It seems crazy that we're at this stage already. I remember writing my very first update for this pregnancy, and thinking our due date was aaages away. But here we are, with just 9 days until that date! Although as I've said throughout this pregnancy, I still think I have at least one more update to write.

HOW FAR ALONG?

38 weeks & 5 days

DUE DATE?
14th January 2018

GENDER?
Girl!

HOW’S BABY DOING?
I use the Baby Centre App to check on baby's progress - Baby is around 6.8lbs, although I reckon she's closer to the 8lb mark at this stage now (especially if she takes after her brother and sister). She's also around 49.8cm long, which is about as long as a leek.

I've seen my midwife twice since my last update (I'm seeing her weekly now), and we've had some rather rubbish news. My iron levels have dropped again, so our home birth plans are now out of the window. I'm absolutely gutted, as it's what I've wanted from the very beginning. But I know the safety of myself and the baby are most important, so I will of course follow the midwives advice.

The good news though, is that baby girl is doing really well. She's well head down, in a good position, and still 3/5ths engaged. She's wriggling around loads, and forever bouncing on my cervix.. much to my discomfort!

WEIGHT CHANGE?
I'm hoping to jump on the scales soon to see how much I've put on overall - I'm a little bit scared though, as I've definitely indulged the last few weeks.

SYMPTOMS?
I'm absolutely exhausted and everything aches. I can't move or do anything without making those 'ooft' noises, and I've definitely given up trying to do anything more than I need to now. I'm waking constantly at night (all good preparation right?), but I know there's a light at the end of the tunnel so I'm trying to just embrace these last few days / weeks.

SLEEP?
What is sleep? I've said to Jack that I actually dread going to bed these days, as I know sleep is going to be so rubbish. I'm waking almost hourly, peeing at least twice during the night, and just cannot get comfortable at all! I'm exhausted though, and have found myself drifting off in the middle of the day a few times now.

CRAVINGS?
Nothing of note recently.

HOW I’M FEELING?

As I mentioned above, I'm just feeling a bit deflated and disappointed. I am SO excited to meet this little lady though! I go to bed each night thinking 'will this be it?' and although I'm terrified of the pain, I'm ready to do it all again.

MISS ANYTHING?
Nothing in particular.. I just have no idea what it feels like to not be pregnant anymore!

FAVOURITE RECENT OUTFIT?
Ah, nothing! I am totally done with dressing a bump now :|

BEST MOMENT THIS FORTNIGHT?
Celebrating our final Christmas and New Year as a family of four. It was so magical, and it's made me so excited to have another little one running around next year. The littles have absolutely loved talking to bump these last few days too. I feel it's a sign they're ready to meet her!

LOOKING FORWARD TO?

Hopefully meeting this beautiful baby girl very soon! Parker was born at 39+1 weeks.. so who knows when this little one will make her appearance?

You can see how this pregnancy compares to Parker's (my second) here.

DIY Maternity Photos

As you may know I'm no longer pregnant, and our baby boy Parker is now a week old! However I really want to share these maternity pictures with you, as I didn't get the time before he was born haha.

These were all taken by Jack with his DSLR at one of our local National Trust parks. I was 38+6 weeks pregnant and little did we know these would be some of my final bump pictures. They're absolutely amazing, and I'm so glad I've documented so much of Parker as a bump.

I can honestly say as uncomfortable as I was I think I miss my bump already! There's nothing like feeling your little one inside you, it's truly a special bond, and one I'll never forget.

I still cannot believe the boy I'm looking at right now fit inside my tummy just a few days ago!

38 Week Pregnancy Update | Baby #2

38 weeks pregnant and baby boy is still well and truly snuggly inside haha. I've still not started believing that we'll have a baby soon even though it's so close now - just like when I was pregnant with Indiana! Baby is now the size of a leek at around 6/7lbs and measuring roughly 49cm. I really cannot wait to see how big this little man will be; from the start he's felt big, but just how big?!

This week my nesting instinct finally kicked in! On Mondays Indiana is at nursery so I had the whole day to tidy and sort (as well as getting lots of wedding planning done). All I've wanted to do is get all his bits ready and prepared and I definitely feel better now they are. All of Indiana's old bits - bouncer, playmat, etc, have been washed and got back out. The base and car seat are now installed in the car too, so all we need now is our baby!

Apart from that it's been a pretty average week. My ribs still haven't been getting any relief, and this baby loves to stick out making hilarious shapes of my belly. A number of times this week he's been sticking limbs out of the sides. We then play a game of me poking them back in and him popping up in a different spot haha.

I've got the midwife again tomorrow for my 38 week appointment. Hopefully she'll have more positive news and baby will still be heading in the right direction! I've woken up today with a horrible cold and feeling sick - hopefully this goes if baby does plan on arriving anytime soon haha.