38 Weeks Pregnancy Update

It's 26th of July and I'm still pregnant. And it doesn't look like it's going to change any time soon :D So maybe I was wrong. I don't even know why I had this day in my head....oh well. It's probably best he holds on for a bit, until the weather gets a bit cooler, because I struggle to keep myself cool, I would not have clue how to keep a baby from over heating. Okay I do have a clue. I've done some reading just in case, but it is definitely easier for him in my belly :D 
This week has gone really fast. It was D's birthday and I have actually been out and about more often. We've gone to the cinema and I've met my friend for dinner yesterday, which got followed by a few non-alcoholic beverages around Brindely place. She was driving so couldn't drink alcohol either so I had company in that department. And all in all it's actually been a really good week as I've kept myself busy. I need to plan out the next 2 weeks as well, so time will go faster.
Another thing is that my parents finally bought tickets to come visit us in August, and even though they are only coming for 5 days I can not wait :) It's only going to be my parents and my brother and then my sister will visit us some time in October. But 3 out of 4 is pretty good I think. 
Also it's Ds brothers birthday today, so it's probably best I' not going to give birth today, because no one wants to share their birthday :D 

This is what the bump looks like these days :)

A little 10 weeks comparison for you guys :)

How far along: 38 Weeks

Gender of the baby: Boy

Weight gain and measurements: I've given up on the weight thing for now because it is just too hot outside and inside, which means I have about 1l of liquid inside me at all times, which will add to my weight, so I won't be getting an accurate number. I will add my fundal height here on Monday once I've had my midwife appointment. I don't remember if I said it last week, but at 36 weeks it was 35 cm. He grows about (my belly)2 cm every 2 weeks so we will see. In one of my weekly newsletter it was said though, that I can kind of expect my belly to stay the size it is now. Which makes me happy if this is the case, because it means I will not get any stretch marks...I still don't have any :)

Preparations: We now have bought all the little bits and bobs we needed. We got 2 changing mats (1 for the living room and one for the bedroom) and I got my nursing bra's. I also got some nipple shields :D to shield my nipples, either from breastfeeding or breast pump. we got a few more lightweight blankets and towels for the little one. And more cotton pads and cotton balls. My hospital bag is fully packed and ready to go....but there is no baby :D hopefully sooner rather than later

Tips and tricks I've learnt: 

• Drinking lots of fluid will help you not get water retention. As long as you keep the drinks to low sugar and non carbonised.
• A little pampering session is a good way to relax. And in the last weeks the less stress the better, to help you get those wanted hormones to go into labour.
• Paranoia is normal. Excpecially when it's your first pregnancy. I though something was wrong every time before an appointment/scan and every time after. I was so sure something happened a minute the doctor moved the ultrasound wand away from my stomach :D I made the doctor actually count all the toes and fingers at my 3d/4d scan :D The trick is to get yourself realise you are just being paranoid and then get over it.
• I'm not sure if walking will get me into labour because I've stayed active through my work anyway. We'll see. I try to go for at least a short walk every day...even if it is a 10 minute trip to tesco for some ice cream.

Sleep: Sometimes I sleep so well and sometimes I can't seem to sleep at all. It's all different every day. I did think once though, that all those trips to the toilet during the night is a good practice of having to wake up for feedings and changing :)

Signs of labour: I am getting lower abdominal pain and a few cramps here and there. I can't stay upright for too long, because the braxton hicks will get stronger then. I have't had the ''show'' yet and the baby is not fully engaged, because he still twists around. I say twist, because he turns sides, but he is not going anywhere from his head down position now, which is good :)

Thoughts: I did think I will have the baby by the end of today, but now I'm thinking there is no way :D D told me to hold it together until he goes on his break from work, but I am aware that me and him wanting something doesn't mean it's going to happen :D 

Best Moment of the Week: Seeing my lovely friend and hearing about her engagement and her asking me to be a bridesmaid. I am so damn excited. I have never actually been to a wedding. They are also planning to have it somewhere warm in Europe, which means it's really more like a holiday. And their date is not set yet, but it's going to be around the time when the little bubba is over a year old :) so we'll be used to parenthood and comfortable with travelling, as I'm sure we would've gone for a few holidays before that already. 

What's In My Hospital Bag

I now have everything I think I will need at the hospital. I was just waiting to write this post until I get the last few bits and bobs...which I now have :)
The bag I'm going to take with me is just a big sports bag and I have both my things and things for the baby in it. D has his own bag that he has also packed, I know that there is a spare pillow and some sports drinks for me in there and then just things he might need for an overnight stay.

I might have packed things I don't need in there, but at least I know that when I have forgotten anything, D can always pop back home after the birth and get it for me, because we only live 30 minutes away(talking about getting the train here)...it would be faster with a taxi or car.

