Book vs real life: 18 weeks pregnant
September 25, 2016
I want to start off by saying a massive thank you for all the wonderful message and comments of support I received after posting about pre natal depression and anxiety. It was really hard to write, and thankfully even since posting it I’m feeling a lot better. Almost back to ‘normal’. Whatever that is. As I said to many of you privately, I’m very lucky to have the confidence to recognise that I needed a bit of help, and knew where to go to get it, and I urge anyone else to take their own feelings seriously, and talk about it.
This week Fit Pregnancy shares what is going on with my bump and my body…
The book says…
Fat is being deposited throughout the baby’s body. Teeth have started to form. The fetus begins to hear sounds in your body (such as your heart beating) and may even startle at loud noises.
I say…
Teeth?! Creepy. I do love the idea of the baby being able to hear sounds though, and vow to start listening to some classical music ASAP, just as soon as Destiny’s Child stop singing Say My Name…
The book says…
During this week, and the next few weeks, you may feel your baby’s first movements—a fluttery sensation in your pelvis. Called “quickening”, many cultures believe that this is when life begins. You may have aches and pains in your legs, tailbone, and other muscles.
I say…
I’ve felt the baby moving far earlier this time, and am pretty sure it’s not wind. It’s usually in the evening, which makes me think this little monkey is going to be nocturnal. Can you start sleep training in the womb…?
The book says….
Many doctors do a detailed ultrasound between 16 and 20 weeks, at which time gender often can be determined.
I say…
Our doctor is pretty darn sure what we’re having, but we’re hanging on until the 20-week scan (here in Dubai you have the option of going to a specific clinic for this, where you see the baby on a wide-screen television, and you lie on the kind of chair Joey from Friends had). I’ll keep you posted…
The book says…
You might need to cross household tasks off your to-do list and if you have certain pregnancy complications or limitations or if you just want to play the pregnancy card, either delegate them to someone else or hire some help.
I say…
I LOVE THE PREGNANCY CARD. And it’s a valid one. It’s not much fun going to brunch and watching everyone else get hammered, and anything past 9pm is a no-no at the moment. Last year I wrote a post on ‘the baby card’ that stated “You can make up tales of complex feeding and sleeping routines that no-one can argue with, or say that the husband is out that particular evening/afternoon/month so that I’m on baby duty and couldn’t possibly”, but I’m undecided which card is better…
Conclusion
I’m well into the second trimester now, and feel pretty bloody good! I think there are about two weeks in every pregnancy when you’re not throwing up/exhausted or too huge to sleep/function, and I’m in it. Toot toot.
This week it’s the Time Out Kids awards, so please keep your fingers crossed for me, not only to win but to find an outfit that makes people realise that I’m pregnant, but not make me look tooooo pregnant, if you know what I mean. It’s a minefield.
