractions, assumes forward leaning, active birth positions and has a positive attitude, with the baby turning to become anterior, before being born.

39 Weeks

How far along? 39 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 11.8kg gain. I have actually lost 200grams this week from last week.

Maternity clothes? Anything lose and stretchy are my friends at the moment!

Stretch marks? Don’t even mention the S word! They continue to grow redder every passing day and they are getting itchy which I’m sure isn’t a good sign! That is why I need to evict this baby!! Did you hear that baby – GET OUT!

Sleep: Sleeping is ok at the moment same old same old really! The cold weather helps I guess! Still would love to roll onto the belly and have a decent nights sleep! One day!

Best moment this week: Knowing that end is near! And all the movement I have been getting – baby wells is getting strong and sometimes it feels like I’m getting full on punched inside.

Miss Anything? Being not pregnant and able to move around with ease!

Movement: Lots and lots. Some days more than others, I love watching my belly move up and down and little noggins popping out.

Food cravings: Choc chip ice-cream, chocolate, strawberry milk – anything dairy and I’m all in!

Anything making you queasy or sick: I cooked curry chicken in the slow cooker the other day and the smell of it wafting all through the house all afternoon was enough to make me dry reach and open windows. I couldn’t bring myself to eat it that night for tea.

Gender: It’s a Mystery…
Labour Signs: Nothing much other than a little bit of pelvic pain here and there. I had another midwives appointment on Wednesday just gone and still the little devil won’t move into the pelvis, but he/she did manage to move from one side of my belly to the other side between my 37 and 38 week appointment. Playing it day by day at the moment still has time to get down there ready to be evicted, maybe it’s enjoying all my chocolate and junk food eating too much to come out into the world and to be only fed milk, I know what I would rather be eating! I have a Drs appointment on Tuesday to make some sort of decision on how we are going to get it out – either wait for it naturally, inducement or a C-section. I made the mistake of you tubing a C-section birth yesterday to see what it’s all about now I wish I hadn’t!
Belly Button in or out? Out!!    

Wedding rings on or off? I have them still on only because I can no longer get them off! I try all the time but my fingers are just too puffy these days! I’m hoping that they don’t get too puffy where I need them cut off. Let’s hope not!

 Happy or Moody most of the time: Anxious! It’s like I’m waiting for a bomb to go off or something! I do not like waiting that for sure!!   

Looking forward to: Seeing the doctor on Tuesday for some sort of decision to be made about how we are going to get this baby out!! Also in the back on my mind I’m hoping that it will just happen naturally and all this hassle about it not being in the pelvis is gone!!! Maybe next week I might have a little baby! Holy crap batman!  

38 Weeks

How far along? 38 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 12kg gain 

Maternity clothes? Still just maternity pants or stretchy banded pants and stretchy and lose tops. Being off work is great for being able to wear almost anything big and baggy! I even cruise around in pj bottoms some days! Bliss!

Stretch marks? They continue to pop up everywhere on the underneath of my belly. I am not looking forward to seeing what they look like post baby belly! Fingers crossed all this bio oil I have been using does something!

Sleep: Sleep has actually been ok this week! Still not as great as sleeping without a giant bowling ball up my top but I think I am finally getting use to sleeping on my side.

Best moment this week: My blind for the baby’s room finally arrived so now the room is complete! I have cleaned and tidied the room all up so now, so all I am waiting for is a baby to put in there!! Hurry up!!!

Miss Anything? I probably do and I don’t even realise it now. It feels like I have been pregnant for so long I can’t remember what it is like not to be pregnant and feeling “normal” so maybe that's what I miss - being normal.

Movement: HEAPS! He/she sure loves to rock about in my belly!

Food cravings: Anything and everything

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not a thing!

