Anyway we were quite impressed. It all looks brand new – the hospital has been through major works – and it all looks spacious and clean.

There are 18 rooms midwife and consultant led. They all have en-suite and the midwife led ones also have CD player, oil burning facilities for aromatherapy, odd shaped sofa and a bed and loads of stuff to help during labour. One of them has a birth pool There are other rooms like an induction room with 4 beds in them and not a lot of space – especially not for dads to stay there during the process – so I hope I don’t need to use one of them, theatres where the C-sections are done, rooms for rest and reflection, etc.

We also got a chance to see the midwives in action with an emergency. One of the pregnant women in my group lost consciousness. It was very hot and she kept her coat on so maybe that was the cause. The midwife that was doing the tour rang the alarm (available in every room) and about 10 of them came running to help! Very efficient!

We then went upstairs to see the post-natal ward and again it was impressive. Hot drinks available in the corridors, rooms with only 4 beds each, each bed has it’s own tv/telephone/internet connection… All very good.

The best bit was when we managed to see a midwife teaching the new parents to bathe the new born. He/she was put in a see through bucket so that they (and us from the corridor) could see how it’s done. They look so small and helpless!

If everything goes well the discharge happens between 6 hours and 2 days. ou can’t leave until both the baby and the mother are checked by the doctors. You also get the chance, as it happened, to be shown how to bathe, change a nappy and breastfeed. They expect the dad’s to change the nappies while the mother is resting. I liked that

All in all I was really happy with what I saw and the people that work there seems really nice. Can’t wait

(and there were no women in labour at the time so no screams to freak me out )

Today I had an appointment at the Derby hospital. It didn’t start well as we were stuck in traffic and got there late. I just hope that Tubbs doesn’t decide to be born during rush hour. It won’t be fun being stuck in a car in pain for ages!

We had to wait quite a bit to be seen but finally the nurse called my name. She told me there would be 2 doctors present, a consultant and a trainee. The trainee welcomed me as usual and said what we were going to be doing (the usual measuring, blood pressure check, etc). Then the consultant asked me: ‘ you are a student aren’t you?’ I said ‘yes, a PhD student’. He looked impressed and saluted me (for some reason) and asked ‘PhD? Very good, what on?’ I answered the usual ‘Planetary science, meteorites, comets and that space related stuff’. And then it all went funny. The consultant asked me to explain the phases of the Moon and complained that he could not understand a Moon crescent. Oh dear, the Moon phases are a bit difficult to explain especially in a few minutes and without the aid of some images so after much insistence I gave up on explaining and he gave up on understanding. We finally got to the appointment per se and all was well. As soon as I sat back  down he comes back with the questions! ‘Is the UK very involved in the space program?’ I said yes and that quite a few instruments were designed and went on space missions blah, blah. By then they were both quite excited and asking questions. ‘I saw a scientist on TV talking about it from the Open University, what was his name? He had a beard’ I said that it was probably CP and that I worked on his department so I knew him a bit. ‘That was it! CP!’ they said excitedly, ‘You know him?? Oh he seems to be a bit eccentric! Is he?’ And as I was saying that he could sometimes be a character the nurse intervened and actually said: ‘Come on lets get you out of here before they ask any more questions!’

I’d never seen doctors this keen to keep me in instead of wanting to get rid of me asap! I just had to laugh. They looked like two excited children That made my day!

I had to book another appointment for four weeks from now in case I am overdue and I also booked a tour of the hospital so I can actually see what facilities they have. That will be on Sunday.

On an unrelated note, most people know of the saga to find cot sheets. We went to Dunelm after the appointment and they had nothing but fitted cot sheets! Loads of them! Sigh…

First I got rid of the cold which makes my life a lot easier.

My bump is dropping by the day and I can feel the baby a lot lower than before. It is bigger though and getting out of bed and moving became quite amusing at times.

I’ve been getting a shooting pain in my bladder which the midwife said is the baby trying to engage. I’ve been having painful spasms on my back and my hips feel like they are going to dislocate at any moment. One false move and the pain strikes me like a lightning. It got to the point that I actually start laughing at the sorry image of me. These symptoms (although painful) don’t bother me nearly as much as the past month (see previous moaning posts). I don’t know if it’s because they are easier to deal with or because I see them as my body doing the final preparations for labour.

It feels like we are getting there. We don’t have to wait for ages anymore and soon enough we will have our baby in our arms. I see the light at the end of the tunnel and I think ‘blimey, it is really going to happen!’

It’s a bit of a scary thought. We still have no idea what to do or how we will be as parents but we are thinking that so many people have done it, we can do it too.

I’m trying not to think about labour as it scares me a bit, I’m just focusing on getting through it as quickly as possible and on the fabulous result. My ante-natal classes start next week. I hope they don’t show videos of labours though. The effect of women screaming the times I’ve been to the hospital was enough, if I see the whole thing I might change my mind and not want to do it anymore . Not that I have a choice.

So now that the time is coming I don’t feel impatient anymore. I’m just trying to enjoy these last few weeks as much as possible before our lives change completely, and I’m enjoying the time getting everything ready for the new arrival.

Oh and btw, when we started telling people about the pregnancy we were amazed on how so many people we know became pregnant at around the same time. So far two babies are born already

Congratulations to S. and C. on the arrival of baby J. and S. and M. on baby M. (you know who you are)

If it was just the cold it wouldn’t be so bad but at about the same time I started getting a sharp strong pain on my ribs on the left side. The result is that I can’t sit down unless I’m leaning backwards and the worst of all, I couldn’t sleep on my sides. Right or left. Sleeping on my back is not advisable especially at this point in the pregnancy and it certainly isn’t comfortable. Worst bit even? Asthma came back and together with the blocked nose the result is I can’t sleep on my back! So I couldn’t sleep! I got to the point of desperation!

