For 3 days now I have had the worst case of indigestion and sickness. Most of my food won't settle so my body seems to think the best solution is to bring it back up. Is this all part of the game because it isn't funny ! It culminated in a trip to the local supermarket pharmacist who was an absolute darling and sent me straight to the docs. I arrived at 5:30 and was just listening to the receptionist say no way 'can't fit you in today it will have to be monday now' when I had to break of this little chat to be sick. Way to get a doc's appointment! The doctor was very sweet and prescribed Gaviscon. I am starving and just want it to work even if it tastes awful.

Pregnancy Diary Week 12 the Official stuff

Apparently at this stage its normal to start showing. Yes I definitely have a baby bump & at the moment what with indigestion I look about 20 weeks not 12. The baby is also moving quite a lot although you can't feel it right now. The hands are now complete and are growing fingernails. Even tooth buds are appearing. I feel almost overwhelmed that I have all this happening inside me. I keep googling the pregnancy information to find out what is going on. It is a strange feeling. There is something happening inside your body that you have no control over. It happens regardless of anything you do and the best that you can do is to try to be as healthy as possible to help the baby grow as well as possible. This week, the placenta takes over the important task of hormone production. With any luck that will mean I start to feel less sick. The nausea and sickness should start to fade and energy levels should go back up according to the official stuff. Great because I have felt so tired lately. Understandable I guess when you imagine all the work my body is doing while I am just doing my every day thing. It really is a mini miracle. No wonder they call it the miracle of life.

I found this small soundbite of a foetus heartbeat at 12 weeks. You can listen by clicking the red sound icon. It was amazing to hear my baby's heart beat. A truly wonderful sound. It is a little like having a shell next to your ear and hearing the sea. There is a wave like background sound that is apparently the amniotic fluid. Then there is this tiny fast little heart beat. Amazing that it is such a strong sound coming from this tiny little thing inside all that fat around your tummy! A lovely warm feeling hearing your babies heart beating away all the way deep inside you. Knowing that inside there is this tiny life growing takes on a whole new meaning when you actually hear it. I go to sleep at night trying to listen to that extra beating. It is a comforting sound. I am madly in love with that little heart already.

Monday July 25th More sickness, indigestion, stress and swimming.

I am now completely fed up with my stomach. I spent the entire weekend not being able to eat or drink without being sick and by sunday night was exhausted. The Gaviscon tastes so bad it makes me heave and on one occasion actually made me sick. I went straight to the pharmacy and bought Gaviscon tablets (mint), some chewy mint things and some Rennie in assorted fruit flavours. These are all infinitely more palatable and probably take longer to work but who cares.

I have also realised that stress is a contributing factor to this stomach issue and my stomach is clearly better at knowing I am stressed than my brain. Without going into personal reasons for stress suffice to say I recommend all pregnant women definitely avoid the sales (always stressful), irritating sales people, motorways (again often very annoying) or any other situations which are known to bring stress. Thank god I am not moving house ! Decided to go visit my mum this week and get away for a few days of pampering.

Swimming

Went swimming this morning. I love swimming and find it really good to help me relax. As soon as I get into the water I just start to feel so much happier with the world. I am obviously a proper water baby & will definitely swim with my baby too.

Wednesday July 27th - A nice cup of tea

My new best friend is a mug of tea. It has to be Glengetta tea bags (my favourite brand) with full fat milk (that old favourite) and one spoon of sugar. Not too strong, not over brewed, plenty of milk & fairly hot but not asbestos mouth hot. It seems to help with the indigestion. Probably the heat melting all the other stuff in my tummy ! While I was searching for a picture of a mug of tea I found this mad site dedicated to tea drinkers www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com. Barmy ! Went for a swim again today and treated myself to a subway sandwich for lunch. Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki - less than 6 grams of fat & I had all the trimmings including the gherkins.

Pregnancy Diary week 13 - The official stuff

Now into the second Trimester

The growth of the baby's head begins to slow down, compared to the rest of his or her body. The baby's head has been nearly as large as it's body up until now. All twenty teeth have formed and are waiting (for teething). The baby's intestines have moved from outside the body to inside the abdomen. Vocal cords are developing. The foetus has also developed many reflexes and will squirm around if your abdomen is prodded apparently.

Increased indigestion problems are known to occur during second trimester (which explains the Gaviscon) and also back ache too. Wondered why my back was tweaking. Thought might have overdone the swimming.

Still trying to eat my portions of fruit & veg & starting to find I crave all those things you can't eat. Will definitely be treating myself to nice runny poached eggs for breakfast as soon as the baby is born! Uncooked eggs are on the not allowed list !

Week 13 the baby is still only up to 3.5 inches but has doubled in weight to between 1 & 1.5 ounces (28 -40 grams). This picture is similar in actual size to
the foetus right now at 13 weeks.