More....Hi, I am a British teacher living in Hobart, Australia with my husband. At the moment - it feels a very very long way away from my family !! Because of my age and 'girly' problems when I was much younger, we expected to take a very long time to get pregnant, however, it was only a couple of months !!

I am a paranoid pregnant woman !! My sister had a miscarriage with her first pregnancy and I am finding it hard not to worry. I am 8 weeks tomorrow - the magical 12 seems an eternity away!! We had a scan at 6 weeks and all seemed fine - we even saw a heart beat (but the woman doing the U/S never mentioned what rate it was - and I keep reading about rates!!!)

So far, I have just felt off my food and I have nauseous moments !! I am also constantly thirsty and feel very bloated. I am also sleeping about 10 hours a night!!!

14 Weeks

Made it to 14 weeks 5 days!!! - I feel well - just really fat and bloated. Nothing fits me but I don't yet look pregnant!! I am still very very tired but the doc thinks that's because I am on blood pressure tablets (that she assures me are safe in pregnancy - Aldomet). I am not overweight (was 144 pounds at 5' 7" before the pregnancy) but there seems to be a genetic tendency in our family for high blood pressure and heart disease. I am a bit of a worrier which doesn't help.

We have now had 3 scans in total - and at the last one at 12 weeks (which was the nuchal fold scan) all looked well and it was very very exciting to see the baby moving and the heart beating (at 168bpm I was finally told!!). The results for the assessment of Downs' risk came back as only a 1/10,000 risk which was very pleasing- esp. given that I am almost 35.

I can't wait until I actually look pregnant !!!

17 weeks tomorrow

Finally starting to look pregnant as opposed to fat. I have been off work all week with a horrible cold and stomach bug. Doc reckons my system got very run down. On top of all that, I nearly fainted twice at work last week (something that has never happened to me) so the doc reckons my blood pressure has actually become too low and has taken me off the tablets. I am monitoring my blood pressure at home- so far - it's good!! Hurrah!! I think I get very worked up whenever I see a doctor which makes it rise and appear permanently high!! Just beginning to feel better today - bugs are going - energy is returning.........

We have decided to keep the baby's sex a secret - we think that there are few enough surprises in life - plus it seems to take the excitement away from the actual day of the birth as people just say "Is she/he born yet?....." as opposed to the excitement from people asking what you have had!!! We're going with a light green for the 'nursery' though we are not doing that yet!!

19 weeks 5 days

I'm in England at the moment visiting my relatives. The flight over was fine - I was very good and drank lots of water, as well as getting-up lots- it was just very very boring!!!

I had been feeling very frumpy - so my sister and mum took me out to buy some maternity clothes from Mothercare. I have to say that shopping over here is much better than in Hobart!!

Pregnancy-wise - the doc checked me out before I came and all seemed fine. My bump is growing though some days it seems more obvious than others. I can finally feel the baby kicking!!!

23 Weeks

I had included lots of other updates but they seem to have disappeared. I have been back to the UK and then back to Aus over the last few weeks which have been really good, though tiring. It was great to see my family. We have had the 20 week scan which went well - all looks fine !! I am still finding it very difficult not to worry about absolutely everything!!! I also turned 35 a couple of weeks ago which means I am officially classified as "an older first time mother" -that was a bit depressing !!!!

I am really worrying about everything.........not just the baby but financially. i might not have a job to go back to after maternity leave, as I am on a temporary contract- though I did find out that I am not supposed to "not" have my contract renewed just because I am pregnant...............am not really the sort to put up a fight in these circumstances and it's just all making me worry !!!

24 weeks

Just realised how negative my previous entry was...............I'm a total stress-head since I have been pregnant.

All is well at the moment. I joined an ante-natal aqua aerobics class the other night which was great fun albeit slightly amusing hanging out in swimming costumes with a bunch of pregnant women. Tiredness has kicked in again - so I was hoping that a bit more exercise might actually help!! I have tried running a bit - but it hurts in my groin area so I thought I better stop - or at least only do very slow short runs! I love running so that was a bit depressing! Tummy getting bigger but time seems to be passing very slowly at the moment !

