Week 20 Pregnancy Update + Gender Reveal

20 weeks 1 day

How far along?

20 weeks and 1 day

Total weight gain?

Still don't know. I'm guessing about 1 stone but I really should weigh myself. I thought the midwife might do it today when I went for my appointment but she didn't. I might force myself to find out when I go to the gym tomorrow morning.

Maternity clothes?

No more at the moment. Doing fine with what I have. On the look out for some comfy shoes though.

Stretch marks?

Only on my boobs :( not on my belly :).....yet!

Sleep?

I've been quite stressed out with work recently so haven't ben sleeping all that well. I seem to spend the entire night dreaming about work...not fun really.

Best moment this week?

Going for a walk in the sunshine on Sunday with my hubby in Epping Forest. Why can't the weather be this nice all the time!

Worst moment this week?

Being stressed at work and bursting into tears because of it. I then fell over in the street on my way home and burst into tears so spent the whole journey home on the tube wiping my eyes and feeling like a right idiot. It's like when I start I just can't stop. Anyone else have this problem? 

Miss anything?

Kind of miss being able to have a few drinks with my friends when we go out in the evening. Especially after a stressful day sometimes you just want to kick back with a couple of glasses of wine.

Movement?

Starting to feel it a lot more regularly now. When I'm feeling down a little kick from my baby always cheers me up.

Food cravings?

Loving a good Hamburger at the moment! Tommi's Burger on Marylebone Highstreet is great and my hubby had an amazing looking one at the The Diner in Spitalfields Market the other night.

Anything making you feel sick or queezy?

No

Gender?

We had our scan today and are super happy to announce that we are having a little BOY! Everyone seemed to think it would be a girl but I had a feeling... :)

Symptoms?

None really, I've been feeling more or less like myself. However I have started to notice that when I sit down my coccyx (tail bone) feels slightly painful. This only bothers me when I sit down but is absolutely fine when standing up. 

Belly button in or out?

Half in half out!

Happy or moody?

Generally really happy. Although my recent stresses at work have caused me to have a couple of emotional outbursts

Looking forward to?

Meeting my baby boy! and to more sunshine. Clocks go forward soon...always love the lighter evenings!

"Working" or "Stay at Home" Mum?

When my good client and friend called me at the store near the beginning of the week to say she wanted me to call in a load of pieces for her to try on I was super happy.  She is absolutely lovely, and the last time I saw her was about about a year ago when she was nearing the end of her pregnancy and waiting to give birth to a baby girl. 

As she is a successful fashion journalist and therefore working mother, I couldn't wait to find out how she was doing and also pick her brain about the subject of having a career and bringing up children at the same time.

The question has been put to me often recently,  will I return to work when my maternity leave finishes? 

My answer? I have no idea. I think the question I find me asking myself more is will I return to my current job? 

I know there is a hell of a lot more I would love to do with my career but I've been feeling a little stuck in the past year. Right now I see having a child as the perfect opportunity to take some time out and  decide what the next step should be. My ideal situation would be to have my own business so I can still spend time with my child as I need to, and earn money doing something I love.

After talking to my client this is what I learned. She admits that she is a major workaholic, example...she just did 26 days in a row for Fashion Week travelling from London to New York to Paris! She obviously missed her girls terribly but she also see's it as important that she still holds true to who she is. Thankfully Fashion Week only happens twice a year and the rest of the time she is home by six and manages to get some time in with her girls before bedtime and then obviously the weekends.

She said even after just 9 months at home with a baby, when you go back to work it is scary and you can really lack confidence. She advised me that even if I go back and do just 2 days a week it will be worth it for my own self esteem. This I have to agree with. 

I really can't tell how I am going to feel this time next year, but at the moment I think I will definitely go back part time. I already love what I do but I am thinking after 6 months at home I will do a short further training course in an area that I love that might allow me to start my own business on the side while I do my current job 2 days a week. Whatever I do though will be what is best for me and of course best for my child. 

At the moment I can't even decide how early I should leave work! Being in retail and on my feet all day running up and down stairs collecting garments for clients is harder than imagined, and I reckon it will only be made harder carrying a big bump around in the summer months.

If you worked in retail how early did you take your maternity leave?

How do you feel about returning to work?

As a mother, how do you feel about leaving your child in other peoples care while you work?

I would love to hear your comments and advice :)

Week 18 Pregnancy Update

18 Weeks + 4 days :)

How far along?

18 weeks, 2 days :)

Total weight gain?

Not sure at the moment. Will probably find out in 2 weeks when I see the Midwife after our scan. I'm trying to chill out about the whole weight gain thing...

Maternity clothes?

None! I went shopping for some with my mum the other day, we went into Seraphine and I have to say there was nothing I really liked and it was all far too pricey for something I'm never gonna wear after 5 months. A Tshirt for £45??? errr....no. In the end I got some printed tops from H&M £12 each and some basic vests £4/5, Leggings from American Apparel because they're my fav. Everything just in bigger sizes, at least my choices don't feel so restricted anymore and I'm actually looking forward to doing more shopping for my bump when the weather gets nicer.

Stretch marks?

Nope

Sleep?

Sleep is still good although my dreams have gotten progressively weirder and I even had a nightmare the other night which wasn't too pleasant :(

Best moment this week?

Just enjoying feeling more like myself at the moment. I had a lovely day out with my mum and even picked up a few baby things (unisex as we still don't know the gender). Also spending time with my hubby has been lovely and trying to do up the house a bit more before August. I'm very excited to have ordered our new sofa, no more being cramped on our dingy old two seater.

Worst moment this week?

Nothing its all been lovely!

Miss anything?

I was missing my runny eggs...but then I discovered that as long as they have the British Lion stamp on them then they are perfectly safe to eat runny, Win!

Movement?

Loads of movement on Sunday. It still feels like gentle flutters but it's definitely baby. I feel it most in the evenings or when I'm sitting down after eating.

Food cravings?

I've definitely got my craving for chocolate back! Other than that I could just eat anything. This week I felt like whatever I ate I just constantly felt hungry...annoying.

Anything making you feel sick or queezy?

No

Gender?

2 weeks!

Symptoms?

Weird dreams and constant hunger. Stuffy nose hasn't been as bad though recently. Oh and I constantly seem to have a few spots on my chin. They're not noticeable really but still there all the same.

Belly button in or out?

In. Actually looking forward to it popping out although my husband thinks it will look gross. Ha!

Happy or moody?

Super happy!!!!! Long may it continue!!!

Looking forward to?

Buying more things for peanut when we know the sex. It probably shouldn't matter but it does to me :)

Sunday Funday - Lunch at the Clapton Hart

Since I found out I was pregnant I have taken little pleasure in spending time at pubs and bars with people drinking. Downing endless pints of juice or water somehow isn't as fun. So my most favourite thing to do now when I venture out the house to be sociable is to go and have a lovely meal somewhere.

Today me and the hubby decided to go for a nice Sunday roast at the Clapton Hart pub in Hackney, only a short bus ride away from us.

This place is huge and although there were tables when we arrived at 1 PM it filled up super fast. There were lots of yummy mummies with their cute little babies and it made me so excited for our peanut to arrive, who incidently seemed to be moving around a lot today! I think he/she must have approved of the delicious lunch we had.

I had a "virgin" mary, roast beef, and rhubarb crumble and custard for dessert. Yum! I'm definitely looking forward to going back there in the summer when peanut is born as they also have a huge beer garden to relax in.

How do you enjoy spending your Sunday's? and can you recommend any interesting none alcoholic drinks?