tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860571346319301102024-03-19T12:36:03.873+00:00From a Bump to a BoyFollow my journey from pregnancy, through the birth of my first son, his early months and his growth from baby to boy!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-54668024016414079762012-11-27T15:59:00.001+00:002012-11-27T15:59:04.641+00:00A whole year since an Isaac update!!! 21 MONTHSMy gawd! What went wrong? I went from monthly blogs, to bi-monthly blogs and then onto 1 blog in 5 months. Its been A YEAR since my last update on Isaac! When I last blogged he was 10 months. He is going to turn 2 in Febuary!!<br />
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This would be one helluva long blog if I tried to record everything that had happened in that space of time, so a few highlights.<br />
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We had Isaacs 1st birthday earlier this year in Silsden in Darrens childhood home, where we were living at the time. Thats something thats changed a lot in the last year. We've had 3 house moves!! Firstly to Silsden, then back to Northern Ireland in June of this year to a house a mere 2 minutes walk from my parents and finally a move at the end of October to Martinstown, a little Hamlet 8 miles outside Ballymena. Its lovely here. Very quiet and our house backs onto lovely countryside and fields. It should be a great place to bring Isaac up fingers crossed if our landlord lets us rent for that long.<br />
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So back to Isaac. His 1st birthday passed with him being surrounded by family on Darrens side. My parents missed out a lot in the first year and a half of his life with me living in England, but now I'm back in Ballymena, they see us all most days which is great for them as they only have 1 kid (me!) and therefore 1 grandchild (Isaac). Its been a good and positive move for us all round so onwards and upwards in our new home. :)<br />
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Isaac started walking a couple of weeks after his first birthday. He's a little trooper and is into EVERYTHING he can be. He doesn't seem to have any fear (or sense) and climbs on everything before trying to launch himself into thin air, so you always have to be around and prepared to prevent potential accidents. <br />
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He loves going to his new playgroup and is great with other kids, not letting the 'bullies' get away with any cr*p and trying to play with as many kids as possible. He also still loves his swimming, although we haven't been in a while due to the weather and my joints not being so good at the minute. When the weather picks up a bit, we'll be back at it.<br />
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He has a great relationship with my parents and enjoys getting in to see them and their dog Lucy who tolerates him like I never thought any terrier would! They play tug-of-war with Lucys rubber chicken quite happilly, before Isaac bangs poor Lucy on the nose with it.<br />
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He has a great love of animals and everything he seems to have an interest in is around animals. He loves watching birds in the garden and likes to go out to throw some seed for them. He is a big dog fan (yay!) and loves farmyard animals. His favourite song is 'Old MacDonald' and its hilarous listening to him trying to sing it. It goes something like "ee-i-ee-i-oooo... COW!"<br />
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He is using his cups himself at mealtimes and we are trying to eliminate the bottles he has at bedtime and first thing in the morning, but at the minute he has a bad cold/sore throat, so we're waiting until that passes to take it away, as all that generally happens is he refuses to drink from the cup and throws a paddy. We're not panicking though, as we'll get there.<br />
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The next big thing is to start potty training, but everywhere I've done research and every parent of boys that I've spoken to says its best with boys to start trying between the ages of 2 and 3. Its difficult trying to do training in winter with it being so cold as much of the training involves him being naked... poor boy. we're happy that he'll get there in his own time though. There's nothing as irritating as the folks who try to impress THEIR viewpoints on you as to when it SHOULD be happening, as with theirs, it happened MUCH earlier! There will always be one person in your life like this, so its a matter of ignoring them and doing what you need to when your child is ready for it, not when someone else determines they should be.<br />
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So we've determined the boy is a dare devil with not much in the way of common sense. He's funny, he loves animals, he's a big fan of chocolate and cheese (can't figure where he gets that from, lol), he loves lollies and Milky Bars. He knows what he wants and he is OBSESSED with books, constantly demanding to be read certain books. At least he knows how to say 'Please' and 'Thankyou'. Currently his favourite books are 'Big Yellow Digger' and 'How to Grow a Dinosaur'. He has something of an obsession with diggers and dinosaurs it seems.<br />
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He likes to paint and colour with crayons, he always demands we take the black crayon and colour with him. We're convinced he's going to end up being a drummer as he drums on everything. He loves to dance and his favourite songs to dance to at the minute are 'Pet Semetary - The Ramones, Safety Dance - Men without Hats' and 'Gangnam Style - PSY'.<br />
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His words are coming along wonderfully. In fact I think I'll do a list of his words in another blog, for my records really, so I can look back at the words he learned first.<br />
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So thats it in a nutshell really. I'm sure there is a lot more I could be writing about, but that'll have to suffice for now. Hopefully I'll try to keep these blogs updated a couple of times a year.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-39556755435336986542012-01-19T21:16:00.005+00:002012-01-19T22:28:07.878+00:00Months 6 - 10I thought it was naughty missing a month last time I blogged, but I haven't really had time to blog at any length for 5 months now! That maybe gives you an idea as to the amount of time Isaac takes up these days.<br /><br />Tonight, we are trying yet another sleep technique as a development of the last couple of months is a refusal to sleep by Isaac, no matter what we do. We've tried the letting him cry, we've tried putting him in bed when he's fallen asleep elsewhere, we've tried the routines, you name it, we've tried it, but nothing seems to work.<br /><br />Darren is currently sitting upstairs with him while he screams his arse off in his cot. Its my turn tomorrow night. I wonder how many nights it will take 'til he gets the message, if indeed he does. We're currently at 1 hour and counting and he's still screaming. This parenting lark tis not easy!<br />I'm with him from the minute I get up every morning until he goes to sleep (which hasn't been until midnight) so I'm absolutely knackered. There never seems to be a break from it. The last break we had was at the start of December to go to a gig and we've got a meal out to look forward to at the end of this month. Thankfully Darrens dad & Kath take him once every month or so, so we can do something. I think I'd go completely mad if I didn't have that respite. I've started taking him to a toddler playgroup once a week and he has his swimming once a week as well, but thats exhausting with the stage he's at of constantly crawling away and getting into things he shouldn't be. Its definately the reason my fibromyalgia is bad again, which is turn has kicked off my CFS and IBS. Anyone who doubts motherhood is bloody hard work needs an arse kicking.<br /><br />So where to begin to catchup on his progress over the last month. He is sitting up perfectly and is able to rebalance himself if he starts to topple. He is also crawling proficiently (too proficiently if you ask me!). He is eating finger foods himself and proper food now. The aim at the minute is to get him to hold his own bottle (which we're having a bit of success with sometimes) and to use a sippy cup (we've had less success with that so far). His latest development is walking around the furniture holding on and pulling himself up. He should be walking within a couple of months. He seems determined though to go to the few places where we don't want him to go. His latest trick is to attempt to post a coaster into our DVD player. He's also obsessed with my laptop and I can never get on it without him trying to press buttons. Wires hold some kind of weird appeal too. If he shouldn't be into it, you can be assured, he will be. I even caught him climbing stairs a few days ago (I was stood there watching him).<br /><br />We now also have teeth! Check out the photo below of him in his spiderman outfit to see the bottom ones. He has the 2 bottom teeth and one of the top ones is halfway out and the other is breaking the skin at the minute. He has a vicious little bite when you're trying to apply teething gel!<br /><br />Another difficulty is trying to get breakfast and lunch as if I leave a room he screams murder. Ive read that its common for babies to go through separation anxiety at this age and he doesn't realise I'll come back, but its so hard to get anything to eat with having to rush to do everything. Even making something the night before leads to difficulty as he either screams when I'm eating it as hes not getting the attention he wants or he is over trying to pull at my plate or legs.... not condusive to enjoying a meal. I tend just not to bother, which has led to significant weight gain as I'm eating too much in the evenings to compensate. I really need to get this sorted, but what to do to stop the constant hanging off me and whinging, I have no idea.<br /><br />We have a health visitor coming next week for the normal 6-12 month development check, so I'll have a word with her then about his routine and see where we're maybe going wrong.<br /><br />Well 1 hour and 20 minutes later and Darren returned successful in his quest of getting Isaac to sleep, but half an hour later he was awake again and I had to go up and sit with him until he settled again... wondering how many times that will happen tonight?<br /><br />So in the last 4 months updates that I have missed updating - He's changed from mush to proper food, he's crawling VERY well, is attempting walking, is clapping when asked, waving when he feels like it and occasionally doing his 'how big? So big' routine. He's very mobile, very strong and very naughty, lol. He's also a world class flirt with an eye for the ladies.<br /><br />Hopefully I'll try not to leave it so long until the next update. The little mans 1st birthday is next month! Doesn't time fly!<br /><br />I'll leave you with some recent piccies<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRXxFscY6ArCMvcIzfkBSkTTCJkKT_xRc6NZUbnyI-JTR5QjbkyfNwAj7vrkluPEYF8sJ52RKImb0Z9ibP_0S46p_7dAKVF6pGaN__d6p2omrJGEqzn-tE-AgKgBaKGC_LQvTchbCNX8r/s1600/15th+Jan.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699468916414567570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRXxFscY6ArCMvcIzfkBSkTTCJkKT_xRc6NZUbnyI-JTR5QjbkyfNwAj7vrkluPEYF8sJ52RKImb0Z9ibP_0S46p_7dAKVF6pGaN__d6p2omrJGEqzn-tE-AgKgBaKGC_LQvTchbCNX8r/s320/15th+Jan.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8dGiVg8B5goY9QJiZ_n7hlEmRActLELfD3bYcLP4etNaKfAav6yEMEmc43fBIG1UBJx30WPLcjzfMFwWbTy2MkkbipUMsdNC0EVDH8weHN9kXfy_9cc0mibxBQgHSzrUJKC0bwTWF3G3/s1600/391071_169915843097627_100002376381463_339211_971128355_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699468903071025490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 258px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8dGiVg8B5goY9QJiZ_n7hlEmRActLELfD3bYcLP4etNaKfAav6yEMEmc43fBIG1UBJx30WPLcjzfMFwWbTy2MkkbipUMsdNC0EVDH8weHN9kXfy_9cc0mibxBQgHSzrUJKC0bwTWF3G3/s320/391071_169915843097627_100002376381463_339211_971128355_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-iFaDUHHRV5dXkT9pCW5j3iVtUCWOQ8ZFG4BJGGj4KTtiiX-opgmVY7bYWfMzvFq46ZqVj_PPDfsHuLOmpPkJ1sVatI_DkBZVAxb_lwnyAgA_uDkY1S1FhhLdcdG-ur9dBtEQGUafdmi/s1600/DSCF5682.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699468896721975058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-iFaDUHHRV5dXkT9pCW5j3iVtUCWOQ8ZFG4BJGGj4KTtiiX-opgmVY7bYWfMzvFq46ZqVj_PPDfsHuLOmpPkJ1sVatI_DkBZVAxb_lwnyAgA_uDkY1S1FhhLdcdG-ur9dBtEQGUafdmi/s320/DSCF5682.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqyrkkeuRI6igtN2yqNC-sshyphenhyphenWbQpobhR9Wsz0VslB0BE_UfXHVxBRT9ijYxnY6EndlVZtK5fGfaRZu1BukvlltpPc3M-A5qv4fPWu7Ay0w1MQWhyO0U7zKj8OMZbLmVyllKJhIlguGmy/s1600/DSCF5678.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699468885858208514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqyrkkeuRI6igtN2yqNC-sshyphenhyphenWbQpobhR9Wsz0VslB0BE_UfXHVxBRT9ijYxnY6EndlVZtK5fGfaRZu1BukvlltpPc3M-A5qv4fPWu7Ay0w1MQWhyO0U7zKj8OMZbLmVyllKJhIlguGmy/s320/DSCF5678.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-31119896220532033002011-09-20T14:50:00.003+01:002011-09-20T15:15:57.844+01:00Month 5 & 6<div><br /></div><div>So I've missed a month! Naughty mummy! Maybe though that shows how busy the little blighters make us at the above age.<div><br /></div><div>So whats new with Isaac? We'll the last couple of months have brought the landmarks of weaning and rolling over (lots!), as well as supporting his weight on his arms. He never has been keen on 'tummy time' so I thought he would make any effort to stay on his front, but he has been doing so lately. You have to watch him like a hawk though as no matter how much space you give him, he will always gravitate towards the only unlikely danger in the room.</div><div><br /></div><div>He still shows no real interest in sitting up himself, as much as I try to encourage him. He still topples over sideways, backwards or leans right forwards so he's almost doubled in half, lol. I know he'll do these things in his own time, but I am keen to make sure I am encouraging and doing everything I can for him. I don't want to think I have failed him somehow.</div><div><br /></div><div>We had started him in his own bed at month 6 but he came down with a virus (caught from me) 2 days later so was very unsettled and unhappy. I didn't think it was the right time to combine with getting him used to his own bed, so we took him back into his smaller cot in our room. We then had his christening and people staying in the house, so we kept him in our room so as not to keep everyone awake all night traipsing in and out of rooms, lol.</div><div><br /></div><div>Right now he's teething big time! He's been very whingy and has been crying a lot for a few weeks now. The drooling, biting and shoving everything in his mouth has been going on for a good couple of months now, but his gums are swollen recently and we're having to use teething gel several times a day and some nights even Calbrufen. Yesterday I spotted a little hole in his gum where a tooth is trying to break through (he won't let me photograph it). Its not quite through yet, but its on its way, bless him! We should have a tooth to photograph for next months blog!</div><div><br /></div><div>He's been enjoying his swing time in the park, has trips out somewhere every day and loves nothing more than getting out and about in his pram. We have a god routine now where he gets up, has his breakfast, has a play on his mat, we play with some of his toys, he has some bottle and he naps for an hour (if i'm very lucky) in the early afternoon. We try to do something mid afternoon and then we leave to collect his dad from work at 4 O'clock.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next week he starts swimming lessons which I'm looking forward to. It'll be something else for him to do and a new experience for him. The school he will be going to when he's old enough, (Hothfield School) is literally 2 minutes from our front door and it has a heated baby pool where they teach swimming from birth to 9 years old. Lets hope he enjoys it.</div><div><br /></div><div>For his christening he was a model baby and didn't cry once. He was passed around everyone for a hold afterwards and seemed to enjoy the day. He also has taken remarkably to his godmother Kelly and godfather Dave and even fell asleep on both of them (almost unheard of). He behaved the whole weekend when everyone was here. Of course once everyone left our house, he started misbehaving and screaming again (the little blighter). I worked out though that was simply because he was being held or fussed over all day over the weekend which I cant do when I'm on my own, hence the model behaviour.