Looking back

Year: 2008

Age: 32

Pregnancy status: 6 months (as now, that is!)

Postage cost

Was going through some old pics to see if I could find one of where I'm using the Burberry handbag that I'm selling. On the above one I am exactly 8 months pregnant (October last year).

I've had some enquiries re the cost for postage to Scandinavia and the full amount for 'International Signed For' (as its called with Royal Mail) is £9.45.

Night Night

Induction

It's now been confirmed that I'm going in to the Lindo Wing tomorrow to be induced. Well that's if nothing happens tonight of course. I'm very very scared, nervous but excited at the same time.
It can take up to 12 hours to just get the labour starting so I'm guessing that by Friday night or at least on Saturday I will be holding baby Bear in my arms. I'm not sure how I will be able to sleep tonight but Bear and I are both going to bed early to try and get lots of rest in preperation for the big day. Good night, all. Wish me good luck! PUSS PUSS

The end is near...

I was examined yesterday and it appears my cervix is 1 cm long, i.e. I am not qualified to be induced by doing the sweep which I originally wanted. That means that I'm left with only one option, when they use Prostaglandin vaginal gel. It is an artificial hormone; similar to the hormone your body produces to cause labour to start, and it softens the cervix and causes muscles of the womb to contract. Labour usually starts 6 to 12 hours after insertion of the gel but sometimes more than one dose may be necessary.

My consultant told me that I need an end in sight as it's draining me both mentally and physically and that we should book me in to the hospital for the induction if nothing has happened naturally before Thursday or Friday depending on when there is available space. He will call me today to confirm which of the two days. Ideally I do not want to be induced but on the other hand I just want it all to be over and meet my son, so to know now that by Sunday the latest, I will be a mother, is such a relief.

I'm attaching pictures below from yesterday afternoon when mum and I went to town for some shopping.

Strolling along Shaftesbury Avenue, Picadilly; 41 weeks +2 days

Marylebone Underground Station

False alarm... *big sigh*

The contractions that I felt this morning, new ones, which I haven't felt before, didn't take off the way I wanted them to. I still have these period-like pains, and maybe it's a sign that something is happening, even though it's a slow start.. Well I'm desperate to cling on to anything not to lose my hope.

I managed to go to sleep eventually with my electric heating pad placed on my back, and have slept until now. Guessing because I was so tense. It's a huge disappointment and I'm not sure how to deal with it all. I really had such big hopes but now I just feel depressed...We will carry on the reflexology today and then I've got my doctor's appointment at 5.30pm. Will be interesting to see what he says.. Bye for now and sorry for the false alarm...

Could this be it?

I woke up up at 4am with some period like pains and from these tightenings that I've had before, only this time they are some what painful. Full of excitement and anticipation I'm wondering if this could be it...
Mum did some more reflexology on me last night, we walked up and down the stairs and I also slid down the stairs whilst sitting and felt the bumpy ride in my pelvis on each step, in the hope that it would start something. She then stood at the bottom of the stairs and picked me up each time. The things you do when you're desperate, eh? :-)

I'm now sitting in the kitchen in complete darkness, with only the light from my laptop. Mum and Bear are sleeping and I have no intention of waking them up.
I just really wish thatI don't have to go to my weekly appointment this evening to see Mr. Wright, my consultant at Harley Street, but that I will see him later when he will deliver my baby instead! Not sure if I can sleep through this but don't know how to make the time pass now.

Will update ( or have my brother do it) here later if anything changes. Keep your fingers crossed that this is it, this is the beginning of when I will meet my son! xoxo

4 days overdue

I am certainly no expert in this field but know that being relaxed is best option if you want babies to come out - they seem to know if coast is clear! But it’s easier said than done..

Being overdue depresses you. At times I feel very low and antisocial and can't be bothered to speak to or see anyone, but trying to remain upbeat for the sake of my unborn baby boy.
I've been having tightenings/contractions on and off now for a few days, and I’m waddling like a penguin due a pain in my right groin. I’ve got a constant need to pee and my cervix is getting a good headbutting from Sean, and at the moment it feels as though his head is right in between my legs!

I am ready to be finished, prepared for labour, and especially now with mum who has arrived to help with the transition, yet I’m still pregnant. ...it feels a little bit like a failure, after all, I am not doing my job....No baby to show for my forty weeks of effort. It just feels like I will never go into labour. Any advice or comforting words are gratefully received. Puss

Inducing talks and washing advice

Went to see my consultant yesterday evening. We discussed being overdue and how I'm really starting to feel impatient about when my baby is finally going to arrive.

I'm faced with a choice between waiting and continuing to let nature take its course or making plans to have my labour induced. We decided to make another appointment to see him on Monday and if Sean hasn't come by then, we will discuss it further.

