I have been on and off this site for the past 5 + years and am absolutely devastated to have lost my previous profile page, it was a complete blog of my first pregnancy, week by week..... so let me introduce myself.

Hi everyone, I'm Michaela, i'm 34 years old, married to Jase for 6 years (been together 14 years) and have 1 daughter, Sabah who is 5.5years old. I also have 3 cats and I'm a nurse working in my local community hospital.

My first pregnancy was pretty smooth, i suffered from trigger finger and the normal aches and pains. I went into labour after my waters broke @ 37weeks 4 days and 42 hours later my daughter was born naturally without epidural (she was back to back and facing up instead of down so i had alot of stitches). As she was early we had a couple of readmissions to hospital with jaundice. I breastfed for 20 months and loved every second.

Sabah aged 3 months

Sabah aged 4.5years in Iceland

I have also had a miscarriage 18 months ago at 11 weeks and have been TTC ever since. I have had all the usual investigations, bloods, scans, hubby has been for sperm tests and finally last month i had a hystosalpingogram, all these tests have come back all clear so we have been given 4 months to try naturally and then we go on the IVF list.

So keep your fingers crossed for us!

29th July 2012

So i've been feeling really tired and have been having weird crampy pains the last few night so i decided to do a test and what a shock i got....a BFP!!!!! OMG! I'm not sure of my dates but i think AF isn't actually due until 2nd or 3rd of August so am totally in shock to get such a positive result sooooo early!

MY BFP's!!!!!!

30th July 2012

Have left a test into my Doctor's surgery today....should have the official confirmation before the end of this week....eeekkk, then i will tell my mum and dad as it's their 35th wedding anniversary on Saturday.

3rd August 2012

i managed to speak to my fertility consultant this morning and she has booked me in for an early scan on 23rd August (will be 7+ weeks then)...can't wait!!!!

4th August 2012

Today was my mum + dad's wedding anniversay and they were over the moon to find out that they are gonna be grandparents again.

5th August 2012

I woke up this morning and my left shoulder hurt quite bad, went to work anyway but by the end of the shift i was in complete agony and couldn't move my arm at all.

17th August 2012

My left shoulder still hurts pretty bad, I've been off work for 2 weeks now, have seen an orthopaedic consultant as painkillers are not helping, and the pain is too sore to attempt physio. I've had a steroid injection which has eased it a bit, i'm waiting on an ultrasound scan of my shoulder as I can't have an xray. So i can't drive, do housework so am just putting my feet up and enjoying the rest when Sabah lets me!

23rd August 2012

Went for first ultrasound this morning, saw embryo, yolk sac and heartbeat (approx 160bpm). My uterus is retroverted but i'm told it will come forward at around 12 weeks. So happy to be reassured that things are progressing the right way. Still got pretty bad motion sickness, although more a nausea than sickness! My shoulder still isn't great so still off work. Heading to London tomorrow for my best friends wedding, also meeting up with a friend i met on this website when i was pregnant 5 years ago...can't wait for a good old natter!

4th September 2012

Our trip to London was great, shoulder stilll painful but having scan tomorrow to find out what the problem is. Today has been an emotional day as my baby girl Sabah started school today. She looked so grown up in her uniform. Just can't believe this day has arrived.

5th September 2012

Had Ultrasound scan of my shoulder today and diagnosis is calcific tendonitis. It will heal on it's own, just needs patience and time! They say it may have been caused by the extra hormones circulating!

13th September 2012

Yesterday i felt really tired, Sabah was driving me nuts, it was my wedding anniversary and i just couldn't face going out for a meal. I went to bed early, had a really restless night and when i woke up this morning i had a belly!!! Think overnight my retroverted uterus moved forward!

17th September 2012

Jase and I went to the hospital for my booking in appointment this afternoon. Got all my bloods taken, BP 114/77 weight 81KG!!! Urine NAD! Met my consultant (she was my fertility consultant too!) and she did my scan, baby was bouncing about, waving arms and legs and heartbeat was strong. This was really reassuring as the night before i have very severe crampy pains. When we go home from this appointment we told my daughter the news, she was so excited, she actually wanted to go and knock on our neighbours doors to tell them "her" news!! She drew pictures for the baby and wanted to talk to my belly too. Bless her, she has wanted a baby brother/sister for soooo long!

15th October 2012 (14w 6d)

Felt the first kicks today, very faint but still lovely to feel something.

23rd October (16w)

First midwife appointment, bp 100/60, heard peanuts heart beat for the fist time, Sabah was there and was very excited, it was 145bpm. Was devastated to find out that my midwife was retiring this week. She looked after me after i had Sabah and i got on really well with her.

i've been getting lots of round ligament pains, am not sleeping well, find it difficult to get comfortable so have bought a full body pillow.

