PREGNANCY - MONTH NINE (WEEKS 37 & 38)

We have a new catchphrase in our flat - "Ooops". My clumsiness has got worse in recent weeks. I am forever dropping stuff, made all the more annoying by the effort it takes to bend over and pick things up!

But generally, with just two weeks until my due date, all seems to be progressing fine. No ailments to speak of other than a continuation of the minor side-effects previously mentioned - the only new(ish) thing is a constant need for the loo. But I'm told me bladder is now being squashed almost flat by the Little Monkey, so that's no surprise.

Getting a little fed up of people telling me how I must be feeling. "Oh, you probably feel like a whale" - No. "You must be desperate for the baby to come now" - No. "You must be bored waiting around" - No. I'm still keeping myself nice and busy - swimming, walking, reading, housework. I've now been off work for a month, and haven't missed it at all.

Went bowling for a friend's birthday the other week, and so many people kept questioning if I should be bowling "in my condition", and telling me to be careful etc. By the end of the evening I wanted to talk about anything other than my bump/pregnancy/baby as I was sick of answering the same questions over and over again to new acquaintances.

My OH has done a fantastic job of the nursery - it's pretty much done now. Just waiting for a nursing chair to arrive - and the baby of course! A few people have said the chairs are a waste of money, but as I'm going to be spending an awful lot of time in the nursery (OH works from home and has commandeered the living room) it makes sense for me to have comfy and practical chair in there.

Caught up with a few friends with babies/toddlers, and my parents, this week which was lovely - everyone seems so excited for us. Probably the last time I'll venture too far from home for a while, as it really feels like we're on countdown now - anytime between now and a month, I guess. I'm just now really intrigued as to what that first contraction or early labour REALLY feels like. All the stuff I've read says I'll just know, but having got this far without any type of pain - not even Braxton Hicks - it truly is the unknown.

PREGNANCY - MONTH NINE (WEEK 36)

The Little Monkey is three-fifths engaged... it could (and hopefully will) still be weeks away, but everything's clearly heading in the right direction, according to my 36 week ante-natal check-up. My Mum reckons he/she won't hang around, so I am starting to be a little bit on tenterhooks, looking out for any possible signs that the start of labour might be imminent. All getting a bit close...!

A few final month niggles creeping in - but nothing major at all. Definitely feeling a bit more tired (not helped by builders digging up our street from 8am every morning, and being especially noisy just when I really feel I need an afternoon nap), and losing my appetite again, a bit like in the first trimester. The congested nose part of my rhinitis has also returned, making it harder to breath at night. And that odd sensation on my tongue that I also had near the start - where it feels a bit like I've burnt it and its unpleasantly tingly and rough.

Haemorrhoids aren't going away anytime soon either - I'm not constipated, so it's just the pressure of the Little Monkey as he/she slips further down (sorry if tmi!). He/she must have dropped a bit as I'm wearing my bras on a slightly tighter setting, as my rib-cage contracts.

Talking of which - I bought my nursing bras this week. I went for a proper fitting, which wasn't as traumatic as I feared. As I may have previously alluded to, being a rather 'unusual' size I usually get really upset and wound up when I have to buy new bras, and tend to get them delivered to sort out in the comfort of my own home. But the assistant was very pleasant, and has recommended going 'just' one more cup size up to accommodate for when my milk comes in, and stick with the same back size. So I've ended up with the same style bras as I've been wearing for most of my pregnancy - just the nursing version. Hope breastfeeding goes well now.

I also went swimming this week, to try to keep me fit and active. Was a bit self-conscious at first, but it felt pretty good, so will try to go again at least twice a week for the remaining few weeks.

All our nursery furniture (cot, mattress, changing unit) arrived this week - in three separate deliveries. From friends' experiences and reading around we weren't expecting a smooth ride from Mothercare, but - while it wasn't as straight-forward as it should have been and involved several phone calls to sort out - it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Busy weekend for my OH putting it all together! But I think he'll quite enjoy it, and feel he's finally making a contribution to the build-up. The thing is - he's been making an amazing contribution for the last 8 months anyway - with all his support in various forms.