He told me that if I was having my baby in France, I would have been given a different due date, one week later, and that I should try and relax about it all (sure, very easy indeed!!!) ;-)

And here's a funny washing advice I stumbled across. BYE 4 NOW xoxo

40 weeks + 2 days and counting..

Hi!... I woke up feeling tired and cranky after a night without contractions (they've stopped coming now-grr!) but several toilet visits. I can even sense a little disappointment in Bear now, cause I can feel even he is now ready and prepared to meet his son, but as he is delaying his arrival to this world, Bear's had to re-arrange his plans which were to stay home and enjoy two weeks "daddydays" starting from today. (In Sweden all partners can enjoy a paid ten-day parental leave after their child's birth, but am not sure how it works over here? )

Instead he left for work, but with no meetings or clients to see, and is keeping his phone right by his side. I went back to bed and have surprisingly slept until now, and am feeling refreshed and ready for some chores including ordering food from Tesco online etc.

I've got my weekly doctor's appointment this evening and Bear is coming with me as usual. Will see what he's saying about being overdue, and how long he thinks we should wait to induce me. I just really wish they don't have to induce me. It's scares me to start labour unnaturally, but the longer my pregnancy continues, the larger my baby is likely to be - which may complicate a vaginal delivery, and that scares me even more!!

Oh, I've just wrapped this year's first Christmas presents! Early, I know, but with all this time on my hands.... :-) Hope you'll have a wonderful week. I will of course update here as soon as anything happens, and hopefully this will be our most wonderful week ever!!! Puss puss

This year's first X-mas pressies

last minute preparations for Baby Bear

Baby support and baby bath

So Sunday is here, but Sean is not... I had of course hoped like most mums-to-be, that I wouldn't go overdue, but perhaps now that my mum is here I will relax more which perhaps will help starting labour.

I'm having contractions serveral times a day now, the whole stomach is feeling very tense and I'm having a lot of pressure on my bowels.

I'm keeping myself busy with house hold duties, mainly organising stuff for Sean and trying to pass the time reading up on labour or making last minute purchases for Sean. The latest ones includes a baby bath and a bath support which will hold his head and body comfortably and supporting him whilst allowing him to splash his little arms and legs freely. I've also bought a didital ear thermometer which measures temperature in 1 second.

Ear thermometer

Due date today but no baby yet...

Mum

Sorry I didnt post yesterday. I have been feeling poorly and was in bed all day. Slightly better now and trying to gain as much strengh as I can in preperation for the birth.

Looking forward to my mum coming today. She is flying from Sweden and will be here this evening. Now that she will be here, all that's missing is Sean. Hurry up my baby boy!

Waiting impatiently

39 weeks + 3 days and waiting impatiently..

What a difference a 24 hours makes! After yesterday's hideous weather in London, it can only get better today. Thankfully it's dry and quite mild at the mo, about 13 degrees.

I've been to my weekly doctor's appointment and all is good. Sean has still his head deep down and is not positioned back to back either which is good news.

Blood pressure and weight was all good and he keeps saying how well I'm doing. He also pointed out that this appointment could be our last, or if not, that next weeks appointment should be! Scary to think that, but I want nothing more than for Sean to come now. I don't think I've ever felt this ready before, although my mum keeps saying that he is waiting for her to arrive on Saturday! She is coming to stay with us for 6 weeks which makes me feel so privileged.

Gorgeous new fluffy gift to Sean from Susanna and Alfie

Pregnancy massage

After lots of coffee and cakes celebrating Erik yesterday, we came home around 11pm (will post pics later ). Did unfortunately not get much sleep last night although I'm not stressing too much about it as I know I have a pregnancy massage booked at 7.30pm this evening.

It's the same lady that's been here before. She brings all her equipment here and gives me one whole hour of pure pleasure. If it will be anything like last time, I'll be in bed sleeping before she have had time to pack up and leave! :-)

Me looking battered this morning - 38 weeks + 5 days pregnant

38 weeks + 3 days pregnant

Good morning, Mother Earth!

The doctor's appointment yesterday went well. According to Mr. Wright, I'm in perfect shape, although I don't feel it.I find my energy levels are up and down the whole time.
I asked about my water retention and swollen feet, but basically there is not much I can do about it. He said I can put my feet up high but all that happens is that the water moves to my back where I cant see it. I'm thinking the sooner I accept it, the better...

The handyman came back on Sunday for the final touches to changing station. We are very pleased with it, and this is what it looks like:

Our made-to-order changing station

more Friday deliveries

And so the pram has finally arrived!!!! Now it's just Sean we are waiting for...