3rd November 2012

My Bp has dropped a bit more and i narrowly avoided fainting in work today, only because i lay down before i fell down! bp was 92/60!

7th November 2012 (18w 1d)

Hubby felt peanut kick for the first time.

8th November 2012

Overnight my bump has changed shape, feels like i'm lying on a ball now, peanut has been very active today, lots and lots of proper kicks, makes it feel really real now.

19th November 2012

Tomorrow i am 20 weeks pregnant, i also have my 20 weeks scan....my mum and sabah are accompanying us! I'm very anxious about it as i have been having some bad dreams which show that the baby has some serious defects and that is raising my anxiety levels. I am feeling lots of movement. I bought a doppler off ebay and have listened to the heartbeat most days, Sabah loves it, it has been consistantly below 145bpm. praying for good news tomorrow!!!!

20th November 2012

Had anomaly acan today and everything is fine with peanut! He/she measured in at 20 w+2d so my due date was changed to 7th April...Sabah came along to the scan, but became very shy and didn't see very much. Since i got home from scan peanut has become very active, very strong kicks which can be seen on the outside....now i feel more relaxed which is great!

22nd November 2012

My hips have been a bit sore, so i waddled into work this morning and ended up getting an emergency appointment with the gp. He signed me off sick for the next fortnight and also referred me for physio for SPD, he said i am to rest as much as possible but he has allowed me to go swimming as i am supported in the water!

31st December 2012 (26weeks)

4 weeks ago i started physio and was put onto one crutch to support me, was also given exercises to do and was advised to buy a special maternity support belt. The exercises aggravated sciatica in my R buttock. 1 crutch was really putting too much pressure on my shoulder so after a further 2 weeks i was put onto 2 crutches which is very cumbersome as even doing silly tasks like going to the shops for milk! The physio has told me that i wont be back to work....it has taken me some time to get my head around that fact....but i have decided that i am meant to rest more and enjoy this time off with Sabah before the new addition arrives. I have been swimming at least 3 times a week to keep my flexibility and it does help. I miss work terribly, i was planning on going on maternity leave at 39 weeks (31st March) but because i am off sick they will automatically put me off at 36 weeks (10th March) so that's ok. As for the baby, well he/she is kiccking strongly, hiccups are a daily occurence and i love listening to the heartbeat with the doppler! (130-150bpm). Next maternity appointment is at 28 weeks.

3-4th January 2013

Happy New Year everyone. Last night i started having regular braxton hicks contractions (4 per hour), they lasted all night and right through today, i did ring the hospital to ask their advice about it but they didn't seem concerned. Then i started to get quite heavy cramps aswell so i rang the GP-on-call service who advised me to attend the hospital. We went to the Emergency Obstetric Unit who checked me out. I had a scan, baby still breech and all looked ok, BP116/80, urine clear so they decided that all was fine and only to worry if I was getting 6 or more contractions an hour. Also advised if it continues to have a bath or go and lie down for a while. All had settled by the next morning.

20th January 2013 (28weeks)

Had an appointment with the GP today, BP stable, urine clear, Peanut's heartrate is 145bpm. Fundal height measures 27.5 weeks. Head down now and facing my back so i don't feel many kicks but lots of punches and wriggles. Got my whooping cough vaccine and had bloods sent too.

10th February 2013

We took Sabah to belfast today so she could make her present for the baby, we went to build-a-bear and she made a bunny called Peanut with a recording of our Peanut's heartbeat inside it. She is so happy with it and cant wait to give it to the baby.

18th February 2013 (33weeks)

We had an appointment at the hospital today, BP111/82, urine clear, scan measured Peanut at 4lbs 15oz so would be 8lbs at full term. But because of the SPD they may not let me go to full term, i've to go back in 3 weeks to get a date for induction! The end is insight! After the appointment we got some face paints and Sabah and Jase painted my bump. It looked pretty cool!

Feel a bit funny about this pregnancy coming to an end, i love feeling the wriggles and punches but my hips are so sore and sleep is non-existant. I am also anxious for Sabah, her world is about to change forever, she has been more moody lately and think it is linked to her knowing that things are about to change. She talks all the time about Peanut, wants to feel the kicks and asks about what size it is and what he/she looks like. I hope she falls in love with him/her at first sight. Time will tell!

10th March 2013 (36weeks)

Today is Mother's Day and i have been thoroughly spoiled, started getting some painful twinges this evening, they were very regular, but i put my feet up, had a bath and they seem to have settled down and i noticed that my bump has dropped...think that answers that question. I tried out an osteopath last week to see if they could do anything to help with the pain and help me sleep, got a couple of ideas that help but overall it wasn't very sucessful.