</div><div><br /></div><div>A big love which has developed is dogs, which I'm delighted about. He squeals in excitement when he see's Chewy coming near to him (although Chewy being an older boy is less than keen). He also has met his aunt and uncles dog Maggie, which he loved and a friend Claires dog, that he also loved. He's definately going to be a dog person! :o)</div><div><br /></div><div>So as the little blighter is giving off again, I must go. I'll leave you with some video of him with Chewy and a few pics as always.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPN4OHylS1rFw9c7QLLB9H12-ov7ZVKEAjfbdD-rfHwp_9Ogr5wH948FjU4pUegf3mH-jzYuzrXmmXah7gJfz9aLzJUwaVcOUD6NbZZhxX5KslInZR_HbH6pkER_n__XkoWkhnbeKJlr0Y/s1600/15th+%25282%2529.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPN4OHylS1rFw9c7QLLB9H12-ov7ZVKEAjfbdD-rfHwp_9Ogr5wH948FjU4pUegf3mH-jzYuzrXmmXah7gJfz9aLzJUwaVcOUD6NbZZhxX5KslInZR_HbH6pkER_n__XkoWkhnbeKJlr0Y/s320/15th+%25282%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654445186689965266" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqMM7hWLufmKNGUftkZr0z5uI0KSOyUEmGrYwr4cLhMf4piZxv67U1bmGbvueyKo2vPJKCA5Suo9eIzC_y81O700-6L7ibBA6w-1qyCyMis0IcseZ0OXPJUYthC0zRCE5FNvR9CzsBV9d/s1600/12th+%25282%2529.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqMM7hWLufmKNGUftkZr0z5uI0KSOyUEmGrYwr4cLhMf4piZxv67U1bmGbvueyKo2vPJKCA5Suo9eIzC_y81O700-6L7ibBA6w-1qyCyMis0IcseZ0OXPJUYthC0zRCE5FNvR9CzsBV9d/s320/12th+%25282%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654445178422877234" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiheNGMRNXOfkJds6fqsMqsqqBC7bi0xDqW6UMxfEgCNpbk8WH1stWJaS7wD8vY8VcfQHDU3pan4sqE0j5s-9tZi2H-cgO5ri_Fg6YLMT6Ls96-Eq6EnSaixaqCcsQhCA6UwoyO965kk3kK/s1600/12th+Aug.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiheNGMRNXOfkJds6fqsMqsqqBC7bi0xDqW6UMxfEgCNpbk8WH1stWJaS7wD8vY8VcfQHDU3pan4sqE0j5s-9tZi2H-cgO5ri_Fg6YLMT6Ls96-Eq6EnSaixaqCcsQhCA6UwoyO965kk3kK/s320/12th+Aug.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654445176496575922" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJd5m9cQZ8XKUjRr_aUOM1iFPektj_aMfErUHhTbhwGKBajhM1nSzekFsVcsAbdZBdGtLlVrCu-JFpuAW7OxVJ8hYyzUENOmPnLP7_EsbUO55rLkCp6tQdBgwe0-uG7h3Vlkwv65Vxlc-_/s1600/5th+Sep.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJd5m9cQZ8XKUjRr_aUOM1iFPektj_aMfErUHhTbhwGKBajhM1nSzekFsVcsAbdZBdGtLlVrCu-JFpuAW7OxVJ8hYyzUENOmPnLP7_EsbUO55rLkCp6tQdBgwe0-uG7h3Vlkwv65Vxlc-_/s320/5th+Sep.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654445169594239042" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOosRnUgtU5TRs4-PiE7BWY-BNPXHPUCnS9SBHEJYLWo-QHvHuAAffrQ7F3cXLPiVUEpByjW2Q-BGOf3R2SKtvqwu2dIcO6OPdLksKpSHtGEnkZrvAn2mtTk7OcInXHO1LXyOLXQaECk1w/s1600/18+2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOosRnUgtU5TRs4-PiE7BWY-BNPXHPUCnS9SBHEJYLWo-QHvHuAAffrQ7F3cXLPiVUEpByjW2Q-BGOf3R2SKtvqwu2dIcO6OPdLksKpSHtGEnkZrvAn2mtTk7OcInXHO1LXyOLXQaECk1w/s320/18+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654445165951089906" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyhogNo1q4CA5rksBq8OAsMPWD9lU4yLaU-gjVebXbXBs_EljV7fS-wsb76xzdnBzPd8iXj_rfqYB_eSBCLGQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-40761314242742305182011-07-11T20:16:00.003+01:002011-07-11T20:46:19.889+01:00Month 4<div><br /></div><div>Isaac is now just over 4 months old. How time flies! 4 months sounds quite young though and he's such a big baby, he looks much older. He's bigger than a lot of 6 month olds I see. He's also in 6-9 month clothes now which fit him perfectly!<div><br /></div><div>He can hold his head completely rigid now and will be sitting completely unaided soon now I would think. When he sits on my knee, I just have to support him very gently so he doesn't topple backwards or forwards. His favourite thing at the minute is standing up and having us support him. He can stand on the ground if you hold his hands and stands happilly on your knee if you support him gently around the waist. He loves it and is all smiles and giggles when he's doing it. He doesn't show any interest in rolling over or crawling. He doesn't actually seem a big fan of the ground or laying down in general. He's even started to object to taking his bottle in a reclined position.</div><div><br /></div><div>This month we tried a small amount of mashes banana mixed with his milk which he adored. We had a little bit (about the size of a small bite) twice. He didn't go to the loo for 3 days after that, so no more banana until he's much holder. It may have been nothing to do with that but I'll err on the side of caution. He's not a big fan of baby rice or the flavoured baby porridge I got him, so I think I'll leave trying food again for a month or so.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are still no teeth although he's drooling a serious amount and biting everything, has been for weeks now. He's also been very unsettled for the last couple of weeks. Crying a lot, screaming in fact for what seems like no reason. Nothing soothes him sometimes. We wonder if its painful wind. Its almost impossible to tell. He has everything we can provide to help with his wind, but he's still a very, very windy baby.</div><div><br /></div><div>He stayed away from home overnight for the first time since he was born a couple of days ago. Unfortunately he didn't stop screaming until after 1am when he finally fell asleep. This had went on since tea time, so grandad had a baptism by fire there! He's only due 2 overnight stays this year (once for Alice Cooper and once for The Darkness) away from us so hopefully he'll behave on them. It is incredibly draining at the minute though as there just isn't a spare minute from him and he cries so much right now I do all night feeds and all getting up as Darren obviously needs to be up early for work and I can't remember the last proper nights sleep I got.</div><div><br /></div><div>Apparently babies get to an age where they go through this unsettled stage and we've got it now. His smiles do make all the hard work worth it though and I know this is just a phase that will pass. The complete change to your life is shocking though, even though you knew it would happen beforehand, nothing prepares you for it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The babysitting thing is so hard. People either have dogs that we are a bit wary of leaving Isaac with as they are quite rough (just excitable) or they have no experience of children or they live too far away. The only babysitters we have is Darren's dad Derek and his wife Kath and there's only so much you want to impose on 1 couple.</div><div><br /></div><div>In other news this month we've been to Asda to do the grocery shop quite a few times and Isaac loves it. He loves to nosey at all the people and shelves. He always behaves really well.</div><div><br /></div><div>He also loves his door bouncer and gets quite excitable in it. Although you have to sit down beside him and watch him in it so he bounces, otherwise he just screams to come out.</div><div><br /></div><div>So not too much of note in the past month to document, just a very screamy baby. I keep telling myself 'It will pass'.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Morning doze time at about 7am!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJie4oAikDeqawWB8DybdineO0FFv84vsbHxsGj6DIjZZhdbFzoaQzqSeXqzH6GPggWP3MpMLvFXZEcs-z4NeEfn-veqgRUiX6bn9NQzRG_K1cDXIIj83n15TGAWJ-n59-2esN4cgWbKw/s1600/1st.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJie4oAikDeqawWB8DybdineO0FFv84vsbHxsGj6DIjZZhdbFzoaQzqSeXqzH6GPggWP3MpMLvFXZEcs-z4NeEfn-veqgRUiX6bn9NQzRG_K1cDXIIj83n15TGAWJ-n59-2esN4cgWbKw/s320/1st.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628182708217326674" /></a><br /><div>Sleepy boy mid afternoon for about 20 minutes</div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKzut0uZNaxcwItk2vMzZbH9aIBBpT-9M2VGFOLtcNaVNtiPqpM8Z0XfxkJJNz-GtKt6beBuEvEh1LJzwuTsmPezjfQDVNAbozuOF0CnS2gbHLe7V7P-sYO7FLajoqhCrfEVcdZL9sOQu/s1600/DSCF3565.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKzut0uZNaxcwItk2vMzZbH9aIBBpT-9M2VGFOLtcNaVNtiPqpM8Z0XfxkJJNz-GtKt6beBuEvEh1LJzwuTsmPezjfQDVNAbozuOF0CnS2gbHLe7V7P-sYO7FLajoqhCrfEVcdZL9sOQu/s320/DSCF3565.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628182698915433090" /></a><br /></div><div>Asda Shopping Trip<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrtLCFiAqRXODPWtMAr26DbL9SjdH-GiEYTNzhODaMZdUfhotB-sO1xPFciA9LoM8KMvAua9YszWDOoL8iA3cPFPWIK7ku_IhYPFSMniGvEM8ugO8pISVOf2b-jftgsMVZj3lqlc9vw3O/s1600/DSCF3552.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrtLCFiAqRXODPWtMAr26DbL9SjdH-GiEYTNzhODaMZdUfhotB-sO1xPFciA9LoM8KMvAua9YszWDOoL8iA3cPFPWIK7ku_IhYPFSMniGvEM8ugO8pISVOf2b-jftgsMVZj3lqlc9vw3O/s320/DSCF3552.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628182691557087378" /></a><br /></div><div>Activity Ring in Mr Bump outfit</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYDU96ubsdDdUdw14nsMQUOfthwWjsE5Ugijj76uxTl6xHVmsQ2ZY6ge9alo4uInj2_LtrxUSyl-sdgNyMbksMBXRVFIxAeHSvKH7qwUGErUdQZsycO46uo78R87_FJxuyvHd8eklDLYI/s1600/6th+%25282%2529.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYDU96ubsdDdUdw14nsMQUOfthwWjsE5Ugijj76uxTl6xHVmsQ2ZY6ge9alo4uInj2_LtrxUSyl-sdgNyMbksMBXRVFIxAeHSvKH7qwUGErUdQZsycO46uo78R87_FJxuyvHd8eklDLYI/s320/6th+%25282%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628182677367761314" /></a><br /></div><div>Bouncing :o)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwcFT4hXgFF6kcdcTs-NG2YeTPUa44Y83sF388lXF14SHyH6GSVLw0wxAT6kEgxIZxTUU72ytd_9licwXXRxe98uyI5fqn9STFdWSLpXf_-4IzPL0bVhUN8IxOqN_JjE3HG54_8oy09TY/s1600/DSCF3676.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwcFT4hXgFF6kcdcTs-NG2YeTPUa44Y83sF388lXF14SHyH6GSVLw0wxAT6kEgxIZxTUU72ytd_9licwXXRxe98uyI5fqn9STFdWSLpXf_-4IzPL0bVhUN8IxOqN_JjE3HG54_8oy09TY/s320/DSCF3676.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628182665903446114" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-64426323390356985442011-05-24T13:55:00.005+01:002011-05-24T14:13:23.931+01:00Month 3<div><br /></div><div>Isaac is now 12 weeks old and still growing fast. At least the 3-6 month clothes he wears are his correct age range... although most 'just' fit him and he has outgrown some (including his beloved Kermit all-in-one and Ramones tops)Booooo. We are going to get his ACDC, Ramones, Cookie Monster, Metal Horns and Kermit tops put in a big clip frame and hung on the wall in his nursery when we move. It'll be something cool to keep, even when he is grownup!<div><br /></div><div>This past month in the way of developments, he has become much sturdier and although he cannot sit upright unaided, he can sit on your knee and support his own head and back if you hold him. He loves his bumbo given to him by Mark & Helen although I have to support his head or put it against something when he sits in it. I just hope his bum fits into it when he's ready to use it as it seems the perfect size now.</div><div><br /></div><div>He has started to giggle now as well which is sooooo cute. He smiles all the time which is lovely as well. He seems to recognise us and there are people he seems to have developed preferences for... so far apart from us, he loves Darrens dad and seemed to enjoy being held by his friend at Dereks wedding. He definately seems to have a preference for men, although some do set him off bawling, lol.</div><div><br /></div><div>The latest development this week has been much better sleeping. He is now doing 5-6 hours straight which is fantastic. He refuses to sleep until 10pm at the earliest, although it is usually more likely to be between 11 and 12 midnight, but then he stays down until 5am or 6am sometimes! Good boy!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>This month he met Kelly & Dave for the first time. Unfortunately he was being a crabby baby that day. We can't complain though as he did a full day at a wedding and didn't cry at all. He also was good the following day at a family meal, just having a bit of a whinge because he was hungry (all the way through the meal as usual).</div><div><br /></div><div>He has his 3 month jabs next week which is something i'm not looking forward to after the last time. Especially since I had Darren with me then and this time I'll be alone. :o(</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll leave you with some 3 month piccies</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQvc3x91-eKMyU6ZpREdvQTxM9tCZD8kOtfkDPzxxigKrkEzDM4LHaiydRv5ALV5A01NEoAqyxTOnJ1xqUXODHiOD-4pWO0wU-J1U6sZk6-EPbLNCq7zsKT6djWfXkwEWAYRq1MWGlMIS/s1600/DSCF3281.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQvc3x91-eKMyU6ZpREdvQTxM9tCZD8kOtfkDPzxxigKrkEzDM4LHaiydRv5ALV5A01NEoAqyxTOnJ1xqUXODHiOD-4pWO0wU-J1U6sZk6-EPbLNCq7zsKT6djWfXkwEWAYRq1MWGlMIS/s320/DSCF3281.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610268675851316930" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNC9txwmKuLmbFu0Xsa_q4VUFkxVHbwmh-QLpUskzsJmBOGmS1Wqtz5dWue83wasdC5hLjtn6u_j603qbWdxC10WTFkK0m3FNM9g3f3WeiIfcN20raDZLqECd5PLKGBzhgEHQ02YTV4oO/s1600/DSCF3003.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNC9txwmKuLmbFu0Xsa_q4VUFkxVHbwmh-QLpUskzsJmBOGmS1Wqtz5dWue83wasdC5hLjtn6u_j603qbWdxC10WTFkK0m3FNM9g3f3WeiIfcN20raDZLqECd5PLKGBzhgEHQ02YTV4oO/s320/DSCF3003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610268671258321586" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26HAtaPE4q30XG9YxazskZCgDPHJ8_i37ZHCMyukAPt3ooAv5tBvlA4mADpB6A-CdI__IUIrR2rRBeq6eGuDLkYqWic07flXYi_X4XjwZrQVLJwj4gdqEyhMVojgo6s3bgAosKNx03EpA/s1600/249165_10150182608631050_583681049_7383085_4210851_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26HAtaPE4q30XG9YxazskZCgDPHJ8_i37ZHCMyukAPt3ooAv5tBvlA4mADpB6A-CdI__IUIrR2rRBeq6eGuDLkYqWic07flXYi_X4XjwZrQVLJwj4gdqEyhMVojgo6s3bgAosKNx03EpA/s320/249165_10150182608631050_583681049_7383085_4210851_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610268666495006802" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGzZ2d447mB4BsnbInE19Brdnoyj8aRtx-feQYJMYRlP8AkWXHejlGG_l2Xs6p8C4iDWQgQbk3Iy2ZA13FKrlA_xNUhRd9gH62g5G-PqU6ZcFSpZpot99dJDGmCt84CktEqakeiL0TkCj/s1600/21st.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGzZ2d447mB4BsnbInE19Brdnoyj8aRtx-feQYJMYRlP8AkWXHejlGG_l2Xs6p8C4iDWQgQbk3Iy2ZA13FKrlA_xNUhRd9gH62g5G-PqU6ZcFSpZpot99dJDGmCt84CktEqakeiL0TkCj/s320/21st.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610268660897439378" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyUJiddKgs5z6g0K9G4_fz_GTI7v0-0ofOALbqMpIAM_Z0AgEM8Ez4WY2D1rBjD1dLuoIOka9T2j4D85vkOqA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-21231025624552491642011-05-07T17:01:00.004+01:002011-05-07T17:23:52.751+01:00Month 2<div>Isaac is now almost 10 weeks old and growing massively by the day. He is now wearing age 3-6 month clothes which 'just' fit him. He also has a couple of outfits which fit him that are 6-9 months! He is definately a big baby! The health visitor assures me he is not overweight and I am not overfeeding him. He is in proportion and will lose a lot of weight when he starts running about. The last thing I want is to leave the child with a legacy of being overweight.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>The last month has been fraught with ill health for both me and Darren which took a while to get sorted out. It turns out I had a piece of retained placenta which made me very ill and causes several infections. LOts of antibiotics caused lots of problems and led to the end of me breast feeding at 8 weeks due to Isaac having a reaction to them. I tried to express while I was on the antiobiotics but it was then I discovered the retained placenta had affected my milk production anyway, so we decided to hit it on the head. He is doing well on the bottle now anyway. We switched him to Aptamil Comfort milk which is better for his tum as he has a tendency to get constipated and to have bad wind. I also bought some Dr Browns bottles, especially for eliminating wind. He seems to be doing well on a mix of the bottle, the new food and some dentinox colic drops. The spitting up and vomitting has all but gone!</div><div><br /></div><div>He has progressed this past month from smiling to laughing which is adorable! He loves having his nose pressed and his chin tickled. He always gives me a big cheery smile when I pick him out of his cot on a morning :o)</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm trying to introduce a routine very gradually. AT the minute we make sure he has a day outfit every day and changes into his pyjamas every night with his nappy change & wash so he knows its a different time of day. In the next week Im going to introduce a story at bedtime even though he won't know what Im saying, it will add to the routine and they like the sound of our voice. The week after I'm going to start puting him upstairs in his cot at about 9pm. The cot is beside our bed and I will need to go up and see to him im sure or wait with him until he falls asleep but at least it will establish a 'going upstairs early' routine. I will reduce the time to 8pm after a couple of weeks and then to 7pm a couple of weeks after. Hopefully by then we'll have him in the routine we want to keep him in until he's ready for his new room, which Im thinking of doing when we move to Darrens dads place. That should be in the next 2 months I would say.