Ok, this week the baby is the size of a Gameboy. I highly recommend downloading the Ovia pregnancy app and setting it to toys and games, because this is way more fun than random fruits. The baby started moving around loads more during week 19, and those nudges are getting pretty strong now so Laurie can feel them more often. Ebony still hasn’t felt them because she has no staying power and quickly announces she can’t feel anything before running off to play something else.
The baby has spent most of the week squeezing my bladder, or that’s what it feels like anyway. I don’t sleep anymore because I wake up every hour to pee. Sometimes, whilst stumbling to the bathroom yet again, I think how clever it is that my body is preparing me for the constant night wakings of the newborn period. And then I remember that, actually, when that happens you have to breastfeed for like 45 minutes a time so you actually never get any sleep and then I stop feeling sorry for myself about having to pee so often.
I am slowly acquiring more and more pillows in the bed. I currently have one between my legs (Laurie has asked that I stop referring to this one as my ‘fanny pillow’, but I really feel like, when you consider what it is soon to go through, it deserves a pillow). And I also have one for my bump, this one is really to act as a shield because Ebony keeps getting into my bed and then either right hooking me in the face or kicking me in the stomach. I’m hoping she’s asleep when this happens but it’s very dark so I can’t say for sure that she doesn’t just hate me.
The pillow collection and increasing risk of violence mean that I am really really looking forward to getting a new bed. Our bedroom is currently half stripped and awaiting some floor sanding and plastering before I can embark on operation super king. When the bed arrives, I will feel only joy and nothing will ever be able to make me sad or angry, because I will have all the sleeping room in the world. And the bed will be so big it will basically fill our entire bedroom and mean I have less distance to walk during my hourly bathroom trips.
I am still feeling big but my bump hasn’t actually gotten any bigger this week, and I think I look relatively acceptable until I put my coat on which immediately makes me look eight months pregnant. If you’re hoping to fake a pregnancy, I would recommend buying a Red Herring maternity coat because the one I have could make anyone look pregnant. Seriously.
I’m still feeling exhausted, I just don’t seem to be able to get enough sleep. I think between the bathroom trips and the right hooks, I’m just not quite getting my eight hours. I seem to experience a lull in energy late afternoon and it’s really hard work forcing myself to make dinner, read stories and get Ebony to bed on time. She’s been choosing lots of baby-related bedtime stories this week so that’s been lovely. I love seeing how excited she is about the new baby. She’s really understanding when I’m tired and always gives me cuddles if I’m feeling uncomfortable.
My PGP/SPD/crotch pain has been a little worse the past couple of days. I think I’ve been overdoing it a little with stripping wallpaper and trying to get the house sorted and I definitely find myself paying the price in the evenings. But it’s still not as bad as it was last time so I’m staying positive. The maternity belt I bought from Mothercare has gone missing and I’m really feeling the difference when I walk. It was only £12 but has definitely been worth every penny, if you’re struggling with pelvic pains, I’d definitely recommend it. I think mine is lost in our upside down room so I’m really hoping I can find it soon.
Missed my 18 week update? Catch up here.