6 months and counting

I had fun photographing my bump in silhouette

We’re currently into week 27 of pregnancy, next week I’ll be 7 months. It’s exciting but also kinda crazy. Some days I’m so big and awkward I don’t know how I’ll be able to walk come my due date. Baby has been wiggling, jiggling and kicking a lot this month. He’s often kicking first thing in the morning and then wiggling about in the middle of the day when I’m sitting at my desk. Lots of flutters and niggles often followed by solid pushes I can feel with my hand on my belly.

- Preparations -

Henry and I have started looking at the little room in our house in readiness for making it a nursery. It has been Henry’s working study but we’ve moved him into the room next door and decided to repaint it. There was a bold orange pattern on the walls left by the previous owners but I’ve never liked it so we’re going to change the colour and use a stencil design on one wall (a photo will follow when it’s up). I’ve never really had an eye for interior design so I’m glad Henry wants to take the lead on this. I don’t have an imagination for what the room will look like in different designs. As long as the wall colour isn’t too dark I’m happy. I like to curate our house as and when we have ideas. Make it feel home gradually.

Henry’s parents crib is being inspected, sanded and varnished in preparation for its return to work and soon we’ll be collecting another crib and baby gear from my sister which I’m really excited for. I’ve bought a large collection of cloth nappies and wipes from Facebook marketplace for a very good price and I’m in the process of washing them all for our little one. I registered with my local cloth nappy library so we can hire newborn nappies when the time comes. Fingers crossed we get the hang of using them. If we can reduce our reliance on disposables nappies even partly then it’s worth a try.

The home made crib being lovingly restored for use with the next generation

- My 2nd trimester experience -

I’ve had a pleasant 2nd trimester. By the end of February I stopped picking up every germ that was available and living with a perpetual cold, which has been a relief. My latest pregnancy symptom has been waking up with night sweats and struggling to get back to sleep until early morning. As things go though, I’m very comfortable and moving around as often as I can. I’m much slower on my lunchtime wanders around town and going about the yard feeding Kiwi but I’m not achy or in pain at all. I’ve found ways to adapt to my growing bump and just recently learnt that I can’t put barefoot shoes on whilst standing up anymore. I’m trying not to think about how much more I’ll change over the next few months, just taking it one day at a time.

One thing I’ve had to keep an eye on is my Keppra medication. It’s known that as pregnancy extends, my type of epilepsy medication tends to become less concentrated in the blood stream. Whether this is because of the increase in blood or hormonal changes no-one knows but as a result I have to have regular blood tests to check if I need to increase my dose. The most recent test showed my level was down to half the usual amount so I’m on an increased dose to keep me topped up. It’s an un common drug so the tests take over a month to come back which isn’t ideal, but fortunately I haven’t experienced any side affects of low levels or increasing my dose.

I’m enjoying a new book my sister lent me called ‘Hypnobirthing: Practical ways to make your birth better’ by Siobhan Miller. Normally I try to read on kindle as much as possible as bound books intimidate me but this one has been surprisingly easy to pick up. It’s another book of positive, affirming birth information and I’ve heard many positive reviews of hypnobirthing. It’s presented in easy digestible exercises so you don’t feel like you're studying for an exam and cramming in information for a deadline. Small tips to practice during pregnancy.

- March -

Breakfast is served and the view absorbed before I waddle back to the yard and drive to work

The weather is finally feeling like Spring and this month we’ve had an increasing amount of sunshine. The cherry blossoms gave a great showing and daffodils are abundant on verges. I feel so much better about everything when the sun is out. Bright frosty mornings are abound. The temperature is going down to 0 degrees at night and bouncing up to around 16 by the afternoon - It’s gorgeous. I love feeling the warmth of the day on my skin. I’m no longer cold at my desk, wrapped in scarves and jumpers. I hope we’ve passed the coldest days now. The clocks have gone forward and mornings at the yard are beautiful.

Kiwi is in full moult, you can’t touch him without a handful of soft fluff coming away with your hand and dancing off with the wind. I’ve harrowed his top paddock and fingers crossed this helps disperse some of the moss. Kiwi spends his days in his large field that meanders down to the bluebell woods and if his companions are in far away acres, I feed him across the fence in their field and let him spend the nights in their company. Little Welsh pony Jinx and polo pony Manza make up our little herd trio.

I harrowed my top field with the help of the trusty yard land rover, an old heavy chain harrow and plastic pallet tied on top. Job satisfyingly done.