Week 19 and 20...and the baby is a...

I really can't believe another two weeks have past and I am now half way through my pregnancy! It has been quite an enjoyable two weeks and I am really loving my pregnancy at the moment.

Overview
So week 19 was pretty fun as the baby really started going to town with the movements. Almost every time I am sat or laid down I feel some sort of movement, they feel like pops inside and sometimes my stomach moves, which is so exciting. Stu loves to feel them too, although Noodle does tend to stop once Daddy's hands are on my stomach - already being cheeky!
Week 20 was the scan week, probably one of the most exciting times in any woman's pregnancy, and that wasn't any different for me. We have been dying to know what gender we were having from the start so I was eager for this scan. Plus being able to see Noodle again - amazing!

Me and Stu had a nice and early appointment and we were seen by two nurses, one a trainee who did the scan. We seen everything, Noodle's little arm, heart and nose all which we recognised. The rest such as the kidneys and brain we couldn't make out ourselves but were told everything was normal and that it was, well, a boy.

Yes we are having a little boy! We are so happy and excited and have already bought some cute little jumpers and shirts for him.

I was also told that I have a low-lying placenta, and need to go back in 12 weeks for another scan. I am not worried about that at the moment as it could change in 12 weeks. The low-lying placenta can cause heavy bleeding and if it remains low it can cause problems giving birth and sometimes a caesarean section is needed. But there is only a 10% chance it will remain low at this stage.
Anyone else had a low-lying placenta? What happened with yours?

Baby grin!

How big is he?
I love that I can now say he. He, at 20 weeks, is the size of a Belgian Endive. Yes, that vegetable we all know and the love! The picture is a type of lettuce, but he is also the size of a banana, which is easier to imagine. The nurse said he is about 12oz.

My bump is around the same size, hoping for some more growth within next few weeks.

Symptoms
I have had a lot of backache, I think mainly due to being on my feet all day at work. I don't feel the pain usually till I lay down unless it is quite severe, then I feel it throughout the day. I also think it is due to the weight I've gained on my breasts and stomach on my small frame that is taking it's toll.
I have been eating great as well. I can eat pretty much anything now. I was sick one day in week 19, I throw up everything I had ate that day all at once and was fine after that.
I have also had a horrific cough which I can't tame, and now hayfever season is upon us I am worried at how bad that will get along with the other awful symptoms hayfever brings, especially since I can't take what I would normally take. My body feels quite run down with the cough and have developed a cold-sore. I am prone to them but again can't take same medication as I would normally take.
But on the plus side I don't feel sick and that is all I wanted!

Gender reveal
Well our original gender reveal ideas didn't all go to plan. First we were going to have a party with the whole family and cut into a cake, but we couldn't get everyone together all at once. Then we decided to pop balloons and the confetti inside would reveal, but that went down the pan too.
In the end we gathered my family at dad's house with blue balloons, sadly wrapped in a black bag and not hiding in a lovely box, but they were still pleased with the news.
For Stu's family we gathered for a meal and some of his Scottish family came down, making it even more special, and we gave each of them two envelopes. Inside the envelopes were letters and together they had to work out the name of the baby, therefore they would figure out the gender.

On social media we posted this picture:

He is definitely going to be a mini Stu with shirts like that!

What are your gender reveal and 20 week pregnancy experiences? Let me know!

15 weeks

Overview

It is nearly the end of the 15th week and I am not sure how I am feeling. If you asked me at the beginning of the week I would have said I feel pretty great. But as the week has gone by I am feeling urgh. Yes, urgh is the best way to describe it. Tired, murky and my mucus-y (ew) throat is just annoying me. The throat thing was improving but now it is creeping back. However, I am off next week and I am not going to let it bother me too much.

Today I tried to go maternity shopping, but that was challenging. Not many of the clothes shops have maternity sections, not even Primark! Four floors and I couldn't find a maternity section! HnM was the best, but all the clothes are a little boring. However, I got some nice skinny light blue jeans that are very comfy. I couldn't find maternity bras anywhere, I feel let down!

How big is the baby?

The Ovia Pregnancy app says my little noodle is the size of an avocado. The bump is feeling more like a bump, some days it is bigger, some it feels a lot smaller. But it's there.

Symptoms

Tiredness is the main symptom that I am feeling this week. I fall asleep about 9pm, so I am up early and feeling drained half way through the day. I just really love sleeping at the minute. No sickness - but my tummy feels sluggish and the mucus throat doesn't help.

Cravings

Since the start I haven't had any major urges. Noodles weren't really a craving, more like the only thing I could eat. I really loved Fanta for a while, although I tried not to drink too much. At the minute I enjoy anything sweet. Pop, Haribo etc.

Emotions

Quite grumpy some days, probably due to tiredness, but over all quite okay. I cry easily, but I always have!

