19th December 2013 - 21 weeks & 2 days

Oops I am actually 21 weeks and 2 days now, but I have been really really tired this week and struggling to keep up with everything, especially with Christmas fast approaching and our first wedding anniversary coming up this weekend.

We had our 20 week scan on Monday, everything looked to be ok, heart, brain, eyes, lips, chin, legs, arms, most of it when she was pointing things out I couldn't really see what was what, but I am so happy that everything is ok. We also found out the gender of our little monkey and... she is a little girlie! I must admit that at first it was a bit of a shock, as all along I had been convinced I was having a boy, just shows that mothers intuition is not always right. But I am really getting into the whole girly thing now, at first I was thinking I wasn't the pink type & didn't want lots of pink, but slowly pink is creeping in when looking at clothes and nursery ideas. Its been a really scary & exciting week, finally it is all starting to become rather real.

Scan picture:

This week I am really struggling with tiredness, I guess that I am not going to be one of those people that gets an energy bust sadly.

I have also been really hungry this week, I feel like I have not stopped eating lately, I am keeping a food diary on myfitnesspal to try and stay within my calorie limits for the day, but I must admit its been a struggle.

Just a short post this week as I have a lot to do.

measurements for the week:

Bust- 49"
Waist- 42"
Hips- 49"
Weight Gain- +1st 1lb

Symptoms this week:

-backache
-extreme tiredness
-constant hunger
-acid reflux

Pictures of my bump this week:

Fashion Update

Thought id write a quick post about my latest pregnancy clothing challenge- being short & plus sized + pregnant! 

I am lucky enough that my lovely cousin has donated me lots of maternity trousers & jeans, but they are all about 4"s too long lol so I now have the challenge of turning them all up. 

I would of had to do this regardless, as the biggest size I have seen for short length maternity trousers is size 16 from next!! Eek. 

12th December 2013 - 20 weeks & 2 days

Wow this week has been so hectic that I haven't had a lot of time to think about the fact that I'm pregnant, which is probably not a bad thing with the 20 week scan being on Monday, at least I have been pre-occupied so the time has sped by.

Pregnancy-wise I guess there is not a lot to report this week, my bump is definitely getting more prominent, and how could I forget, I have finally started feeling definite kicks, which is amazing, for the first few days of this week I felt it everyday, but now it is another thing to worry about, because if I don't feel anything I start to feel a bit worried, that's just the silly kind of person I am.

I must admit, I haven't been feeling great about myself this week, I feel like I have really piled on the pounds, my arms seem to be fatter and my bum, not just my belly which is probably because I am eating too much, I have just been mega hungry & I have never been great at eating healthily as it is, but I need to try harder!

I said in my last post that I would review my backache relief purchases so here goes:

The work chair - is still awful, although its quite comfy when I get to work, its just as the day goes on that it seems to become less comfortable.

The 9ft pregnancy pillow - I have ended up sending this back, as it is just too large & leaves no room in the bed for the other half bless him, I am waiting for a refund so I can buy a wedge pillow as I have been recommended that they are the way to go.

The foot stool - this definitely helps with the varicous veins, I haven't had any pain in my legs since purchasing this, and its great to put my feet up after a long day, not sure if it helps the back ache or not, but this was definitely my best purchase.

My measurements for this week are: 

Bust- 47"
Waist- 41"
Hips - 48.5"
Weight Gain- +1st

Symptoms this week:

-More back ache
-Constant hunger
-Indigestion/Acid reflux (lots of gaviscon being consumed at the moment)
-Constipation 

Pictures of my bump this week:

My bum seems to have grown more than my bump this week haha!

Fashion Update

Before I got pregnant my mum bought me some 'women with control' trousers from qvc (they are an American brand). 

When she first told me about women with control (wwc) trousers I was a bit dubious, thinking they would be a bit too mature for me & that I may not get much wear out of them, but how wrong was I!

They have been my go to pants during my pregnancy (and before) they are as comfy as leggings but smart enough to get away with for work, they also seem to just keep expanding with my stomach and still look great.

Also the length on some of them is great for a shortie like me, although I did take one pair up myself, but they are worth the effort for the comfort they give me.

I now have 4 pairs, one pair that look like jeans, one blue jogging bottom style with a large waist band, one black bootleg pair and one black straight leg pair and they are all great.

Although they are not specifically designed for maternity I have found them to be great so far, and they do large sizes too. 

 

Fashion Update

A round up of the swimming costumes I have managed to find that are maternity & plus size -
£16 at Tesco clothing online (goes up to size 22)

4 different varieties - £14 at Asda clothing online (goes up to size 24)

 

£24 at mothercare online (goes up to size 20)

 

£30 at Curvissa online (goes up to size 22) 

So when it comes to swimwear, it is quite limited although I did manage to find a few, but nothing in a size bigger than 24, I guess if none of these suit then the only other option is getting a normal costume but just in a size bigger than you usually are, which I'm sure would be fine. I'm a bit disappointed in the lack of choice, but it is December, perhaps in the summer there is more choice?

