Pregnancy - 26 weeks

How far along?  26 weeks  

How big is baby?  Between 24 and 27 weeks it is around the size of a chocolate cake so I'd guess around 600 g this week.

Total weight gain/loss?  67.4 kg so another 1.4 kg back on, hardly surprising given the size I'm getting.

Waist?  I really must ask Ant for my tape measure back...

Stretchmarks?  Not yet..

Maternity clothes?  Wishing I'd bought more...

Sleep?  Not bad at all to be honest.

Best moment this week?  Just finally seeing a bit of sunshine - I've been for a couple of lunchtime walks at work with the girls and it's been beautiful.

Movement?  Lots of jabs, kicks, rolls and everything in between.

Food cravings? Pretty much the same, to be honest I'm just starving all the time.  I'm starting to think this baby may actually be a tapeworm!

Food aversions? Nothing, kind of wish I had some tbh!

Gender?  Boy - and he might actually have a name.  We think we are going with Finley Jack.

Labour signs?  Noooo.

Pregnancy symptoms?  Pretty much the same, I'm feeling very pregnant now but I'm loving it most of the time.  However, the rib pain has kicked in again as it did with Oscar but about eight weeks earlier so I'm not looking forward to how much it hurts by the end.

Belly button in or out?  In.

What I miss?  Having a reasonable choice of clothes that fit - I'm going to have to buy some more maternity clothes at this rate as even my stretchy leggings are getting snug.

What I am looking forward to?  More time outside in the sunshine and making the most of the garden while we have it.

Upcoming appointments/scans? I see the midwife at the beginning of April and then the Consultant and a scan at the end of April.

Weekly wisdom?  Second pregnancies are harder!

Milestones?  Someone assuming I was pregnant without me saying anything.

Bump Picture:

Pregnancy - 25 weeks

How far along?  25 weeks  

How big is baby?  Between 24 and 27 weeks it is around the size of a chocolate cake so I'd guess around 700 g this week.

Total weight gain/loss?  66 kg today so actually 0.6 kg down on last week which makes sense as I'd weighed myself after breakfast last week and also I've been more active this week.

Waist?  I really must ask Ant for my tape measure back...

Stretchmarks?  Not yet..

Maternity clothes?  Well and truly in them now and having to keep on top of the washing to make sure I actually have clean things to wear.

Sleep?  Not too bad this week especially as I've been back to sleeping in a bed!

Best moment this week?  Finding out that (hopefully) things are going to start progressing with the house.  There was also a lovely moment the other night where Oscar just lay rubbing my stomach for aches.  He likes to give it kisses and tell me how much love he's going to give his baby brother.

Movement?  I'm pretty sure the movements are already as strong as they were towards the end with Oscar but I guess that makes sense as my placenta was at the front last time so it really cushioned the feeling.

Food cravings? Cookies and crisp sandwiches with loads of butter.

Food aversions? Nothing particularly.

Gender?  Still a boy as far as we know.  I doubt that will change as they rarely get it wrong nowadays and, if they do, it's usually because the penis is hiding and they think it's a girl.  Once you've seen a penis it's hard to mistake it for anything else!

Labour signs?  Nope, not for a good while yet I hope.

Pregnancy symptoms?  Heartburn, sciatica, higher heart rate, bleeding gums, generally just feeling more achey and less fit.  I'm back to being constipated too but that could be all the Gaviscon.  On the whole I don't feel bad but I definitely do feel more "pregnant" than last time, presumably because I was less fit going into it and also I've not been able to rest the same or keep up my exercise regime because of the house and Oscar.

Belly button in or out?  In.

What I miss?  Disposable income - we haven't bought anything in preparation for this baby yet and we are constantly checking bank accounts and shifting money around, I can't wait to get moved to a smaller, cheaper house so we can hopefully get back to being able to afford to lift without constantly scrimping and saving.

What I am looking forward to?  Nothing specific at the moment, just general house moving and baby stuff.