Bought Stu this from eBay. I know the little one won't need it right away, but I really want to get him something with daddy on!

Anything else I can add to the weekly update please let me know. 

First trimester

It's all so exciting at first. Seeing those two lines makes it all seem real. (Well sort of, sometimes I don't believe a little person is growing inside me) Then boom!!! you've barely had time to get over the excitement of those two lines and everything really does start feeling real. Sorry ladies, the symptoms kick in fairly early and they suck!

I am now 15 weeks pregnant and slowly waving goodbye to those symptoms, I may even be starting to feel pretty good, but boy for me the first trimester wasn't easy.

I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to pain and being ill or uncomfortable in anyway, I really can't cope. And don't get me wrong, I know I am damn lucky as some women get it much worse, some get it better, we are all different.

My symptoms started at about 6 weeks. They started with period-like cramps in the night, nothing I hadn't felt before. But it was one night which really got me worrying. I woke with intense, stabbing-like cramps. I didn't know what my body wanted to do so I ran to the bathroom and laid on the cold floor, head in the toilet, hoping being sick would help but nothing came. I started to head to bed but I couldn't walk, I crawled up the stairs, shaking, my lips went blue and my skin went white, I was sweating but cold at the same time. Eventually it eased off, we contacted a midwife the next day who sent me to A&E. Few tests later, and a receptionist who made me feel a little worthless (sorry had to get that in there) I was sent home with the OK.

The next day I was told to go back in for a immediate scan as I had very high hormonal levels. Again, all was OK and we got to see a tiny heartbeat.

From there came weeks and weeks of sickness. I couldn't handle it at first, but I learnt to ease it by snacking little and often. But I was still being sick, avoiding the bus as much as possible, so I wasn't sick on there and laying down at every opportunity I could.

My symptoms got better around week 10 I could eat more and felt sick less; until it hit me hard in week 14. Everything I ate came back up, I became really dehydrated and took myself to hospital, but luckily I bounced back and now I feel pretty good.

Amongst the sickness there's been other symptoms from being very itchy to bleeding gums. Oh isn't it all fun? But you can read my next post things they don't tell you for more on that.

So the good things? Hooray!! Yes, of course there is some. Announcing the pregnancy was an exciting part of the pregnancy. We told the closest members of the family straight away. We gave our parents cute little grandma and granddad frames. Watching their faces grow from confusion, to realisation to tears and smiles was incredible.

My best friend guessed over a group pub lunch, as soon as we were alone she asked are you pregnant? The lemonade drinking and picking at my food, made it obvious since she knows me so well as a cider-and-eat-every-crumb kind of girl.

We announced to everyone after the first scan. Stu told his mates "he can now start practising his dad jokes" amongst other one liners. For everyone else we posted this photo on Facebook.

However the best moment of the first trimester was seeing our little noodle for the first time. The scan was clear and Noodle waved before wriggling all over the place and back-flipping. It brought a tear to my eye.

Stay tuned for my week by week updates.

What symptoms did you feel in your first trimester? Please contact me below, I would love to hear from you.

Things they don't tell you - first trimister

Morning sickness. The first thing that pops into everyone's head when you say you're pregnant. Yes it's bad, yes it sucks, but with it comes so much more. (Sorry!)

Morning/noon/night sickness
Since it is the most popular symptom let's get it out the way. Lets say what we are all thinking - WHY DO  THEY CALL IN MORNING SICKNESS?! It can erupt any time of day, sometimes all day. And how bad is it? Well imagine one of those 12 hour bugs lingering for a good few weeks. Imagine not even being able to say the word beef without wanting to barf? Imagine living off Ritz crackers just so you can throw something up later should you need too? When you feel less sick seriously take those multivitamins, get them in you! It does ease, it does get better. That's your silver lining right there!

Itchy skin
Legs, arms, boobs, back. Wherever there's skin, there's an itch to scratch, expect my belly actually.

Bleeding gums
Pink minty spit when brushing your teeth, it is a common symptom, but make the most of those free dental check ups.

Nose bleeds
Yes more blood.

Mucus
Even the word strikes fear. I hate the damn word, although I've said it so many time it is now part of my daily vocabulary.
It has haunted me for weeks and weeks and I would put it up there with the worst. Everyday it feels like something is wedged in my throat, I cannot bring it up, it won't go down, it won't budge. It makes me gag, it is just horrific. The doctor has given me nasal spray, which has eased it slightly.

Aches
Headaches and backaches. Wasn't expecting much back ache till I had more to show for my pregnancy, but this could just be due to being on my feet all day at work? Whatever the reason, my back aches.

Tiredness
Not your usual tiredness where you can shrug if off, maybe have a nap and feel great, or just a cuppa will do. Pregnancy tiredness is basically - tired no matter what! I say enjoy the excuse to lie in bed longer. Your energy burst will come eventually. I'm still waiting for mine!