Gender: It’s a Mystery…
Labour Signs: Other than some pelvic pain nothing else much has been happening! Had a midwife appointment yesterday (Thursday) and baby wells apparently isn't even near engaged ready to come out! We talked about a possible planned c-section if he/she still hasn't made it's way into the pelvis in the next week or so....will have to wait and see what happens! So I'm hanging out for my next midwife appointment (next Wednesday) to see if there is any progress. If it is still just happy hanging around in my belly I will then have to see the Dr who will make the final decision whether this baby will be able to come out naturally or not. Not sure how I feel about a planned c-section, I always thought that I would go into labour, then if I needed a c-section half way through that then so it must be, but the thought of actually not even experiencing the feeling of going into labour or the excitement of my waters breaking etc - I would feel kind of robbed of those emotions. BUT if it is best for both me and the baby then I'm all for it! Also in the back of my mind I kind of like the thought of having a planned "delivery"date and not having to go through a long labour to meet the little one, it will be a (hopefully) quick and easy c-section. There are both pros and cons for both delivery options, at the end of the day I just want to meet a healthy baby wells! AND like my midwife said "nature does incredible things" baby wells might kick into gear and just rush down into the pelvis - only time will tell! Either way I will have a beautiful baby within the next 3 weeks!
Belly Button in or out? Out!!    

Wedding rings on or off? Still on although I should take them off, my hands randomly swell up sometimes!

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy Happy Happy! I just can’t wait to get this little nugget out of me and meet him/her!! With only 2 weeks to go I find myself just waiting waiting waiting for the big event to happen!

Looking forward to: My next midwife appointment and the tub of choc-chip ice cream I just bought! Yummo!

Oh and just so you know - there was no mothers day present waiting for me last weekend - apparently carrying a baby in my belly doesn't count! Darn! I'll make up for it next year!!

And lastly a Basil update - Poor little man had to go back to the vets Tuesday just gone and have the remaining part of his tail removed - now he only has about a 1cm stump to show for a tail. I think he looks rather cute with his little stump, but he still has the cone on his head and is in lock down for a few more weeks to come waiting for that to heal. He should make a full recovery now! Phew!

37 Weeks

How far along? 37 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 11kg gain 

Maternity clothes? Still just maternity pants or stretchy banded pants and stretchy and lose tops!

Stretch marks? YES! It’s like they have popped up from nowhere!! I was gloating about what a great job I’ve done not to get any – than bam I look one morning and they are all starting to form on the lower half of my belly! Boo hiss boo! Went out and got some Bio Oil and other creams so now I lather myself in them all!

Sleep: Sleep once again has been my enemy! There is no way I can lay on my back anymore it is just way to uncomfortable so now I just rotate between the left side and the right side. The problem is my legs go numb and start to ache if I lay in one position for too long! The only good thing is I haven’t been getting up to go to the loo in the middle of the night still so at least when I wake up I don’t have to get on of the warm bed.

Best moment this week: Best moment this week is pottering around the house and setting up the nursery. I have been putting it off until I started maternity leave and now that I’m on it I can start doing all these jobs that I had been putting off till now.

Miss Anything? As weird as it may sound I miss going to work! This is my first week on maternity leave and I have been totally lost as to what I should be doing, I potter around for a bit but then I sit down and I feel so guilty for lounging around watching telly, plus every time I do that I start to feel tired and want to nap! I think I need to keep myself busy with tasks to keep me occupied during the day when I’m home alone. I find myself clock watching when it gets close to Keegans home time just waiting for him to come home so I have someone to talk to. I’m sure once I get use to it I’ll love it but going from being really busy to nothing to do is very hard transition for me!

Movement: HEAPS! He/she sure loves to rock about in my belly!

Food cravings: Anything and everything

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not a thing!

Have you started to show yet: That would be a YES

Gender: It’s a Mystery…
Labor Signs: I;ve had some pelvic pain and my midwife told me last week that it means that baby wells is trying to get into position for birth! Wooo hoo!  
Belly Button in or out? Out!!    

Wedding rings on or off? Still on although I should take them off, my hands randomly swell up sometimes!

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy Happy Happy! I just can’t wait to get this little nugget out of me and meet him/her!! With only 3 weeks to go I find myself just waiting waiting waiting for the big event to happen!

Looking forward to: Meeting baby wells!! I really don’t want to go over and have to be induced so I have convinced myself that I will have baby wells in my arms before 31 May! Let’s hope I’m right!!  

