Week 23 To 24

Thursday, 23+0
I'm almost at the magical 24 week mark! It is one of my milestones to reach as they say if the baby was born at 24 weeks it has a good chance (44%) of surviving. Obviously I want her to stay put, but it is kind of reassuring. At the moment her chance of survival would only be 16% so it's amazing the difference a week makes on their growth and development.

Anyway, I've had a difficult time the last couple of days. Tuesday afternoon I started getting an odd pain, well more of an ache, above my uterus in the stomach area. It just kind of came and went on and off. It wasn't painful as such, more annoying. When I woke up yesterday the pain seemed to be a bit stronger but I couldn't decide whether it was muscular, as it seemed to get worse when I moved around or changed position from sitting to standing, or whether it was a problem in the stomach. The baby had been giving me a few strong kicks to that area the night before and also with a bit of rapid growth in my tummy I wondered if it was organs being squashed up. As the day went on I found a pattern to the pain. It always got worse as I ate, or just after eating. It then turned into a gnawing pain like when I get a stomach ulcer which I'm all too familiar with.

I called a private midwife as my doctor is away on holiday and she said to take some gaviscon to ease the pain. Problem is they don't sell it here in Spain and I'm not sure what a good alternative is, especially one safe to take in pregnancy. The pain went on and I found more and more that it was very much like my stomach ulcer pain. I ate lunch and within 10 minutes my stomach felt empty and hungry again which is always a symptom when I get an ulcer. I had some medication left from my last ulcer at the beginning of the pregnancy so I checked it was ok to take one and took half in the afternoon and the other half before bed. I slept so well and so far today not a hint of the ache or pain! I always respond very quickly to this medication, usually within 12-24 hours. I've managed to eat breakfast with no problems and haven't had the slightest twinge afterwards. I'm very relieved to say the least! At least I now know what was causing it and how to combat it in future. I have an appointment with my doctor on Tuesday for the glucose tolerance test and a growth scan so I'll mention it to him to see if he recommends taking a maintenance dose of the medication to prevent further incidences or just to take a pill as and when necessary. I've just been listening to the baby on the doppler and she's happily kicking away with a strong little heartbeat!

Sunday, 23+3
The baby is so active at the moment. Yesterday morning while lying in bed Chris watched my tummy as the baby moved across and the whole shape shifted. She woke me up in the night with some very strong kicks and she's been kicking away all morning. I haven't had any sign of the weird stomach pain again, so really not sure what it was. I'm still undecided as to whether it was indigestion/ulcer pain or the baby standing with her head pressing on something in the stomach area. She has since changed positions to lying across my tummy again and things feel much more comfortable.

Wednesday, 23+6
I've just been for the glucose tolerance test this morning to screen for gestational diabetes. They perform the test as a matter of course here in Spain. It's a fasting test where you don't eat or drink anything from midnight the night before, then have a blood sample taken. After the first sample you drink a cup of glucose-type syrup, wait one hour and have a second lot of blood taken. The idea is to see how well your body manages the glucose. I should get the results in a day or so.

I also had a growth scan and I'm pleased to say that the baby is measuring exactly on schedule, although her legs are still a week ahead! She was curled up in the strangest position today with her arms and legs over her head so we couldn't get a very clear look at her face, just a glimpse. She weighs an estimated 1lb 8oz and her heart rate is 145bpm. Everything appears to be going well. I've gained 1.2kgs in weight, making a total of 5 kgs (11.2 lbs) so far. Blood pressure and urine sample were both fine. Below are a couple of pictures taken this evening before heading out to dinner.

Week 22 To 23

Friday, 22+1
Chris' family are over visiting us at the moment so I haven't been able to keep up on here so often. I'm having a lovely relaxing time, but have found that my skin is so sensitive to the sun. I used SPF 30 on Wednesday and sat by the pool for 2 hours maximum. I burnt on my chest and shoulders, and I even reapplied the sun cream a second time. I guess pregnancy really does affect the skins sensitivity. I'm taking no chances today and using SPF 60! I haven't uncovered my tummy though as I'm not sure how good sun exposure is for the baby. I don't want to take any chances so I'll live with a white middle.

The baby has been a little quieter the last couple of days. I'm not sure if it's the heat, whether she's going through a growth spurt and saving energy or whether she's just changed position. I don't feel overly worried though as she will still give me a few kicks a day and she has a very strong heartbeat on the doppler. I've also been quite a bit busier than normal so the chances are I've just missed the times when she's moving around. I've read that if you drink a glass of icy cold water then a baby should start to move and kick almost immediately. So I tried it yesterday evening and it worked instantly!

