Ethan has started his own blog as he's such a computor whiz hehe:)

Ethan's Universe ! It's in my links over there ------>

Ethan is 3 Weeks and 3 Days Old!!

He's bigger lol, prob 11 lbs and a half by now. He still attacks his face alot, hes a scabby face at the moment. I file his nails but they aren't that long, hes just strong I guess. He pulls scratch mitts off!

He's getting very good at peeing over himself hehe, hasn't got me once yet, I shouldn't say that lol. He's also a piggy with the bottle! I gave up trying to breastfeed, he kept refusing and I couldn't pump much, they were sore and I had had enough :( Anyway he adores the bottle lol.

We haven't been for a walk yet, partly due to my sciatica, which seems to be getting better! and also I have no mattress for the pram so ones on order. He loves the car though sends him straight to sleep lol :)

We Are Home!


Baby Ethan Robert, born 2nd March 2010 weighing in at 10lb5 and a half oz.

Laboured approx 15 and a half hours 8 of those at home some using birthing pool with only paracetamol as pain relief. His head wouldn't engage so the midwife rang for an ambulance at about 9.15.

Got to winchester, the ride was fun and got put in a labouring room.

The following hours were a mixture of panic, pain and happiness.

Ethans heartbeat dropped dramatically twice, first when they broke my water, which had meconium in it and secondly when I got up to use the bed pan. I was given the choice of caesarean or more waiting to see what would happen. I chose the c-section. So they took me down and prepped me. The spinal was so weird, I could feel them touching me and moving my legs etc but no pain. Hubby kept watching them work. He cut the cord said it was very tough lol.

I had my first cuddle but where the screen was in the way Ethan was trying to strangle me hehe. They wheeled me to the maternity ward and hubby changed his first nappy :)

40 Weeks + 2 Days

Well I'm 2 days overdue and I feel like it! lol. Pelvis very painful, hurts to walk, baby feels heavy and low.

Had Hospital appointment Tuesday where I had the usual checks done. I asked the midwife about my swollen feet and ankles and she said its because I'm measuring big (it was 50cms!) My feet feel sunburnt and look like an old fat womans hehe.

Anyway obstrician scared me with talk of big babies and stuck shoulders. He says I hope I get my home birth but he thinks I should go to hosp because baby is big.

I saw my midwife yesterday and discussed this with her. She said a birthing pool is excellent for birthing big babies as you have to keep moving about and changing position to get the shoulders out, which is easy in water. Also not everyone has problems birthing big babies, small ones can be equally problematic. She said Dr Heard is very cautious even though he is pro home birth. Also she told me that if I went to hosp and had an epidural that would cause the baby to get stuck. Epi's slow down labour.

Anyway I felt much happier after talking to her, she has booked me in for a membrane sweep Tuesday morning if nothing happens before then. Fingers crossed I go into labour Friday as my midwifes on duty that night :))

39 Weeks and Counting!!!

The average baby is about 51cm long from head to toe and weighs about 3.4kg at birth, but anywhere between 2.5kg and 3.8kg is a healthy range for newborns.

Your amniotic fluid, once clear, is now pale and milky. This is because your baby has been shedding the greasy, white substance (vernix caseosa) which has been protecting his skin. The outer layers of skin are also sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

In TV dramas, labour always begins with the waters breaking – in the middle of a crowded room, of course – just before contractions start. If you've been worrying that this will happen to you, you can stop worrying. When your membranes rupture, your baby's head will tend to act like a cork at the opening of your uterus (womb). If you lie down, however, you may notice fluid leaking.

You should stay calm – it may be hours before you feel your first contraction – and call your doctor or midwife right away. Your body will produce more amniotic fluid until your baby is born, so you may be advised to wait at home until contractions are under way. Find out how to tell when you're really in labour.

And if the week passes and there's still no baby? Don't panic – babies have a habit of not arriving on their scheduled due date. Most doctors wait another two weeks before considering a pregnancy overdue. Check out how to cope with being overdue.


Had a few contractions here and there but they didn't amount to anything. Come on Ethan I'm waiting!