Now I know I missed my 36 weeks post BUT I have been amazingly busy!! I finished my last week at work which was quite hectic I didn't get much time to do anything else really! I really wanted to complete all my half finished jobs so I didn't leave it with someone else to have to do! I think i succeeded....just! It came right down to the wire on the Friday arvo though! But I left with a good feeling that I could walk away and be happy with what I had done!

Also I have been nursing our poor little Basil cat back to health after his little dice with death. Keegan laughs at me how much I worry about this little cat of ours that I'll be the same with our child! Nothing wrong with that I don't think! I have to give Basil medicine twice a day and clean and look after his "half"tail and he has weekly check up with the vet. He has a cone on his head so he can't lick or bite at the stitches BUT I just discovered the other day that he can in fact get to his stitches and have a go at them! I was wondering why his tail wasn't mending as well as I thought it should be, so I called the vet up and now he has a massive cone around his head and there is no way he can get to that tail of his! Fingers crossed he is on the mend now! One less thing I will have to worry about! We also had our maternity photo shoot on the weekend with by Megan Bourne Photography (see photos above) we have only had a sneak peak of them so far but I can't wait to see the rest! I also can't wait to have newborn photos done with her!

Keegan put the car seat capsule in for me the other day, he thought he did a great job, but I didn't think it looked quite right, so I went into RACT and they actually fit them in for you and just like I thought Keegan hadn't put it in quite right so I'm happy that is all done properly now and little bub will be safe and secure!

Next job on the list is packing the hospital bag which i have been saying for weeks now that i was going to do, but i have actually got the bag out and it is sitting in the baby's room ready for me to do! I WILL do it today....right after I go grocery shopping!

One last thing - It's mothers day this weekend and I am wondering if Keegan will surprise me with a little something...although I'm not a mother yet technically I think I am! So I can't wait for Sunday to see if something appears! Lets hope! I'll let you know next week!

35 Weeks

How far along? 35 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 10.2kg gain  

Maternity clothes? Still just maternity pants or stretchy banded pants and stretchy and lose tops!

Stretch marks? None that I can see!

Sleep: Sleep hasn’t been too bad this week! I haven’t had to get out of bed all week for a toilet or drink stop! And I have been falling to sleep pretty easily. I only wake during the night to roll over. Is this the calm before the storm???

Best moment this week: Washing and packing the baby’s hospital bag, putting the car seat in the car!! And just knowing I only have one more week left at work! It’s all starting to feel very real now!  

Miss Anything? I feel like I have been pregnant sooo long that I can’t remember what it was like before I was pregnant! But one thing I do know is my body is running a hell of a lot hotter than normal, I feel like I’m living in the tropics at the moment not Tasmania!

Movement: HEAPS! He/she sure loves to rock about in my belly!

Food cravings: Anything and everything

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not a thing!

Have you started to show yet: That would be a YES

Gender: It’s a Mystery…
Labor Signs: I think I have started having Braxton Hick contractions….but then again I’ve never been through this before so I don’t really know what they are meant to feel like!
Belly Button in or out? Out!!    

Wedding rings on or off? Still on although I should take them off, my hands did swell up this week, so I probably should take them off now.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy Happy Happy! Although I am starting to lose the plot over random stuff! I have been in tears a couple of times this week for the most random things! And once the waterworks kick in I can't stop! Much to Keegans delight he has to deal with me, But most of the time I'm a happy camper!

Looking forward to: My last week at work. My midwives appointment next Friday to see if the little bugger is now laying in the correct position and also Keegan is coming along to meet our midwife and we are going to work out our birth plan. I have also ordered some wall decals from an awesome shop I found called Love Mae so I’m hoping to get them next week sometime so I can finally start decorating the nursery! I’m hoping to have baby wells a couple of weeks early! I’m thinking I would like he/she to arrive into this world on the 21 May – only because I am born on the 21 January and Keegan is born on the 21 June so it makes sense for our child to be born on the 21 May…..doesn’t it??