Tuesday, 22+5
I woke up this morning not feeling the best, although I'm much better now. My tummy felt swollen and full and I couldn't even think about eating breakfast. I think I'd gotten a little constipated over the last couple of days. Not very glamorous I know, but sadly a common side effect of pregnancy. Everything is starting to get more and more cramped up inside and the digestive tract slows down. The larger the baby gets, the worse it gets!

I think she has gone through a real growth spurt over the past few days. I thought she was due for one as I was so hungry for a few days, eating everything in sight, and then I noticed that she was quieter on the kicking front for a few days. She is now back kicking with a vengeance and my tummy has grown by a whole inch in a week! I noticed last night when we went out for dinner that my linen trousers which fitted perfectly well exactly a week before, now stop short of doing up by about an inch. I am feeling kicks all over today. High kicks to my stomach, which are usually swiftly followed by heartburn, followed by low kicks to the abdomen. This morning I could see my tummy moving outwards where she was kicking so I guess she is getting to be a strong little lady!

Week 21 To 22

Thursday, 21+0
Time is really moving on now. Before I know it I'll be in the 3rd trimester! I had a lot of stretching pains over the last week and some on and off backache. The result of my latest urine sample is back and it is all clear for infections so I think the pains in my bladder and urgency to wee are more to do with the extra pressure of the expanding uterus. I guess it's one of those things which you have to put up with and which will only get worse the bigger I get. I had a few period type pains a couple of nights ago too, but again I think it's all to do with pressure and expansion.

The baby is getting stronger by the day and I feel her kicking me several times a day now, especially when I'm sitting down and relaxing after eating. Chris can feel her at odd times too, but normally she stops kicking whenever he touches my tummy. I guess she's a bit of a tease already! My bump seems to take on odd shapes too at times, depending on where she is laying. Sometimes it will be larger on one side than the other and then later on shift over to the other side. It's all very odd and feels a little alien, but I love it!

Tuesday, 21+5
Last night was the first night that I've been woken up by kicks. Until now I have slept pretty soundly the whole night. At about 4am this morning I was awoken by quite a bit of movement and some very strong kicking which lasted about an hour. She seemed to be kicking repeatedly in the same area and I actually felt slightly tender from it. I have noticed quite an increase in her activity levels today also. I'm sure she was probably always this active but now I am aware of it. I've also had an insatiable appetite today!

Week 20 To 21

Thursday, 20+0
We're just back from the anomaly scan and everything was fantastic! The scan was very thorough taking over an hour, due to anterior placenta making certain measurements difficult and a rather lazy and uncooperative baby! I think it was her nap time and she did not want to budge. The doctor ended up giving me a sugar cube to eat and tilting the table backwards to get her to shift position. After a big stretch and a yawn she repositioned herself so the measurements could be completed.

All her measurements are within the average range for her estimated due date. Her legs and arms are long, but I guess she's going to be taking after me. All the major organs were checked for functionality and blood flow and absolutely everything was perfect. We are very relieved! Her estimated weight at the moment is a tiny 10 oz. It was difficult to get some good 3D shots of her as the placenta kept getting in the way with it being at the front.

My blood pressure in the doctors was high again of course (137/72) but when I went to acupuncture half an hour later it was already down to 120/75, so I think I can safely say it's doctor phobia! I've managed to gain 1.5kg in a month which I'm very proud of as I didn't think I was going to gain any weight at all.

Anyway, here's a selection of pictures from today.

Just chilling out!

Yawning

The three lines in the middle show that she's a girl. The outer two lines are the labia.

Below are a couple of bump pictures taken yesterday

Week 19 To 20

Friday, 19+1
Finally I have reached the half way stage! I can't believe that now I am on the countdown to meet our baby. I'm so excited! We have the 20 week anomaly scan on Thursday which I just want to get out of the way and be told everything is good so I can relax and enjoy the final stages of pregnancy. I'm getting so much bigger now, must post a new photo, and I'm finding it hard work getting around at times. I have had a lot of ligament stretching since Wednesday. It feels uncomfortable at times in my lower abdomen with regular mild stretching pains but I'm pretty certain it's normal and all part of the process.

I think I am finally getting proper gentle kicks too! Yesterday we went to Gibraltar for the day and I was leaning forward in the car and felt a couple of distinct prods in my tummy. Also lying in bed last night I felt a couple more so I put my hand on my tummy and could feel the baby move underneath at the same time as I felt the prod internally. I called Chris in and he managed to feel one before she either changed positions or stopped! Finally I think I'm getting the reassurance I need that things are going well, but I have to say it is one of the strangest experiences!