Upcoming appointments/scans? I've got an echo tomorrow just to check everything is stable with my EDS but no standard appointments for a while.  I see the midwife at the beginning of April and then the Consultant and a scan at the end of April.

Weekly wisdom?  Keep active - you'll feel much better for it.  I've not been doing any particular exercise but I have tried to make a conscious effort to get out for walks and fresh air and it's definitely helping with my aches and pains and general fatigue, although that could also be down to the better sleep too.

Milestones?  Really starting to feel pregnant.

Bump Picture:

Pregnancy - 24 weeks

 How far along?  24 weeks  

How big is baby?  Between 24 and 27 weeks it is around the size of a chocolate cake (I really need to get used to saying "he" instead of "it").  Around 13 inches and 660 g this week.

Total weight gain/loss?  I was 66.6 kg this morning (albeit after food) which is almost 2 kg on since last week.  I'm definitely starting to look and feel pregnant now although I feel like it is probably more cookies than baby - oops!

Waist?  I'm actually getting curious now as I feel like I'm approaching the size I was at almost all full-term last time although my bump is still small compared to a lot.

Stretchmarks?  None yet but given the rapid size/weight gain I wouldn't be surprised if I'm not as lucky as last time.

Maternity clothes?  My maternity PJs are essentially the comfiest thing in the world.  I'm growing out of most of my normal leggings but I'm loathed to spend any more money at the moment as funds are tight.  My maternity dresses are great and should hopefully keep me going until the end and I can't wait until it is warm enough to wear my skirt and tops.

Sleep?  I've not been doing too badly with sleep and for the first time last night I actually managed to get Oscar to sleep in our bed instead of on the sofa and it was lovely to be able to sleep in a bed again, although we did get woken up at 5:30 this morning by him wetting himself because he slept so soundly.

Best moment this week?  Honestly this week has generally just been a bit rough however I did have a lovely prolonged game of snakes and ladders with Oscar which felt like real progress as he concentrated for ages and played nicely.

Movement?  I'm definitely getting beaten up from the inside at the moment - there are some really strong movements at times and I feel like baby has definitely had a growth spurt.

Food cravings? Cookies, cookies and more cookies, although egg fried rice is up there too.

Food aversions? I've still not gone back to Cheerios which is annoying as I'd been having them for breakfast for months, maybe years, and my alternatives are far less healthy.

Gender?  Boy, albeit a nameless one.  We are swinging between Lucas and Finley but that could change.

Labour signs?  Nope, not for a good while yet I hope.

Pregnancy symptoms?  The heartburn has been pretty intense this week, my nipples are still like bullets and I'm generally getting more aches and pains, particularly in my back.  The restless legs have been really strong for the last few days too.

Belly button in or out?  In.

What I miss?  Things actually seeming to go well for once - now it looks like we may well have lost our house buyers which means we may need to find a new house to move to and lose the one that is perfectly located and ideal for the school we want Oscar to go to.  It was a nice feeling while it lasted but I'm pretty sure we definitely wont tbe moved before baby arrives now and may have to completely start again.

What I am looking forward to?  Payday next month as I've got loads of Sunday overtime planned in the next few weeks.

Upcoming appointments/scans? I saw the Anaesthetist this morning and she's happy with how things are going.  She wants to see me in labour but mostly just for my reassurance than anything else. 

Weekly wisdom?  Life sucks, get used to it.  Not feeling very optimistic this week as you can tell.

Milestones?  Viability!

Bump Picture:

Pregnancy - 23 weeks

How far along?  23 weeks  

How big is baby?  It stays a fruit pie between 21 and 23 weeks and goes from around 430 g to 600 g apparently so I'd guess around 600 g by now.

Total weight gain/loss?  I'm now 64.8 kg which means I'm officially heavier than when I gave birth to Oscar... will be interesting to see how heavy I end up getting - could make for some good progress pictures next year!  

Waist?  Meh.

Stretchmarks?  None yet.

Maternity clothes?  I'm regretting not buying more winter maternity clothes as even my leggings are getting a bit snug at the moment so I'm mostly living in my PJs or stuff that's too small at home. 

