4 Months Pregnant

I am 4 months pregnant, or 18 weeks-ish.  I am considering 4 months to mean I have 5 months left until my due date.  I blogged fortnightly through my last two pregnancies and whilst I want to record this one just as well, I think monthly posts are the way forward this time.

I am four months pregnant with this fourth baby of mine and things seem to be speeding up.  The most overwhelming symptom this time around has been tiredness and unfortunately it isn't letting up much.  I seemed to get my energy back for around two weeks, but it is disappearing again and I am starting to get the feeling that this is the way the next 22-ish weeks are going to go.  I don't need to nap every day, so long as I get plenty of quiet time, don't walk too far or do too much and eat regularly.  Mostly I do need a lie down at some point in the day and the fact that the bloke works from home is making life much easier.  He is able to supervise the boys for a while whilst I get some rest.

My bump popped out very early and still changes shape dramatically across the course of the day.  There is very much a bump first thing in the morning, and it is pretty sizeable too, but by the end of the day I look far further along than I should.  My cravings change daily other than creme eggs which I eat by the carton.  I remember being the same with Archie, I think my body just likes sugar in pregnancy (and when I am not pregnant too to be honest!).  I am mourning the old style creme eggs with the lovely dairy milk chocolate, but the current ones will suffice for now.

I am struggling with blood pressure, or what I assume is blood pressure like I did with all the others.  I can go from feeling ok to being about to pass out pretty quickly and I have sat in the floor of a supermarket recently as I knew I would pass out if I didn't.  I have to carry sweet snacks with me as I can usually feel a faint spell coming and sugar helps a little.

My skin is still incredibly dry, especially on my forehead and I find myself using serums and oil on my face before bed every night and smothering it in moisturiser every morning to try and hide how dry and flaky it is.  I am not even close to that pregnancy glow I remember starting about now with the boys and I feel like my face looks grey and tired most of the time.

We had a private scan at 16 weeks where we found out our Britney bump is a little girl.  I am still waiting for this to be confirmed at our 20 week scan before I really do much shopping, but it is pretty exciting and terrifying knowing there may be a little lady joining our family this summer.  Whilst my heart told me this was a girl from the beginning, my head argued that another little boy was far more likely and I am still getting over the shock!

This month I have been doing a lot of thinking about my options for the birth and at the moment my heart is set on a homebirth - something I will write more about another time.  We have been discussing the sleeping arrangements too as whilst our house has plenty of living space, it is only three bedrooms and there will soon be six of us in here.  The boys are excited and understanding much more, although Finn is still oblivious and Archie hasn't got the memo about not climbing on me yet.

I am not yet half way and I am trying my hardest to savour this pregnancy as it is our last.  It is much harder when I feel so rough most of the time and I am not feeling the baby kicking yet either but I know I will still look back on this part and wish I had enjoyed it more.  I love having a bump and realising what amazing things our bodies are capable of.  I can't wait to meet this little person inside me who already has very long legs (Every single antenatal scan with every single child of mine the sonographer has opened with a line about how long baby's legs are!) and three big brothers to love her.  I can't wait to see her again at our anomoly scan and my shopping wist list is getting out of control!

This picture is from after dinner at 18 weeks, I haven't been great at remembering to take regular bump shots so this is all I have.

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25 Weeks Pregnant

I am using tiredness and two toddlers as my excuse for being so behind with my pregnancy posts as I am now most definitely 26 weeks, but I am finally publishing last weeks update!

At 25 weeks I should be feeling full of energy and even glowing but neither of these are true of this pregnancy.  I don't feel that I have gotten into the stride of things, and I still need to nap some afternoons to get me through the days.  I am so thankful that my boys seem to appreciate this need!  Whilst it is partly my own fault for not going to bed earlier, the boys don't seem to be sleeping well at the moment and that really isn't helping!

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23 Weeks Pregnant

I never wrote my 21 week bump update, (although I did post at 20 weeks about our scan), so there is a bit more to catch up on this time.  I am now 23 weeks into my third pregnancy, which means I am past the halfway mark, meaning I have more of an excuse to do a little shopping.