Anyway, I have done quite a bit of research on what to bring for both me and the baby, but in the end I've kind of stayed in the guidelines of the list that I got from the hospital and then added a few things I think I might need as well.

My Things

I am bringing two toiletry bags. They are both from Primark and I think they were about 3 pounds each...

This one holds all the washing things I will need. It also has a little hook on it so I can hang it up in the shower.

The bottles are also from Primark. The whole set was only a pound and it comes with labels as well, which is useful, because I could choose which ones I needed.
I am bringing only my toothbrush as D has one in his bag for himself and the toothpaste is actually the one I got from the Mom to Be Bounty pack. It's for 0-3 year old, but I don't really care, it's nice and small and I'll only use it a couple of times anyway.
I also have a soother for him in there, I don't think I'll need it, but I took it just in case anyway. I also have a small sudocreme, which I will use as a diaper cream if I need to...some cotton pads, paracetamol and also a spare pair of contact lenses.

The second one has a few extra maternity towels for me (I have a full pack in the bag as well), disposable underwear and 2 pairs of normal panties. I figured I'll use the disposable ones in the hospital though, because I can just throw them away and don't have to drag them back home.
I also have breast pads, which I think I wont need, because the milk won't come in until a few days, which means I probably won't have any leakage until I get home. And also a bag full of cotton balls for the baby

I will also take my make up bag with me. But I'll  just put it in my bag once its time to go.

Since I'm planning a water birth I won't be needing a delivery gown, I will be taking my bikini top though :D I just think that before he comes out, there is no need for me to be flashing my boobs. My bottom half will be under water anyway so I don't think about that...plus the midwife will be checking the progress every now and then so she will need a clear access.
I'm also taking two towels. A large dark one and a hand and face one.
In case there isn't a birthing pool available (my hospital only has 3) I am taking a baggy t-shirt. I've got one in dark blue from h&m the other day just for that, so I won't mind it getting ruined.

And for the aftermath of the birth. I'm taking slippers and a button down sleep shirt, which will be great for breastfeeding. For that I am also taking a pair of maternity bra. I got this one from Mothercare. It was in a pack of two for 4 pounds in sale. The previous price was 30 pounds :O I'll be honest I would never pay 30 pounds for something that ugly, as necessary as it might be :D

Since it was 4 pounds for 2 pairs though, I got 2 packs in different sizes, because I imagine once the milk comes in my breast will get even bigger :D so I got a pack with a bigger cup size as well.

I am also bringing this breastfeeding scarf. I am not a fan of those capes at all, and this one I got from my friend Kadi as a present, and I think it's amazing. I am aware that in the hospital no one probably cares about me flashing a boob every now and then, but I'm bringing it in case I will have to stay for a bit longer and we will have visitors in the hospital. So when he needs feeding I can still easily do it with the guests there :)

I'm also bringing my laptop and my phone charger. We don't actually have a camera, so we will be using our phones for all the photos. Plus I can also use my laptop to do a few videos of those precious first moment :)
Also bringing this little funky speaker D gave me to take. So will be using this to blast the tunes  .... joking.

I haven't quite decided on what I'm going to wear to come home, because it totally depends on the weather. If it stays like this or if he comes in the next week, I will probably just wear a tank top and leggings and the shoes I go in there with (they will probably be my Dune sandals, because I live in them )
Again I will throw something in the bag once the time is right.

D gave me this water spray, which will come useful before I can get in the birthing pool, or if I can't use it then during the labour.

I've also packed these 4 snackbars. They told us in the hospital to pack some snacks like banana and fruit, but I can't exactly pack those a head of time :D So probably will just grab a banana on our way out, or more likely forget to and have to go to the hospital shop...either way it's not a big deal. (and like I said D has some isotonic sports drinks for me) I will also bring my water bottle and my wallet and phone.

For him I am bringing a whole pack of newborn nr1 diapers ( I probably won't need all of them, but the pack fits into the side pocket so I'm bringing it)

I am also bringing a pack on baby wipes, which he won't need, but I figured would be useful for me and D, when it gets too sweaty and there is no time to get a shower.

Again I'm not sure how many days I will have to be in the hospital, so I'm probably bringing more clothes for him that I need, but they don't take much room, so it doesn't matter.

What else...3 musling squares and a blanket. I'm actually not sure If i will bring this one, because it's too nice :D I might just take a simple one that I don't mind getting dirty.

I'm also bringing this Tommee Tippee grooming kit. He might have long nails and hair, so some of the things in there might come useful. Again it's so small, I don't mind if I don't end up using it.

