Week 30/31/Baby Shower

It's been a busy week. We've been able to pay off and pick up the pram and car seat, finished our birth education classes and had the baby shower.

Stress is saying it mildly.

I'm still trying to recover from the weekend and baby shower.

I am forever grateful to my mum. Everything she does for me and my growing little family.

There is nothing I can ever do or say to repay her. Pretty much everything we have for this baby and all my maternity needs are taken care of by her. She has never let me go without and she continues that even today. And for that I will never be able to thank her enough. 

All the money, time and effort that my mum put in to the baby shower was simply amazing.

We did have a few people not turn up (most I heard from but unfortunately some I didn't) so we were alittle over catered for which I wish we could have known and saved some money there but either way it was so beautifully done!

Again, I can't thank my mum enough for everything she did.

We were also able to pick up the pram and car seat. I have spent the last 7 months working my butt off to work towards having the pram I really wanted and paying off the layby. With the help from the in laws I was able to finalize the layby and pick it all up. I had paid the pram off but still had the car seat left but with the help was able to pick it up alittle bit earlier then I thought, which is a huge weight of my shoulders as there is still so much left to get before our Little Miss gets here. 

This week I am hoping to get myself organised and work on packing my hospital bag - everyone says its better to be prepared and have it packed early.

I have been thinking about the birth plan alot more since finishing our birth education classes. Although I can't really feel confident till I have my appointment with the anesthetist at 34 weeks to discuss my options because of my back, I do know that I want to try my absolute hardest to have a natural labor. 

Alittle surprise that I did get from my amazing mum today was this gorgeous bassinet - I was blown away!

It's simply gorgeous! 

I'm starting to get to the stage we're I can't wait to meet our little girl.

It's all getting very exciting and overwhelming at the same time.

My exhaustion levels seem to be sky rocketing along with my emotional levels as well. Sleep is back to being a big luxury for me. And little sleep means little patience and tolerance in my day-to-day life which them  creates crazy hormones. But I'm getting there and handling things as well as I can. 

Vaccines

Vaccines. 

This topic is something that surprisingly to me seems to hit a nerve with some people but I feel that it's something I want to address openly with 10 or less weeks left till our little girl will be here.

When all the stories in the media were going around about the little boy who died at 4 weeks old from Whopping Cough, I cried. And not just a normal pregnant lady cry but a genuine cry of sadness for that family. With all the information, studies and technology around these days I can not understand how someone can chose not to vaccinate against a disease that can kill such innocence. 

We have made the choice that unless you are fulling vaccinated or have proof that you are immune to the Whopping Cough that until our baby is old enough, strong enough and able to get vaccinated herself that those people just won't be able to see her. I can't risk the life of my baby because someone else has made the choice not to get vaccinated. I feel that if they believe it is there choice not to get vaccinated then it is our choice to deny them access to our baby til she is vaccinated, as it is our choice to protect her from harms way, not matter what.

This baby is my world, the second I found out I was pregnant she became my world and I don't want something like a needle, a 10 second procedure to jeopardize my babies life. 

With all the technology in medicine and science I can not understand why people choose not to be vaccinated in the first place. The reason that Australia does not have Small Pox and other killer diseases is because of mandatory vaccines. Thanks to my mums generation, my generation and future generations do not need to worry about such killer diseases. Whopping Cough is the same. Why not for the sake of your life, your childrens lives and other peoples lives would you not simply get the vaccine. I would be mortified to know that I put someone elses baby at risk because of a simply needle.

I have server needle phobia and this vaccine doesn't even concern me. Yes needles scare me but losing my child scares me a hell of alot more. 

So, if you are reading this and hope to met our baby when she is born - please know that this is the stance that my husband and I have chosen to make for the life and health of our baby. Please get the booster shot, get vaccinated, or get checked with a blood test to see if you carry an immunity to it. Otherwise please don't feel offended if we tell you, you can't see her til she is strong enough to have her own vaccinations. Our babies precious life is now our number one priority.

I myself will get the booster in the next few weeks at one of my antenatal appointments. My husband will be off to the doctor to get his. My mum and sister also. My grandparents have already been proactive to get theirs. 

Week 28/29

Ok we are very much on the down hill run from here.

This fortnight, we've had two birth education classes, an antenatal appointment, my glucose test coming back clear and a much needed haircut! It's also very much winter here already! With today not getting any higher then 11 degrees.

This does make for a challenge if I need to leave the house - warm clothes that cover the belly are becoming very hard to find! Although I feel like the last week or so I've been around the same size.

Birth education classes have been great, terrifying but great. I've got an idea of the sort of birth I'd like but know that ultimately it is up to our baby girl what happens. 

Today's antenatal appointment was great as always with a very healthy and happy wiggly girl that is normal and perfect! I'm 29 weeks and 5 days today and she is measuring 30 weeks with her head down at the moment. Her heart beat is simply amazing - every time a doctor or midwife hears it they are simply blown away with our strong and consistent it is. The midwife today was amazing, answering all my strange questions and even letting me record her heart beat.

Turn Up Your Sound!

The nursery is pretty much ready to go, just a few things to hang on the walls and of course her name to go on the door. We are pretty sure we are decided on a name - it has always been between two names and for awhile we were definite about one but have this week gone with the first choice and felt so much more comfortable it it. I even think she likes being called it more then the other. Of course we will have to wait til we met her to make sure.

I am loving her wiggling around alot more these days because she definitely responds to our touches and even voices. She does get excited when I go to my mums and knows her Grandma Gigi's voice already! Mum worked in childcare for, forever and is already sing to her which she loves and is beautiful to see. She loves kicking back at her daddy thats for sure, and loves hearing him call her name. She also knows when his alarm goes off in the morning.

I am physically feeling pretty good these days. Probably better then I was a few weeks ago. I still get tired but after finding out I had very low iron levels from my last blood test, I have been focusing on adding more iron and fiber to my meals as well as adding iron to my vitamins, which has helped. Plus sleep has been alot better since moving to the spare bed - not sure if it's the bed or what but it seems easier to get out of (especially for those nightly toilet trips) and I'm able to have my 8 pillows and super soft doona to myself. Although the husband has managed to sneak in - not sure how it fits in there with me but as long as he can keep the snoring down I'm more then happy to have the company. But I have been sleeping in alot more and waking up less through the night which is lovely. 

It's alittle scary to think that in 10 weeks time or less, we will have our little girl in our arms!

Scary yet, I can't wait to met her.

Looks like I've eaten a basketball!