</div><div><br /></div><div>He has now outgrown his Moses Basket and is in a rocking wooden crib beside our bed. The net stage will be his own cot in his own room.</div><div><br /></div><div>We're learning more about his little personality every day. What he likes and doesn't. He likes having a bare bum! lol. He doesnt like wearing trousers. He isn't sure about the bath, but no longer cries when he's in there. He hates coming out of the bath and being wrapped in a towel though! He likes being sang to and dancing on your knee and hates to be left alone in his swing when he's woken up. I always try to have him out when he's awake so he gets as much stimulation as possible. He loves to look at his reflection. When he's on his activity mat (which he has a go on for about 10-15 minutes a day or as long as he'll tolerate) his favourite thing to do it to look at himself in the mirrored surface of a flower toy.</div><div><br /></div><div>He also had his jabs this month which was awful. He screamed in pain when he had it done which was heartbreaking. Poor ba. Im definately not looking forward to taking him again in just over 2 weeks :o(</div><div><br /></div><div>No doubt the next month will bring more progression for my little man. I look forward to it!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Smiley Boy</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GllKfTqZjH3HVNj5QGBCO-f-nfTGXbiHA6zpQg7r8x5MeTPD1Fe5F473Zcm1NBV5kkpfyoiE0-x3XNTtP1MQ5PTqbuanod8pAWy_mH2ntUSKMKUXu-3PkFHJ5nzPkqQA-WauYxxUsbKS/s1600/DSCF2497.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GllKfTqZjH3HVNj5QGBCO-f-nfTGXbiHA6zpQg7r8x5MeTPD1Fe5F473Zcm1NBV5kkpfyoiE0-x3XNTtP1MQ5PTqbuanod8pAWy_mH2ntUSKMKUXu-3PkFHJ5nzPkqQA-WauYxxUsbKS/s320/DSCF2497.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604009441813555778" /></a><br /><div>Beautiful Boy after his bath<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Jji720F6WA6OBo29aq2k77IeZt6V0X0Q6ReLXhxPs8AX7X_ty9ZEGg2jxlwoealBczylzJ3o74QtgJHUSnM162hvRGVFxLh6q1o9zbFS_8NC54n5d4rdY734s9UYGPWPPSjun1kGnTA1/s1600/DSCF2626.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Jji720F6WA6OBo29aq2k77IeZt6V0X0Q6ReLXhxPs8AX7X_ty9ZEGg2jxlwoealBczylzJ3o74QtgJHUSnM162hvRGVFxLh6q1o9zbFS_8NC54n5d4rdY734s9UYGPWPPSjun1kGnTA1/s320/DSCF2626.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604009443175686146" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Upset after his jabs<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrydr_orasKBB-EZH7MZhOQvQAUBHlg0LACNepFW8-O3-BevZPAOUpaeZilqcPDZVWY-e9WhaQkTtVHY89-0RDJuhs2BHKMyfhwzE62tmbX98t9y4L_o_7tNCXhmmJM2MKViZLXQj6GSrn/s1600/Jab.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrydr_orasKBB-EZH7MZhOQvQAUBHlg0LACNepFW8-O3-BevZPAOUpaeZilqcPDZVWY-e9WhaQkTtVHY89-0RDJuhs2BHKMyfhwzE62tmbX98t9y4L_o_7tNCXhmmJM2MKViZLXQj6GSrn/s320/Jab.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604009433197801778" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>With Tony when he came to visit having a whinge</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHsvpmDikTY2Qb15kaQvPISkasdfZsMhifKDAMnGaS9MXFOusoxpjmIXm9Wk34XYiy9k-mz36dC6RxOBv59KgLHKHbAavqHzyLuwXJ-nMtZU2GSmiFCeTym-_48tsZcycj37_SB-jIzml/s1600/DSCF2727.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHsvpmDikTY2Qb15kaQvPISkasdfZsMhifKDAMnGaS9MXFOusoxpjmIXm9Wk34XYiy9k-mz36dC6RxOBv59KgLHKHbAavqHzyLuwXJ-nMtZU2GSmiFCeTym-_48tsZcycj37_SB-jIzml/s320/DSCF2727.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604009428214476386" /></a>Many facial expressions</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharasKo3qr1Ad7OATxHEaGd3qBkGIkSI3PtIR4KO51Uj8zdcGF-7k-XcPmFhyphenhyphenPs33aWFYf99aBb1zXnJshKZAZkMBc30B7NBF4sMA0Ao2T8UotY2LnvGQQlyy2AiKhD1o_hid8qdzW4Xnr/s1600/4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharasKo3qr1Ad7OATxHEaGd3qBkGIkSI3PtIR4KO51Uj8zdcGF-7k-XcPmFhyphenhyphenPs33aWFYf99aBb1zXnJshKZAZkMBc30B7NBF4sMA0Ao2T8UotY2LnvGQQlyy2AiKhD1o_hid8qdzW4Xnr/s320/4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604009424759302578" /></a><br /><br /></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-48784077458095599412011-04-08T15:24:00.003+01:002011-04-08T15:40:47.185+01:00A passage into motherhood.So its been a while since I last blogged which was about Isaacs first month. As I type, on 8th April, he is 5 weeks and 5 days old.<div><br /></div><div>This blog though, isn't about an update on Isaacs progress, but more about motherhood, something I never thought I'd experience.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now I have never been maternal. Until the age of 32 or 33, I never even wanted kids. I don't go gooey over babies and coo at them when they are brought into the office at work. I can appreciate a pretty or handsome baby, but I just don't get that pull in my stomach that most women seem to get. I am however capable of it, as put a little puppy on TV or in front of me and Im a big ball of mush. I want to hold it, smell its head, kiss it... all the things I should have felt about babies.... right?</div><div><br /></div><div>Well no actually. I worried about this lack of maternal instinct a lot before I got pregnant, and even whilst I was pregnant. I didn't feel excited like most mums. I just longed for pregnancy to be over so the hell I was going through would come to an end. I couldn't imagine or picture him as an actual person. I didn't feel that longing to meet him that most women talk about. I know a couple of other friends I have feel similarly. Some decided not to have kids and some did. What would happen? </div><div><br /></div><div>Well, the day came. The labour and operation were awful. I didn't get to hold Isaac when he was born as he wasn't breathing properly. I remember feeling worried and concerned about what was wrong. I got all the normal protective feelings and I remember thinking what a handsome baby he was when I finally got to see him. I made sure from that day on he had everything he needed and he was well looked after. Of course I loved him, but I still felt like I didn't react in the way most women do and it kind of worried me. I changed him, fed him, dressed him, took him out. I felt proud of him and my accomplishment in bringing him into this world.</div><div><br /></div><div>As time has went on, I have grown closer to him and feel an overwhelming protective instinct towards him. I want to make sure he's ok and has everything he needs. I worry ridiculously if he seems unwell or unhappy but wheres that surging feeling women talk about?</div><div><br /></div><div>At the weekend, I found out. From out of nowhere I was overcome by a wave of emotions like nothing I've ever experienced before. Something as stupid as mothers day messages on TV set me off. I realised PROPERLY for the first time, I was a mum. I also realised how much I loved my little man. I would die for him and couldn't imagine my life without him. I ache inside when I think about how much I love him. I spent all evening eye watering and crying trying to convince Darren there was nothing wrong and I was just hormonal.. I mean how do you explain that 5 weeks after the birth of your baby, you finally have been hit with what most women experience from day 1.</div><div><br /></div><div>Its an overwhelming feeling and scary that its possible to feel so overcome by these emotions. Its so unlike me. I have been turned into a big bundle of mush by a little guy. He cries and I ache, he smiles and it melts my heart. I just look at him and feel nothing but utter love.</div><div><br /></div><div>I read a quote that makes so much sense to me the other day:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: medium; ">"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: medium; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: medium; ">So true.</span></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-69840005374017836222011-03-27T20:54:00.003+01:002011-03-27T21:06:20.721+01:00My Visitors<div>Heres some piccies of people who came to my house to visit me in the first month.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rachel and Simon came to see me with my cousin Paige</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8wOpjGk6mNKFVW6gKVL1sa9arddvEqNglWCCKvsWnuqD27uyTfav25WMdBhl-VDftiBuhaQtaB3RpVZg64Mrv9JQhlDztzRrYl95a7aUMqQT7Eazn-S6UeEYatNkJr7urkBPqZV6Y9i0/s1600/DSCF2131.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8wOpjGk6mNKFVW6gKVL1sa9arddvEqNglWCCKvsWnuqD27uyTfav25WMdBhl-VDftiBuhaQtaB3RpVZg64Mrv9JQhlDztzRrYl95a7aUMqQT7Eazn-S6UeEYatNkJr7urkBPqZV6Y9i0/s400/DSCF2131.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588852857048181570" /></a><br /><div>Uncle Richard and Auntie Atsuko</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqT9dORaCL39EmL3kOzE9TpwMbYWhIldXiSbIt3VTmxGk0bYuHQvckurYiVQqyk2hAshvRHb-VdfV2fAHInCK3UeTAJc-cuTiVmuMNGAWHctflW-SEmgzj4Dngf64OfosoFfIL_OPr8nMQ/s1600/DSCF1938.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqT9dORaCL39EmL3kOzE9TpwMbYWhIldXiSbIt3VTmxGk0bYuHQvckurYiVQqyk2hAshvRHb-VdfV2fAHInCK3UeTAJc-cuTiVmuMNGAWHctflW-SEmgzj4Dngf64OfosoFfIL_OPr8nMQ/s400/DSCF1938.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588852848736039458" /></a><br /></div><div>Grandad came to see me when I was a few hours old in hospital</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRw3GcRWZZvLj1Gib796czDD5u2Zc95JBymszOThzctktA-L3vSNwGSEDQJZOPm5RQuwYx7cJDbDZ5frxdzPy5c2EY09CrGoTIUCXxwxFi5Fm94iyCk27nabEKbsQQup4S_fXL-CdvrJq_/s1600/Airedale+%25288%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 262px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRw3GcRWZZvLj1Gib796czDD5u2Zc95JBymszOThzctktA-L3vSNwGSEDQJZOPm5RQuwYx7cJDbDZ5frxdzPy5c2EY09CrGoTIUCXxwxFi5Fm94iyCk27nabEKbsQQup4S_fXL-CdvrJq_/s400/Airedale+%25288%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588852184302200066" /></a>Gran and grandad came over from Ireland to see me</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjze9yjkf6S5copBrwYmnk33FMqddyTKWPnkHw8FQfbxW83OPZ5dpAilqDHmmZrkXZUweq7n5S-FPuVXAeUdrVzF79y2s5NizgMWfOt3fwINrYs3LBOfQ0LGKpwoe5tUnldrdNXrrO9ZS/s1600/18th.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjze9yjkf6S5copBrwYmnk33FMqddyTKWPnkHw8FQfbxW83OPZ5dpAilqDHmmZrkXZUweq7n5S-FPuVXAeUdrVzF79y2s5NizgMWfOt3fwINrYs3LBOfQ0LGKpwoe5tUnldrdNXrrO9ZS/s400/18th.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588852176565672754" /></a><br /></div><div>Cousin Kayleigh with me. Aunt Sarah, Uncle Andy and cousin Bryony also visited, but we didn't get their piccies.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzmWBM3sNnb-vju3J1r4ojz8_ipYUKN2CULvJzDbvrtOX0742Lvon6CogHbe7JW4T5ViEjkD_qQVm6W6ZRwU8atM_TPfkBwtu18OCRVUr-30ZLKm61E9regT_o_P9Sm7W0yDNC5Q9aDWg/s1600/12th.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzmWBM3sNnb-vju3J1r4ojz8_ipYUKN2CULvJzDbvrtOX0742Lvon6CogHbe7JW4T5ViEjkD_qQVm6W6ZRwU8atM_TPfkBwtu18OCRVUr-30ZLKm61E9regT_o_P9Sm7W0yDNC5Q9aDWg/s400/12th.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588852175912371298" /></a>Me with my proud grandad</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdsPTDkgbafRatGodR9HO5N0eInlcH0kUefpRS-BxK4mJEXH2CETRXXtxNGxlJMHupBnI4BBxNntycQ5OhrM5Lv93kueCA7V7olpj2-qOZDfO2j3jR9lGtECBECr8aESjpeX2P50RYJPP/s1600/2z.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdsPTDkgbafRatGodR9HO5N0eInlcH0kUefpRS-BxK4mJEXH2CETRXXtxNGxlJMHupBnI4BBxNntycQ5OhrM5Lv93kueCA7V7olpj2-qOZDfO2j3jR9lGtECBECr8aESjpeX2P50RYJPP/s400/2z.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588852172982125506" /></a><br /></div><div>And grandma<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YRkPgGVl_jXa7Tad3VpCkpfK2vQA12-GySfHIkU0NGsEi2b5IQgSPHg4nIp44GH6cNeVRsDB1jievsPJNQQDpQGYrYncSn-8BcOzn9uVfwm3ldFu1tjp1y4psLp_afeRAWs1LYz37TVj/s1600/2y.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YRkPgGVl_jXa7Tad3VpCkpfK2vQA12-GySfHIkU0NGsEi2b5IQgSPHg4nIp44GH6cNeVRsDB1jievsPJNQQDpQGYrYncSn-8BcOzn9uVfwm3ldFu1tjp1y4psLp_afeRAWs1LYz37TVj/s400/2y.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588852167143014978" /></a><br /></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-69632429199227113812011-03-27T20:32:00.004+01:002011-03-27T20:53:46.278+01:00My first month trips out<div><br /></div><div>My grandparents took me to The Tramshed for a Carvery on their last day here.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpXqHbC52qYEGPD4FtpC3yUlI2iJlA6qV-Tj6SuNjnQDxWDkLkZTwkFkN-koxXbbf1W6OXaydxw7h5GdG7BB1jJy1dyPKoovLS_FdF3zjbc2Gjug3IJl_TSwHzIcJbm19PtTVVQLkWOq7/s1600/DSCF0083.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpXqHbC52qYEGPD4FtpC3yUlI2iJlA6qV-Tj6SuNjnQDxWDkLkZTwkFkN-koxXbbf1W6OXaydxw7h5GdG7BB1jJy1dyPKoovLS_FdF3zjbc2Gjug3IJl_TSwHzIcJbm19PtTVVQLkWOq7/s320/DSCF0083.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588849286585089634" /></a>I went to a tea room at Bolton Abbey on my grandparents visit<br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPvux2DSdSuriMhmIedoUIKV8VnXz6C18xZ2Ysit3OrpbSL1zP4krPXMea9ExIqNgJbj-iZhhexH19FXOLfo92Qyj8g154uWvn0zWyQ9SNRptm2bmG5-6UKTRBu1XUKRQFJhpACpCthoC/s1600/DSCF0070.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPvux2DSdSuriMhmIedoUIKV8VnXz6C18xZ2Ysit3OrpbSL1zP4krPXMea9ExIqNgJbj-iZhhexH19FXOLfo92Qyj8g154uWvn0zWyQ9SNRptm2bmG5-6UKTRBu1XUKRQFJhpACpCthoC/s320/DSCF0070.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588849282239091202" /></a><br /></div><div>Bolton Abbey<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9qz9xGKjlXu6aE_o4wcy7dFi8ZYKNhaemTFrryQTb-72FutS3CT-PVkTRgfZB9bGZhzKcs0SS_bkSgFpQmcTlSEHSo7ZQl5Gun4YnNxFqZfhBjAPbUiS2K4Fw_7U_8e7j2D7v3gOprzu/s1600/DSCF0065.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9qz9xGKjlXu6aE_o4wcy7dFi8ZYKNhaemTFrryQTb-72FutS3CT-PVkTRgfZB9bGZhzKcs0SS_bkSgFpQmcTlSEHSo7ZQl5Gun4YnNxFqZfhBjAPbUiS2K4Fw_7U_8e7j2D7v3gOprzu/s320/DSCF0065.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588849272291610930" /></a>My first trip to Leeds. Here I am with dad at the station</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzcRKy6u2IqP_NS1k_gnTCQjs-03JqXT6hWJYTuM48nuW2l3IHCS6ZBCM7RZkbrUSg2I7Vuc-8pYDBT6yHdHuEGZZ1vOgzUqSLtLFsLZY4jW3lvR8p30FlKUqFpAy9j-A2oPIzBPrG4jq/s1600/DSCF2310.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzcRKy6u2IqP_NS1k_gnTCQjs-03JqXT6hWJYTuM48nuW2l3IHCS6ZBCM7RZkbrUSg2I7Vuc-8pYDBT6yHdHuEGZZ1vOgzUqSLtLFsLZY4jW3lvR8p30FlKUqFpAy9j-A2oPIzBPrG4jq/s320/DSCF2310.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588847684573008514" /></a><br /></div><div>On my first train ride<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqroDThWfr6rsCwxTijcaqHD8KStctTkUWM2eGTXNEAs12C5F-LK6ZwWd5CWcjwQK2fN-9rGf8zGjSe1ci824UDENFT36ydwjjxULiW6Y8SJq-CDBBLDCyzRmdvFUv-y7Qs8sx4OD2_SRo/s1600/DSCF2309.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqroDThWfr6rsCwxTijcaqHD8KStctTkUWM2eGTXNEAs12C5F-LK6ZwWd5CWcjwQK2fN-9rGf8zGjSe1ci824UDENFT36ydwjjxULiW6Y8SJq-CDBBLDCyzRmdvFUv-y7Qs8sx4OD2_SRo/s320/DSCF2309.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588847673322294930" /></a><br /></div><div>At B&Q helping mum and dad pick wallpaper for moving house soon</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fVlX0-HwZNtXRqWKPnw7A8GOZvua9Y7q-ZeDcQFAzzTstdE5NRQo4Wo_G_C3jcl1fFsaeloKouGPunASR448maru0doMd1AFe0WhqxHaEnHB0sg6wW-udG_GFVblw46EZFhhWkOdUv8i/s1600/DSCF2306.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fVlX0-HwZNtXRqWKPnw7A8GOZvua9Y7q-ZeDcQFAzzTstdE5NRQo4Wo_G_C3jcl1fFsaeloKouGPunASR448maru0doMd1AFe0WhqxHaEnHB0sg6wW-udG_GFVblw46EZFhhWkOdUv8i/s320/DSCF2306.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588847670826179442" /></a><br /></div><div>With dad on my first trip to the pub</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFp-pnrXfF0fSfrJPYmwVCmvQWgDb5s2UUCzkBokK0pZpD89gbuQk_8bhC01qmgi0XCqyqWoq3cYml1OeNRLezRbQVlriNs25nR9LshIuIr8istqnDFDG63TMBQhI182V4qblVXwBjuCR7/s1600/DSCF2167.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFp-pnrXfF0fSfrJPYmwVCmvQWgDb5s2UUCzkBokK0pZpD89gbuQk_8bhC01qmgi0XCqyqWoq3cYml1OeNRLezRbQVlriNs25nR9LshIuIr8istqnDFDG63TMBQhI182V4qblVXwBjuCR7/s320/DSCF2167.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588847657234515522" /></a><br /></div><div>With mum on my first trip to the pub</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhQbtKb_Br09LlBtXbaVCOHGxyVnoWVjZps6MP6NuKeZ5jPleXBvQ4g_vjw3T-pcaswBUniISUIUQHIGIYp7B_Uk_EXbjvLVMO2uVkR_KCI8L7VJQQASm2ZFNLuYs6I7m9MfGpMJ4mYqT/s1600/DSCF2160.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhQbtKb_Br09LlBtXbaVCOHGxyVnoWVjZps6MP6NuKeZ5jPleXBvQ4g_vjw3T-pcaswBUniISUIUQHIGIYp7B_Uk_EXbjvLVMO2uVkR_KCI8L7VJQQASm2ZFNLuYs6I7m9MfGpMJ4mYqT/s320/DSCF2160.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588847654179718514" /></a><br /></div><div>With Auntie Lynn on my first visit out to Great Grans</div><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzAp3l4J1ufewW1k-Xj0ttCRk3iVJ5C5YcXiSNx_ZeDyPITFwPEB17sm55d3IGK4SDVjX01d2L-dUJFIvgngt8V25AavH9MRzdvz3Eevo1ce_eDBW48FfHMIFmPKLTITEcflrXBebQoib/s1600/DSCF2090.