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18/04/08 (30wks) Hi Everyone, I'm Laura, 25 yrs old from Manchester and expecting my 1st baby. It is very exciting but also pretty scary! xx Pregnancy Survey
About You
Name?:	LAURA
Age?:	25
Height?:	5ft5"
Pre-pregnancy weight?:	8st 7 ish (dress size 8-10)
About The Father
Name?:	MIKEY
Age?:	31
Height?:	5ft9"
Are you still together?:	YES
About Your Pregnancy
Is this your first pregnancy?:	YES
When did you find out you were pregnant?:	October 2007
Was it planned?:	NO
What was your first reaction?:	Shock!!
Who was with you when you found out?:	Mikey
Who was the first person you told?:	Mikey, then my mum
How did your parents react?:	My mum was& still is v excited
How far along are you?:	30+6wks
What was your first symptom?:	Swollen breasts & stomach
What is your due date?:	21/06/2008
Do you know the sex of the baby?:	YES
If so, what is it?:	A GIRL
Have you picked out names?:	YES - think so!!
If so, what are they?:	Ella Rae
How much weight have you gained?:	About a month ago I weighed 10st - haven't dared weigh myself since!!
Do you have stretch marks?:	yes - but not too bad yet - so scared of getting them!!
Have you felt the baby move?:	YES
Have you heard the heartbeat?:	YES
About the birth
Will you keep the baby?:	YES
Home or hospital birth?:	Hospital
Natural or medicated birth?:	PAIN RELIEF!!
Who will be in the delivery room with you?:	MIKEY & MY MUM
Will you breastfeed?:	YES (hope so!!)
Do you think you'll need a c-section?:	Not planned on it - only if necessary
Will you cry when you hold the baby for the first time?:	Probably
What's the first thing you might say to him/her?:	You're finally here!!
Would you let someone videotape the birth?:	No
Are you excited about the birth, or scared?:	scared about the birth, excited about having my baby!!
26/04/08 (32wks) Finally in wk32 - yey!!

I am so sure that the wks keep going slower tho!! Well, I have been to three antinatal classes now& learnt about signs of labour, pain relief and breast feeding. I even tried some gas& air which actually just felt like I was breathing in a whole load of nothing! I'm hoping it does something more than that when i'm in agony!

I got some raspberry leaf tablets from holland & barrats that i'm going to start taking this wk coz it says u can start taking them from 32wks - I don't know if they work but I've heard some good things- & I'm willing 2try pretty much anything that mite make Labour easier! I haven't packed a hospital bag yet - mayb i should be doing that soon?

We have also got pretty much everything we need now4 our baby - i think anyway! Just waiting on the cot2 arrive but it's been ordered. Her room isn't actually free yet tho because Mikeys friend is still living with us until next month - we have already painted some of his room pink tho :) Not really his colour but never mind :) I can't wait 2put all her things in there& get it set up so her room is totally ready. Must b that nesting instinct kicking in!

I am feeling pretty huge & round & unattractive at the moment - as lucky as I know I am 2b pregnant and for it all to be going fairly normally so far (touch wood!) I just can't help that I'm getting a bit fed up of being pregnant and just wanting my baby to be here! I kind of feel like my life is on hold now because I feel less and less able 2 do anything normal &fun or 2 live my life like I used 2 - but my new life as a mum hasn't really begun yet. Not that I'm not scared of that 2! I reallly want my baby 2b here but then I'm terrified about whether I will be a good enough mum for her &whether me & Mikey can cope with all the sleepless nites!!

Anyway Lots of Love & Happy wishes 2all of u xx

10/05/08 (WK 34)

I am sooo tired & achey today - I am discovering a whole new meaning of the word 'uncomfortable'. I have def noticed that I am becoming a lot more uncomfortable & having greater difficulty sleeping, especially over the last few days. But still 6wks to go!! And I think the mood swings from the 1st trimester are making a v unwelcome return - theres no telling what will set me off crying recently.

Its not all bad tho - I had my baby shower last wkend and that was brilliant. It was so lovely to have all my friends here together - since I don't really go on many nights out anymore it was great to just spend time with them and have lots of girly chats. They bought lots of lovely toys for Ella too &I even got a couple of presents for me :)

We went shopping today for all the last bits & bobs off our baby list - it really tired me out!! I feel like I'm 25 going on 60 at the mo!! I was hobbling round like an old lady by the end. But it feels really good to have everything - even bought myself some pjs for the hospital so am def packing my hospital bag this wk.

I don't think I've had any braxton hicks yet - I know I shouldn't be complaining as I'm sure they're no fun!! But I just wonder - is this normal? I hope this isn't a sign that I'm not going 2b having my baby for ages!! I have an awful feeling she is going 2b very overdue &I am going to become a big round insane person!!

Hope you're all doing great & keeping your sanity :) xx

19/05/08 (WK 35)

I went for a class at the hospital and had a tour of the delivery ward this wk - it was really good to see but it made it all so real, thinking that is where my baby will be born, soon. What really was not good was hearing women who were actually in labour, screaming!! That terrified me - and I was already scared enough!! I cried when I got home &got mad at Mikey coz he doesn't have to do it!!