Sleep?  I've been reading more at bedtime and had a couple of good nights, last night wasn't so great but Oscar has slept slightly better too which helps.

Best moment this week?  Getting some sunshine!  We've had a few weeks where it has been really grey and miserable, plus a few storms, so it's really nice to see some sun.  I also got to meet my friend's new little girl which is the first baby I've held in a couple of years so that was nice.

Movement?  Plenty and I'm slowly starting to see a bit more of a pattern and notice them even when I'm not thinking about it.

Food cravings? Still cookies - I got home from work today and Ant and Oscar had baked cookies so they were fresh out of the oven.  Amazing.

Food aversions? Nothing any more really.

Gender?  Boiy.

Labour signs?  Nope, not for a good while yet I hope.

Pregnancy symptoms?  No real changes in them this week to be honest.  I did buy some maternity bras so my boobs are a little more comfortable but my nipples are like bullets.  I'm also constipated again which may well be linked to the increase in Gaviscon usage.

Belly button in or out?  In.

What I miss?  Glowing - last pregnancy I glowed by this stage but I feel like that might be passing me by this time!

What I am looking forward to?  More outdoor time and lighter evenings.  Also viability next week!

Upcoming appointments/scans? I'm due back with the midwife in early April and then late April I have a growth scan and appointment with the Consultant.   I've got the Anaesthetist next Friday too and managed to swap my working days so I didn't have to cancel/change it.

Weekly wisdom?  Every pregnancy is different.  I've been told this a lot and been scoffing a little as my pregnancies were pretty much identical up until the last couple of weeks.  They're still very similar but I'm slowly finding the differences.

Milestones?  Finally starting to really look pregnant.  I took a photo today of my bump in an outfit where I have a photo from 31 weeks from Oscar and there isn't much difference.  I definitely carry really low though.

Bump Picture:

Pregnancy - 22 weeks

 How far along?  22 weeks  

How big is baby?  The size of a fruit pie - around 430 g.  It stays a fruit pie between 21 and 23 weeks and goes from around 430 g to 600 g apparently.

Total weight gain/loss?  I'm up to 63.9 kg this week so back to gaining weight steadily.  The last time I weighed myself when I was pregnant with Oscar I was 64.7 kg so I'm definitely going to be much heavier this time as I'm not far off that already with 18ish weeks to go.

Waist?  Meh.

Stretchmarks?  None yet.

Maternity clothes?  I'm loving the dresses, very comfy and they actually make me look more pregnant as they accentuate my bump.

Sleep?  I've had a couple of terrible nights, Oscar started one of his days at 2 AM and generally sleep hasn't been forthcoming this week but we regroup and move on.

Best moment this week?  There haven't really been any stand out moments this week - it hasn't been a bad week, just nothing that strikes me as being better than the rest.

Movement?  Lots of wiggles and kicks nowadays.  He definitely moves around more when I've had Lucozade in a morning.  For the last couple of days he's been kicking downwards towards my bladder as I've felt like I'm randomly about to wet myself and I've also felt a couple of bigger rolling-type movements.

Food cravings? Cookies... soft ones, hard ones, as long as they're filled with chocolate chips I'm on board.

Food aversions? Nothing any more really.

Gender?  Boy - I'm trying so hard to get used to referring to him as "he" but I still keep saying "it" all the time and having to be corrected.

Labour signs?  Nope, not for a good while yet I hope.

Pregnancy symptoms?  Growing, aches and pains in my tailbone and back, heartburn (hugely linked to tomato-based foods like soup or spaghetti), lots of peeing and random irrational anger for no reason.  Nothing I can't handle but it definitely feels like pregnancy is taking more of a toll on my body this time; I assume due to the fact that I'm not exercising, didn't start in great shape and have Oscar to take care of so can't look after myself as well as before.

Belly button in or out?  In.

What I miss?  Still sunshine - I'm sick of the cold and wind, ready to get spending more time outdoors now.