Moved the pool and stuff to downstairs, not sure if the upstairs floor will take the weight, also more room in the front room and its not far to the sofa lol. Plastic sheets everywhere!

Had a good chat with my brother yesterday he's excited about becoming an uncle:))

Hospital sent a letter Saturday asking me to come in for an appointment on my due day! What are they thinking? Hopefully I will have had him by then. Last app to see the Ob took hours, all they did was what the midwives take 30 mins to do! Waste of time. Can't handle that at this stage my back will rebel! Besides I'm dreading he will try and make me go to hosp to have ethan, his reasons last time were IVF, (which doesn't make a difference!) and my age! Midwifes have all said those things are not a problem. Theres no other reasons, no GD, hes not breech, no pre-eclamsia, my irons at a much better level now too. He's been head down for months. See sensible boy lol. OK end of rant :))

38 Weeks - 2 Weeks till 40!


"Can you tell if you're carrying a boy or a girl? One hint may come from the size of your baby – boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls. Babies at week 39 weigh between 3kg and 3.2kg and continue to build the fat stores that will help regulate body temperature after birth.

Your baby's organ systems are fully developed and in place, but his lungs will be last to reach maturity. Even after your baby is born, it may take a few hours before he establishes a normal breathing pattern. After he's born, he'll have a series of brief tests which will measure his health on what's called the Apgar scale.

Wondering what colour your baby's eyes will be? Most white European babies are born with dark blue eyes and their true eye colour – be it brown, green, grey or blue – may not reveal itself for weeks or months. The colour of your baby's eyes in the first minutes after birth won't last – exposure to light changes a baby's initial eye colour. Most babies of African and Asian descent have dark grey or brown eyes at birth, but it won't be clear what precise shade their eyes will be until after the first six months or year.

If you go into labour this week, find out how to cope in the early stages. Have a look at our newborn section to learn all about the precious load you are carrying. "

Judging by what the sonographer said, well guessed, Ethans going to be 9 and a half to 10 lbs. I want him to come out now lol, don't want to try and handle 10 lbs hehe. But they might be wrong it was only a guess.

I am so ready for him to come out now, everythings set up just got to buy a fishing net (use your imagination its a water birth lol), a floating thermometer and some nipple shields :)

Another midwife appointment tomorrow with Debbie. I am so worried that I will go into labour when there are not 2 midwives available, that means hospital. I will use my birthing pool!

37 Weeks! Not long now :)

"Your baby weighs close to 2.8kg and may be about 48.6cm long from head to toe. Your baby's head is now cradled in your pelvic cavity – surrounded and protected by your pelvic bones. This position clears some much-needed space for her growing legs and buttocks.

Many babies now have a full head of hair, with locks up to 3.5cm long. But don't be surprised if her hair isn't the same colour as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes taken aback when their children are born with bright red or blond hair, and fair-haired couples likewise can produce babies with dark hair. And then, of course, some babies don't have any hair at all.

Speaking of hair, most of the downy coat of lanugo that covered your baby from 26 weeks has disappeared, and so has most of the vernix caseosa, the protective whitish substance that also covered her. Your baby will swallow her lanugo and exterior coating, along with other secretions, and store them in her bowels. These will become her first bowel movement, a blackish waste called meconium.

Around now many women start worrying about whether they will know if they are in labour. Look no further than our labour and birth section. "

Had another scan as uterus seemed large again, they said baby was fine and my fluid was ok too. They estimated baby weight at 7lbs 11oz but that could be upto 2lbs out so not accurate lol.

Went to ABC (Andover Birthing Centre) for blood form and they did it there. Asked if we could talk to someone about homebirth, lucky we did as it needs to be sorted out by 37 weeks!!! No one told us that! Anyway we were booked in to see Debbie next day to discuss it:)

Appointment with Debbie (my midwife) went well BP ok, urine ok, HB ok baby kicked her hehehe. She sees no reason why we can't have Ethan at home :) She popped round Sunday with the pregnancy box. It contained lots of stuff I didn't have a clue about lol I'm nosy. She said the pool was great similar to one they used to have at ABC. And she loved the cats lol.