This weekend I had a mums2b pampering treatment which was really nice - it included a back massage, a leg and foot massage, including some special circulation gel, a facial, and a belly mask to help fight stretch marks - hope it works! And it was v nice& relaxing anyway! I think we all deserve lots of pampering :)

As for how i'm feeling this wk - well nothing new in that I'm feeling v big& round & uncomfortable! The sickness has started 2 come back a little - not2 bad yet but just a bit of queasyness -yucky!! And also the last couple of days I've been feeling like I've got a bit of an off/ upset stomach &had a couple of period type pains - don't know if this is just more normal pregnancy stuff?

Still taking the raspberry leaf tea & trying to make myself do some walking (actually more like waddling now!) to help baby get nice &low &ready 4 action! Not sure if I'm doing enough tho - I'm exhausted after about 5mins!!

Would love 2 hear how its going 4u all xx

02/06/08 (WK 37)

Am counting down the days now - 19 days to go - but no signs at all of anything happening yet. I am drinking raspberry tea until it comes out of my ears, trying to go for walks as much as poss & just started taking evening primrose oil this wk - all in preparation to try & help with labour coz I'm so scared!! But can't wait 4 my baby 2b here.

My friend had her baby last wk - he is so cute &she seems so in love with him - it has made me more anxious than ever to have mine. Her story about labour did really scare me tho coz her epidural didn't work!! I'm relying on the epidural coz am a wimp when it comes 2 pain - so that has me really freaked out!!

We also finally set up the baby room - Mikeys friend moved out over bank holiday so now the room officially belongs 2 Ella :) I am so happy to have her room done - all thats missing in there now is the baby!! I keep just sitting in there 4 no real reason - it helps 2 make me feel relaxed i think. Mikey says I just want it 2b my room coz its all pink :)

xxxxxxxx

14/06/08 (Wk 39)

Well finally only a week to go until my due date - but in reality I know it could still be three weeks but i am trying not to think about that!! I am finding it difficult to think about anything else apart from having my baby - I think I must be becomming v boring 2 other non-pregnant people!! I still have no signs at all of anything happening - I have been reading for wks in the wk by wk forums everyone talking about their contractions, and pains, and losing mucus plugs and how dilated and effacted they are. I have NO SYMPTOMS what so ever!! I am starting to worry that she is way too comfy in there &has decided to stay put. I also continue to worry about labour and pain and getting myself all freaked out!! My next midwife appointment is 3 days after my due date so the waiting game continues ....

Apart from the waiting not much has changed. Sleeping has become even more difficult the last 5 days - I am literally waking up every hour to go to the toilet, or because I can't breathe, or because I'm hungry, or just because I'm uncomfortable - so I'm getting kinda tired &i know people say2 get as much rest as poss b4 baby comes but I think that's easier said than done!!

I have decided I need to keep busy so I am trying not to stop planning things to do, especially on my due date because otherwise I will only sit there waiting which will drive me mad!! So lots of planning is my plan to get through the next wk or so!!

Congrats to all those who have had their babies and good luck to all you other mummys2b xx

25/06/08 - I'm a Mummy :)

My little angel Ella-Rae arrived on her due date on saturday (21/06/08)!! I am so happy that she is finally here & can't believe she actually arrived on time - she must get her punctuality from her daddy because being on time has never been one of my strong points :) !!

I was so Lucky with my labour too - there were no complications & it really wasn't at all as bad as I had been fearing. I had an epidural which worked wonders & an amazing midwife - so I was v Lucky & am v thankful. I will write my birth story in a blog 4 anyone who is interested.

So this is my 4th day being a mummy & so far I am Loving it!! I am v tired but happy & am so in Love with my little girl. I am trying to breastfeed which I am finding a little difficult but hopefully me & Ella-Rae will get the hang of it soon - we are still learning all about each other. Life has changed forever but in a very special way - she makes me so happy - even when she is screaming the house down :)

Good Luck to all u new mums & wishing a great labour & safe delivery of your babies to all those mummys-in-waiting xx

06/10/08

My gorgeous little Ella-Rae is 15wks old now & last wk was her naming ceremony. It was a beautiful celebration and was so great to have all our family and friends there to celebrate our princess. When we got home after the ceremony she giggled for the 1st time - it was amazing! And like her little contribution to her special day :) Her giggle is by far the most beautiful sound I have ever heard!

I am still loving being a mummy! I think all the 1sts are the best - the first time she gave a proper huge beaming smile, the 1st time she girgled baby talk, the 1st time she learnt to grab her toys and of course the 1st time she giggled - And I'm looking forward to all the other 1st we have yet to come. She is just beginning to learn to roll at the moment :) Babies are truely amazing!

The biggest challenge I think I have had so far is the breastfeeding - for the 1st 2 months I found this the hardest part of being a new mummy - 1st of all she couldn't latch on & would get distressed, it was painful, I never felt like she was getting enough & hated not knowing how much she was having, she wanted to feed for 2hrs at a time for a while and it was just so tiring, not to mention restricting!

But weirdly enough it is now one of my favourite things! After about two months I started giving her two bottle feeds at night which meant my boyf could help out& took some of the pressure off. It stopped hurting, she started getting much better at it and seemed to be more satisfied while feeding for less time and it started to feel like a real bonding experience between us - she gazes at me while feeding and sometimes starts smiling at me :) It was hard work at the beginning but now I love it & it is actually one of the things I miss the most when I spend time away from her!

Through everything I want to thank all the girls on here for their support - I am so happy to have found this website & so many lovely people! Lots of Love to you all and to your amazing little ones xx