We had a major crisis in the Wells household this week - hence the delay in posting this post, our poor cat Basil got hit by a car so on Anzac day. I dropped him off at the vets yesterday to be fixed and when I returned to collect him the poor little bugger had to have half his tail cut off and a heap of stitching around his back end - it was safe to say that his injuries were quite severe! We are hoping for a full recovery, but there is a chance he might have to be put down if his tail doesn’t come right (this was one of the days that had me in tears where I couldn’t stop). We have had Basil for about 5 years now and I love him to bits! He is a very adventurous cat and I think he has had more than 9 lives! We won’t know if he will make a full recovery for at least 10-14 day! Fingers crossed he pulls through! I had to share this beautiful picture of our dog Jasper who was very distraught when he came inside to find his big brother in the cage ready to go to the vets, he sat in front of his cage all morning as if to guard him. Very cute! Hopefully he loves baby wells as much as he does Basil!

34 Weeks

How far along? 34 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 8.4kg gain – didn’t put on any weight this week!

Maternity clothes? Still just maternity pants or stretchy banded pants and stretchy and lose tops!

Stretch marks? None that I can see! Keegan is on stretch mark watch for the underside of my belly that I cant see and he still is yet to report anything as well.

Sleep: Blaaa – sleep is my enemy! I wake up constantly during the night and there are even periods where I just lay there awake for a couple of hours because I can’t sleep! Then there are the times where I get up because I’m sooo thirsty  and because I’m soooo hungry! I would love a goods night sleep on my belly – but that’s not going to happen for a while!

Best moment this week: I have started packing up my desk! Wooo hooo only 2 more weeks left!

Miss Anything? SLEEP

Movement: HEAPS! This little thing in my belly never stops!

Food cravings: Anything and everything

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not a thing!

Have you started to show yet: That would be a YES

Gender: It’s a Mystery
Labor Signs: No thankfully!!
Belly Button in or out? OUT I officially have an outie!   

Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy Happy Happy!

Looking forward to: Only having 2 more weeks left at work! Then I will be able to begin all my nesting that I have been putting off until I start maternity leave.  

33 Weeks

How far along? 33 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 8.4kg gain

Maternity clothes? Still just maternity pants and anything stretchy on top – my wardrobe has become very limited! But with only 3 weeks left at work and the cold weather starting to set it, I’m looking forward to lounging around in trackies and jumpers!

Stretch marks? Still surprised to say no…..only 7 more weeks to go but there is plenty of time for the little buggers to appear!

Sleep: Back to being crappy again! Boo hiss!  

Best moment this week: I have heaps of best moments every week – Had a little shopping spree in Launceston over Easter and bought some amazingly cute baby clothes, can’t wait to be able to dress baby wells up! Had a midwives appointment and after sitting in the waiting room for over an hour before they realised they had forgotten about me (definitely not a highlight). I finally get to see my midwife we spoke about my birthing plan which was quite scary to have to think about but also making it that one step closer to when we get to meet baby wells. But a definite not best moment this weeks was when they felt where baby wells was lying it was nearly in the posterior position – meaning  the baby’s  back is facing my back inside my uterus - if it was to be born like this I would be in a whole world of pains apparently! Good news is the head isn’t engaged yet so there is plenty of time for baby wells to move to where he/she should be! The bad news for me is no more slouching on the couch and I have to get on all fours for half an hour a day to encourage he/she to move!

Miss Anything? I just miss sleeping I think this week! I would love an uninterrupted sleep – like that is ever going to happen again for many many many years!

Movement: HEAPS! This little thing in my belly never stops!

Food cravings: Since in was Easter this week – all I have been eating is chocolate which I’m not complaining about!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not a thing!

Have you started to show yet: That would be a YES

Gender: It’s a Mystery
Labor Signs: No thankfully!!
Belly Button in or out? Still just hanging in there! How it is, is a mystery to me!  

Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy Happy Happy!

Looking forward to: Only 3 more weeks at work!! Then the fun begins in the nursery! I haven’t decorated it much yet only got the essentials in there, I thought it would be a good little task for me to do while I wait for baby wells to make his/her appearance into the world!