All set now just got to wait, hope obstetrician doesn't want to see me she said hosp might ring depending on what he thinks of my scan hmmm. Fingers crossed he doesn't try to talk me out of home birth.

36 Weeks today!

"Your baby is still gaining weight – about 28g a day. She weighs nearly 2.7kg and is about 47.4cm long from head to toe. You may begin to feel an increased pressure in your lower belly and notice that your baby is gradually dropping. This is called lightening or engagement, and your lungs and stomach will finally get a chance to stretch out a little – breathing and eating should become easier.

However, walking may become increasingly uncomfortable – some women say it feels as if the baby is going to fall out. Also, you may still feel as if you need to go to the loo all the time. Check out our eating well guide and stock up on those last-minute nutrients.

The good news is that by the end of this week, your pregnancy will be full-term and you could give birth any day. Babies between 37 and 42 weeks are considered full-term – a baby born before 37 weeks is premature and after 42 is post-term.

At your weekly visit, your doctor or midwife may check to see if you've started dilating, when the neck of your womb (cervix) opens, and effacing, when your cervix thins. The midwife will also check what position your baby is in, to estimate how far your baby has dropped into your pelvis. This information will be entered into your maternity notes so that your midwife will know the position of your baby when you go into labour. "


"Weekly vist"? They couldn't fit me in until 3 weeks after my last visit, so thats a worry. Still haven't had the chance to discuss my home birth with MY midwife! She's the one thats qualified to do water birthing. I keep having to see whoever is available grr. I'm dreading them saying its too late to arrange a home birth, but that would be nonsense really. Got the room set up ready, Pools inflated, bin bags, bucket lol, just need to buy plastic sheets. I have got the babys bath ready and the hosp bags have everything in thats needed.

I know he's started dropping he's 2/5ths engaged. I just hope he can't turn round now.

Weel I see Debbie, my midwife, on the 10th so I will try and discuss birthing plan then and get it arranged, fingers crossed.

I also have a bad cold at the moment which if why I am feeling grouchy, sinus's hurt, feels like my face is falling off, and my nose, well we won't go there.

35 Weeks Pregnant Today!

"Your baby now weighs about 2.4kg and measures around 46.2cm from head to toe. His elbows, feet or head may protrude from your stomach when he stretches and squirms about. Soon, as the wall of your uterus (womb) and your belly stretch thinner and let in more light, your baby will begin to develop daily activity cycles.

This week, your little one is now sporting full-length fingernails and toenails and has a fully developed pair of kidneys. His liver can also process some waste products.

There's much less amniotic fluid and much more baby in your uterus. You've probably put on between 11kg and 13.6kg and your weight gain has hit its peak. Even your belly button has got bigger and has popped outward. You may be feeling breathless now that the top of your uterus is up under your ribs.

Try getting down on all fours to take deeper breaths. Although the pressure on your bladder will make the bathroom your second home, don't drink any less water – your baby needs the fluids. But you may like to cut down on diuretic drinks like such as tea and coffee, which will make you have to urinate even more often.

Still undecided about a name? Try our baby namer for new ideas.

Your doctor or midwife will probably want to start seeing you every week until you give birth."


People keep asking me if I'm due any day lol, it certainly feels like it! I'm huge, mornings, for a couple of hours I feel ok, but afternoons I start aching and get breathless just walking up the stairs. Evenings are much worse, baths help a lot. Nights are, well, a nightmare lol. Loo trips and can't get comfy.
The house behind us caught fire last night, no idea if deliberate or not but we heard a pop, loud enough to wake us (this was at about 3.15) and saw an orange glow through the curtains. Their front door and porch were on fire, hubby called 999. So we were sat watching that for an hour or so. Family were fine and their 3 cats, one got singed whiskers though. The house is a mess.

I might weigh myself in a minute, I've been putting it off as its scary hehe.

34 Weeks Yesterday

"Your baby now weighs more than 2.2kg and is 45cm from top to toe. She's filling out and getting rounder – she’ll need her fat layers later to regulate her body temperature.

