Pregnancy - 27 week update

How far along?  27 weeks

How big is baby?  The size of a head of cauliflower (or a fennec fox) - around 36.6 cm and 875 g (1.9 lb)!

Total weight gain/loss?  61.5 kg - that's a 1.7 kg increase on last week but probably not massively accurate as, due to working different hours, I weighed myself at a different time to normal and I had a MASSIVE meal before bed last night.  So I'm expecting to stay about the same for next week as well.

Waist?  32.5 inches, same as last week.  If I'd measured it last night after my meal it would have been at least 34 I reckon - I looked a good 2 or 3 weeks more pregnant than I do now haha.

Stretchmarks?  No new ones.

Maternity clothes?  Same as before.

Sleep?  It's not been great this week - circumstances seem to have conspired against me including back pain, noisy neighbours and me making the dumb decision to wait up for ALS the other night when he was out late, despite it being over 2 hours past my usual bedtime on a work night.

Best moment this week?  We went for a lovely walk in the Peak District on Saturday and, despite it being slightly more challenging than we anticipated (think Jumanji in places, you couldn't see 2 feet in any direction for overgrowth), I had an absolutely lovely time.  It was great feeling accomplished by the end - not only did I manage it without whining, we also managed not to get lost - and it was lovely to have some quality time together away from civilisation.  We will definitely be going for more walks between now and Pip's arrival, just maybe in slightly hilly areas when I start getting heavier.

Movement?  Plenty - I think Pip is upside down at the moment, the strongest movements are above my belly button rather than down in my groin.

Food cravings?  I still just want chocolate.  I'm not exercising hard enough to burn it off though so I feel guilty if I have much.

Food aversions?  Nothing.  

Gender?   ALS and I made our baby arrival predictions this week, they are as follows:  ALS - Girl, 22nd October, 6 lb 12 oz.  Me - Girl, 9th November, 6 lb 12 oz.  It's a little weird that we both guessed the exact same weight without speaking to each other about it first, but we both have a feeling it's a girl - maybe just because we've been calling Pip "he" for so long we just assume we'll be wrong.

Labour signs?  Definitely not - not even Braxton Hicks.

Pregnancy symptoms?  Just the usual.  Plus I've been getting restless legs every night... then I try and stretch them out and get cramp!

Belly button in or out?  In.  

What I miss?  It's not so much what I miss but more what I feel I'm missing out on.  With everything going on with my mum she's not involved in my pregnancy at all and, whilst I think that's for the best at the moment, I always envisioned sharing all this with her and it's hard thinking that Pip might be missing an important relationship with his grandma.  ALS' mum died when he was a teenager so Pip won't have his paternal grandmother around either.  Fortunately, ALS' step-mum is wonderful and has been very supportive.  She lives locally and will definitely want to be involved with Pip.

What I am looking forward to?  We are going to a welcome home party for our little nephew on Saturday and it will be great to see everyone and catch up.  It's only been just over a week since I saw my sister-in-law and nephew but I'm missing them both already and I just know he'll have changed so much!

Upcoming appointments/scans?  I have another growth scan and appointment with the Consultant on 14th August and then I'm back at the midwife on 23rd August.

Weekly wisdom?  Sleep.  Whenever you get chance, just sleep.  Get early nights, take a nap if you want one and do whatever you can to get good quality sleep.  Your body will thank you for it.

Milestones?  Today I am officially in my third trimester - we're on the home stretch!

Bump picture:

You can definitely tell it's a baby bump now when it's uncovered but I still just look fat in most of my clothes, I'm desperate for it to round off nicely!  It's still pretty damn tiny by most people's standards at 27 weeks but at least it means I can still reach to tie my shoes.