Saturday 14 November 2009

"Us" time


We've just come back from a long trip to the UK, which included a very needed holiday for just the two of us. We realised recently that we haven't been on a "just the two of us" break since September last year, and since we'll be three next year, it seemed like we should make it a priority!

We started our break with a couple of weeks seeing family, which was vital. My husband and his father are still reeling from the death of my mother-in-law, so it was important for them to spend some time together. Sometimes I have no idea what to say to either of them, but I'm trying to help just by doing practical things, and just being there. Seeing them in so much pain is terrible.

It was during our time staying with his Dad that my husband said he planned to spring a surprise trip on me. I was very excited about this (as even our honeymoon was planned by us both!) and I expected it to be a couple of nights in London before our flight home. I was entirely wrong. It turned out to be what my husband entitled "The great pre-bump UK tour", and it was fabulous. We put in some serious miles on the hire car, and drove via my parents' lovely country home to the Lake District, then up to the Scottish Highlands and then on to Edinburgh. Believe it or not, I've never been to Scotland before (despite having travelled across the world many times!) so this was a great opportunity, and the sort of trip it would be very tricky to do with a baby in tow.

We had a wonderful, relaxed time taking in the fantastic scenery and immense breakfasts (whoops). The picture above was taken during our drive through the Lakes - amazing to actually be at the end of a rainbow! (Sadly we didn't find a pot of gold).

Pregnancy wise, things are going well, we hope. We had the 12 week scan before we headed back to the UK, and everything looked ok so far. I'm now 15 weeks and I'm really starting to show. Several people we don't know, like people working in shops, have noticed, and that makes it all seem wonderfully real! There's really no hiding it now, even if I wanted to. I've invested in some maternity clothes, taking advantage of the fact that the UK shops were selling off their summer stock when I was home - hooray! Definitely a benefit of living in a country where the sun shines every day!

Symptoms wise, I have an itchy tummy (which I assume is the skin stretching?), heartburn, occasional muscle pain around my stomach (which I think is round ligament pain), a dodgy back, and I still need to pee ALL the time! Brilliant.

My husband is being fantastic about the pregnancy, more than I could ever have hoped. He's read all the books (and seems to know more facts than me!) and is incredibly supportive, which is so vital when you live so far away from home and you're feeling hormonally emotional.

Of course, I'm already worried that my husband will just have taken off for a long-haul trip to the US just as I go into labour... I'm thinking of asking a friend to be a stand-by birthing assistant. Does anyone who's been there have any advice?

3 comments:

  1. Not sure if you have them in the sandpit, but you can hire professional birthing partners here in the UK called 'doulas'

    http://www.doula.org.uk/content/duk/about/faq_what_is_a_doula.asp

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  2. Hi! CONGRATS on your pregnancy! I have commented on your blog before but have yet to still make a profile. I was worried sick that my pilot hubby would not make it home in time, so he saved up all his time off and was able to take a week off before the due date, I was in labor for 21 hours so he would have had time to jump on a cargo plane if needed if he would have been gone and contractions would have started. Don't worry, he will make it home, God has a funny way of working things out so pilot dad's can be there! enjoy!Holly

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  3. Hi,
    I am due in Feb. with our third, and even though he has been home for the other two, I have the same fear! But, I have a best friend who is going to be "On call" just in case.Doula's sound great, but there is something about having someone in the room that you know and love, that will make it more personal and special. AND you don't get any more personal than labor! Try not to worry right now,you have lots of months to look forward to. Enjoy your pregnancy..

    ReplyDelete

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