3rd December 2013 - 19 weeks

One thing I never imagined about pregnancy was how tired I would be, just doing every day things seems to make me so tired. I heard your meant to get an 'energy boost' at around 16 weeks, well I'm 19 weeks now, I really hope my boost is coming soon.

I had an appointment with the consultant yesterday, I thought it was to discuss my BMI, but it turned out to be a 5 minute chat about the fact I have a varicous vein (which I have had since birth). It was to see if I would need an injection to thin my blood in case of clotting, but luckily I don't need it at the moment which I am happy about, although she has suggested I will need the injection during the week after I give birth. 

My back has been another of my main problems this week, my new 'pregnancy chair' at work is awful, not comfy at all, even the rest of my team agree. So I have reverted back to a normal desk chair, the only difference with the pregnancy one anyway was arms anyway ha. 



I have ordered a pregnancy pillow, a 9ft one from ebay, that should be delivered today so can't wait to see if it helps. As when I wake up in the night at the moment I ache everywhere, plus I can't get comfy so I am tossing and turning a lot at night, trying my best not to end up laying on my back.



I have found that going swimming is a great help for the back pain, I have been a few times now, floating on your back is lovely, I hope to continue with the swimming at least once a week for the rest of the pregnancy.
I also tried pregnancy yoga & really enjoyed that (I just used a video I found on youtube to do in the comfort of my own home), but I do find I struggle to find the time to actually sit down and do it.  


The other thing I have done to try and help with the back pain is I have bought a footstool to put my feet on when I sit on the sofa, as being a short-ass my legs are usually up on the sofa or just dangling, not the best way of sitting, had my first night of using it last night and so far so good, hopefully it will help with the pains in my varicous vein too.
 
I will report back if my back is feeling better next week now I have lots of solutions on the go!

I have started to worry a little that I haven't felt any distinctive baby movement yet, but the consultant reassured me that its nothing to worry about, and that I should feel something by 22 weeks so a few weeks to go yet & my 20 week scan is in 2 weeks, so that will hopefully reassure me that everything is as it should be.

My measurements for this week are
:

Bust- 48"

Waist- 41"

Hips- 48"

Weight gain- +11lbs

Symptoms this week:

-Back ache

-Mood swings

Bump pictures this week:

26th November 2013 - 18 weeks

Well 18 weeks, so just under 3 weeks until the 20 week scan. I Can't believe it, it has gone so quick, but also slow at the same time. Doesn't seem long since the build up to the 12 week scan, being frightened in case there was no baby in there, and now we are nearly at the 20 week scan.
Amazing really, symptoms have definitely changed between then and now, the first 14 weeks were really hard, luckily symptoms wise, the last 4 weeks have been a lot easier.

We have finally started making a few purchases but it's still scary, still find it hard to believe that nothing is going to go wrong, don't think i will believe it until he/she is here.

A lot of people don't want us to find out the sex at the scan, but we are, I can't wait another 20 weeks, plus need to get all prepared.

So far we have purchased out Moses basket (mothercare) 

And we have put a deposit down on our 'travel system' which consists on pram, car seat & pushchair, and should last till walking age (apart from the car seat & carry cot they should last till about 15 months). (Mothercare)

We were going to go for the mamas & papas sola, but after a visit to the baby shops, we decided on our joie chrome after the man in mothercare gave us a demonstration and it is everything we need, easy to manoeuvre and about £150 cheaper than the one we originally wanted so very happy with it so far.

Plus size & it's affects on my pregnancy experience so far have been mixed, at first it wasn't even mentioned which I found strange, despite having a bmi of over 30.

But I now have an appointment on the 2nd of December with the consultant, and at my 16 week appointment the midwife decided to suddenly tell me of all the problems I could encounter from being overweight and especially as I also have a varicous vein - very high risk pregnancy.

I can't help finding it strange if I'm so high risk that they left it until 16 weeks to tell me, I am now on asprin to thin my blood.

Here are my measurements for this week:

Bust- 47"

Waist- 40"

Hips- 47"

Weight gain- +8lbs

Bump pictures this week: 

Sorry awful picture, I will try & get better.

Also putting on a pic of previous months for comparison:

And finally my symptoms for the week:

-heartburn

-lower back pain

That's about it for this week really long blog, I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon ha ha. Take care. 

Inspired....

I have spent today scouring the internet for some suitable plus sized maternity clothes now I am starting to expand at 17 + 6 weeks! What a nightmare it is trying to find fashionable clothes that are suitable for plus size & pregnant & short (5"3).

I ended up finding this amazing blog http://pregnantandplussize.blogspot.co.uk which has inspired me to start my own blog, about my plus sized pregnancy story, plus I hope to add in some posts on any fashion finds I make with some outfit inspiration for other plus size pregnant ladies that don't want to just dress in a sack for 9 months.

I am a curvy sized 20 pre-pregnancy x