What I am looking forward to?  So last week I was totally wrong... I actually have about 36 days left at work before maternity leave, I'd added up wrong!  Anyway, this week I'm just looking forward to the weekend.  Now my tailbone hurts at work, I'm really ready for a day off by Saturday!

Upcoming appointments/scans? I'm due back with the midwife in early April and then late April I have a growth scan and appointment with the Consultant.   I finally got my Anaesthetist appointment through for 4 March but I'm going to see if I can change it as it's a Friday so I should be working.

Weekly wisdom?  Sometimes time just slows right down... the whole pregnancy so far seems to have flown an then the last two weeks have just completely dragged as we've not been so busy with house stuff.

Milestones?  Nothing major this week I don't think.

Bump Picture:

And my boobs are huge...

Pregnancy - 21 weeks

How far along?  21 weeks  

How big is baby?  The size of a fruit pie - around 430 g.  It stays a fruit pie between 21 and 23 weeks and goes from around 430 g to 600 g apparently.

Total weight gain/loss?  I was 63.7 kg last week and I'm 63.5 kg this week which isn't surprising as I've had a bit of trouble with my IBS causing an upset stomach.

Waist?  Too big for my work trousers?

Stretchmarks?  Not so far although I've been very lax with my tummy butter.

Maternity clothes?  They arrived this week and everything is great - I wore the trousers for work, they're big but the waistband tightens so that does the job.  I'm currently cosied up in my comfy zebra print PJs and I'm excited to get to wear some of the dresses.

Sleep?  Sleep has been okay over the last couple of nights albeit Oscar has been up at the crack of dawn (or a few hours before).  I've been reading my hypnobirthing book and practising some relaxation breathing at bedtime which has helped me to settle a bit more easily, hopefully even more so when I get to listening to the audio tracks.  I'm waking up a lot in the night but not usually for more than a quick fidget or a wee so I can't really complain.

Best moment this week?  Feeling like things are finally starting to settle with Oscar.  I'm aware that the upheaval of a house move, baby and starting school will probably cause us to go a long way backwards but at the moment we are getting him out regularly for fresh air by letting him play Pokemon Go, he's started eating a few foods that aren't sugary (cheese sandwiches, apples and grapes at home and generally eating or trying most things at nursery including cottage pie) and he's been generally calmer, very affectionate and more regulated.  He's also getting a great relationship with Zeus - he's learned to be gentle with him, always wants to stroke and cuddle him and Zeus often sits by his side and purrs when he strokes him.

Movement?  Things are definitely kicking off in this department.  I'm more aware of the movements on a daily basis when I'm going about my day and also he's quite regular in having a good wiggle before bed or if I'm just chilling on the sofa with Oscar in an evening. 

Food cravings? Nothing in particular.

Food aversions? Nothing any more.

Gender?  Boy.

Labour signs?  Nope, not for a good while yet I hope.

Pregnancy symptoms?  I'm really struggling with my tailbone when I'm sitting at my desk but I'm going to get my exercise ball pumped back up to keep in the office.  Otherwise just the general reflux, growing outwards in all directions and my massive boobs - I'm even growing out of my maternity bras from last time so I'm going to have to go and get measured again soon.

Belly button in or out?  In.

What I miss?  Sunshine!  The weather lately hasn't been too cold but has just generally been wet, miserable and windy.  I'm just generally looking forward to being able to go out and about without needing loads of layers, hat, gloves etc.

What I am looking forward to?  Maternity leave... okay so I have a way to go but because I'm now part time and have annual leave to use I've actually only got about 25 working days left and I'm hoping we will be in the new house by then so I can get some serious nesting done.  

Upcoming appointments/scans? I'm due back with the midwife in early April and then late April I have a growth scan and appointment with the Consultant.  It seems weird having so few appointments but it's nice not having extra stuff to coordinate, especially with COVID meaning I have to go alone and faff about with masks and lateral flows etc.
 
Weekly wisdom?  It is AMAZING what some deep breathing and quiet time can do.

Milestones?  Wearing maternity clothes!