Monday, 19+4
After the initial flurry of prods I haven't really felt much for the last couple of days. I maybe feel two or three a day at most. I'm not sure if she's moved position and with an anterior placenta she has to be in just the right spot for me to feel them. I guess they'll start getting stronger soon as she grows. I went to acupuncture this morning as my anxiety has been playing up again. I had a lovely relaxing session and afterwards the acupuncturist checked my blood pressure and it is now down to 120/70 which I am so much happier about. It will be interesting to see what it is on Thursday when we go for the scan. I'm sure it rises just because I have doctor phobia. I'm off to see the acupuncturist after the scan so it will be interesting to see what the difference in reading is when I get to her!

Wednesday, 19+6
It seems as though my baby acquired a pair of football boots overnight as she hasn't stopped kicking all morning! The kicks are becoming more frequent and more distinct which is very reassuring to me ahead of the "biggy" scan tomorrow. It has made me feel a lot less anxious, but still praying that all will be well tomorrow. I seem to have the start of indigestion though. Burning in the chest right through to the back. I guess it's not going to be helped by the spicy chicken salad I'm going to eat for dinner!

Week 18 to 19

Thursday 18+0
Almost at the half way stage! Still haven't felt much in the way of movement, well, nothing convincing yet. A strange thing just happened though. I was lightly massaging around the edge of my bump and found like a small hard lump which I can only imagine is a body part! I got Chris to feel and he felt the lump and then it moved away while he rubbed his hand over it. I think he was a little freaked out by it though! I can't imagine what else it would be so I'm assuming it was either our little ones head or foot!

Monday 18+4
I haven't had the best of weekends. I woke up on Saturday morning feeling fine, had my breakfast and was sitting on the sofa when I suddenly felt very chilled right through and had stomach cramps. I went to the bathroom where I had the start of a stomach upset. I didn't know at this point if it was a bug or food poisoning. I think I had to rush to the loo 7 times in one hour and was getting a little freaked out at this point as I was so worried about the well being of the baby. I called my husband at work and he came home to try and help me. I got him to call the doctor and explain what was happening. The doctor said it sounded like a bug as Chris was fine and we'd eaten the same foods. He prescribed a powder to take to stop me going to the loo all the time, fluid replacement and a mild pain reliever to ease the stomach cramps.

I started to feel better quite quickly, within an hour actually, as I think my symptoms were being aggravated by increasing anxiety. It's amazing what a bit of reassurance from a doctor can do! He said it didn't matter if I didn't eat for a couple of days, the baby would be fine, as long as I kept up my fluid intake and stayed hydrated. I managed to get through loads of water and fluid replacement solution that day and when I listened to the baby on the doppler her heartbeat was strong and steady.

I made the mistake of eating some cereal before bed as I was so hungry but in hindsight dairy wasn't the best idea. I got up early Sunday morning needing the toilet again and then again a couple of hours later. Thankfully that seemed to be the last of it and I stuck to toast, dry bread and pasta for the rest of the day.

Today I feel a lot better but am concerned about introducing foods too quickly. I had toast for breakfast as I'm thinking it best to avoid dairy for another day or so. I'm taking calcium supplements instead to ensure the baby is getting an adequate supply. I'm also still taking antenatal vitamins so hopefully they should be providing her with anything else she is missing from my diet. I do worry though as I know this is the period of rapid growth for a baby and I want her to have all the nutrients she needs.

On the positive side I have been feeling more flutters in my tummy and even what I think is little kicks. I was laying down last night and felt a small kick, where my stomach twitched out and then felt movement under my hand where it had come from. I really hope this is her and not just my insides playing me up!

Week 17 to 18

Monday, 17+4
I haven't been able to update for a while as I've been back in England and only arrived back to Spain late last night. It was lovely to have a break from the heat and to catch up with my family. We managed to fit in lots of baby shopping and I think our little girl is very nearly fully kitted out!

My tummy seemed to pop out on Thursday. When I arrived in the UK I had a small but noticeable bump but overnight it seemed to grow from nowhere and has turned into quite a large bump. It is also very prominent when I lay down whereas before it was always flat when I laid on my back. I think I have also started feeling the first signs of movement. I can't be entirely convinced yet until I get some definite kicks. It started with what felt like a couple of small flips and then almost like a vibrating sensation in my lower abdomen. I also felt my tummy twitch out a few times. I'm not sure if this is baby movements or "things" just on the move in there. It would be nice to know for sure. The babies heartbeat is really clear and strong and averaging around 150bpm.