Pregnancy - 24 week update

How far along?  24 weeks

How big is baby?  The size of a large mango (or a chinchilla) - around 28.9 cm and 500 g (1.1 lb)!

Total weight gain/loss?  59 kg exactly today.  It's 0.2 kg down on last week but given the fact that last week I weighed myself later in the day and fully dressed, I reckon I was probably only 58.something last week so things are still going in the right direction!  1.5 kg over where I started at 24 weeks, not bad at all.

Waist?  31.5 inches - another 0.5 inches on! :D

Stretchmarks?  No new ones - I'm still swearing by Palmer's Tummy Butter, either it works miracles or I'm just being very lucky.  I'll probably start to get some when I really start to grow.

Maternity clothes?  Still none, I'm off work for 5 days now so hoping to get some time to do a little bit of a shopping.

Sleep?  Sunday night was horrendous!  I'd just met my little nephew and I couldn't stop thinking about him and then thinking about having my own baby so I was awake until almost 2am.  Otherwise it's been okay though.

Best moment this week?  Reaching viability!  Also, for the first time someone actually just assumed I was pregnant without me mentioning it so I must actually look pregnant now - although it definitely depends on what I'm wearing.  I asked if he'd just assumed I was pregnant and he got really uncomfortable and apologised - I reassured him that it was entirely a good thing and I was very excited by it (although a lot of women might not like it). 

Movement?  I think Pip has moved this week.  Movements had been really low down, particularly on the right and a little on the left so we figured he was lay lengthways with his feet to my right.  In the last 24 hours I've felt some movements quite high up, above my belly button, so I think he might be standing on his head or just stretching out more.  Update - I shared this blog post this morning but this afternoon, whilst we were at the cinema (War for the Planet of the Apes is AMAZING by the way) ALS got to feel Pip kick :D

Food cravings?  Nothing much this week.

Food aversions?  Nothing.  

Gender?   I had a dream last night that I was putting the baby in the pushchair... it's not very clear in my head but I think it was a girl.  Maybe it's a sign!

Labour signs?  Definitely not.  I keep wondering if I'll feel Braxton Hicks at any point but nothing so far.

Pregnancy symptoms?  Nothing new this week - I'm just really loving being pregnant at the moment and so excited to be a mum.

Belly button in or out?  In.

What I miss?  Nothing at the moment - I'm just embracing everything.

What I am looking forward to?  Spending more time with my nephew, our birthday party this weekend (it's ALS' birthday tomorrow and mine the day after), ALS being able to feel kicks soon hopefully... lots of things going on at the moment!

Upcoming appointments/scans?  I'm back at the midwife on 19th July and my next growth scan is 14th August.   I'm also awaiting an appointment for an echocardiogram just to check my EDS hasn't affected my heart in the last few years and to make sure my previous murmur is completely gone.

Weekly wisdom?  Don't start counting down too early!  I'm currently counting down until I finish work - I love my job and the days aren't exactly dragging but I'm so excited to be able to fully focus on being pregnant and then being a mum for a while.  I know the time is meant to go slowly towards the end but when I'm at home I find plenty of ways to keep it going quickly.  I only actually have (I think) 46 days left at work because I work 4 long days instead of 5 average ones and I have some annual leave put in to take before I go off on leave.  It's going to fly by - hopefully!

Milestones?  Viability.  As much as I really hope Pip stays put for a good few months yet, I'm very relieved/excited to know that if anything did happen now he/she would stand a fighting chance.

Bump picture: 

It's SO amazing to think there's an actual viable baby in there!  I may have to find a new location for my photos... so pale I'm blending in with the bedsheets haha!