Bump Picture:

Pregnancy - 20 weeks

How far along?  20 weeks  

How big is baby?  The size of a large popcorn - around 360 g, which is a huge 20% weight gain in one week!

Total weight gain/loss?  I definitely forgot to weigh myself this morning - I'm still not really looking pregnant so I think my weight is just distributing everywhere.

Waist?  Maybe I should just delete this... I'll see if I get bigger than I did with Oscar by the end but that's probably it.

Stretchmarks?  Not that I've noticed.

Maternity clothes?  I've finally ordered some - after ten days off work I could barely squeeze into my trousers yesterday.  However I had already ordered a few bits from Shein (a pair of work trousers, a couple of dresses and a skirt) so I'm waiting on those arriving.  Today I also grabbed a few bits online in the New Look sale so I've got another dress, a 3-pack of strappy tops (to hopefully go with the skirt), a pair of PJs and a long chiffon-esque pregnancy/nursing top too.  Altogether I've spent just over £40 for all of that so I'm quite pleased with it and hoping at least some of them fit/suit me.  I didn't really buy any maternity stuff last time aside from one skirt for work and a couple of stretchy nursing tops, which I still have, so I'm actually quite excited.  With it being winter last time I got away with just wearing stretchy strappy tops/t-shirts, leggings and baggy jumpers but with it being likely to be hot weather by the time I'm heavily pregnant this time it's going to be harder to be comfortable and still look presentable.  

Sleep?  Sleep has been hit and miss again.  I've had a couple of nights where I've slept well but then Oscar has been up early, a couple where I couldn't get to sleep because of my brain going round in circles about the house situation and then last night my hip was really hurting no matter how I lay.

Best moment this week?  Oh there have been SO many this week.  On Tuesday I finally received my autism diagnosis after almost 3 years on the waiting list, on Wednesday we had a scan showing our little bub is growing nicely and looks healthy, yesterday we got our offer accepted on a maisonette so we finally have the ball rolling for moving house and then today I found out that a few days ago one of my best friends safely delivered a beautiful baby girl!

Movement?  There's definitely getting more and more movement at the moment.  He's particularly active in an evening when I'm chilling on the sofa but I also get some little wriggles when I'm sat at my desk and things too.  I've had a couple of bigger kicks strong enough to feel on the outside which is much earlier than last time so I'm hoping Ant and Oscar will be able to feel them soon when they're more regular.

Food cravings? Nothing really - I've been trying to be a bit better this week so I've had lots of cottage pie with vegetables.

Food aversions? Nothing any more.

Gender?  Definitely still a boy - it was confirmed on the scan and I even saw for myself.

Labour signs?  No.

Pregnancy symptoms?  My bladder is definitely still working on overdrive but my repeat urine sample was clear so at least there's no infection.  The reflux has been a little less severe this week, probably because baby is wedged right down in my pelvis - he's still very camera shy and was really hard to see on the scan.

Belly button in or out?  In.

What I miss?  Having energy - I'm getting little bursts during the day but generally after half an hour or so of productivity I'm knackered.  I can definitely tell I'm not in the same shape I was when I was pregnant with Oscar and it's also obviously harder because I'm running around after Oscar too. 

What I am looking forward to?  Starting to get things in place for moving house and finally being able to prepare a little bit for baby.

Upcoming appointments/scans? I'm due back with the midwife in early April and then late April I have a growth scan and appointment with the Consultant.  The growth scan is now also a placenta check as my placenta should be 20 mm away from my cervix and is currently only about 17.3 mm.  It can't get closer, it can only get further away so hopefully things will be fine by then.  I've still not heard from the Anaesthetist but I'm not too worried about that.  The ward manager for the antenatal/postnatal ward also called me to discuss my issues last time and try to reassure me so that was helpful.
 
Weekly wisdom?  Patience is a virtue.  I don't have much of it but we know that good things do come around eventually and this week has really proven that to me.

Milestones?  We are officially halfway there!

Bump Picture:

Definitely looking a little bumpy but not exactly pregnant.

And once I'm dressed you can barely tell at all!