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzAp3l4J1ufewW1k-Xj0ttCRk3iVJ5C5YcXiSNx_ZeDyPITFwPEB17sm55d3IGK4SDVjX01d2L-dUJFIvgngt8V25AavH9MRzdvz3Eevo1ce_eDBW48FfHMIFmPKLTITEcflrXBebQoib/s1600/DSCF2090.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzAp3l4J1ufewW1k-Xj0ttCRk3iVJ5C5YcXiSNx_ZeDyPITFwPEB17sm55d3IGK4SDVjX01d2L-dUJFIvgngt8V25AavH9MRzdvz3Eevo1ce_eDBW48FfHMIFmPKLTITEcflrXBebQoib/s320/DSCF2090.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588845828046376530" /></a><br /></div><div>With Great Gran</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkJKFzunIdWT9S0Tci8lMzlpJ-we7cPLS1aekt7X-eHfkTOLOlGwrEhvAqmpJKkQXH8Llo_qsR67lTxo7J0NLsruls9EYD1dHIL-tB21ZcUP9V1BvVG9L2SgUyQlQVCG0AorJULYoIjP-/s1600/DSCF2087.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkJKFzunIdWT9S0Tci8lMzlpJ-we7cPLS1aekt7X-eHfkTOLOlGwrEhvAqmpJKkQXH8Llo_qsR67lTxo7J0NLsruls9EYD1dHIL-tB21ZcUP9V1BvVG9L2SgUyQlQVCG0AorJULYoIjP-/s320/DSCF2087.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588845824980361458" /></a>In my car seat on the way to great grans</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCSlVN_R429qAu5xWdtl8vuI2Te4nPoWjFV-ylbI4LuGiL9JS2fViqAK5sHvyJHW9aHQeFV-5_-Q3qTf6A4fkXdeeFe1r5PGK4e0bCE0RzFovzfaqsmcb514qAT2FIxrhG_9pYXZvN611/s1600/DSCF2085.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCSlVN_R429qAu5xWdtl8vuI2Te4nPoWjFV-ylbI4LuGiL9JS2fViqAK5sHvyJHW9aHQeFV-5_-Q3qTf6A4fkXdeeFe1r5PGK4e0bCE0RzFovzfaqsmcb514qAT2FIxrhG_9pYXZvN611/s320/DSCF2085.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588845818795271618" /></a><br /></div><div>My first outing in my pram</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmEPJ5KpUklbJkkr1vVpwGDtQtBD8bLOWJfWgwEmZjHqMRKmOBYCunVltFHZxyfgryHU1pwy6bTu-P8nGerjPqgcGqlMdhVf4Gux2K4TH5vx5GvMdtNJX1kYdma6-W_T0XmEh3LhLG6QM/s1600/DSCF2032.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmEPJ5KpUklbJkkr1vVpwGDtQtBD8bLOWJfWgwEmZjHqMRKmOBYCunVltFHZxyfgryHU1pwy6bTu-P8nGerjPqgcGqlMdhVf4Gux2K4TH5vx5GvMdtNJX1kYdma6-W_T0XmEh3LhLG6QM/s320/DSCF2032.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588845816133070914" /></a><br /></div><div>My first trip to Asda</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rot7Drrc7S-8qrSXOW6VqVjpN256nqmHcToN01PM51LvEvOlgr90bVYbxwmybND1IoaoniIuX_hd0db6seGKq7wgPL1OqaHU45xPDXJcUjfB6DmC7LECB3Ed21sDWBFmeuibH01EbDWC/s1600/17th.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rot7Drrc7S-8qrSXOW6VqVjpN256nqmHcToN01PM51LvEvOlgr90bVYbxwmybND1IoaoniIuX_hd0db6seGKq7wgPL1OqaHU45xPDXJcUjfB6DmC7LECB3Ed21sDWBFmeuibH01EbDWC/s320/17th.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588845812075709634" /></a><br /><div><br /></div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-80459931210193761542011-03-27T15:50:00.004+01:002011-03-27T16:52:49.668+01:00The First Month<div>Its taken me a while to get around to posting another blog since the birth one, but to say having a newborn in the house is an eye-opener is an under statement! Getting time to do anything much is a push. The short amount of time Isaac sleeps is spent trying to put on a load of washing (we're averaging 2 to 3 lots of a day at the minute), cook something, clean or tidy something or preparing a bottle for when he wakes up.<div><br /></div><div>Talking of bottles, I was breast feeding Isaac and I still am, but just not exclusively. He has bottles for the wee small hours of night, although I breast feed him when we wake at 6ish. It started as a way for me to have a break but now it is a necessity to feed him some formula. I am also expressing milk for him, but given that he has up to 30 fl oz of milk a day, I simply cannot produce all that myself. Yesterday he had 34 fl oz! On one hand you think it has to be too much, but on the other hand, everywhere you read, tells you to feed on demand, as much as they want. If its too much, they will be sick. Oh yes, he throws up, usually all round me, lol. Its not excessive though and he's only had about 5 occasions where he has thrown up a large amount at one time.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, we have established Isaac is a greedy little sod. He also has earned the name Grimble Grumble for his hatred of being winded, waiting on food or being changed. He isn't one to be quiet when he is annoyed. He doesnt like bath supports, but seems to prefer being held in the bath and floated back and forth. He HATES being changed or undressed and pees almost EVERY time we change him which makes doing it a challenge. If he's hungry, he wants his food yesterday, he is not keen to wait at all. Formula does my head in for this reason..... what baby understands waiting 25 minutes for the kettle to cool and then having to cool the actual bottle under the cold tap for him to have his dinner...certainly not Isaac.</div><div><br /></div><div>He has started a lot of straining and grunting over the past few days which apparently is normal. Its down to him having an immature digestive system and having to learn he doesnt have to push and strain to go to the toilet. it is upsetting though as he appears in discomfort and pain, even though Ive been assured he isn't and most babies do this from 3 weeks to up to 3 months in age.</div><div><br /></div><div>His sleeping pattern involves him sleeping more during the day than at night. He generally has his worst grumbly time from 11pm to 2:30am (sometimes going on until 3:30am). He then settles either for an hour or 2 until 4:30, or if we're really lucky, for 4 hours until 6:30. Then its up at 8:30 after a 2 hour cuddle and snooze on the bed. He generally then feeds and grumbles for a lot of the morning until about 11am or noon when he goes down again for another snooze. During the day its a case of a few hours awake, a few asleep. Although he has mastered the art of knowing when our dinner is ready even though the time can vary up to 4 hours in the evening from 5pm to 9pm!!! I think we've accepted the fact we'll have to eat seperately for the next few months.</div><div><br /></div><div>Darren goes back to work tomorrow after taking an extra 2 weeks off work after his 2 weeks paternity leave. Its going to be hard work looking after Isaac alone as I don't have my parents here to help out every now and again and I don't like to impose on Darrens dad and his partner, apart from maybe a few hours 1 night per month to give us a chance for some alone time out together. It certainly illustrates how important having family close-by when you have a baby is.</div><div><br /></div><div>My parents visited last week and met Isaac for the first time. They are over the moon with him and didn't want to leave. I've never seen my dad so soft. He didn't want to put him down. I just wish they lived closer, but I don't think I could ever live in Northern Ireland again and my mum would never move away. My parents also brought presents from extended family and friends and my friend Raymond sent a very generous £200 over for Isaac, so he now has a bank account with £400 in it! He officially has more money than us!! We're going to save a little each month for him so when he reaches 18, he can have a car or something he wants.</div><div><br /></div><div>So the first month is past us. Tomorrow Isaac will be 1 month old. The time has flown in. Days seem to pass in the blinking of an eye. I find myself wondering what I did with all that spare time before he was here. I also find myself wishing I had done more constructive things with all that time I had. We're getting to know Isaacs little personality and what he likes and doesn't. I can't wait for him to get to the stage where he is reacting to us and smiling (where its not wind), where he plays and says his first word. Its bloody hard work but I wouldn't change it for the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some piccies of his first month below</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>My Rainbow Rocking Chair</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqWeApg-TfKVSWNLbR28W6MNQ9aM0i5-MZnirMqepOLZu_I4OQ7yWaHob9DVj0edZjawlfwOhlD_mgAcjI0zpG-FYSyAkL3pOylHP2UPz_1YKed7LzgmmtqEH4FC8g4V8Go_FGAfxr_Ea/s1600/DSCF2056.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqWeApg-TfKVSWNLbR28W6MNQ9aM0i5-MZnirMqepOLZu_I4OQ7yWaHob9DVj0edZjawlfwOhlD_mgAcjI0zpG-FYSyAkL3pOylHP2UPz_1YKed7LzgmmtqEH4FC8g4V8Go_FGAfxr_Ea/s320/DSCF2056.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588787128257883938" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>With Rachel<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuVcg4GNWgxDdz6Qp6sV1djTWMzW9y8reKgvMhJHiHVVAsCBTqzhWAIx29yMZO0MzpnSJZtt7X-2iaR997BgYuhOvgdJ00EBBZkH65Gho2U6RPL9cfQLTYGl0GBwJbAXF0m5LtFYWLeli/s1600/DSCF2131.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuVcg4GNWgxDdz6Qp6sV1djTWMzW9y8reKgvMhJHiHVVAsCBTqzhWAIx29yMZO0MzpnSJZtt7X-2iaR997BgYuhOvgdJ00EBBZkH65Gho2U6RPL9cfQLTYGl0GBwJbAXF0m5LtFYWLeli/s1600/DSCF2131.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuVcg4GNWgxDdz6Qp6sV1djTWMzW9y8reKgvMhJHiHVVAsCBTqzhWAIx29yMZO0MzpnSJZtt7X-2iaR997BgYuhOvgdJ00EBBZkH65Gho2U6RPL9cfQLTYGl0GBwJbAXF0m5LtFYWLeli/s320/DSCF2131.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588787125030354306" /></a><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Chewy watching over me<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVTykm3j_FFMuyhpAKhJs0dFUjpEclniunNmiBtkgc3xktWuJ6zesUmujD1oyv2uURRjw77cVZgR41Jno5hFObTGCxlcQXgSQIpDxG8vJjNFm1AEFDlwWh-rCCayB70SUerLGbR2oXofA/s1600/DSCF2279.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVTykm3j_FFMuyhpAKhJs0dFUjpEclniunNmiBtkgc3xktWuJ6zesUmujD1oyv2uURRjw77cVZgR41Jno5hFObTGCxlcQXgSQIpDxG8vJjNFm1AEFDlwWh-rCCayB70SUerLGbR2oXofA/s320/DSCF2279.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588787121481931202" /></a><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I Rawk don't you know<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQPcW6eaVrId1e5lH-jmWzL4p4hgDT6ab8N4z5PCAQf4x1eQuZoRxdKC-X-iaC1NUdpAh1VdG-od3xEGMhUwSWsI8FxK_Zq5XREmksG7pJmSL5uZleQh0V9kUjmHx47jqRsH523OYQoqm/s1600/DSCF2283.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQPcW6eaVrId1e5lH-jmWzL4p4hgDT6ab8N4z5PCAQf4x1eQuZoRxdKC-X-iaC1NUdpAh1VdG-od3xEGMhUwSWsI8FxK_Zq5XREmksG7pJmSL5uZleQh0V9kUjmHx47jqRsH523OYQoqm/s320/DSCF2283.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588787117299083122" /></a><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> I need a poo<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkwfswbz5izTrt4RaHGnEfH06O9hEyOv4jEJ1ipJtNDQU3MZZp42U7xbu8IIrXOf0hu6xSsxTx8fR3_GV1j16wpzGJSll24wJ5wLqKjexfeoAvcXKfvW1TOIix5wuawqJDK7zjcFuyXz0/s1600/poo.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkwfswbz5izTrt4RaHGnEfH06O9hEyOv4jEJ1ipJtNDQU3MZZp42U7xbu8IIrXOf0hu6xSsxTx8fR3_GV1j16wpzGJSll24wJ5wLqKjexfeoAvcXKfvW1TOIix5wuawqJDK7zjcFuyXz0/s320/poo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588787109823355394" /></a><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> My Pram Suit</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hkUSI-_QKQhLLDl8VU-H869CsJCaDuQoDNU8uMc6a993FEkyI0l6LMOYsu_reEA6hBw_l-b503OsZaPH8m52phCHgumJQeHj7P4BN_OwWrbaooSnJ2MEZB1B3YzYmTgVALAM-bsmovYd/s1600/DSCF2018.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hkUSI-_QKQhLLDl8VU-H869CsJCaDuQoDNU8uMc6a993FEkyI0l6LMOYsu_reEA6hBw_l-b503OsZaPH8m52phCHgumJQeHj7P4BN_OwWrbaooSnJ2MEZB1B3YzYmTgVALAM-bsmovYd/s320/DSCF2018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588786060815817602" /></a><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> Me with Mum<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizrI00sYK3PfMmfQqM8Z33kUSqcLCT5lT8thAHNyWYpkambGwrB-x9xnu29LAjiT9kIb91qhTq-JbtOgVM2L1FovGA_XfCLYXdeZR6YTHbB7SYQSOHvKHF_Y3sZAxqWxO3p89kanIzbCm/s1600/DSCF2002.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizrI00sYK3PfMmfQqM8Z33kUSqcLCT5lT8thAHNyWYpkambGwrB-x9xnu29LAjiT9kIb91qhTq-JbtOgVM2L1FovGA_XfCLYXdeZR6YTHbB7SYQSOHvKHF_Y3sZAxqWxO3p89kanIzbCm/s320/DSCF2002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588786056361586114" /></a><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Me with Granny & Grandad when they visited from Ireland<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEucb3KMmjBnKdYGXEf8XA6u3kl6l1_zHkS0rwVU7E-6dEanEGQQX-MaOTjUAn19Wz8dKiVZ55qHpk-iqupJmQKb5n_Pm2GnnXES6-eut-8X1wtGGjLkkG_v32InV4sDxmn8QIzIPT8g6/s1600/18th.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEucb3KMmjBnKdYGXEf8XA6u3kl6l1_zHkS0rwVU7E-6dEanEGQQX-MaOTjUAn19Wz8dKiVZ55qHpk-iqupJmQKb5n_Pm2GnnXES6-eut-8X1wtGGjLkkG_v32InV4sDxmn8QIzIPT8g6/s320/18th.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588786050762008482" /></a><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A rare eyes open photo<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzadifjefmqQQ1f-PQEYE5bM_lmDsT_Q3EHnhOifH2c8rxhpzwoZAX1kQfjS3a_b59i7k1pvXIucsdZJn_zFGT6_S7HBHdfQoDDltDRUWpzUmaiuLMZDnPP9FSRZjqNWSNPkDERjVuirdG/s1600/DSCF1905.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzadifjefmqQQ1f-PQEYE5bM_lmDsT_Q3EHnhOifH2c8rxhpzwoZAX1kQfjS3a_b59i7k1pvXIucsdZJn_zFGT6_S7HBHdfQoDDltDRUWpzUmaiuLMZDnPP9FSRZjqNWSNPkDERjVuirdG/s320/DSCF1905.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588786050038998514" /></a><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> Awwwwwwwwwwwwww<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqn04_8oKh2TS-Cj0xr5IWmOGXJZG_WHSEyf_OrPL2zCRQAJseeWmxRiD9FAcp9vaz3_rPhmni2Fz-NdqCNXjmkolFDQiQZi4RO1JPv2g3h8uxBC_r0u8Riq-fNAjpOlOA1fYBO_1qOLwr/s1600/DSCF1958.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqn04_8oKh2TS-Cj0xr5IWmOGXJZG_WHSEyf_OrPL2zCRQAJseeWmxRiD9FAcp9vaz3_rPhmni2Fz-NdqCNXjmkolFDQiQZi4RO1JPv2g3h8uxBC_r0u8Riq-fNAjpOlOA1fYBO_1qOLwr/s1600/DSCF1958.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqn04_8oKh2TS-Cj0xr5IWmOGXJZG_WHSEyf_OrPL2zCRQAJseeWmxRiD9FAcp9vaz3_rPhmni2Fz-NdqCNXjmkolFDQiQZi4RO1JPv2g3h8uxBC_r0u8Riq-fNAjpOlOA1fYBO_1qOLwr/s320/DSCF1958.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588786046688504914" /></a><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-71059724065834929762011-03-09T15:21:00.004+00:002011-03-09T15:36:39.924+00:00The Birth Story<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: verdana; line-height: 16px; font-size: medium; "><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">On Friday 25th Febuary, I went to the hospital following the results of a blood test which confirmed I did indeed have Cholestasis. They spoke to a consultant who decided it would be best to induce me, so I was booked in for the following day, which I don't mind telling you was a bit of a laxative! We decided to go out to watch a movie that night to distract ourselves (Rite btw and it was ok, nothing special).</p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">On Saturday morning we arrived at the Induction suite and I was hooked up to a monitor for the babies heartbeat and my tightenings. They gave me a Prostaglandin Pessary at 11am and left me to my own devices. That day th labour ward was exceptionally busy. All rooms were full, there were not enough staff to deal with all the women that were in and people were turning up in labour unannounced. For that reason, it seems I was forgotten about as I barely saw anyone all day. I got lots of apologies and explanations of how busy it was and unfortunately as I was the least 'advanced' labourer, I was bottom of the rung.</p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> As the day passed into night, the contractions got much worse and I the vomitting had started in earnest. Darren had to go home at the normal 8pm visiting hours as I was still in the induction suite, even though I was experiencing bad contractions. The woman in the bed next to mine came in a few hours after me and was in a similar position. Her waters broke naturally at 1:30am and her husband was called back in. She had her baby that night. I could hear her up the corridor.</p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Sunday brought another busy day. Darren arrived as soon as he could at 10am. Someone came and told me they had no-one to come and remove the pessary that I'd had inserted 24 hours previously and check on me so they asked me if I could take it out myself as it stopped working after 24 hours. Soo that done, I waited. Someone came a few hours later and broke my waters. I've seen this done on TV and I can safely say, when they did it to me it was nothing like what they do on TV... a small nick with a hook??? Yep they do that which is bearable but then pull, pull and prod about your insides trying to force all the water out, which in my case was a lot. That part was extremely painful. I was 3cm dilated at this stage. This would have been 2pm on Sunday afternoon. 2 hours later at 4pm, the contractions started in earnest. I was taken down to the labour ward somewhere around tea time, I can't remember exactly what time.