31 Weeks

I realise that I've not blogged at all about this pregnancy really but I assure you all that it is still in progress!

We're heading towards 32 weeks and it feels like the end is in sight but probably not as comfortably close as I would like! As expected the belly is expanding. The ribs are being tickled, the child within does rolly pollies and uses the walls of my womb as a boxing bag. Or perhaps he/she is just breaking out the latest dance moves. Who knows but this baby is on the move. Which is a good thing.

I have really had such a great pregnancy again. I've had some pain issues with my SIJ:

During pregnancy, female hormones are released that allow the connective tissues in the body to relax. The relaxation is necessary so that during delivery, the female pelvis can stretch enough to allow birth. This stretching results in changes to the SIJ's, making them hypermobile - extra or overly mobile. Over a period of years, these changes can eventually lead to wear-and-tear arthritis. As would be expected, the more pregnancies a woman has, the higher her chances of SI joint problems. During the pregnancy micro tears and small gas pocket can appear within the joint.

Ryan has got in and released trigger points around the SIJ which is excruciating (and he gets utter delight out of doing so) but it does help and so I am grateful (but he still deserves a slap!)

I've not been too tired yet and Abbey keeps me on my toes for sure but she's also a great distraction from counting days like I did with her. It's been wonderful too that she seems to understand a little about this baby. When I ask her where the baby is she lifts up my top and pats my tummy. Oh and her latest cute big sister thing is to blow raspberries on my belly instead of a little kiss like she used to. We've got a neat book about the 'New Baby' given to us by Caleb and Theresa who have been there with number two and I think Abbey is at that age now that she's grasping it a little. We were reading it the other day and pointing to the pregnant mummy in the book and then to my belly and I think she got it.

Tonight we went for a tour of the Delivery Suite at Cairns Base Hospital where this baby will hopefully be born. There are also refresher courses for second time rounders but I've decided that all the info is fresh enough and as long as I know where I'm heading and Ryan knows and we know the facilities them we're good. And it's not a bad spot to hang out really. The delivery rooms are huge and there's a nice bog lazy boy chair for Ryan although hopefully it will be quick enough that he doesn't have time to sleep. There's a family room if he needs some air with facilities for tea and things - must pack some milo - and for heating up food or whatever. There's a TV in the room! So I can watch Home and Away while pushing the sproglet out! YAY and bathroom and then they bring in bean bags and Swiss balls and birth mats for the floor etc. So yeah it was great. I came away excited and looking forward to having this baby.

We've got some more name ideas so narrowing down on that one. It's kinda weird this time not knowing what we're having and not being able to decide but still exciting. Really looking forward to the surprise.

I've already been getting a bit of the nesting bug. Have bought another cot mattress and set the cot base at the higher level and made the bed up. Abbey likes the mobile (her old one) and obviously still feels at home in the cot as she lay down and pretended to sleep when I put her in there. She is so full of cuteness. I've even been thinking about hospital bags and an Abbey bag. Have yet to set in concrete how it's going to work when it comes to going to the hospital but depending on the time of day Abbey will either come with us and be picked up from the hospital or maybe if it's the middle of the night Mikaela or John (probably more practical for it to be John) can come over then we don't have to wake Abbey. I dare say she'll find it a little strange when he walks in in the morning and not Ryan but at least she knows him and enjoys his company. Other than those plans we just wing it. I said to Ryan this arvo that the delivery room is big enough for Abbey to be there too. We can hide her away in the cupboard if necessary. Hmm not sure she'd quite understand the labour process and I don't want my daughter to be scarred be such an experience. Certainly feels like it could be a long drive to the hospital is we leave it too late and I know Ryan is a little anxious that this time round will be even faster than last. We will make it though..... i hope.

I'm going to order a car seat from the ambulance service soon. You can hire them for 6mths for a mere $65. We were going to buy Abbey a new car seat and the little one can have hers but apparently there's going to be some law changes here at the end of the year. When I went for a browse the other day the woman in a shop who told me about it said she would wait because there's bound to be new designs come out to cater for the law change.

Right well success at getting through each day is a good nights sleep and so at 9:39pm it's 9mins past my bed time =)