What To Expect
- Lower abdominal discomfort
- Skin changes
- Frequent urination
Your Baby This Week
Your baby this week is the size of a light bulb.
by Tracey Quinn
Dear Diary
Christmas has come and went and as predicted I'm feeling a massive sigh of relief. I feel guilty just writing that but it's the truth. We had a lovely time but I just feel ready for a bit of R&R now you know? Some downtime with my little family after all of the madness that has come. We have our big scan next week so I feel that this week needs to have more of a self-care focus. I need to be kind to myself because I can feel the levels of anxiety rising about the scan (always something, I know).
We did have a lovely Christmas though. My little boy had a great time and I can't tell you how happy that made me feel. His face when he walked in to the sitting room on Christmas morning was just priceless. He got an "iPad" (Amazon tablet) so he's been sitting around playing with that a lot. Zero mum guilt here because I'm soaking up some of the laziness myself and we'll get back into a routine once school is back. Right now, we've got a serious lack of routine and I'm trying to just embrace it and "let go" which is so not how my brain works. I'm such a routine person and I love to be organized and know what is happening next. I have a feeling that it won't be so easy to do this with two children – or so everyone keeps telling me. We'll find our groove though. I know we will!
My Christmas present from my husband was literally the biggest surprise ever. He surprised us with a trip to Fuerteventura and I can't believe it. I made a little joke at the beginning of the pregnancy about how I would love to go on a sun holiday while pregnant. Daydreaming, like. I actually think I was talking about getting a cute photograph of me with a baby bump on the beach. Well, he only went and booked it. We're going in February, just the three of us, and I cannot wait for that family time. I almost feel a little embarrassed writing this but we're actually going to Disney Land two weeks before that.
I'm embarrassed because two holidays in a month makes us sound very fancy and extravagant or something. It IS fancy and extravagant but we are actually very, very ordinary. It just so happens that after two years of hardcore saving for a house (and living in a one-bedroom flat with our little boy) that my husband wanted to treat us all to something. He promised our little boy that "someday when we have saved for a house, I'll take you to Disney Land". He did a little treasure hunt around the house and the final clue said: "daddy never breaks his promises". OK, I'm crying again. We're so lucky to have him. He really is an amazing father and husband and this new baby is going to be super lucky to have him too.
I actually felt good in myself on Christmas day. I found a Zara dress in a charity shop and it was only a couple of euro but it felt great on the day. My mam gave me a pair of boots she didn't want and I applied the obligatory red festive lipstick. I felt good and I think I needed that little boost because pregnancy and gaining weight is a tough thing to accept when you've lost so much weight in the past. As I said, I have a completely different body this time around so I can't even compare it to my last pregnancy for that reason. I just feel completely different.
We have our big scan next week – I shall report back on how that went.
A Partner’s Perspective
I'm really looking forward to next week's big scan. Everything seems ok and things have been going well, but it will be a relief to hear it from the nurse.
I have pretty much told all of my friends and work colleagues that we are expecting, so cue the questions about if we are going to find out the sex of the little one. I had asked myself if I would prefer a boy or a girl, but to be honest, I really don't mind either way – once they are healthy and everything is ok.
Our Midwife’s Advice
Your baby's muscles are getting stronger and stronger. It needs them for all that movement. Make sure your diet has all the right nutrients to support that growth lots of Vit D and calcium.
At your next scan, the sonographer might be able to tell the sex of your baby. It's a good opportunity to talk with your partner and decide if you want to find out or if you want to leave it to be a surprise. Your bump will be growing week on week till your baby is born. Why not take some pictures to marvel at all the changes?
You might also notice at this stage that you feel fuller quicker while eating. This is because your pregnancy takes up so much room in your tummy so it reduces the space that other organs have, including your stomach. Try eating smaller meals more often to combat this and don't forget to keep drinking lots of water.
Our Wellness Tip of the Week
If you're fitting in the time for regular exercise during your pregnancy, make sure you're doing so safely. Avoid exercises that may restrict your breathing in any way - for example, sit-ups and anything where you have to bend your head forwards. Opt for gentle exercises like walking and yoga to keep your fitness levels up and boost your mood.
Recommended Reading
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