</p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I was using a TENS machine for pain relief at this stage but I now started on gas and air, which was very odd. It doesnt remove any pain at all, but it does mess with your head and confuses you so there is something distracting from the pain. It is just like feeling very, very drunk and disorientated, but not in a pleasant way, more in a smothery kind of blankety way, yet that feels better than the pain, so I supped away for all I was worth.</p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Labour continued all through the night. A new midwife came on at 9pm and was with us through the night. I was checked in the early hours of the morning and I was still only 3 cm dilated.... the same as I'd been at 2pm in the afternoon. It was soul distroying to be feeling all that pain and not be progressing at all. These things are more manageable I think if you are getting somewhere with it, but to be feeling it all for nothing was not good. It was then that I decided on an epidural which they came in to administer. This took an hour and a half to get right as it had to be sited 3 seperate times. They kept putting it in the wrong place and it gave me electric shocks all down my leg. They couldn't risk leaving it there as it could have led to nerve damage or paralysis, so I had to keep having it put in again until they got it right.</p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">The epidural was amazing. It took away the pain for a couple of hours, but then they decided to not top it up again as they said they wanted me to be able to feel to push when the time came. The normal monitor they put on women wasn't picking up the babies heartbeat and they were a bit concerned about that due to the length of time I'd been in labour, so they had to put a clip on the babies head to monitor it. Legs akimbo on stirrups yet again... They're right when they say you don't give a damn though. I was beyond caring. The midwife tried over and over and couldnt attach it, so that was another pleasant experience. A doctor had come in several times to check on different things about me and thankfully he took over and did it right away first time.</p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">They decided to check me again at 6:30am on Monday morning and found I was 9cm dilated. Unfortunately there was a rim of my cervix which wouldnt dilate. Also the babies head wouldn't drop down low enough, as it couldnt enter my pelvis. It just kept pushing down on top and rotating around and around which was what was causing the major part of my pain. Little Isaac still has obvious markings on his head from this.</p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Finally they decided at about 7:30am that I would need to go for an emergency c-section as the babies heartbeat was slowing down and he could be becoming distressed if he stayed that way any longer. Also they didn't see that I was going to progress any further.</p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I've never had an operation before and I was terrified of having one. With the pain though, I welcomed it. I just felt so disappointed to have had 2 full days of labour and to not have been able to do it normally. I'd done it all bar the pushing bit. Everything which followed was a bit of a blur. Darren was all scrubbed up and I was soon in theatre surrounded by what seemed like loads of people. I shuffled across onto the theatre bed and tried to zone out. They spent a lot of time testing whether I could feel their touch and told me to make sure to tell them if I could, which just makes you nervous thinking youre going to. Its one of those things where you have no idea what to expect.</p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Then they started....It wasn't the most pleasant of experiences I have to say, but it didn't hurt, I just concentrated on Darren and prayed it would be over as soon as possible. He was born very quickly and I saw a very quick glance of him over the top of the cloth. He had a 'crouching tiger, hidden dragon' stance when he came out which is startled baby sydrome where they are shocked to have come out of the warm environment of the womb and into the open air. One thing I was really aware of was that he didn't cry. They took him to a table to the side and 3 people worked on him. It took some time for him to breathe properly and quite a few minutes before he uttered a tiny mewl. He didn't cry much at all to start with as he was filled with fluid due to not having being squeezed through the birth canal. The most horrid part of the section was what they call the 'washing out' stage at the end which takes about 40 minutes. It was uncomfortable and I did anything to distract myself that I could. I at least got to see Darren holding our son for the first time :o).</p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">They got me all tidied up, cathetered up and ready for the ward and wheeled me out. Isaac was brought up to me shortly after I got onto the ward for a cuddle. I can honestly say it felt really surreal to be holding our son. I was still a bit zoned out but I thought he was beautiful. I know all mums say that, but it is a real feeling to be holding a tiny perfect person you created.</p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">All in all, yes of course he was worth the pregnancy, the labour and the delivery, but he will definately be a very much loved and wanted only child. :o)</p></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhrVORbhdGeT16Vyi74SewZa8wNcRNs1UYW1hnjThidgHcZ3e1QncNRa9A_T01DJO784A8rkjUghnX_tCMpAPmhckt9M5CXehm86vV7UGYNYzx9VIhlBPfaXmcKt_dLqXz-oR4Qx4hjpD/s1600/DSCF1832.JPG"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvUW5S9aFgXIBF0UV6qA2OH8BVr60-Obwxe9GX_K4re6QuEvP_nApFfT-oVGK0EV1yycAViQJjL1-0KUogh6SIg4f_M8QHKpNyCJBBIlNDcVwDVHKqsUJLRdSWL9Zyi4uBIuFD2AVJOgF/s320/DSCF1799.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582104059236739266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0V2HlSR2imrQnxnkj9f091EpX9yUHN7XNSZ0twPxeq3OC0cWa-3CVXoZcmFCBOHL-whD-FESq-0h37CefNkvDwIOMuWX641S2den3N47Dnt1ak6FGp0f7dlkRqFKta8MvdWpvKsKyaCgE/s1600/DSCF1797.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0V2HlSR2imrQnxnkj9f091EpX9yUHN7XNSZ0twPxeq3OC0cWa-3CVXoZcmFCBOHL-whD-FESq-0h37CefNkvDwIOMuWX641S2den3N47Dnt1ak6FGp0f7dlkRqFKta8MvdWpvKsKyaCgE/s320/DSCF1797.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582103279900814626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pc63i3RZ-5A-3_wEiERWyqsC04yVTxabG_nrlo47c5cTYY0aPOgVxa6EwDQYdo8T6n9ShUnqz-1cq5SIV7MVsAzSR34mxFlZurDlgwbEHZVL7IQI5xdXCWNLmf7tUmNlQ9RhY0rjg5n5/s1600/DSCF1790.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pc63i3RZ-5A-3_wEiERWyqsC04yVTxabG_nrlo47c5cTYY0aPOgVxa6EwDQYdo8T6n9ShUnqz-1cq5SIV7MVsAzSR34mxFlZurDlgwbEHZVL7IQI5xdXCWNLmf7tUmNlQ9RhY0rjg5n5/s320/DSCF1790.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582103271077396818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeeukBOmgspeDU1t185uz9hlW-TznBHZoVzwkrg1iEMMp5BMxWD312BhGsOpZ1PF8WA92dBGOw9LPPAO-_yEZr-DzWSkHfNDh1HIzFOe32OM4HBOxcTOyZX6VhMRitkLekAfwzXx4X4cZ/s1600/DSCF1775.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeeukBOmgspeDU1t185uz9hlW-TznBHZoVzwkrg1iEMMp5BMxWD312BhGsOpZ1PF8WA92dBGOw9LPPAO-_yEZr-DzWSkHfNDh1HIzFOe32OM4HBOxcTOyZX6VhMRitkLekAfwzXx4X4cZ/s320/DSCF1775.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582103264998225122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHb2ajnfa4kiP9tYbRmcK2po9-Nv7qbKULh_1wIsC7doDKl8jKtuWuofMcO_KqAFjbjCyXadOQ6r7yb3rUGy2js2-kSmQma_eNASKaUokcqNT2JdV6ZOw2zqXNYIc9h_aerrHbtEmB4OH/s1600/Airedale+%252820%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHb2ajnfa4kiP9tYbRmcK2po9-Nv7qbKULh_1wIsC7doDKl8jKtuWuofMcO_KqAFjbjCyXadOQ6r7yb3rUGy2js2-kSmQma_eNASKaUokcqNT2JdV6ZOw2zqXNYIc9h_aerrHbtEmB4OH/s320/Airedale+%252820%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582103263734537698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnUfAccN3eF04LhX__C4sWLPiDSyXNJzaJcCz54_y2v0AFPSM8ZjIFmX0rnHRfQ_zywj5lSII94IhhQ12bmYhwWpfWWMPBI5j76LfpZQRzCW0WuEamoCuK7O4pt6NOlWVzERCT4hpLOYa/s1600/26th.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnUfAccN3eF04LhX__C4sWLPiDSyXNJzaJcCz54_y2v0AFPSM8ZjIFmX0rnHRfQ_zywj5lSII94IhhQ12bmYhwWpfWWMPBI5j76LfpZQRzCW0WuEamoCuK7O4pt6NOlWVzERCT4hpLOYa/s320/26th.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582103258753978466" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></p></span></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-4309444846883922212011-02-24T20:53:00.002+00:002011-02-24T21:13:51.504+00:0039 weeks and last appointment with my midwife<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnsI5ltvhzV0zueXru3VhdQrH6Xp1HB55LV_pql3ziFRwbYc-VpmSyNbWIAPwqGgS26Kp9_MhafkHZcwKRx1W3Zbgp4GPx28podlgBBr6WLUq7XanBHnDpHv2oj4GPfRxvu3rqi4oajvC/s1600/40-weeks-pregnant-internal.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnsI5ltvhzV0zueXru3VhdQrH6Xp1HB55LV_pql3ziFRwbYc-VpmSyNbWIAPwqGgS26Kp9_MhafkHZcwKRx1W3Zbgp4GPx28podlgBBr6WLUq7XanBHnDpHv2oj4GPfRxvu3rqi4oajvC/s320/40-weeks-pregnant-internal.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577367336476040946" /></a><br />So I've now passed the 39 week stage and currently have 5 days to go until my due date!! Exciting and scary at the same time.<div><br /></div><div>I went to see my midwife yesterday and it seems that will be my last appointment with her. Something I wasn't aware of is that she will not be the midwife there when I give birth. No-one ever told me that. As I'm having my baby at a hospital that is about 12 miles away, it seems I am something called 'Shared Care' which means while I see her for my antenatal appointments (well I've seen her for 4 of them), I will see a midwife from the hospital I'll be going to for the birth. Its a bit scary having to depend on someone you haven't even met to be there for you through one of the most important and challenging experiences of your life. In retrospect its not such a big deal as I don't think my midwife is particularly good anyway, as I don't feel she has done anything for me since I started seeing her. I have had no information, no advice, no planning.... I'm a bit shocked at how little input she has had to be honest.</div><div><br /></div><div>So my blood pressure is still ok. The babies heartbeat is fine. I am being tested for Obstetric Cholestasis due to severe itching Ive had (and I mean severe, I've scratched myself red raw and have broken the skin all down both shins). This is a liver disorder sometimes developed in pregnancy where your liver does not rid the body of bile and it builds up. It can be pretty dangerous for the baby, so I'm hoping I get the all clear. The midwife said she would call me today with the results.... she didn't... that's no big shock. If I don't get a call tomorrow, I'll give the GP surgery a call myself.</div><div><br /></div><div>There was a 3rd year student nurse there and a doctor when I went in for my appointment. The student nurse did the stomach palpation to check the size and position of the baby. Now last week my midwife told me I was 1/5's engaged which is more of less fully engaged (0/5's is fully engaged). The nurse however said I was 'brim' which basically means the baby hasn't descended into the pelvis yet (this would be 5/5's). You get to feeling these people don't know their arse from their elbow and all the while I have no idea whats going on. The only reason I know what all this means is from researching it myself. The midwife has never given me any information.</div><div><br /></div><div>So lastly the midwife said if I hadn't gone into labour by 9th March (a week over) I would need a stretch and sweep done. This is basically where they do an internal and sweep a finger around the cervix to try to stretch it and to separate the membranes which connect the baby from the neck of my womb. This in turn should make me produce hormones which triggers labour. This sometimes works and the woman goes into labour the same day.. other times its unsuccessful. Apparently its very uncomfortable, so we're hoping it doesn't get to a week over!</div><div><br /></div><div>If we have no joy with that, I will be booked in for an induction on 14th March (12 days late). I really REALLY don't want that, so fingers crossed I'll go into labour naturally in the next week or so.</div><div><br /></div><div>So folks, this could be the last blog before Isaacs arrival! Hopefully a story of a nice straightforward birth and lots of cute pictures will follow :o). We can but hope!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; font-size: small; "><em style="font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; "><br /></em></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-33055897883411587252011-02-18T19:04:00.003+00:002011-02-18T20:47:12.856+00:0037 -38 Weeks & Presentation Scan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwwLeCekVYKCOF2dEKLxC3Pk0HUNfefZpsxkOeOGMcJe-E0ZQUJ8h65CKclP7jdXeH2Oo442N9MRtRR9rDlVKyEIKsxWFIZVCGXmY8iEqFzFB9H4Vgg75HIWtsiPZfvt_h-LYSrkfi9-I/s1600/38weekspregnant.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwwLeCekVYKCOF2dEKLxC3Pk0HUNfefZpsxkOeOGMcJe-E0ZQUJ8h65CKclP7jdXeH2Oo442N9MRtRR9rDlVKyEIKsxWFIZVCGXmY8iEqFzFB9H4Vgg75HIWtsiPZfvt_h-LYSrkfi9-I/s320/38weekspregnant.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575132181450312962" /></a><br />As I write this I have 12 days to go until my due date and I'm hoping and praying I don't go the full distance. The discomfort at the minute is almost unbearable. Don't get me wrong, I realise the last few weeks of pregnancy are uncomfortable, but what I'd give to have had a 'normal' pregnancy.... I know I'm lucky to even reach this stage, but good gawd, it hasn't been easy getting here. I don't think I've ever faced such a challenge so far in my life.<div><br /></div><div>At my 37 week midwifes appointment, she wrote on my notes that the head was 1/5 engaged... which is good as 5/5 means just engaging and 0/5 means fully engaged, so he seemed to have fallen most of the way. In conversation I just happened to mention that the top of my belly was always rock hard. This led her to some further feeling and a suggestion that I may in fact actually be breech.... Wierd that 2 minutes before she was writing how many 5ths engaged I was in my notes.</div><div><br /></div><div>As usual, I was out in 5 minutes, still no info, advice or discussion about the labour and birth. Surely this should have happened by now, but each time I go, I feel 'rushed' out and not comfortable to commence a conversation which doesn't require a short answer. I worry if I complained and asked for someone else, there would be a reason I couldn't have someone else (or I would get her when someone was on holiday again as I've seen so many different people), then I would have to go and see her and have her there for my labour. I know I wouldn't feel comfortable if I'd complained about her and then had to depend on her to be there for me, so I sort of feel stuck. She seems a perfectly nice person (albeit a bit 'falsely cheerful and nicey' if you know what I mean) but she doesn't seem to take a personal approach to me in any case.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next day I attended Airedale for my scan. Happilly I am not breech and the baby is head down. A small complication is that he is back-to-back which makes for a much harder, more painful labour (anything else to throw me fate?). It was a small portable scanner so we couldn't really make much out on the screen, but I think I saw an image of his face looking out and if I was right with what I was looking at, he's a right chubster... looked just like a cabbage patch kid.</div><div><br /></div><div>My next midwife appointment is in 5 days. The pregnancy symptoms are worsening and I am currently counting the days. I feel very very sick every day, the pressure pressing on my pelvis is very painful (I hear its very uncomfortable even without SPD), the acid indigestion I have is agony and a constant feature in my life every day, I have developed very painful finger joints from carpel tunnel syndrome (yup you can get that when pregnant too, it develops due to excess fluid pressing on a nerve in the wrist), walking is very difficult due to various pains.... in short, I want him here now!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>To make matters worse, our boiler went on the blink a week ago and the house is like the artic. We're still working with the landlord, manufacturer and engineers to get it fixed, but it seems as soon as something is fixed, something else goes wrong... supposedly someone else is out tomorrow, so I'm keeping everything crossed that it gets sorted then. As much as being very ill, housebound and unable to move about is uncomfortable when youre freezing, I want even less to bring a newborn infant into the deep freeze and have no warm water...</div><div><br /></div><div>So with 12 days til my due date, i'm praying for the little man to make an early appearance. I have been having cramping pains and sharp pains for a few days now. My belly also seems to have dropped down. I keep thinking the time has come, but each time it eases off again. I'm figuring this is my body getting me ready for the inevitable. They must make you feel so god damn awful in these last few weeks, so rather than be terrified of birth, you just can't wait to get it over and done with.