I was so excited when I got into the third trimester. The baby was kicking all the time which was nice, however the occasional Braxton Hicks contractions were not. However every time I felt a bit crap I got it into my head that I was suffering with pre-eclampsia as everything I was suffering with seemed to be a symptom! My bump was growing to quickly and I was convinced that I would be giving birth to an enormous pelvis-shattering baby! Being back at work after the Easter holidays was a shock - I was really uncomfortable sitting down and knackered standing up, and my concentration span was about as good as some of our ADHD kids. However lots of people said I was looking good and glowing, and even glamorous - make-up is a miracle worker!
I was advised to have a second birth partner as a back-up as everyone was convinced that James, who is famously squeamish about everything, would faint and would miss the birth. My sister Sharon was desperate to be there, and although initially I didn't want her there as I didn't want to be on display, I thought it would be a good idea (and in the end she was amazing!). I made James read the labour parts of the birthing books, and along with the parentcraft classes I began to have a bit more faith in him. That is until we saw a 3 week old baby at a family barbecue and James didn't know whether she was a boy or girl despite the pink floral outfit and matching hat - oh dear!
I particularly enjoyed antenatal classes - and experienced two very different ones. I paid for a 6 week active birthing class with Lazy Daisy which was lovely, lots of yoga moves and breathing techniques and relaxation at the end, although the affirmations were a bit laughable..."I will be strong and proud..." - we'll see! Towards the end I did struggle with any form of exercise there though! We also did Parentcraft classes at the Ipsich Hospital, which were okay - the other people there were an odd bunch although I was entertained by the youngest expectant mother there who thought no topic was too embarrassing to discuss and was happy to share with us the news about mucus in her pants! James thought he was hilarious when he asked me in front of everyone whether I had piles!! I did also have the misfortune to sit through a dreadful breastfeeding workshop run by a biased and uninformed idiot called Petra, who had no medical evidence to back up anything she said. Apparantely breastfeeding reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke for the mother in later life - however when questioned she had no idea how or why! I particularly enjoyed filling out that course evaluation!
Late May saw Year 11 go on study leave. I was looking forward to this as it meant I had much more free time at school, although I would miss my form. I had an impressive haul of presents, including lots for the baby. My best present was the wine! I was beginning to regret saying that I would work the 2 weeks after half term as I was knackered and also had started to get cankles - which I went mental about (and my friends at school found hilarious, particularly Zoe and Charlotte). I had to teach mostly sitting down and had to waddle to the loo several times each lesson - which my Year 8s enjoyed telling the Head!
Half term was very welcome - we were far too busy though. James' sister and her kids came for the day - my niece Ella spent the day stroking my tummy and boobs, which was odd! Meeting up with Alice and Charlotte from work, who have recently given birth, was lovely but I did not enjoy their awful birth stories about piles, pooing, tearing and how a birthing pool actually looks like a shark attack film at the end! Going to weddings heavily pregnant is crap - no alcohol and very limited dancing. We had two that week - a reception which was properly rubbish although it was nice to catch up with friends, and then my sisters. Unfortunately hers was in Cyprus so I missed out on going but we did watch it on Skype which meant I could cry in the comfort of my own home! A week or so later (when I was 34 weeks) Sharon and Richard had a fab reception back here - apparently I looked very well despite my earlier (totally unnecessary) crying about my hair and dress! I managed to stay in heels all day - possibly because my feet were so swollen my feet were wedged into them. Dancing was a stupid idea and I could barely move the next day, and I did well not to punch Richard's sister who kept referring to me as 'Preggers' and grabbing my bump!
During week 34 I had to have a third scan to check my low-lying placenta - it was good to see the baby so well developed, however the placenta hadn't moved up that much so I officially had a Placenta Previa Minor. We got stuck at the hospital for over an hour to see a consultant, who was completely useless and patronising and was surprised I knew anything about the condition I had been told about 14 weeks earlier - she even asked me if I knew what the placenta was!!! Anyway I was told it wouldn't cause me any difficulties but they wanted me to give birth on the consultant-led ward, which I was happy with.
Anyway my baby arrived 2 weeks early - I was very pleased. Although I was enjoying maternity leave I was so uncomfortable all of the time, getting no sleep through a combination of needing to wee every 20 minutes and having acid reflux (I discovered that Gaviscon was so vile that I would rather keep reflux!), pooing a lot, had mega cankles and regular Braxton Hicks I had had so many signs of labour that I knew the baby would make an appearance soon. So when my waters broke at 12.30am on July 8th I was delighted...
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