If you don't already talk to your baby, this is a good time to start – at 35 weeks her hearing is fully developed. Don't feel ridiculous if you're already chatting in baby talk. Some evidence shows that newborns pay closer attention to high-pitched tones.

If you've been nervous about going into premature labour, you'll be happy to know that 99 per cent of babies born at week 35 can survive outside the uterus (womb) – and most have no major problems. Although your baby's central nervous system is still maturing, her lungs are nearly fully developed by now.

Many women start to notice a tingling sensation or numbness in the pelvic region or pain as they walk. This may be caused by the pelvic joints loosening, ready for labour. If you're particularly uncomfortable, mention it to your midwife or doctor and check out our self-help tips. "

I like the way they say you START to feel a tingling sensation, it bloody well hurts sometimes, and what with all the waddling it kills your hips lol. I think I have had enough of this pregnancy thing now, can I have my baby please? :P
Getting harder to sleep, can't get comfy, seem to need the loo permanently. Where my stomachs so heavy my stretch marks are getting bigger on my sides. I look huge!

To get back to 9 stone I will have to lose 5 stone! that sounds a bit daunting . The only thing that brings relief is a nice hot bath, lovely. I'm having one every night and getting hubby to wash my legs and feet hehe.

Saw Midwife Today!

I rang up this morning and Karen was there and one other, the others had been snowed in lol. We saw her about 11.00. No Im not measuring big, I am only 1 week ahead which is fine, I was right about the bloating. HB was a little high but after 10 mins or so she did it again and it was fine. Baby's HB was good too.

Discussed where I am having Ethan, Karen said she didn't think the centre would be open in Feb so I said prob home delivery then. She said she could't see any reasons why not apart from the weather. So will have to wait and see.

She advised I get a liquid form of iron, one that contains Vit C and doesn't cause constipation, all good lol.

Had another blood test afterwards to check iron levels then went into town to get the iron stuff, which tastes horrible by the way hehe.

Driving was fine, lots of snow but wasn't slippery.

33 Weeks Today!
"Your baby now weighs about 2kg and measures approximately 43.7cm from head to toe. Your baby should already be getting ready for birth by turning upside-down – her head should be pointing down, ready for birth.

Your doctor or midwife will be paying careful attention to your baby's position in the coming weeks – some babies do decide to turn back round again.

Your baby's skull is still quite pliable and not completely fused, so she can ease out of the relatively narrow birth canal (the passage between the cervix and the opening of the vagina). But the bones in the rest of her body are hardening. Your baby's skin is also gradually becoming less red and wrinkled as fat builds up underneath.

If you're a first-time mother, your baby's head may move into the pelvis this week and press firmly against your cervix. (This happens for about half of all first-time mothers.) If you're a second-time mum, you can expect this to happen a week before labour – and for some this won't happen until the start of labour. Hoping to manage your labour naturally? Here's all you need to know about natural pain relief.

You may notice that your feet and ankles are quite swollen by the end of the day. Water retention, also known as oedema, is often worse in warm weather and late in the day. Surprisingly, keeping hydrated helps reduce water retention. Your body – particularly your kidneys – and your baby need plenty of fluids, so drink up. If you suddenly feel swollen or puffy in your hands or face, however, call your doctor – it may be a sign of pre-eclampsia. "

Feel as big as an elephant hehehe. Midwife should be ringing me tomorrow or I will have to chase her again! I'm supposed to have an appointment this week!

I might have to have another scan, which I'm looking forward too, and another blood test too blahhh. Hopefully iron levels have gone up a bit, still very very tired though, not so much sleepy but achy, especially my legs.

My stretchmarks have spread from my sides to my bum lol, still none on my tummy yet.

Washed all the new baby clothes, blankets etc, I've decided Fairy non bio smells lovely might switch to that permanently lol. Seems to have a lot of 0 - 3 clothes hmm.

I've put on about 30lbs now, which I still think is not too bad, I mean.... christmas! Can't not eat all that yummy food!