24 weeks and 6 days

Feeling very tired at the moment. I have been very excited at times - but still apprehensive. I am sure I'll feel better when I get past 30 weeks - up until then is way way too early for a baby to make an appearance!!! My tummy hurt lots yesterday - I rang the mid-wife and she reckoned it was Braxton Hicks. I feel a bit better this morning and did last night - so maybe the baby was having a bit of a growth spurt. I still feel him/her moving quite a lot. I am trying to throw myself into other stuff so that I am not worried about the baby - but then I just get tired and an achey tummy!!! Back at the hospital for my 25 weeks check-up next week.

26 Weeks

I am feeling great at the moment. Still no sign of high blood pressure and the baby is apparently measuring slightly bigger than my dates so I have taken that as a good sign!!! I had to give up running as it was starting to hurt but the swimming is going well. I still worry about things but I find keeping myself occupied with other things helps to stop it!! The time still seems to be passing slowly. Our mid-wife appointments are in the maternity unit at the hospital which freaks us out a bit - and makes it all seem very real!!! Am REALLY missing a glass of wine, especially last night when work had finished, we have a day off today, the weather is great and my husband went to the pub with colleagues after work and got very merry!!! Blimey, life has changed already!!!

27 Weeks 3 days

I am feeling really good at the moment - though tiredness is getting to me a little bit - maybe because of the several trips to the toilet that I have to make in the night!!!!

Baby is kicking lots - which I quite like - though occasionally a powerful "boot" takes me by surprise and the look on my face must be interesting!! I am convinced it is a girl.....................though we are really not bothered what it is.........as long as he/she is healthy. As the time is passing by, I feel a little more confident, though the odd cramp or pain worries me. I am popping-out more, though I still do not have a massive bump and it could be hidden under baggy tops !! It will be nice to make it to 30 weeks.

29 weeks 2 days

Found out that I have gestational diabetes. Bit gutted. I only have the risk factor of my age though I suspect my mum maybe had it when she had my brother and sister as they were pretty huge when they were born.....these things were not tested 35-40 years ago. Feel a bit sorry for myself because now I'll have to follow a strict diet as well as stay off the booze!! Also a bit worried that it might not disappear after the birth of the baby. Other than that, I have felt quite well. Bump growing but not huge!!

34 Weeks 5 days

Am feeling great at the moment. Bump still not huge - baby appears to be the perfect size for her/his gestation. Doc even wondering if I have had a false positive result for gestational diabetes because all my blood sugar results have been excellent.............though I have been pretty careful about what I have eaten, apart from Christmas Day when I was told I could indulge a little, as my results have been good. The biggest pain has been that the baby is still breech and though there is time for him/her to move, I am pretty sure he/she has been in the same position for weeks (from the kicking and the quick scans I have had) and probably is very comfortable just as she/he is. If I have to have a Caesarian then, so be it !!! .......trying to be philosophical about it all.

Everything does seem to be happening at the moment. We have to move house because the landlady is selling up - we have found somewhere but are awaiting the results of our application to rent. We are also house sitting, and keeping an eye on a 17 year old - but I SO want to get ready for the baby. We still have things that we need to pick-up from people who are giving us things......................and also stuff to buy. Maybe it's the instinct thing kicking in but life just feels very frustrating at present.

Baby seems to be moving lots which is good - just a shame he/she won't do a little circle right the way to head down!!!!

36 weeks and 4 days

Went to the hospital yesterday and all seems well at the moment. Baby is exactly the right size, fluid around him/her is exactly right. Heart beat was good and he/she has finally turned around!!!!

Life is extremely hectic at the moment so I hope he/she does not arrive early.......we are moving house, I am discussing job issues/contracts............as there are weird unfair things happening there and I have a load of work to do for a qualification I have been following!!! It's hard to concentrate on the fact we will have a baby soon (though when I do think about it I get very excited!).