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll end this one with a list of lovely pregnancy related issues I have experienced this past 8 1/2 months:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Severe hyperemesis</div><div>Dehydration</div><div>Hospitalisation on several occasions</div><div>SPD </div><div>Severe acid indigestion</div><div>Carpal tunnel syndrome</div><div>Swelling of ankles, hands & feet</div><div>Joint pain</div><div>Back pain</div><div>Severe itching everywhere</div><div>Insomnia</div><div>Anaemia</div><div>Dizziness</div><div>Feelings of faintness</div><div>Breathlessness</div><div>Pain while walking</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-7350938694762275282011-02-03T15:42:00.002+00:002011-02-03T15:58:39.612+00:0036 Weeks & Antenatal Class<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdD-M4qEQAQ9oBqZT3L0phUFcwqPggs9b3gpUIHqfj8rYFwCnRPkw1IkMmdOfsn6Sf8_7ECULls8hB1CyD44KdeIlbjhUY2wGxj7dpkY2dVwOpHXdy9ujhIikgKdgCtKlVyVujbtzyukB/s1600/190w36.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdD-M4qEQAQ9oBqZT3L0phUFcwqPggs9b3gpUIHqfj8rYFwCnRPkw1IkMmdOfsn6Sf8_7ECULls8hB1CyD44KdeIlbjhUY2wGxj7dpkY2dVwOpHXdy9ujhIikgKdgCtKlVyVujbtzyukB/s320/190w36.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569493301648231890" /></a><br />Yesterday marked me reaching the 36 week landmark... only 1 week away from what they call 'Full-Term' (meaning that realistically our baby could be born at any time now as he's as cooked as he's going to get). It also marks 28 days away from my actual due date. 28 days... that's a scary thought. In a short month, we 2 shall be 3. I can't imagine it somehow and think it will take him being actually born for it to sink in. I mean, how could us 2 halfwits be parents right?<div><br /></div><div>My symptoms haven't changed much, just got more pronounced. My hyperemesis does seem to have come back properly though complete with vomitting which is upsetting as it means I'll probably spend my labour throwing up all the way through, as women with the condition tend to. Don't get me wrong the condition has never gone away as such, its always been there. I've never lost that 'sick feeling' since I was 5 weeks pregnant, but I have been feeling capable of eating (and even enjoying) a few choice foods for this past 2 months or so. That reprieve though has now left me again, so its a final 4 weeks of forcing down anything I can stomach.</div><div><br /></div><div>The SPD is still with me and the physio I was shown doesn't seem to be making any difference truth be told. That I can deal with though.</div><div><br /></div><div>My stomach feels like its ready to burst and my belly button has almost popped completely out now (Ive always been squeamish about belly buttons, so i'm not enjoying that bit) . The stretch marks are intensifying and I have the most horrendous itching from stretching skin. Its not an easy job, this baby making malarky... or should I say baby incubating as the making bit was certainly not an arduous task.</div><div><br /></div><div>This week we went along to an antenatal class. It was one of those 'Introduce Yourself' and wear a name badge affairs, which I've always found cringe-worthy. Then they separate you into 'teams' so you're not with your partner, which I didn't really see the point of as you're going to be mixing with others in your group anyway. I didn't particularly learn anything and I felt it was a poor choice of a person who runs the class as she is an advocate of home births, a fact she made clear right from the start of the class. Fair enough, that's what she does, but for a group of women all of which are having hospital births as its their first one, it doesn't really help to constantly have it pointed out how 'wrong' or 'backward' the hospital way of doing it is....</div><div><br /></div><div>One fact I did come away with which was useful was the fact Airedale Hospital where I'm having the baby allows you to give birth in a birthing pool. The helpful website says that you can labour in the pool, but must get out to actually give birth, which sort of defeated the point for me. A water birth would have been my first choice before the restrictions at Airedale were pointed out. Seems now though that they do offer birthing in the pool and they just haven't changed the website yet!</div><div><br /></div><div>So goodbye to epidural and hello to the birthing pool for me.</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-756393364716160722011-01-19T16:04:00.003+00:002011-01-19T16:28:59.291+00:0034 Weeks & Physiotherapists Appointment<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97RFrjjwqXooOeWxa312_SxNayfUHRW6HpIIrzi5JZdGSPYtYq0mYa_gfcqGlMbzUMd7WlnXuN9cIzCeyp4frApuHDuBs3vgykzzfUsnfbesOZU1UwcGT9lEd3Hh3FEfnCUfnoHm7ULs1/s1600/0115.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97RFrjjwqXooOeWxa312_SxNayfUHRW6HpIIrzi5JZdGSPYtYq0mYa_gfcqGlMbzUMd7WlnXuN9cIzCeyp4frApuHDuBs3vgykzzfUsnfbesOZU1UwcGT9lEd3Hh3FEfnCUfnoHm7ULs1/s320/0115.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563934136332703522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjSctoc4g6pdbuDVW2IQW0Y0O2hQsfw9TSoGOqIxgcwwFW-8JoQgb0zSMoAKYxjq87OQyUtl-U3OXkcuBLI70_a9MzWx3_IwlgahLfSXbs01ZXpppQ7kFdg-C2_BkSimeTO9LN58Hnvtt/s1600/190w34.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjSctoc4g6pdbuDVW2IQW0Y0O2hQsfw9TSoGOqIxgcwwFW-8JoQgb0zSMoAKYxjq87OQyUtl-U3OXkcuBLI70_a9MzWx3_IwlgahLfSXbs01ZXpppQ7kFdg-C2_BkSimeTO9LN58Hnvtt/s320/190w34.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563934126984033810" /></a><br />Today marks me reaching the 34 week mark in my pregnancy (see 2nd pic for a 34 week baby). <div><br /></div><div>I am definately starting to feel different and the effects that pregnancy are having on my body. This past week my sickness has returned with a vengeance but with it has come some concerning symptoms. Severe dizziness, heaviness in my arms and legs, visual disturbance and weakness. I have some close to collapse a couple of times while out doing very small errands. I don't push myself and do very little as I know I am not up to anything more, but the simple act of 10 minutes in Asda and walking back out to my car had me reeling and rocking back on my heels. Thankfully I got to my car ok, but I honestly thought I was going to pass out in the carpark.</div><div><br /></div><div>Being a bit worried about Pre-Eclampsia with these new symptoms I made an appointment with the doctor who seemed a bit confused with why I was there and what I was worried about as all of these symptoms are normal symptoms of pregnancy. Better to be safe than sorry surely? I honestly didn't think almost collapsing after 10 minutes on your feet was normal. He took my blood pressure which was 117/78. Perfect bp, but low for me. I usually sit around 140/90, at the high end of normal. I did tell him that and he explained that a low bp was normal in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy.</div><div><br /></div><div>I may feel awful and have been advised I have to rest and put my feet up as much as possible, but at least I know I don't have anything serious wrong with me which helps me relax a little.</div><div><br /></div><div>The physiotherapist gave me a lot of useful information about movements to avoid, exercises to do, tips on other ways to move and explained exactly what was going on. I have a traumatic rupture of the symphsis pubis and have been told to limit movement as much as I can. Even something as simple as how I get in and out of a car can badly effect me. They also gave me a great tip about turning in bed which is agony for me right now, which sucks as I can only lie on ay one side for a maximum of 15 minutes. Rather than try to roll over onto my other side, I should completly flip the other way on the bed so my head is at the bottom. This turns me onto my other side without the roll. I'll try that one tonight.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another symptom which I had escaped so far was the tiredness, but that had caught up with me this past week as well. I am completely exhausted and wiped out. I feel like I could sleep on a log at the minute during the day but I lie wide awake in bed at night. I don't understand why as I don't give in to sleeping through the day, for fear of lying awake at night. I suppose Im getting well prepared for the sleepless nights ahead of me. I just hope the first few months of Isaacs life are easier than the pregnancy has been. I can honestly say this past 7 months have been the hardest of my life to this stage.</div><div><br /></div><div>Its very clear to me now how women in late pregnancy feel so uncomfortable. Looking at the diagram showing the displacement of organs during pregnancy, its not surprising im suffering from breathlessness, nausea and chronic indigestion. I long for my body back and I don't mean weight or a flat stomach... just feeling normal again and not constantly ill and tired.</div><div><br /></div><div>A lot of normal activities are now no-gos for me and I find I'm not capable of very much at all. With 6 weeks to go until my due date, I have a feeling its going to be a very long month and a half.</div><div><br /></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-11071624501698841012011-01-16T17:20:00.000+00:002011-01-16T17:21:19.014+00:0032 - 33 Weeks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs732.ash1/162602_484655766047_583386047_6018566_7439764_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 140px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs732.ash1/162602_484655766047_583386047_6018566_7439764_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I reached 33 weeks pregnant 2 days ago. Only 47 days to go for me now. In one way it seems to be getting ever closer, yet in another is seems to be dragging.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">My sickness is pretty bad again and I've had to request more anti nausea meds from my doctor. It is quite common when you suffer from Hyperemesis to have it worsen again near to the end so seems I'm text book. The SPD continues to worsen. I have physio though which starts on Wednesday 19th January at Bradford Royal Infirmary so I'm hoping they can give me some suggestions.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I'm amazed by how much my belly is growing now. I'm massive and its only going to get bigger. I have a feeling this is going to be a big baby. My mum treated me to the knowledge last night that I had a great uncle who was almost a stone when born (13 lbs something).... No thank-you! I was a hefty baby too at 8lb 10oz, so the likelihood is, he's going to be bigger rather than smaller. The stretchmarks are already starting in earnest so I'll have a nice map of those soon too. </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Right now my mind is very pre-occupied by the fact my good friend Leah suffered from an ectopic pregnancy and had to have emergency surgery yesterday. I feel so lucky to have reached this stage. I feel sad and distressed for her. Just goes to show what a miracle having a baby actually is and is something that should never be taken for granted.</p></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-7709455836773214772011-01-16T17:19:00.000+00:002011-01-16T17:20:34.868+00:0030 - 31 Weeks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1396.snc4/164796_476989776047_583386047_5887601_3683790_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 140px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1396.snc4/164796_476989776047_583386047_5887601_3683790_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> Yesterday I reached the 31 weeks mark. In 6 short weeks I will reach what it known as 'term'. This isn't my due date but the date by which the baby is fully matured and ready to be born at any time. In 9 weeks, I will hopefully be holding our son and this bit, which hasn't been very enjoyable for me, will be over.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">At the minute I suffering from quite bad nausea again. Today is an especially bad day. I can't find any fluid to drink which doesn't bring on the desire to be sick yet I am constantly thirsty. Bit of a crap situation to be honest. All I can do is hope tomorrow is a better day. Some days are not so bad, some are horrid.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">The SPD is getting increasingly worse as times rolls on as well. Night time is crazy. Getting up for the loo is torture and i've started finding walking at that time, next to near impossible. Turning over feels like my pelvis is going to split in 2. I think I've resigned myself to the fact physiotherapy is no longer just an option, but a necessity. I'm hoping they'll give me some crutches or a stick to help, especially on night time toilet trips.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">The baby is also moving about a lot right now. I can only think he's doing somersaults as thats what it feels like. Theres also a lot of bum and feet sticking out going on where I feel my side stretching and something bulging out. Its always in bed at night so I can't see whats going on.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I have my midwife appointment on Wednesday. Hopefully I'll get to see my actual midwife this time and soon will start to discuss birth options and methods of pain relief as all your hear about is how horrific childbirth is, which is less than comforting when you still have to go through it and you have no idea what to expect. I know every mother says its worth it when they hold their baby, but thats easy to say when youre on the other side of it. I know I'll manage it and I know it'll be worth it, but it doesn't stop me being terrified.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Today brought news that a friend is also pregnant which is excellent news as she's been trying for a while. It'll be nice that 2011 will bring babies to both of us first time mums.</p></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-86629732411694553672011-01-16T17:08:00.000+00:002011-01-16T17:10:24.058+00:0026 - 29 Weeks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1186.snc4/150881_463793681047_583386047_5680951_4766825_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 485px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1186.snc4/150881_463793681047_583386047_5680951_4766825_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; ">I realised this evening, I hadn't written in my pregnancy diary for a while (lazy bugger). I wanted to document all 40 weeks, so must try harder!<p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">There has been little in the way of big changes in the last few weeks. I have definately grown larger (although strangely not heavier). My belly is growing and is quite hard to the touch now. Baby Davy (I think its maybe safe to call him Isaac now as we havent changed our minds) moves a lot which is oddly comforting if a little freaky sometimes. The oddest thing is the rolls he does sometimes which makes me feel like that guy from Alien, lol. I can see his movements and kicks through my clothes but when I try to pull up my jumper to watch him moving about, he remains remarkably still. Playing statues at an early age.....</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I lost 17 pounds in the first couple of months of pregnancy from illness. I have since put back on that 17 pounds and another 2 pounds on top which puts me on track for a normal pregnancy weight gain. Thats something Im glad about as I imagined I would put on much much more weight. It was hard losing the 3 stones I did in the 2 years leading up to my wedding, so I knew I would have a tendency to gain weight at a fast pace. I'm just glad my pregnancy illness has not affected the baby in any way.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">My sickness again has stayed much the same. I have only been sick once in the past month. Although I tend to feel ill every day from mid afternoon straight through until bedtime, I am still able to eat (albeit a very limited diet) and I have a period of time every morning and lunchtime where I have a few hours break from the ick monster. Knowing there is only 2 and 1/2 months to go somehow makes it easier to deal with.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">The hip pain has unfortunately worsened and I will be asking the midwife when I see her on 5th January to refer me for physio. Nightime in bed is agony and I am nearing being almost unable to roll over at all. Getting up for the loo is a nightmare so I try to avoid drinking much a few hours before bed. Im hoping it improves after the birth although worringly the birth can make it worse. As with everything people have different experiences of it so I'll just have to wait and see what happens with me.