Fortunately the asthma eased and the pain in the ribs decreased so I can now sleep on my right side for short periods. But I still have a blocked nose and a pounding headache. But much better than before

My bump has dropped considerably (might have helped with the ribs) but it’s still growing and Tubbs is certainly still moving a lot. I think more than ever. And it’s really funny how she responds to external stimulation

One thing that I’ve noticed is that whenever Russ puts his hand on my bump she calms down. Guess who will be putting her to sleep?

Anyway I have been reading lots about babies and found some books that are a bit more real and prepare you for what can go wrong even with breast feeding. Until now the picture was painted as a perfect one. It is slightly concerning but I think I prefer to be prepared for it than to be caught off guard and feel like a failure or like I’m not a good mother.

I’m also getting quite impacient! I can’t wait to see what she looks like and to be able to hold her. I mean she is inside me but I can’t touch her.

I already packed my hospital bag (I like to be prepared) and realised that she has loads of clothes but only up to 3 months. Nothing above that! We are going to have to do some shopping. We have almost everything else. All we need is some sheets and  a mobile for the cot, some towels, a thermometer and a couple of toys she can look at and touch.

34 weeks tomorrow

The doctor was the slowest doctor I’ve ever seen. At first I thought it was because he was foreign (sounded like a germanish accent) and wasn’t very comfortable with English, but even writing down the notes took ages. Very odd. I was supposed to see him about the latex allergy but the only thing he asked me was what made me think I was allergic and that was that. I’m not sure if it’s because of the allergy or the possibility of diabetes but I am being followed by both the midwife and a hospital doctor so I have another appointment with the hospital.

In the mean time I haven’t been sleeping very well. My back has been hurting all day and night and together with the heartburn and the night visits to the toilet I’m not left with much time for sleeping. I getting bigger and bigger and it’s starting to get a but frustrating not being able to do anything. I can’t get out of the sofa without Russ’s help, I can’t pick up things from the floor or reach lower cupboards, I get tired just going up the stairs to use the toilet, I’m in constant pain and starting to get bored. Especially when there is so much left to do with the house and I can’t do it. Honestly I’m starting to get a bit fed up with being pregnant and I can’t wait till Tubbs is born healthy and beautiful. Still 10 more weeks to go (if she’s not late) and my mood is getting worse each day (Poor Russ)

Well we have been on holiday and very busy with setting up the business and looking for houses. All still in the process of being done.

The holidays in Portugal were great although I did confirm that flying doesn’t agree with me both mentally and physically. My legs looked like tree trunks!

In the 10 day I was away my bump got a lot bigger (no doubt it also has to do with the fact that we get fed till we drop of culinary goodness)

I realise a couple of things:

- I can’t sleep without my maternity pillow! Terrible nights I had with lots of back pain.

- I only have 4 tops left that actually cover my bump

- I now have to tie my trainers sideways cos I can’t reach them by leaning forward.

- It is also very difficult to lean or reach things that are close to the floor.

- I will have to ask Russ to cut my toe nails at some point which will be interesting (I can’t stand anyone touching them)

- My feet and ankles are not skinny any more

- And…

I felt the baby move!!! What an amazing feeling! I can feel it more when I’m lying on by back and it protests when it gets to tight in  there.

I can’t wait ’till Russ is able to feel it too

In the mean time people gave us clothes for the baby to had to what we already bought and Tubbs now has more clothes than me

It was also nice to talk to my mum. I asked her if her bump was big as I have noticed mine is quite big comparing to some other pregnant women. She told me she was thinner than me when she was pregnant and had a huge bump. Even the doctor was wondering if there were twins. Of course I was 8.5 pounds when I was born which might have something to do with it as well.

Tomorrow starts my 20th week (half way through, Woo-hoo!) and I have an appointment with the doctor and an anomaly scan on Thursday. I can’t help but feeling nervous because they are going to check for anomalies but I also can’t way to see Tubbs again

Now that I had an expert in babies next to me I could finally know what to buy. And I bought, and bought, and bought. Grobag, body suits, sleeping suits, bibes. They are so small and cute! And I didn’t spend that much. I think I have ore than enough now for the baby’s first few day. Of course I will shop much more but I will wait for the January sales

I the mean time Russ was left in charge to meet someone who works at the OU and had a travel system to sell. It was a great one as it also included the car seat. New its costs close to £400. The person was selling it for £90. It was a bit used of course but after a good cleaning it looks perfect! It has all the accessories like feet warmer, rain cover, sun cover and it’s a lovely navy blue colour.

When Russ joined me in Derby on Friday he even had another surprise for me. One of his colleagues had given him a travel cot, same colour and everything. We are all kitted up!

Now the only problem is where to put all thins. we definitely need a bigger house. It’s All cramped up in one corner of the living room and together with all the toys his colleague gave us it means we can’t reach the dining table. Lol. I think we’ll be playing with the toys later

Just looking at the clothes left me worried. There were all these different sizes like 0-3 months, small baby, tiny baby and I realised I have no idea what to buy for the new born. I don’t know how big they are, what they need, how many they need

Not to mention the chairs and trolleys. There are so many sizes and shapes it will be very confusing to choose one. Never been around babies in my life so I don’t have a clue about them.

I’m going to need the help of more experienced people. Luckily Russ’s family is full of experienced mums