My bump growth appears to have slowed right down, although it depends on the day as some days I wake up feeling particularly small, and others I look ready to pop before I have even eaten breakfast! The picture in black was taken at 23 weeks, and the lovely one in my pyjamas was at 21, showing quite the difference! I think pretzel keeps changing position as I am feeling movement in different areas on different days still.

I had a check up at 21 weeks with the midwife, and all is progressing well.  I don't see her until December now, but from then on they will start measuring me.  I have a personalised growth chart this time, taking into account factors like my previous babies and their birth weights, and they are expecting little pretzel to be another chunky one.  Anything from 8 to 10.5 pounds on his due date and they are not concerned - eek!

I am feeling much more movement now, although this little guy seems to be following the same pattern his big brother did - something that sends me into panic every single week! He wriggles and kicks lots for around 4 days, and then has one or two where he pretty much doesn't move.  The kicks are getting stronger, and whilst he often seems to be in the breach position, tying to find an escape route with his feet, there are days he is kicking straight out by my belly button, and his little legs are now powerful enough to be felt from the outside, despite my placenta still being on the front wall of my uterus.

Whilst at 23 weeks with both the other boys, I felt on top of the world and positively glowing, having two small children is taking its toll and I find I nap given any opportunity as I feel constantly tired.  I find working at home is quite tough as I tend to get comfy on the sofa with my laptop and fall asleep whereas when I was waitressing, I was too active to even get the opportunity.  I am also finding my skin is terrible, with dry, blotchy patches on my face, again something totally new and rather unwanted.

Cravings come and go, but include orange juice, crusty bread and hula hoops at the moment.  There hasn't been an instance where I am desperate yet but I do eat and drink far too much of these things! I am still sleeping well, although I might turn over a couple of times in the night.  I need to sleep with a pillow between my knees and under my bump but I never need to get up in the night at the moment which I am thankful for.

Generally this pregnancy is going well, and I am enjoying my growing bump, the wriggles and kicks and getting to buy teeny tiny clothes again (although not that teeny, we anticipate skipping the newborn stuff altogether.)

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19 Weeks Pregnant

19 weeks pregnant, pregnancy update, 19 week bump, maternity at 19 weeks

19 weeks means I am nearly at the halfway mark in this pregnancy, and I am preparing for major growth over the coming weeks as little pretzel will double in size.  I have finally booked my 20 week scan and I can't wait to see the little one on the screen again.

I am still not feeling any kicks, but the flutterings are happening more often now and I definitely feel movement every day.  I am really hoping that Pretzel gets a bit stronger though, as I can't imagine monitoring movement like this properly.  I had an anterior placenta in my first pregnancy and remember everything was much later, but I am still hopeful.

I don't feel like my bump is growing out as much as growing up, which makes sense as my uterus is around my belly button now.  My bump seems to start higher, although it still has plenty of growing space.  This fortnight has seen me go a bit crazy with the shopping, as I was already feeling sick of my limited wardrobe and getting fed up of wearing jeans and a vest every day.  I have treated myself to lots of new things, even though I know there is only five months of wear for them.  Hopefully after the twenty week scan my shopping can move on to baby things, although if we are team blue, I don't think there will be a lot that we need!

I am having lots of dizzy spells, whether it is from low blood pressure or low blood sugar I am not sure, but I am learning to control them, and now never leave the house without something sugary in my bag for when I need a pick me up.  I have good days and bad, but I don't think having two small children to run around after is helping much.  

Generally I am feeling much better now, with plenty of energy although I am far from glowing.  For some reason my hair seems to be coping well, and I don't need to wash it more than twice a week, compared to the every other day pre-pregnancy.  It doesn't ever seem to get greasy, which pleases the lazy side of me.

I have been watching a lot of Call the Midwife this week, which has actually made me feel really positive about the upcoming birth.  Things have changed so dramatically since the time it was set, but the women just give birth with so little fuss, that I do wonder whether it is the fear and the medicalisation that is our downfall nowadays.  Obviously I am grateful that babies have such a better chance now, but I think there is also something to be learnt.  after two relatively easy births, I am definitely hoping this one follows suit!

Dylan suddenly seems very aware of the growing baby, and will tell anyone that will listen that there is a baby in his Mummy's tummy - I really hope the interest stays!  We are looking forward to telling him whether it is a little brother or sister on the way in a couple of weeks too.

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