This week marks the third trimester!  I’ve said it before, but I cannot believe how quickly the time is going.  Every day it seems my bump is getting bigger, Little Doodle is getting stronger (and kicking harder), and now my days are numbered: just 14 weeks to go.  I’ve been using some of my free time to research everything on the internet: everything from what to expect in labor, to the how to’s of breastfeeding, to the things our parents never told us could happen (like…. defecating when pushing… really???).

Day to day, I’m starting to experience discomfort with the increasing size of the bump:  Back pain, severe heartburn, and shortness of breath as the baby starts pushing on my diaphragm.   Some nights it seems as though I don’t turn at all in my sleep, and therefore I am awoken nearly every 45 minutes just to roll to my other side. In addition, the further along I get in my pregnancy, the stranger and more vivid my dreams become.  Even though my job is an easy, sit-at-desk sort of role, sitting is starting to make my butt go numb and I find it hard to get comfortable.

We had a midwife appointment yesterday and got to hear Little Doodle’s strong heartbeat.  My bump was measured from top to bottom, and an appointment made for my 34 week scan.  I’m done with the glucose tests (thank God!) as everything checked out fine and looks as though I will not be prone to developing gestational diabetes.  Next up this month is a shot I need as I am rhesus negative (O neg to be precise) just in case the baby is rhesus positive (this, in short, would not be good for me).  I will be seeing my midwife more frequently now, which will soon become a weekly visit in the last month and a half of pregnancy.  I’ve got my form to send off for my antenatal class booking, and my midwife also gave me a form for a pregnancy grant: apparently, every pregnant woman gets 190 pounds. I can think of a few things this will help buy for the baby.  Once again, socialism rules.

Yesterday my father in law asked me how I am finding the care under the NHS as opposed to any previous care I have received in the US.  I find the NHS to be wonderful.  I feel as though I am being looked after, everything I need is being provided for me, and I have around the clock support I can contact should I need it.  The one time I did have any concern, at 8 weeks, I was seen by a doctor within an hour of the incident, and was at the hospital for a precautionary scan under 24 hours later.  My midwife is pleasant and informative and is just two blocks up from where I live.  I am receiving every test, every scan, and every visit I need to ensure my pregnancy is progressing smoothly, all on time with no wait for appointments involved.  And, needless to say, I’m not paying for any of it.  I don’t have to fork over cash every time I leave the doctors office, or the hospital.  I’m not billed weeks later for the blood work and tests, and we are not spending valuable income that could go towards the baby on routine care.

I’ve decided on a leaving day for work:  June 15th.  This will give me just a little over three weeks to prepare for Little Doodle’s arrival.  Even though it will eat into some of my maternity leave, it was not recommended I wait until a week, week and half before the birth to take it.  So, who could argue with that?  Still waiting to see what Mark will get off work as paternity leave.  He has the potential to have a full two weeks paid paternity leave, but as I have been told at work this can be down to the individual manager.  Fingers crossed!

Currently, we are in a race against time with the baby’s due date.  With the help of Mark’s father, we have purchased a property.  This will provide us with alot more space than our current one bedroom flat, and as such we are waiting to begin purchasing things for the baby as we simply do not have any space here.  Once everything goes through and the sale completed (and the tenants given notice, who currently rent the property from the owner) we will be quite close to D-Day.  I’m hoping everything progresses quickly and easily so we can have time to move in and get things semi settled… as everything will be alot more complicated with a Little Doodle about!

We’ve also just invested in a really good Canon camcorder.  One can expect loads of photos and videos to be posted in the near future!!

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