11th March 2013

Had another appointment at the hospital today...BP 137/81, urine clear, had a scan and Peanut is still head down and facing my back, heartbeat was nice and strong and he/she measured in at 6lbs 8ozs....only problem was that the amniotic fluid level has dropped, it's not dangerously low at this stage but they want to keep a close eye on it..so i have to go back next week for another scan to measure the fluid level, a CTG and a doppler reading to check that Peanut is still happy...if not ok then they may induce me then. if all is ok then the palan is that i will be seen on 27th for membrane sweep and possible induction if everything is favourable. So it's a waiting game....in the meantime i'm eating pineapple, taking my raspberry leaf tea and homeopathic birthmix. My bags are packed, car seat is ready so when Peanut does finally make a decision to join us we are good to go!!!!!

14th March 2013

For approx 5 weeks my sleep at night has been very poor but since the baby dropped on Sunday I have barely slept at all as hips and back are so painful, i spend the majority of the night wrestling with pillows trying to get into a good position but inevitably spend the night tossing and turning. Well last night was the final straw, i am now so physically and mentally exhausted that i made an appointment with a GP this morning. As soon as i walked into the consuling room i just burst into tears. She was anxious about giving me anything extra in pain relief but she rang up the the maternity unit and they suggested tramadol. She also requested that my appointment with the consultant on 27th be brought forward to 21st. After i left the surgery i went to the pharmacy to collect my prescription, i started to feel peculiar, nauseous, sweating and dizzy, then fainted. Hubby had to come to my rescue...think the exhaustion just hit home! Since then i took 1 of my new painkillers annd went to bed, got a couple of hours sleep and now am feeling slightly more human!

18th March 2013 (37weeks)

So i went for my further tests this morning as the amniotic fluid was low, had CTG and Peanut was very active (12 movements in 30 minutes), heartrate good 130-145bpm, my BP 117/88 and urine clear. I had a couple of small contractions whilst on the monitoring! Scan to measure fluid measured me at 14cms (20 is normal but they only really worry if less than 8cm) and the doppler of placenta blood flow was fine...so we got a clean bill of health. As for the painful hips and lack of sleep. i'm on the maximum analgesia allowed, so i have to put up with it until i see Consultant on thursday....? getting a membrane sweep at that stage. in the meantime if fetal movement reduces or i can no longer cope with the pain then i am to go straight back to hospital!

21st March 2013

So i had my obgyn appointment this morning which had positives and negatives. Had another scan and it looks like babies weight has gone down since last monday by 5oz (Now 6lb 3oz)! Fluid level looks the same! so plan is to have further monitoring on Saturday (CTG + placental doppler). I also had my cervix checked, i'm 2cm and fully effaced, had membrane sweep and am planned for a further sweep on Saturday. As for induction the Dr i saw today spoke to her senior and they are refusing to discuss an induction date until full term....i was devastated with this news as sleep and pain are such big issues. (only thing is that this Dr isn't my normal Dr, so i see a different one next week..maybe they will feel differently. I am wondering if my analgesia is restricting baby growth.

24th March 2013 (38weeks)

Back to hospital today for another CTG and placenta Doppler as growth had tailed off. Saw same registrar as on Thursday who backtracked about babies weight, she said it cant loose weight but she had documented that very thing on Thursday! She did a scan, and immediately I could see that the fluid level was low, it measured in at 6cms! (had been told previously that 5 or below was considered dangerous!) so I was allowed home and planned for review on Wednesday.

26th March 2013

Today I was quite aware from when I woke up this morning that Peanut was nowhere near as active as normal. I tried sugary foods and drinks but nothing made a difference so I rang the hospital and was told to attend the E.O.U. for monitoring. So off we went to the hospital, saw SHO, had scan and baby continued to be very subdued...no movement despite being poked at. Heartbeat was strong, she measured baby and was estimated at 6lb 10oz which is a tiny improvement from previous measurements. She discussed me with her senior and I had a CTG completed again and had 2 contractions during the CTG...but all looked well on the CTG. So was told to monitor baby's movements overnight and planned review by consultant will continue as planned first thing tomorrow morning.

27th March 2013

I met my new consultant this morning, she was lovely. She reviewed my notes and said given the events of the past few weeks she felt induction should happen sooner rather than later. She scanned me and measured baby at just over 7lbs but the fluid level was down to only 4cms so she has booked me in for induction on Friday morning (29th) at 8am. Sabah is so excited now. We will hopefully have an Easter Baby!!!!

28th March 2013

The ward rang this afternoon and I have to be admitted at 0815 tomorrow morning, eeeek! I'm excited to get this show on the road but also said to think this is the end of my pregnancy (could be my last pregnancy) and also I am sad that my lil' girl will no longer have my undivided attention. She is really excited to meet the baby.