PREGNANCY - MONTH SEVEN (WEEKS 30 & 31)

I've had a couple of really quiet days movement-wise which has really freaked me out. Got quite wound up yesterday, but as soon as I got home to DP (who'd been abroad for a few days with work), the Little Monster seemed to spring into action. Perhaps he/she was just missing Daddy's voice! Anyway - today's been a bit more active, and I have read that as there's less room in there I'm likely to feel fewer kicks. I just find it so un-nerving.

I've read articles, blogs and forums on a number of different websites, but I've found the Pampers one especially good for what to expect week to week, tips etc. A lot of the 'chat' on the likes of Mumsnet and iVillage can make me paranoid and worry about things for no reason. As every pregnancy and baby is totally different, it's not healthy to read so many scary stories, so I'm trying not to do it so much. Although it is nice to read the heart-warming stories of which there are lots, and find people with the same concerns/experiences as you.

Before the last few days we'd had a couple of really productive weeks. My 30 week ante-natal check-up and first Anti-D injection went really well. Had the best experience we've had so far at the hospital - no lengthy waiting time, really friendly and helpful midwife (third different one, mind), and everything seems well on track. The sun was shining, and I even got a rare parking space right outside work - it was a good day!!

The next day was my 34th birthday - and as a present I got a 'nipple-ectomy'! I may have mentioned before about a skin flap on my left nipple that has grown since my breasts have got bigger during my pregnancy. I was already concerned how that would affect my attempt at breastfeeding, but in the couple of days before my appointment at the breast clinic it started bleeding and looking a bit grim. Anyway - after a thorough examination of both breasts, the doctor simply sliced it off there and then, which is exactly what I was hoping for. Two days later when the dressing came off, I couldn't even see where it had once been - incredible!

One of my best presents - from DP - was a picture we'd seen in a little cafe when we were on our holiday in Scotland back in February. We both thought it would be perfect for the nursery,  though at the time we weren't really planning on a 'proper' nursery, and we were still holding back on buying stuff for the Little Monkey. But several weeks on I had thought it would have been really nice - a momento of a special holiday and unique original piece of art for the nursery. So he'd rung up and bought 'Fergus McTed and wee Scotty' from the cafe:

Had a lovely birthday weekend - a good Friday night out with friends, and then on the Saturday the grandparents-to-be (my parents) came up. As if their very generous birthday presents weren't enough - we then blitzed Mothercare. Although DP and me already knew precisely what we wanted - having made several fact-finding and window shopping expeditions - it still felt rather stressful. At one point, we had two shop assistants 'suggesting' what was best, but frankly confusing me even further, and I just had to walk away. Even had a few hormonal tears.

But once we put our collective foot down as to what we wanted, and just dealt with one sales manager, we managed to make quite a lot of headway. We've stuck all the big stuff (nursery furniture, travel system, car seat and base) on their BabyPlan - most of which has very kindly been paid for by both sets of GPs-to-be. We may be borrowing a car seat from my best friend, so that might come off the order. The furniture and pram aren't being delivered until the middle of May, but we did take a moses basket, rocking MB stand and stacks of bedding home with us.

 

So bit by bit we're starting to get there with the nursery and essentials. Still lots of odds and sods (bottles and steriliser, clothes, muslins, bath etc) to get - but I'll need to do some shopping on my maternity leave!

My Mum and Dad were very helpful and generous - and still really, really excited - but I still sometimes feel that over-excitement a bit overwhelming and have to step back from it for a bit. I guess there's a little part of me still worried things can go wrong, and I could end up disappointing a lot of people. I know that's not the most rational of thoughts, and I am excited - but just more privately, inside myself and find it difficult to share fully with anyone other than DP.