20 week scan… it’s a……

GIRL!!

 

The sonographer said she was confident to tell us what it was after only about ten seconds of scanning – before I could even make out the shape of a baby even!!

I cried when she told us, I just felt so happy and emotional. I honestly was convinced it was a boy, and have been all along! I would’ve also cried with happiness if it had been a boy, I really did not mind… I think just knowing what you’re having makes you feel an even stronger bond, and makes you really realise who this new little life might be!

I’m also really excited about Lilly having a little sister. I just hope they get on well together and have a good close relationship that hopefully will be lifelong. I hope the 2 and a half year age gap will make that more likely – either that or they’ll fight like cat and dog (or both, I suppose!!)

The scan itself was very clear, really really brilliant. We saw hands, feet, legs, arms, lots of ribs…. and even at one point a full face-on image of the baby – you could make out her eyes, nose, mouth, chin… incredible!

The sonographer said all was ok, everything looks as it should and baby is measuring spot on. However, she wasn’t able to scan the stomach as it was empty. She said it can take up to seven hours for a baby in the womb to fill its tummy, so there was no point in her sending us back out to the waiting room until later. She has booked us in in two weeks time for an additional scan to double check alls ok. I was completely reassured that it was nothing abnormal, nothing to worry about, buy hubby is a real worrier so has been worrying about this ever since. But, at least we get to see little bubba again in two weeks time!!!

When I picked Lilly up from nursery, I said to her: “Lilly, do you want a little sister?” she said “I want a story!” So safe to say she was underwhelmed with the news so far!!!!

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Six weeks, four days

Well, it’s almost two weeks since we found out i was pregnant and already so much has happened! Our darling baby now looks much like this…. hard to believe!

I’m still feeling very well, almost ‘normal’! My breasts are still a bit tender, and over the last couple of days i’ve begun to feel a teeny bit queasy if i go too long without eating. I wouldn’t really go so far as calling it nausea though. I’m having to try not to make any sudden movements – getting out of the car too quick and sneezing lying down are no-nos, as they cause a sharp pain down there!

We went to see the chemo consultant on Wednesday, and told him our news. He was very pleased and said we had managed to get pregnant fairly quick, considering everything. It didn’t feel quick to us, though, that’s for sure.

On Thursday, I had my booking in appointment with the midwife, whose name was Mary. She was very nice, but as she works at a different hospital to the one i’m choosing to go to, she couldn’t give me too much information. However, I should get a letter through from Warrington (my chosen hospital) in a couple of weeks giving me a date for my scan, and they will go through everything then. The doctor has me down as a due date of 15th Dec, going off my LMP (start of last period), but I still think 18th Dec is more acurate, going off my ovulation date. So i’m sticking to that for now, but once we have the dating scan, we can be more sure. I read in one of the many magazines i’ve been reading over the past fortnight that babies conceived in the spring and summer are more likely to be overdue, as are first babies. Considering i was only born on my due date because i was induced thanks to my mum’s high blod pressure, and my little sister was 12 days overdue, it doesn’t look good for me!!!

We have had some early discussions about names, but we are a million miles away from making a decision yet. I know the middle names – they’ll be after my nan and grandad depending on whether it’s a boy or a girl, but the first names are still very much a work in progress. So far, we seem to like Joseph for a boy, or Lilly for a girl. Not sure whether it is naff to call a boy Joseph if he’s born at Christmas time, but that isn’t the reason we like the name. Anyway, i have ordered a book of baby names from ebay and am awaiting that eagerly!

Talking of ebay, i have finally embraced this particular revolution. I am now the proud owner of three items of maternity wear – a jumper, t shirt and a skirt – none of which were more than a fiver, incuding postage! It is definitely the way forward!!

On the other side of the coin, we visited Mothercare in Warrington whilst en route to the hospital on Wednesday! (I know, i know… but we needed somewhere to kill time before my appointment, honest!!) It’s funny, as you do feel a bit of a fraud, wandering round without either a) a small baby or b) a pregnant belly or c) both. Never mind, it was really exciting, seeing all the cute baby clothes and toys and books and prams and the cute little cots!!! Another milestone in the whole “making it seem real” thing!

And yesterday, when i got up for work, i found a lovely note which T had written for me when he left a couple of hours earlier. It said: “You two have a good day, I love you both!” Really made me smile. What a brilliant daddy he’s going to be!!

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