And the last thing is the car seat. We are not really taking it with us in the first place, because it would be silly, as we don't have a car, so we can't really leave it the car. So D will have to definitely come back home for it in the end. But it's all good.

Almost forgot...I am also bringing a plastic bag, for all the dirty clothes I need to bring back home with me. And a lip balm...apparently your lips get really dry during labour. To be honest this one makes sense, because you are getting rid of a lot of fluids so the first thing that would happen with dehydration is your lips getting dry.

Do you think I've forgotten something? Or is there something I should bring that no one tells you about, but you found useful?
Leave a comment below :)

Big Baby Haul

Hello my friends :)
I know it's been awful long since my last post, but I haven't done much.

I had a mare of a pedicure appointment on Tuesday, and on my way home I though about writing an angry post, but then I had some food and calmed down :D 
Basically the pedicure was really bad. It lasted for 2 hours and I had leg and bum cramps and my back started hurting...it was just really bad. The massage I was hoping was going to relive my leg cramps lasted all in all maybe 3 minutes ? And I still have tough skin on my heels...so At One Day Spa in the Western Arcade can suck it. I am never returning there.

But this post is not about that experience, it's about all the things we have accumulated for the baby boy this week. It's mostly been D I have to admit and a few things I got for myself for the after match of labour :D (also I ordered quite a few items from tesco direct (clothes) but they will arrive tomorrow, so I'm not able to take photos.

Anyway, pictures speak louder than words, so enjoy them :) 

So this is the part, that is actually for me. I ordered this Essentials Maternity pack from MamaBloom. I had a code from Bounty, so I got it for 16 pounds.
It includes bed mats, breast pads, maternity towels and also disposable briefs. 

D ordered diapers and wipes from amazon, which according to my friend who has 2 babies, will last us for about 2 weeks (we thought we're good for a month :D) we got loads of wipes and 3x74 size 1 diapers. 
Also got some more casettes for the Tommee Tippee Nappie Disposal bin.

And today we got the delivery from Mothercare. That's all that D ordered :)

This cute teddy

Some flat sheets for the co-sleeper.( I also got some new Matthew Williamson bedsheets for our bed today, but D doesn't like them, because they have flowers and birds on them :D you can kind of spot them on the swaddle blanket picture)

The rattle. It looks really cute :D and t has different bold colours and fabrics and things.

This is the fan I mentioned in a previous post. I didn't realise it actually looks like a  childrens fan, so I'm probably not going to be taking it shopping with me :D But it will be perfect for the baby boy :)

This bed mobile. I really like that it's not all like soft blue and green and it's actually quite colourful 

He also got a swaddle blanket. The picture below :D it looks like a mess, but it actually is a swaddle. And also the sleeping bag. It's not very thick, so It's good for the summer 

And then a top and tail bowl. For the first weeks until the umbilical cord stump falls off, you're only meant to sponge bathe him, so it will come in handy. Also one of my friend is getting us a baby bath as a gift, so we're all sorted for the bath times :) 

And that's about it :D More to follow later, after my delivery gets here and also I have girls coming over for the baby shower on saturday, so I'm sure we'll be picking up a few things :D

Baby Shop

The Chicco co-sleeper got delivered yesterday...how exciting. We have already assembled it.
And this is how it looks :) This is with the side down, so it should be attached next to the bed. But there is still time, so at the moment, I'm still enjoying being able to roll out of bed :D

I know you're not meant to have toys and things in the bed at first, but it just looks nicer this way until little ''A'' comes :)

Also I forgot to mention, that I got these little leggings and trouser thingies the other day, when I got my new wallet/shoes and organiser.

How cute are they ?

I actually got them, because we have a lot of short bodies and onesies, and I know it's going to be summer still, but it's England. The weather changes so quickly, I thought we might need a few pants/trousers as well...you know...for the chilly summer evenings and also autumn weather.

I also got these scratch mittens. Mostly because everyone is saying I need them. I'm sure 2 pairs is enough?

(I forgot to take a picture, so this is a picture from the mothercare website :D )

And also this pram suit. D got this ages ago actually, but I don't think I've featured it on the blog. He took it out of the hiding, when we put up the bed, to see how the baby will fit :D

All of the things here are actually from Mothercare. I'm not a big fan of Mamas&Papas, because I just think it's super overpriced. Even their outlet store. The things are exactly the same as Mothercare, but for some reason twice as expensive. But that's just my opinion :)

And I might be doing another clothes shop from there, because we got a money off voucher with the co-sleeper :D

Can't wait for the little one to actually be in the bed, not Wolfie the husky :D And Giggy (hiding behind Wolfie) :D There is a story behind these stuffed dogs, I'm not just a weirdo who owns toys for no reason :D