It's August!

It's August!!!

Which means we will become PARENTS this month. WOW!!

Honestly, I don't think it has really sunk in yet. Even with the nursery ready and waiting and an ever growing belly, it still feels quite unreal! We are extremely excited but obviously also a little anxious.

I have a scan later this afternoon and Doctor will do an internal to check cervix and dilation. He says it won't tell us whether baby will come in a week or two or three because I can be 1 to 2cm dilated already and stay that way for a while or there could be no dilation and go into labour tomorrow, it's all very unpredictable.

At last weeks scan (37w4d) little mister was weighing in at 2.7kgs which means he only gained about 200g in 10 days. Doc is still happy with this but it could mean that he Luca will have a more average birth weight of 3.22 -3.3kg. Also, quite unpredictable since the measuring isn't very accurate at this stage.

I will update later with details of today's scan!

UPDATE:
Sjoewee, seems like mister has turned into a little piggy again. Weighing in at 3.2kg already! Doc said that it is quite difficult to get acurate measurements now but he is sure that he is above 3kg's already.With about 17 days to go I'm hoping the weight gain slows down a bit or Luca might have to come out via the sunroof  ;-)

He didn't do an internal so no idea how "things" are progressing. Luca's swimmingpool is still pretty full, so a good sign of a healthy boy with great kidney function.

Next appointment ~ Wednesday 10 August (38w6d)

Preggy Shoot - Some of my faves

Some of my favourite photos from our Preggy shoot:

Hospital Bag

Since there's less than a month to go before our boy makes his grand appearance (well, give or take a few days!) I suppose it is about time that I pack our hospital bags. I'm quite the list maker so wanted to share this list of what needs to be packed for my bag and baby's bag.

Thanks to a good friend, JessV from this blog Motherhood: Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much for sharing such an awesome list. I have tweeked it a bit here and there since the requirements differ from hospital to hospital.

HOSPITAL BAG

Paperwork
Medical Aid card & pre-auth number
ID Book
Certified copies of ID’s
Notebook and pen
Cash

For Mom
Comfortable, large t-shirt / pajama top for labour
Two sets of pajamas (front-button or strappy - for ease of breastfeeding)
Gown
3 Maternity / feeding bra's
Maternity panties / large panties / disposable panties
2 Pairs of socks
Slippers
Comfortable clothes to go home in

Toiletries
2 Dark coloured facecloths
2 Towels
Tissues
Body wash & body cream
Facewash
Toner
Moisturiser
Make-up ;-)
Fragrance-free anti-perspirant
Razor
Lip balm
Shampoo & Conditioner
Hairbrush & Hair Elastics
Hair dryer
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Maternity pads & sanitary pads
Coarse salt for bath
Nipple cream
Breast pads - about 8 sets
Pregnancy vitamins

Baby Clothes & Other Baby Goodies

Six to Eight sets of baby clothes: Vest, Babygro, socks, beanies (Preferably not white as this might get mistaken for the hospital clothes)
2 Receiving Blankets
One warm blanket
Surgical spirits
2 Dummies
Small pack of newborn nappies

Other
Pillow
Energy drinks, water
Energy sweets & snacks
Cellphone, Double-adaptor plug, cell charger
Camera
Books / Magazines

I'll keep adding to the list if there is anything I missed.

xx

Update: 36 Weeks

How far along: 36 Weeks 1 Day (Only 27 days to go!)


How big is baby: Almost 2.5kg at last scan (34w6d)

What has been your preggy high this week? Just knowing that time is running out very quickly and that we'll meet our little man in less than a month!

What has been your preggy low this week? I had the worst nights sleep on Sunday. I was so uncomfortable and achy. Restless legs, cramps in calves etc. Funnily enough the next day my mom commented that it looked like my bump had dropped so that could be why??


Weight gain: from 58kg to 70kg.... So 12kg's to date

Bump measurement: 103cm

Stretchmarks? None so far (touch wood!) Bump gets rubbed with a mixture of Happy Event and Bio-Oil every day. Good thing is I have seen a massive improvement in the stretchmarks I had before being preggies.


Cravings / Aversions: Nothing specific


Movement: Lots of squirming and rolling around. Constant pokes with elbows / knees. LOVING IT!

Next Appointment: Monday 25 July (36W4D)

Things to do: Pack hospital bags


Looking forward to: The next 27 days!

Will you be trying for Natural or Caesar? Definitely natural with an epidural but I am completely open to whatever happens. As long as baby is delivered safely.

How is your partner dealing with the pregnancy at this stage? He has been wonderful and I am more in love with him than ever before. I love how he rubs my bump and speaks to Luca. If he had his way he would definitely have been here already. He can not wait!

Exhausted!