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">We had a 4D scan at 27 weeks which was exciting! It was lovely to see his face and reassuring that everything looked ok. While I didn't get all emotional and gooey like most mums to be maybe would (I dont get why I dont...) it was something im glad we did. While I was having the scan I thought he looked a lot like Darren, but wasn't sure if I was imagining things. Afterwards, ive been told by about 6 different people that he looks like Darren and nothing like me, lol. I hope theres a little something of me in there somewhere when he pops out but it is nice that he looks so much like his dad :o)</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I'm getting to the stage where Im getting everything ready and just looking forward to having him here. Its 10 weeks to go and I'm so glad to have made it this far with everything being ok. Labour still terrifies me, but if all those other women have done it, Im sure I'll manage. </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Bring on the drugs!!!</p></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-4022339955607839352011-01-16T17:07:00.000+00:002011-01-16T17:08:44.986+00:0024 - 25 Weeks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs471.ash2/74486_458273776047_583386047_5600440_6952634_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 140px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs471.ash2/74486_458273776047_583386047_5600440_6952634_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://l9.sphotos.l3.fbcdn.net/hphotos-l3-ash2/hs492.ash2/76510_458273731047_583386047_5600439_344697_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 140px;" src="http://l9.sphotos.l3.fbcdn.net/hphotos-l3-ash2/hs492.ash2/76510_458273731047_583386047_5600439_344697_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I'm now approaching 26 weeks (in 2 days). The last couple of weeks haven't brought that much change (gladly).</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">The SPD is keeping pretty steady and has not worsened thankfully. It's still very painful but I can walk about in the house during the day with only mild discomfort. I can't go out and walk about for any longer than about 20 mins to half an hour. It's mainly the evening and night it feels worse. I had one very unpleasant additional experience in bed last week where something happened as I turned over and there was a massive clunk from my hip. The pain was excrutiating. Darren not only heard it, but felt it vibrate all through the bed, it actually woke him up. I'm not sure what it was but the only thing I can liken it to was a joint popping out and back in again very quickly. </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">This past week I've felt a definate worsening in my sickness. I have had about 2-3 weeks where although its still been there I have felt a little better. If I tried to do too much however, it reminded me and had me feeling like death. This past week however, I've definately felt it going back to constant nausea. I've managed to get it down to having a period of about half an hour to an hour after I've eaten where I don't feel sick now and I'm hoping it doesn't continue to worsen. The down side is I'm eating so much to try to help the sickness. I'm going to be absolutely massive!!! So far I have put back on the stone I lost in the early stages of pregnancy so I am back to the weight I was before I got pregnant (well about 2 pounds heavier).</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">With hyperemesis woman can get a break around the mid 20 something weeks (like I've had to a degree) and then it can come back after a month or so's break and be with you for the last few months due to a late surge in hormones again. At the minute thats what I'm absolutely terrified of. The SPD may be painful, but that I can deal with. If the sickness I have been through comes back again, I know I will find it very hard to cope with.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">On a pleasant note, the movements and kicking and much more pronounced now. If he kicks high enough up, I can see it through my clothes. Darren has been able to feel quite a few kicks now. Its definately reassuring to know alls ok in there.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">On Wednesday I'm off to the hospital again for a glucose tolerance test for Gestational Diabetes. That will be a joyful experience. I have to be there at 8:30 (its about a 40 minute drive) and am not allowed to eat or drink (apart from water) from 9pm the previous evening. I drink a glass of sickeningly sweet stuff and wait 2 hours (alone because youre not allowed to bring anyone due to limited space) then have my blood tested for its sugar level. Fingers crossed that goes ok.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Just over 3 months to go!!</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-67719561755462635422011-01-16T17:06:00.000+00:002011-01-16T17:07:32.098+00:0023 Weeks and Midwives Appointment<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Today I hit the 23 week mark. I had my first proper appointment with a midwife. I had one at 9 weeks called a 'booking in' appointment. This is just where they basically take lots of info about you, weigh you, take bloods and urine samples and fill in some paperwork for you to take away.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Since this appointment, I havent seen anyone about my pregnancy. Although I have been to the docs quite a few times for sicknotes and had 3 hospital stays, this has all been for hyperemesis treatment and not general pregnancy advice and monitoring, so I was looking forward to finally get to speak to someone about concerns I have and to get some advice on some things. With this being my first pregnancy I'm kind of clueless about a lot of it apart from what I read online.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I turned up for my appointment at 1pm and was advised my midwife was running late, she wasnt even in the building yet. At 1:25 someone finally arrived. I overheard them talking with the receptionist. Turns out my midwife is on holiday and the stand-in was called to an unexpected home birth so this was another stand-in. Can't be helped I suppose, but I was hoping she wouldnt try to rush me as there were already 2 other girls waiting who arrived after me.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I went in and sat down. There was a midwife and a health advisor. They asked me how far along I was. The health advisor came over with a urine dipstick thingy and said "URINE!" really loudly to me. Now I havent had an appointment before so no-one ever told me I had to bring a sample with me. Thankfully I had one anyway as I'm one of those 'Just in case' people, but the manner in which she asked for it left a lot to be desired. So that was tested and all was fine.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">She then asked me to lie on the couch. She listened to the heartbeat while the midwife shouted some blood results from the bloods that were taken 3 and a half months ago at my booing in appointment. No explanation as to what the results meant, I dont know how she could even know I heard them all through the curtain. Thankfully I'm quite well read about things Im having done so I knew what the tests meant, but I would imagine an awful lot of women wouldnt. An explanation would have been nice anyway.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">They then stuck some printouts of my results into my pregnancy file and took my blood pressure which they wrote on the paperwork. I dont think Ive ever felt so rushed in my life. They also faffed about with my file as Im having my baby at Airedale Hospital and not at Bradford Royal Infirmary and no sod seems to know how to fill out the Airedale Hospital paperwork. It happened on my first appointment too. Lots of head scratching and exclamations of "Whats this then?"... doesnt fill you with confidence.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I attempted to talk about the pain Id been having and was told I would need to speak to my midwife if it was still a problem in 4 weeks time!! I asked if I could see a doctor about it instead and was told I was under the care of my midwife now and he would probably refer me back to her. She said it was a common complaint in pregnancy and I should rest and take painkillers!!! I know barely being able to move or walk at night is not a common compaint in pregnancy but I was feeling so nauseous by this stage I didnt see the point in arguing with someone who was trying to push me out the door as quick as possible. In fact the health advisor never sat down through the entire appointment, just hovered over me, encouraging me to leave.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I quickly asked about classes as I need to get booked onto some that are offered to prepare you for the birth and childcare. THey of course had no information or paperwork and told me I should call Airedale Hospital...funny thing was the hospital had told me I needed to speak to my midwife about it.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">They gave me a printout of an drop in centre I could attend between appointments if I wanted to talk to a midwife although they stressed it wasnt for any kind of treatment, referrals or medications. I later noticedon looking at the printout it was more for advice for mums on feeding and childcare and general common sense diet advice. On my notes they'd written, 'Discussed Drop In Centres'. Yup a very detailed 5 second discussion and a printout.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">So the appointment was a complete waste of time. I thought I would have a good conversation, get a referral for the SPD, get some tips with managing the pain. I thought they would start measuring my belly to see if its growing as it should be, apparently they should be doing this and charting it by now. I should be getting weighed to make sure Im putting on an appropriate amount of weight. To be 6 months pregnant before I get any proper form of pre-natal care to me is ridiculous. </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">What was the experience of other women who have had children with midwives visits? Is this normal?</p></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-32409398676158260012011-01-16T13:25:00.001+00:002011-01-16T13:25:56.153+00:00The onset of Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I've spoken about hip and back pain but this past week mine has intensified 10 fold and has spread, leading to some research into it.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I see my midwife for the first time tomorrow so Im hoping she can recommend something to help or give me some advice, but its yet another pregnancy symptom I never knew about before I got pregnant. As far as I've read physiotherapy is the only thing which may help, but some women find it makes things worse, so its just a matter of trying it if she refers me. If I ever doubted I was allergic to pregnancy, theres no doubting it now.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">What I have is undoubtedly SPD (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction) as upon reading about hip pain, I came across this and its like reading my own diary. The past few days have been particularly worrying, as at night in bed I'm pretty much frozen in one spot and have to work up the courage to attempt to turn over as it causes so much pain and a horrid crunching, grinding noise with it. Sitting up or even worse having to get up to go to the loo in the middle of the night is almost unbearable. Last night I could barely walk with the pain. Apparently pain while moving in bed and trying to get up in the middle of the night are big signs of having this condition. </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">As severe nausea and vomitting for me is worse than pretty much anything else or feeling pain, I can handle it, as horrid as it is. My main fear though is that I am only 5 months pregnant. I have 4 months to go and a lot of growing to do, so I wonder how I'll be for the last couple of months when I'm really large. I have read some women need to go into wheelchairs with this, have to use walkers/crutches and can't go upstairs and things like that. Its beginning to be a real fear, I could fit into this category as the pain is already so severe so early on.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">The labour is also a worry as most women with SPD are induced early as the labour can make the conditon so much worse and cause a lot of damage. They also don't recommend an epidural (which I want) as you cant tell if you're causing yourself more damage. Breast Feeding (which I also want to do) lengthens the time the woman suffers from SPD. Some women end up with the conditon for years after giving birth. </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Annoyingly the SPD has started off my sciatica. I pretty much knew I'd suffer from that in my pregnancy as I've had it for a lot of years now and my doctor did warn me that it was pretty much inevitable. I did naively hope that I wouldnt have that many problems with it until the last 2 months or so. Its funny when I think of how positvely and happilly I entered into pregnancy with no knowledge of any of this. I watched woman after woman have straightforward, rewarding pregnancies and had no reason to think I'd be any different. </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Ive put a little below about what SPD is to give you an idea.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong>What is symphysis pubis dysfunction?</strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">The two halves of your pelvis are connected at the front by a stiff joint called the symphysis pubis. This joint is strengthened by a dense network of tough, flexible tissues, called ligaments. To help your baby pass through your pelvis as easily as possible, your body produces a hormone called relaxin, which softens the ligaments. As a result, these joints move more during and just after pregnancy causing inflammation and pain, known as symphysis pubis dysfunction or SPD.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong>What causes SPD?</strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">We are not sure exactly what causes SPD, but it's thought that if one side of the pelvis moves more than the other when you walk or move your legs, the area around the symphysis pubis becomes tender. The amount of discomfort isn't related to the size of the gap in the joint. Many women with a normal-sized gap feel a lot of pain.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong>When does it happen?</strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">SPD can occur at any time during your pregnancy or after giving birth. Many women notice it for the first time around the middle of their pregnancy. If you have SPD in one pregnancy, it is more likely that you'll have it again next time you get pregnant. The symptoms may also come on earlier and progress faster, so it is important to seek help promptly.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong>What are the symptoms?</strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Pain in the pubic area and groin are the most common symptoms. But you may also have the following signs:</p><ul style="list-style-type: square; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 25px; "><li>Back pain, pelvic girdle pain or hip pain.<p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p></li><li>A grinding or clicking sensation in your pubic area.<p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p></li><li>Pain down the inside of your thighs or between your legs. It can be made worse by parting your legs, walking, going up or down stairs or moving around in bed.<p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p></li><li>Worse pain at night. It can stop you sleeping well and getting up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night can be especially painful</li></ul></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-13659497643931896432011-01-16T13:23:00.002+00:002011-01-16T13:24:59.796+00:0021 - 22 Weeks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs884.snc4/71748_444841476047_583386047_5403398_6995310_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 540px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs884.snc4/71748_444841476047_583386047_5403398_6995310_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I reached 22 weeks today and suffice to say theres been little change in my sickness and health over the past month or so.