Third Trimester: October 6th - January 4th

Week 30: The itching is beginning to subside although rash is still there and the breathlessness is horrible. Dr checked my lungs and they sound fine so I expect it's just baby putting pressure on me. Getting upset at the slightest thing at the moment. Been a lot of tears this week, think I've just had a run of one thing after another and now I am tired of feeling rough.

Week 32: Went for an extra scan as I have Epilepsy and take anti-convulsants. They just want to keep a check on the growth. Everything seems fine which is good to know. The scan itself was really unclear though this time, as the baby is so much bigger you can't see much of it on the screen at one time. For some time now the baby has been OP which is where its back is against mine, but the scan showed it's moving slightly to one side now.

Week 33: What a week! Breathlessness and dizziness really bad and began to feel really poorly at one point so rung Dr for advice. To cut a long story short I have ended up at the hospital for a check over and now they want me to go for a heart scan as they can hear a murmur! This pregnancy just seems full of hiccups, I cant say I'm enjoying it much so far!

Week 34: Luckily the scan seems to show everything working okay in my heart. I have since spoken to other people who also were told they had murmurs when pregnant but they also went after pregnancy. I think it's just the heart pumping around all that extra blood that make the extra sound they hear, so that has at least put my mind at rest. On the downside though I still don't know why I feel so ill all the time!

Week 36: I have to pick up the TENS machine this week, things suddenly seem to be happening here and now I can't believe I am nearly there. I have got some of Jack's newborn clothes out and washed them just in case of anything happening early and finally packed my hospital bag! I hope it doesn't make too early an arrival, as I would like to spend one last Christmas with just Jack and my husband before the baby arrives. I was induced with Jack as he was two weeks late, so I am getting nervous about spotting the signs of early labour. I suffer from IBS that can give you incredible stomach cramps that feel just like early labour and they tend to come and go every few minutes getting stronger just like contractions. I have a feeling there'll be a few false starts in this house before the real thing!

Week 38: It's Christmas!! All things are quiet on the baby front thank goodness so I've been enjoying Christmas at home with Jack. We had Lee's parents up to stay for a few day over the festivities, so all in all I've been looked after by everyone! I still feel so tired though! I have eaten far to much as ever over christmas and know I will regret it after the baby is born. My mum has bought me a DVD for Christmas about getting in shape after birth which I had asked for as I am determined its not going to take 2 1/2 yrs to shift the excess like it did last time!

Week 39: Well today is Thursday and I am due on Saturday so not long to go. I have visions of still being here in two weeks though just like last time. I hope I don't have to be induced again as I didn't find it a very enjoyable process at all. I took Jack to town today and picked up a real bargain so I am feeling very smug at the moment. I got a Mothercare three wheeler pushchair at the mere snip of a price of £60, it should have been £189.99! People did look at me strangely in town though pushing it through town with no baby in it as I had to get home on the bus with it and Jack! Anyway I made it home okay then on my road three people I knew stopped in their cars to ask what I had had when they saw a pushchair and one lady came running out of her house.... I did feel silly! I have quite a few period type pains today, but nothing too bad maybe it's the start of something who knows!! - I doubt it!

Third Trimester PLUS:

Well my due date came and went uneventfully as per expected! Today I have been to the hospital to get a date to be induced should I need it. I have to go in on the 14th to have baby's heart monitored for 1/2 hour then I have been given the Fri 17th as the date to be induced.

I asked while I was at hospital to have my membranes swept as I know this can help start labour within 24 to 48 hours. I wasn't sure if they would do it or not but the consultant agreed and although uncomfortable it wasn't as horrible as I thought it might have been. I was encouraged to hear him say my cervix is beginning to open anyway, so now I feel all excited.... watch this space! The trouble is if it doesn't work I'll be so disappointed!

Term + 6 days: Well another day goes past! If one more person says "So you haven't had it yet then" I might explode! (thats one way of getting the baby out I suppose!) The last two days I have been more than just a little uncomfortable, feeling strong aches in my stomach back and thighs and thought that this could be the early signs of something and I also had a show yesterday, but today all is quiet again. Each morning I wake and think, well I'm still here! I'm trying now to think that this time next week I will be in labour or will have had the baby as it's next Friday I go in first thing to have my waters broken. Part of me is thinking don't wish it all way as this is the last time I will ever be pregnant and I should be enjoying it all, but I am just so slow and uncomfortable I have to get this large bump gone!

Term + 12!!!! (16th January): Well I am still sat here bump pushing me away from the keyboard as I type! I go in tommorow to be induced unless anything happens tonight! I hope to try and keep track of things so I can let you have the details (not too gorey dont worry!) at some point when I arrive back home. I am so nervous and feeling ten times more protective of my son Jack at the moment I just keep hugging him non stop as I am so scared how the new baby will change our relationship. Hopefully all will be fine even if it is a bit strange for Jack to begin with.

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