17 Weeks and Counting...!

This week at work a student asked if I have a baby in my belly... Hands down best. moment. ever!

Mental health... Still good. Pretty amazing actually. Started to feel little movements from baby at 15 1/2 weeks, which was very unexpected as according to 'What to Expect' (my trusty pregnancy go-to book!) that is too early with first pregnancy! So a real treat!

I love being pregnant so much, and feel so blessed all the time... We've been struggling with church recently, and with decisions about our future - to move now or move later - but I am feeling a little closer to God this week which is a relief. I don't know why but I have struggled to feel close to Him while pregnant... I guess it's that thing that we need Him more in the darker times than when our prayers are answered, which isn't how it should be... Also, being pregnant - FINALLY! - has taken up 99.9% of my mental focus ;).

I seriously can't believe this worked - our treatment worked! It's a lot to adjust to! I've been living in one world for the last 5 1/2 years and now I get to inhabit a whole new one!!

15 Week Bump!

Yay!!! And belly has arrived!

Pilates... Best. thing. ever! (I bought 10 Minute Solution Prenatal Pilates and am alternating it with Erin O'Brien.) Helping my mental health loads! And apparently exercise in pregnancy makes baby smarter, labour (a little!) easier, and me less likely to get gestational diabetes... Which I am high risk for as Dad is type 1 and I have PCOS. So no downsides to exercise! Plus it's helping my back which has been a little sore... 

Generally loving life! 

(Can there be more exclamation marks in this post?!)

P.S. Telling my Grandad was AWESOME!

13 Week Bump Photos

Here I am at 13 weeks! And feeling very happy as we had our 12 week scan two days before!!

Hubby keeps commenting on how I am getting a proper bump this week! I'm sure I'll look back at this in a couple of months and think, "You had no idea!", but it is so exciting!

Had a bit of backache and stretching feelings (almost like a mini stitch) to the front this week. It's been snowing quite a bit today so I've had to be more careful on my feet than usual (not wanting to damage my precious cargo!) and hubby picked me up from work so I didn't have to walk home which was really nice.

We are going to see my Grandad and his wife tomorrow to tell him about the pregnancy. I inherit the translocation from him and he worries about it a lot, so I am really looking forward to telling him!

I've also been working out today, I bought a pregnancy workout DVD. Hoping to get in better shape for labour! I'm already feeling stiff! The DVD I went for was 'Complete Pregnancy Fitness with Erin O'Brien'. I went for it because it had really good reviews and also because the reviews said it was a tougher workout than some of the other pregnancy DVDs. I really enjoyed the workout and it definitely worked me hard so I would recommend it!

I've been looking for a doula since the 8 week scan. A doula is a professional labour companion and it was something I knew I wanted before falling pregnant. There are a good number of doulas around here. With my due date being July 26 and with many doulas having small children I found a lot are on holiday at the time I need. Luckily I managed to find three to meet up with and I've met with all of them over this past week. One of them just 'felt' right, and we were really impressed with how professional her business in, as well as by her confident air and trust in the birth process, so we have gone with her... It ended up being a pretty easy decision to make, and as booking a doula is something I have dreamed of for so long, it makes the whole pregnancy so much more real and exciting!

I also found out yesterday that one of my bestest friends is expecting a baby the day before me! Such wonderful news! We met at university; she was the first Christian my age I knew, and she's also suffered with mental health problems, so it's a really special friendship to me... She now lives in New Zealand with her Kiwi husband so I am over-the-moon to be expecting together; it makes us feel closer together. Lovely!

11 Week Bump Photo

So here I am at 11 weeks (again excuse the bra and pregnancy skin!).

Bump feels LOADS bigger this week and I can't stop stroking my belly! It's so exciting!

I have been really sick with a nasty cold which turned into sinusitis this week and feeling terrible, I do not enjoy this as I do the pregnancy symptoms even though they feel pretty similar! The GP prescribed Amoxycillin for a week (antibiotics which are safe in pregnancy) for the sinus infection. I've never had a cold last so long - usually shake them off in a couple of days, while this one hung around 6 days before even mutating into the sinuses; I've now been sick a week and a half. Apparently the immune system is reduced in pregnant women to stop our bodies rejecting the foetuses as alien objects, so I don't really mind being sick! It's amazing how our bodies work to support pregnancy; God is really the grand supreme master architect and I have been so amazed at Him in entirely new years by pregnancy.

I'm still really enjoying pregnancy; more and more every week actually! The 8 week scan did wonders!!! I do worry about every bump and twinge in my body but I think that's pretty normal for a pregnant woman... :D