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Thankfully I havent actually been throwing up but the constant feeling of wanting to is there all the time. Its bad during the day but during the evening and night its horrendous. The only thing that stops it is eating. 10 miinutes after you stop eating, its there again. The problem is finding something you want to eat and nothing ever appeals. Food which was my one and only vice has truthfully lost its appeal for me. Its now something I have to force myself to do to feel better and for the baby.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">The newest symptom this past 2 weeks has been absolutely awful indigestion. Ive had it up to now but it has intensified so much this last 2 weeks. Where gaviscon did the job before, now it has little effect. Coupled with the nausea its far from pleasant. I think if every womans pregnancy was this way we'd have a massive population decrease, lol.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Sleeping is still elusive and I never get to sleep before maybe 4am. I get about 2 and a half hours sleep and then lie in bed resting until about lunchtime as I dont feel up to getting up before then. I suppose its good training for the sleepless nights to come. My many symptoms this past few months have prepared me for pretty much anything you can throw at me.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">The backache has finally started in earnest. I suffer from sciatica anyway and its playing up like crazy right now. I think its from the effort of lying down and sitting up. Its unbelievable how hard this is. I dont have much of a belly yet but I have no power in my stomach to pull myself into a sitting position, so a lot of the effort seems to go into my lower back.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Also I dont know if any other pregnant women had this but with the strecting of ligaments and muscles around the pelvis to prepare you for childbirth, Ive found turning over in bed (which I do a lot because of the sciatica) a nightmare. My hip joints feel unstable and painful when I try to rotate around in bed. When Im30 weeks +, I dread to think what this is going to be like. Upturned turtle comes to mind, lol.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Im thinking that having fibromyaligia and IBS have added to the effects of pregnancy on my body, as well as obviously the addition of hyperemesis. Hitler in a previous life methinks.... This has definately been a challenge thus far and bloody hard work. Im wishing the next 4 months away right now.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">We had the 2nd scan yesterday which went well. EVerything looked ok and the babies size was normal. They could see the heart and all the valves which was a relief. We also got a nice side profile piccie to send to my mum :o)</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Over halfway there... 22 down... 18 to go!</p></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-5002083348791777522011-01-16T13:23:00.001+00:002011-01-16T13:23:52.643+00:00Weeks 19 - 20<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs265.snc4/39564_439511181047_583386047_5309647_3860604_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 140px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs265.snc4/39564_439511181047_583386047_5309647_3860604_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Week 19 started at a low ebb feeling very icky and ill. 3 days into week 19 however I woke feeling a lot better than I had in months. This lasted Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Although I wasnt anywhere near 100% and hadnt tried to push myself to do anything, it was fantastic to not feel just about ready to barf all the time.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I dropped a line to some girls at work saying I hoped to be back when my sicknote expired on 26th of this month. The next day I decided I needed to slowly work my way up to getting back to work, so I sat upright on the laptop for about 3 hours in the afternoon as its much harder for me to sit up than lie down. That night the sickness returned in earnest and Ive been sick as a pig ever since. The effort of sitting up and trying to concentrate for too long a period of time was obviously too much too soon. So far I dont spend that long online as I know if I do, it'll come back to bite me on the backside. Im not out of bed until about 1:30pm every day as I dont sleep all night but doze all through the morning. I dread to think how bad it could be if I didn't rest as much as I've been doing. So back to lots of bed rest and sofa lounging. I've never been so bored in my life!!! Its looking ever more doubtful I'll get back to work as I decided to take my maternity leave as soon as possible and with a few days holiday im owed, that means I can go on maternity leave from the start of December. Given that its just over a month away, my liklihood of seeing work before the baby is born is very low. I found out yesterday on doing some research that I wont be entitled to statutory maternity pay either as the period they calculate it over is when Ive been off ill. I dont meet the 'Lower Earning Limit' of £97 a week where you pay NI so my workplace dont have to pay me a penny. This means I miss out on the 90% of my earnings for the first 6 weeks of maternity leave and I have to apply to the government for something called Maternity Allowance. In short my workplace dont have to pay me a penny. I bet they'll be delighted.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I went for my 20 week scan this week. I thought I was 19 weeks and 6 days but turns out Im 20 weeks and 1 day,so 2 days further on than I thought. It doesnt seem much but every day countdown to an end to this is something.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">The scan was nerve racking. They didnt say anything while everything was measured. Lots of things were written down. I couldnt see the screen at this stage but Darren could see everything from where he was sitting and saw some really good pictures that I missed. He also could see very clearly it was a boy long before I found out. I think they should turn the screen either fully away so neither of us can see as it would've been nice to find that bit out together. There was lots of deep digging with the scan thingy which hurt like hell. I found myself wondering if it was hurting the baby as I wasnt having fun! They tried turning me onto my side to see the heart valves better but had no luck. She finally said they would need to brng me back for another scan as they couldnt see the heart valves due to the babys position.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">When they finally turned the screen around to me he had turned his back and wouldnt budge. All the leg thrashing had stopped, typical! He moved his arm once when I was looking at the screen but all in all I couldnt help but feel I missed out a bit from the images I missed when the screen was turned away from me. I know the important thing is that all is ok, but after feeling this way for so long, I kind of needed the visual for a bit of a lift. I'm just hoping next time I get to see some movement or a side profile of his face.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">They didnt give us any information or tell us anything at the scan which I found a bit wierd, other than to say they werent bringing me back as they had seen something to worry about but just because they couldnt see something. She said there wasnt anything wrong that she wasnt telling us about. I assumed from that all that she could see looked fine. </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Then there was the scan photo.... Only our child. I think that made Darrens day as he giggled from the minute he saw it and all the way home. </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">So Im now 2 days into week 20 and feeling better than I had a couple of months ago but still got a long way to go. Im over halfway now though. The end is in sight where we can meet our little man. We've decided to wait until he's born to confirm a name as he may not suit names that we chose up to then, we have our favourite name though, which is Isaac James. :o)</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Now I am starting on getting the little bits and pieces we're going to need. Ebay do brilliant bargains on cots and prams and other bits, so I'll be on there buying soon. Thankfully my mum sent us some money to get some of the bigger bits for the baby and shes already bought some things for us, without which I dont know what we'd have done. Its her only grandchild though with me being an only child so I think shes dead excited. No doubt he'll be all sorted for the essentials by christmas.</p></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-59763562386216963562011-01-16T13:22:00.001+00:002011-01-16T13:22:46.016+00:00Week 18<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs366.ash2/64481_435647596047_583386047_5242755_2396456_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 140px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs366.ash2/64481_435647596047_583386047_5242755_2396456_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">So Ive finally caught up! Week 18. I am currently 18 weeks and 4 days pregnant. I've had a pretty pants week feeling very sick but I think Im more used to it now than I used to be. I try to push through it to go online for little bits each day as it lifts my mind, but I am still resting on the sofa all day and not getting up until at least midday every day. So far in 3 months apart from the doctors and hospital, my only outings have been a cinema trip, a couple of hours at Darrens dads fiancees 60th do (that was on a particularly good day) and a quick walk around Asda. I'm going stir crazy with these 4 walls.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I havent slept at all at night for about a week now. I think I manage an hour or 2 in the mornings when Darren does to work so I just get as much rest as I can. One good development though is Ive started to feel the baby move at last. Its mostly at night in bed and it feels like lots of turning over and moving about. I have had a few little pokes though so I think they were kicks. Its reassuring to feel and to know the baby is there and reminds me why we're doing this and why Im feeling like this.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Its a bit scary approaching this weekend as its 19 weeks which is exactly 3 weeks since my last hospital admission. The second stay came 3 weeks after the first and the third came 3 weeks after the second... if I follow a pattern, I should be panicking now. I am absolutely determind, it is NOT going to happen this time.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">This Thursday we were meant to be flying to Ireland to see my parents for the weekend. It would have been the only time I'd see my parents during my pregnancy and something I was really looking forward to. I was sure I'd be ok to go, but sadly not. We're having to miss the flights and the airport wont change them to a time later in the year when we may have been able to go (then again maybe not). We'd just need to book again as changing the flights cost about double what booking new flights would be. Darrens holidays are all used up anyways so I'll have to content myself with waiting til the baby is born and my parents visit then. </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I have my 20 week scan to look forward to on 14th October, so thats my focus right now. Who knows, I may start to feel normal again by the end of the month.</p></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86057134631930110.post-21330655226228875042011-01-16T13:20:00.000+00:002011-01-16T13:22:01.459+00:00Weeks 14 - 17<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs136.ash2/40162_435639661047_583386047_5242563_3168176_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 140px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs136.ash2/40162_435639661047_583386047_5242563_3168176_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs192.snc4/37940_435639566047_583386047_5242559_5715747_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 140px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs192.snc4/37940_435639566047_583386047_5242559_5715747_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs601.snc4/58103_435639451047_583386047_5242557_7752843_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 140px;" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs601.snc4/58103_435639451047_583386047_5242557_7752843_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Starting week 14 I was beginning to get used to feeling ill all the time. Since the physical feelings are more of the same, I thought Id concentrate with feelings and frustrations that the illness has brought for this time period. Its emotional and mental issues which contribute as well as the physical with this. Fighting from giving in to the depression I keep getting warned about as part of the illness is one of the most important things to me.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> I still have the dizziness, still have no energy and still am not capable of cooking meals or doing housework, but at least now I could log online for half an hour or so when I felt up to it to see what my friends were up to. It would lift my mind for a while and give me something to think about while lying on the sofa. I miss all of my friends and catching up with whats going on. Its one big wish to have this go before the birth so I can get down to Nottingham and see Kelly and Dave or they can come up to see us before the baby arrives as any social outings will be few and far between afterwards.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Its one thing about this thats started making me angry. I feel robbed of a few months which should be so happy. Months which should be spent seeing my friends, sharing the joy of expecting a baby, browsing in shops at pretty baby things, planning for the baby being here, moving things about to start work on a nursery, filling the nursery with the things we need. As it is I don't feel well enough to do any of these things and wonder how on earth we're going to be prepared for a new baby arriving. I feel like I am missing the entire planning stage and it honestly feels like majorly missing out on something. I also miss being able to go out with Darren and do things, just us. Its like being thrown from being 'Just Marrieds' to 'New Parents' with no in between. I hold onto some little bit of hope that I get a few weeks where I can see my friends, go out with Darren and buy a few of the important things we'll need.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">The illness of course has contributed nicely to being in a crap financial situation for the baby coming. Losing a full salary and going down to statutory sick pay while needing to buy all sorts of things is wonderful. Thankfully my mum sent us some money which Ive put aside and refuse to touch which will buy some important bits. Money we put aside from wedding presents for a belated honeymoon has had to be spent on bills to subsidise my wage. With the illness, we wouldnt have been able to go on holiday anyway, but it sticks in the throat that the money that should have been for us to enjoy has had to go on practicalities.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Along with the musings of the past few weeks and the frustration Ive been feeling, the sickness followed its usual pattern and I was in for admission number 3 which came 3 weeks after the last admission yet again. 16 weeks exactly this time. This time was much worse. I woke on a Friday morning at 5:30am with horrendous pains in my stomach and belly and started very violently being sick, which continued all morning and led to throwing up a lovely green bile and eventually blood. Darren called out an emergency doctor as I couldnt barely get out of bed and she said I would need to go into hospital again. Sadly this meant the A&E wait again. It was slightly less this time... 3 hours. I couldnt stop from being sick this time so the nurses and doctors in the A&E department were treated to some lovely green bile in one of those cardboard sick bowls. I got whisked to the ward relatively swiftly after that.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">This time the stay was the same as first time. 4 days on a drip altogether. Thankfully there were some girls on my ward I could talk to this time and one girls sister even gave me some beautiful hand knitted baby cardigans so the stay wasnt quite as bad as before.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">We're now only 3 weeks away from week 20. I dont think I oculd possibly have anything any more crossed!</p></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14701116892455587711noreply@blogger.com0