No joy

making scrambled eggs this morning

And so my trouble free nights are over.. I've been awake since 4am and am not the happiest bunny. I have contractions which are painful but way too far apart to even think I'm close to labour starting, and my feet are so swollen that no shoes fit me and I'm starting to develop dark circles under my eyes.

The slightest set-back will have me in tears and I'm currently uber-clingey with Bear. Feeling sorry for him who has to put up with me right now but I am so grateful to have him.

At my lowest point this morning he offered to stay at home today although of course I told him no. He did however stay home and comfort me until as late as 10.30am.

I was meant to see Susanna and Alfie at 12 today but that I unfortunately had to cancel as I'm in no mood to see anyone. Thankfully it wasn't that long ago that she was pregnant so if anyone understands me fully now it's her. Will try and see them tomorrow instead.

The whole nesting thing which is supposed to have kicked in by now, seems to have passed me by entirely - I've had no desire to do any major housework at all, although I did manage to make scrambled eggs for Bear this morning. That was the least I could do for him as a thank you for being there for me and telling me the right things at the right time. I want Sean to come now, I've had it with this pregnancy. So pls my little treasure, my little baby boy, come NOW, or I don't know how I'll cope!!!!!

Sleeping in separate beds...

Tuesday morning, in week 38

Good morning! I've been a full member of the Desperately -Need- To- Sleep-But -Can't- Get Comfortable-Club for some time now, and it has started to have a really bad effect on me.

After several nights last week with no sleep at all and being grumpy all of the following day, last night I asked Bear to sleep in the other bedroom. That way I can toss and turn as I please and not have to worry about waking him up as well.

To my joy, I have now slept with little disruption, only my toilet visits. So that might not have been the last time we sleep in separate beds - I still got to enjoy skin to skin contact with Bear this morning, as he crawled into bed with me at 6.40am, and we had a cuddle until 7.20am.... :-)

Bear left out these two shirts before going to work. The same Ralph Lauren, only different sizes. It really brought a smile to my face and I can just imagine Bear and baby Bear wearing them, at the same time of course :-)

Last minute learning

Goodies I bought at the Scandinavian Kitchen on Saturday

The "Prepare 4 Birth" course on Saturday was excellent and really lived up to our expectations. There were two other couples (one Swedish/English and one Greek/German), who were really nice and, like us, eager to learn.

We spent the full day learning lots of techniques and tips to help us with the birth process including various massages, a very useful contraction exercise, how to breath when in pain, how to push using the right muscles (to try and avoid tearing), what Bear can do and say as a "coach" to reasure and support me, and relaxation etc.

I thoroughly recommend this course for anyone on this magical adventure called pregnancy. The ladies who ran it were truly fabulous, very experienced and we learned so much from them.

As an added bonus it was held at the Scandinavian Kitchen, which meant that we had a typical Swedish lunch (meatball sandwich with beetroot salad). Afterwards I bought some of my favourite Swedish foods from the grocery store area (see pic above).

Entering week 38 today

Huge news today; Sean is today officially baked! :-) I am now carrying a full-term baby! If I was to go into labour today, all systems would be go. Woohoo! It means that I could literally give birth at any given moment and Sean would not be considered premature. It's a terrifying, exciting and overwhelming concept, all rolled into one...

According to the ladies at the Prepare4Birth course yesterday, most pregnancies on average lasts 41 weeks which was a bit disappointing to hear.. as I of course am hoping he will come early. I'm starting to get fed up with this pregnancy now (mostly the endless toilet visits and the lack of sleep) and I am ready to welcome him to this world now - so c'mon Stork! :-)

Prepare for birth - course

Today is the day I've been waiting for, for such a long time ( and praying Sean wont be arriving before then). Me and Bear are going on a day's course to prepare for the birth - "the Scandinavian way" as they say.

We've sort of left it till the last minute (they recommend going to ante natal courses around 28-30 weeks, but I'm now 37 weeks), so I will undoubtedly be the biggest one there.


It is held by two Swedish midwives and it's been recommended to me. I don't know how many other couples will attend, but I'm hoping Bear will interact with other men there. I think it will be good for him to meet and talk with men who also have got pregnant partners.

This pregnancy has been a lot about me, but today I'm hoping we will focus a lot about him too, how important his support have been and will be, how I wouldn't have done it so far with out him and I'm also hoping he will learn that despite him feeling helpless and useless during my pregnancy, just how valuable his presence will be.


It lasts all day and at the end of it we have decide to go out for dinner somewhere local. Will report back tomorrow with details of everything. Can't help but feeling a little nervous ( I know, silly, eh?), so wish us good luck!!! :-)