health visitor

The ‘Berry’ Pregnancy Diaries – week 35

- Stacey Leave a comment

Wednesday 22nd January – 35w
It was little man’s first day at nursery today, so I haven’t done an awful lot other than a bit of housework, and some blogging. After walking to nursery and back I was in so much pain so couldn’t really do much else. It’s been strange being on my own all day though, reminded me a bit of when I was pregnant with him!


Thursday 23rd January – 35w 1d
Been so tired today, all I’ve wanted to do was sleep. The health visitor also came for an antenatal visit – I never had one of these with little man so it must be a new thing, I was slightly worried beforehand! All she really came for though was to see how I’m feeling and let me know about the health visitor service after baby arrives. Oh, and give me a load of leaflets which I didn’t really need anyway. 


Friday 24th January – 35w 2d
Baby has been very active today – I recorded nearly as many movements in 3 hours this morning, as I usually get in a whole day! 


Saturday 25th January – 35w 3d
I had a really horrid dream last night. I can’t remember it in detail (or anything that came before what I can remember) as it was slightly traumatic. For some reason little man slept in the bath (!) and I slept on the bathroom floor (again, !) but in the same instance I was also having a miscarriage. I even found it hard to just write that as it has worried me so much. As well as that I had a rubbish night’s sleep from the SPD pain. 


I’ve discovered a new craving today though – pick ‘n’ mix! We were out and I couldn’t go home until I had some! 

Monday 27th January – 35w 5d
I actually woke up without pain today (other than backache). It didn’t last long though, unsurprisingly. I’m also coming down with the cough/cold that little man seems to have picked up. It better jog on, yucky! 


Tuesday 28th January – 35w 6d
No such luck, I now have a sore throat to go with it. Oh what joy when I can’t take an awful lot for it. 


At 35 weeks, berry is the size of a honeydew melon.
The organs are developed and are now becoming more defined each week.
The central nervous system is maturing.
The digestive system is almost complete.
The lungs are almost fully developed.
The main job over the remaining weeks is to put on weight.

Counselling – take 2

- Stacey Leave a comment

First of all, I’m so sorry I haven’t been updating regularly the last couple of weeks, it has been hectic with moving, trying to make a dent in the boxes, and decorating the little man’s room to get him in there! Well it looks a bit more lived in now rather than just a junk shop. 


Anyway, I had another counselling session last month. I had to do the depression questionnaire again and my results were a little better than they were at the previous one, so the tasks he gave me must have helped a little. He asked me how good a Mum I thought I was now, on a scale of 1-10, and I said 6, maybe 7, which was a lot better than the last time, so he was quite pleased with me! We talked a bit more about my anxiety and going out on my own with little man, to groups etc., and how I was still a bit nervous but I would try my hardest with it. Well I’ve still only ventured to baby clinic as I kind of ‘know’ the women who run it now, but I find the other women who go are a bit cliquey and tend to know each other already (though I do try and talk to them), so I don’t stay very long anyway. Just long enough for the little man to have a little giggle at the other babies which he loves.


So, we decided not to make another appointment just then, but he said I was free to make one if I ever thought I was slipping again. Which I have. About something I never spoke to him about as I thought he might think I was being stupid, like I thought with the other things we discussed! The stupid flaming breastfeeding guilt. Though I’m feeling a little better right now, I’ve been like this before and then got worse, so I may just have to bite the bullet and go back and talk about it. 


But last week I broke down to my health visitor about it, literally broke down into tears and was all snotty and everything! Though all throughout my crying and snuffling and sobbing, little man stayed asleep in my arms! The HV gave me a hug (and a tissue!), said he was doing brilliant, that I AM a good mum because I did the best for him, and he’s a happy little chappy and always smiling (unlike her other babies – her words!) so I must have done something right. And you know what, after getting him weighed last week, I’m starting to think I am and I did.

My first 2 weeks as a Mummy

- Stacey Leave a comment

Well I see little man took over my blog for a day! What a good vocabulary he has already! Takes after his Mummy you see!


So, my first two weeks as a Mummy… It’s been amazing just having our little boy here. Apart from some random tears I’ve had, when I was in hospital, and then have had a few since I got home, just due to tiredness and soreness I think, and thinking I couldn’t cope. I’m still sore, some days it’s worse than others, and so is the bleeding. It had slowed right down but has gotten worse again the last few days. A sign to take it easy I know, but I’ve hardly been doing anything really… Walking is still as difficult as it was when I was pregnant, if not more! If I walk too fast I feel even more sore, and at points I have to walk like John Wayne which I’ll admit is rather funny! I only do that at home or other people’s houses though, not in public! The midwife checked my stitches last Thursday and said there were still some there but that they were healing well. In fact since then, when she checked me, is when it’s gotten worse again. Anyway, she weighed little man and checked me, and then decided we were both okay to be discharged, so we’re now under the ‘care’ of the health visitor and the GP. I also ran out of iron tablets last week so went to the doctors, who gave me another 6 weeks worth! She also had that look and surprise when she saw my hb level, which I found out was in fact 8. When I’ve finished these I have to go back for a full blood count. As for baby weight, in my first week I lost 9.6lbs, and then another 4lbs last week, so 13.6lbs so far since giving birth. Just another 15lbs to go until pre pregnancy weight… And then after that, to pick up where I left off, another 21-28lbs to get to my final goal weight. 


Since we’ve been home, we’ve had visitors, been visiting, and been out & about in general, making the most of hubby’s paternity leave as a family, before he went back to work today. My Mum took little man out for the morning to show off, with her MiL, they took him shopping but he decided he was going to have a screaming session around the shop! He soon quietened down when he was fed though. So I’ve only had him on my own for some of the afternoon as hubby finished work early. Tomorrow will be my first full day alone with him while hubby is at work, and we’re having more visitors later in the week. 


The health visitor came today as well. I was nervous as I’ve heard horror stories about HV’s, but she was quite nice! This time anyway… She just went through the routine stuff with us, filled in forms, and did little man’s hearing test. Both ears came back as normal. She is coming back to weigh him on the 16th when he will be 4 weeks old, can’t wait to see how much he weighs then! We also have his 8 week check and vaccinations on the 16th May at the doctors, I told hubby he is coming to that as I’ll be upset watching little man, just like I was when he had his heel prick test! I also have to go for my post natal check on 11th June. 


Well, I think that’s all I had in my mind to update you on, on my first 2 weeks! I’ve probably forgotten something though as I’m quite tired tonight, my brain isn’t functioning properly and I can hardly keep my eyes open!


Welcome to motherhood!