My first time pregnancy story
I am pregnant for the first time and I live on a small remote island. This is my story.
BLOG CHAPTERS
Pregnancy blog: front page
Chapter 1: I'm pregnant! The initial emotions
Chapter 2: Sharing our good news
Chapter 3: The unwelcomed symptoms of pregnancy
Chapter 4: Initial midwifery appointment
> Chapter 5: Hello baby!
Chapter 6: A healthy growing baby
Chapter 7: The happy second trimester
Chapter 8: Gifts & preparations
Chapter 9: Our plans for home birth
Chapter 10: The start of the third trimester
Chapter 11: Birthing options - a decision finally made
Chapter 12: An unplanned trip to the hospital
Chapter 13: Newest third trimester sensations
Chapter 14: Last minute preparations & more gifts
Chapter 15: A scare! Has the baby moved today?
Chapter 16: We are ready for the home birth
Chapter 17: The woes of late stage pregnancy
Chapter 18: The excruciating waiting stage!
Chapter 19: Scanning & sweeping
Chapter 20: Trapped in town (an indefinite hospital stay)
Chapter 21: Baby's birthday! My delivery & birth story
Chapter 22: A quick recovery
Chapter 23: Final thoughts. . .
Chapter 1: I'm pregnant! The initial emotions
Chapter 2: Sharing our good news
Chapter 3: The unwelcomed symptoms of pregnancy
Chapter 4: Initial midwifery appointment
> Chapter 5: Hello baby!
Chapter 6: A healthy growing baby
Chapter 7: The happy second trimester
Chapter 8: Gifts & preparations
Chapter 9: Our plans for home birth
Chapter 10: The start of the third trimester
Chapter 11: Birthing options - a decision finally made
Chapter 12: An unplanned trip to the hospital
Chapter 13: Newest third trimester sensations
Chapter 14: Last minute preparations & more gifts
Chapter 15: A scare! Has the baby moved today?
Chapter 16: We are ready for the home birth
Chapter 17: The woes of late stage pregnancy
Chapter 18: The excruciating waiting stage!
Chapter 19: Scanning & sweeping
Chapter 20: Trapped in town (an indefinite hospital stay)
Chapter 21: Baby's birthday! My delivery & birth story
Chapter 22: A quick recovery
Chapter 23: Final thoughts. . .
Chapter 5: Hello baby!
It was March and I had learned to cope with pregnancy symptoms and James was home a little more often. Farm jobs have also become easier as the light levels increased and our quail were finally moved to their outdoor cage setup which meant I could check on them once a day and not once an hour! It was a happy time indeed!
I was approaching the 12 week mark so my midwife has organised a Down's syndrome screening ultrasound scan which meant I had to get to town on 21st March. I wasn’t looking forward to the trip as it once again meant getting stuck in Kirkwall between 9am and 4pm only to attend a 30 minute appointment. I guess it is one of the challenges of living on such a remote island and I can’t really complain as I receive really great care once I get there.
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Once again, James was with me as we both knew it was an important milestone - a scan meant seeing the baby for the first time!
We got to the unit at 11am, making sure to ask for an earlier appointment this time, and were greeted by a lovely courteous lady who was very professional yet sweet and welcoming. I laid down on the examination table and she put the scanner on my belly. Immediately we could see shapes and circles and movement, yes there was movement!
The midwife explained that we were looking at a little head and a little arm and a leg: my goodness, there was our little baby! I was so happy and in awe, and I could see James wiping a discrete tear from his eye. Seeing those little wavy hands and a little nose felt so magical!
Then the midwife began zooming in and taking measurements and we were staring at a screen unable to make heads or tails of what we were seeing. One thing I do know is the baby wasn’t cooperating as the midwife kept asking me to move, bend, arch, lift my legs and all sorts to get the baby into the right position for the scan. In the end she exclaimed that the baby was really stubborn and I could see pride in James’s face - yes, stubborn, just like Daddy, I thought!
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A few minutes later the exam was over and the midwife gave us 4 photographs to keep. The scan was clear and there was no heightened risk so we were really happy. Both James and I looked down at the photos as we were exiting the scan room and it all hit us both - the baby is real! It is definitely happening! And we were both so happy!
We got home okay that day. We kept looking at the photograph, remembering the little wavy arms and were in awe for the rest of the evening. We even ordered a real proper photo album that evening so that we had a safe place for little momentoes like this little photo we were holding - I love it so much: real leather photo album! How many people these days can say they even own a thing like that?
We were home and I was feeling well - tired after a day away from home - but well. And also pleased that this week marked the end of the dreadful first trimester!
We were home and I was feeling well - tired after a day away from home - but well. And also pleased that this week marked the end of the dreadful first trimester!
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