This third trimester exhaustion sure is something else!

I feel completely drained and really have to force myself to just get up and do simple things like wash the dishes or even bath/shower. This last 4 weeks can not go quickly enough!
I guess it doesn't help that I'm super bored too. I've just about sorted and organised everything in the nursery. Washing done and our bags are (sort of) packed. Now I'm literally just counting down the days (29!!)

36 Weeks tomorrow and my bump is now growing by the day. Luca has dropped too and I'm now carrying quite low. Hubby is convinced that Luca will make his appearance by 39 Weeks :) I on the other hand think he is going to bake for quite a bit longer. Which will be interesting since my gynae doesn't actually do inductions unless you are way over your due date.
 
So one of these day I might be researching things to do to bring on labour! (Which was the last thing on my mind a year ago today when we got our BFN from our IVF a Sad Sad day)

Next gynae appointment is on Monday, hoping mister picked up a bit more weight this time.

xx

Birthdays & Miracles & 35 Weeks

It's my birthday today, officially starting the last year of my twenties :)

It's a strange birthday though because a year ago today 2 little embryos were placed in a freezer to one day become our little miracle. A year ago I was wishing for the same thing that I wished for the year before - 2 Pink Lines - we were busy with our first IVF and I was so sure that I would get the most awesome belated birthday pressie, but it wasn't to be.

Though little did we realise that one of those tiny embryos that was placed in the freezer would be happily baking away in his mommy's tummy a year later, eagerly awaiting to make his grand appearance in just 5 weeks time!

Wow - what a difference a year makes!

So for the first birthday in 3 years I'm not wishing for 2 pink lines, I'm wishing that life could stay as good as this :)

I'm 35 weeks pregnant today and I'm going to say it again - where has the time gone?? I can not fathom that in just 5 weeks we will meet our little miracle. I can not wait!! There are times when the nerves get the better of me and I wonder how and if we are going to cope but I know we are, we'll do the best we can!

Our baby shower on Saturday was a huge success. I'm happy that we decided to have it together :) While the girls were insidew Ooohing and Aaaahing over baby things the guys were outside braaiing and having (one too many) drinks.

A friend made us the most gorgeous baby shower cake and cupcakes:

35 Week Update:

How far along: 35 Weeks, 5 weeks / 35 days to go!

How big is baby: 2.487kg at yesterdays scan so he only gained about 265grams in 2 weeks. Doc wasn't worried since he is still at the perfect weight.

Weight gain: LasStill haven't weighed!

Bump measurement: Growing by the day.

Belly button: It really wants out but doesn't seem like it can. haha

Cravings / Aversions: I mostly don't feel like eating the last couple of days. Definitely craving strawberry and chocolate flavoured milk though.

Movement: Loads of alien like movements, I swear it looks like he is going to break through my tummy at any moment.
Next Appointment: Monday 25 July - 36weeks/4days

Things to do: Currently washing all the baby clothes and blankies. Have bought everything I need for our hospital bags. Just need to pack those.

Looking forward to: The next 5 weeks flying past!

33 Weeks ~ Proper Update

Okay, so I know I've been terrible at updating this blog. It just seems as if there is always something else that pops up and then I just never get to it.

But here it is a proper update!

How far along: 33 Weeks 5 Days!! Only 43 days to go :)

How big is baby: 2.222kg at 33week scan. He was about 1.8kg at the 31 week scan. He is gaining weight exactly on track. Doc estimates that he will be a bit bigger than average at about 3.6kg.

Weight gain: Last time I checked it was about 11kg's but haven't weiged myself in a while.

Bump measurement: Over 100cm ;)

Belly button: Looks strange, half in, half out.

Cravings / Aversions: I'm not craving anything specific but definitely still leaning toward sweet things rather than meat and such. Lately I've been feeling quite nauseas when having lunch / dinner. Have to eat a lot less at each meal, guess there's not much space left for my stomach to expand.

What do you miss: I definitely miss a good nights sleep. I am now really struggling with back ache at night. I toss and turn from side to side constantly and just can't get comfy. Have now bought a bean bag thingy that can be heated in the microwave, going to try that for the back ache.

Movement: I have definitely noticed that it must be getting a bit cramped in there for mister :) I no longer feel definite kicks or punches but am constantly being poked by a knee or elbow. He also seems to love to play trampoline on my bladder.

Next Appointment: Wednesday 13 July - 35 Weeks. Then weekly from there.

Things to do: Last bit of shopping and organising for the baby (couples) shower on Saturday. Once that is done then I definitely need to start washing baby clothes and I have to get my hospital bags packed.

Looking forward to: Receiving all our preggy shoot pics this week! Baby shower on Saturday!

Bump Piccies