Twelve Short Months: Admitted Over Easter

I had broken up for Easter feeling full of beans. I knew that come the next holiday I would be going on maternity leave. I was at a great bump size which was comfortable to sleep with, I was feeling regular kicks and rolls from baby and staring to really notice which bits were poking out. What happened in the next was the scariest point of my pregnancy.

40 weeks in and 40 weeks out.

This week marks the date on which L had been out as long as she was in. 

A pregnancy is always referred to as nine months, but at 40 weeks it is usually closer to ten months by the time a baby arrives into the world. Two weeks of a pregnancy are counted before a baby is even conceived. By 37 weeks a baby is full term and arrival from then causes no real concerns but there are still signs that they have come out of the oven a bit early. A baby is not seen as an individual or person in their own right lawfully until they have been delivered and separated from their mother. Your baby is the only person on the planet who knows the sound of your heart beat on the inside. 



Bump from 4 weeks to 40 weeks with baby shower at 36 weeks.

Twelve Short Months: Team Yellow

I had always known that I wanted J to announce if we had a son or a daughter at delivery. I wanted the anticipation and mystery for the entire pregnancy. 

We went into the 20 weeks scan much more prepared and much more accepting of the fact we were going to become parents. J had been feeling movements as had I. My bump was growing every day and I was feeling well and excited. 

This scan was not without incident however as we arrived at the hospital to be told we had missed our appointment. Turned out they had written the wrong date on my notes. A slight foot stamp saw us put on the list for that morning. 

Twelve Short Months: Slapped Cheek and Second Looks

I arrived back at work after my booking in appointment with the midwife to be told that a child in my class had something called slapped cheek. I didn't know what it was. The infectious disease information at school said to inform your midwife if you came into contact with it. I duly called her back only to be told not to worry.

An hour later and more research on mine and the schools part and it was found to actually be a bit of a worry. The NHS Choices website has a list of complications and time frames. I was 10 weeks pregnant. This was on the border of the risky time for baby, a really risky time. Possibly the most devastating of things can happen, and if not that then other very close monitoring is needed for a potentially dangerous side affects for baby.

Twelve Short Months: First Look

The first picture of L. 

Twelve Short Months

On this day last year I peed on a stick. 

 

 

It was positive.