Pregnancy after bypass: Week 21 pregnancy diary

Week 21 of my pregnancy started off well, I had the day off work and headed to the Baby Show in Auckland! I also had a midwife appointment this week and I was so busy with all sorts of other things going on! This week the baby is about the size of a pomegranate and my tummy has really set in.

I had been looking forward to the Baby Show since I found out I was pregnant. I’ve been in previous years and have even worked on a stand for my sister in laws cloth nappy company. I had been making a list as I went through this pregnancy and had even gone through everything I have left from my first child to make sure I don’t think I need something I already have. The main things I was on the hunt for were the accessories I need for my new Mountain Buggy Terrain, some glass bottles, nursing bras, pregnancy/breastfeeding clothes for myself, a capsule, a Haakaa breast pump, a newborn insert for my Ergo baby carrier, a new baby monitor, the Avent Healthy food maker and Dr Julie Bhosale’s new book, The Nourished Baby.

This is quite a list but then it’s all I need or want new for this baby. I still have so much left over from my first but I knew the Baby Show would have good specials so I set out to fulfil my list. I managed to get everything that was on my list and got some really good specials. I got a few things I didn’t plan on getting but by and large I did well sticking to my list and not going completely crazy. I was limited by what I could carry at one point but I had taken my Nana trolley and got some of the bigger and bulkier things on my way out. I did get quite a few goodie bags from various stands too so some of these things were great scores. Here’s a photo of my Baby Show haul. This is everything I got excluding my Mountain Buggy accessories, capsule and clothing.

Then it was the weekend and we had some friends coming over for dinner. We had a relaxed start to our Saturday but then we needed to start getting stuff done for our visitors. I headed out with my little guy to get a few things we needed and proceeded to back into the courtesy car we had parked in the driveway while my husband’s car is in getting fixed. I think this is my biggest and most embarrassing pregnancy brain moment yet in this pregnancy. The Suzuki Swift courtesy car had the corner of its bumper pushed in and my bumper was only a little bit pushed in so it wasn’t that bad but ugh what a pain.

We ended up having a very late night with our awesome friends on Saturday night so I was glad to have a quiet Sunday to chill out and get myself ready for the week ahead. I did some baking for my boys’ lunches for the week, got lunch and food prep done and took my time while I got it all done. It was a nice way to end the week.

On Monday I had my next appointment with my midwife. My midwife had been on holiday at my last appointment and I saw a different lady but it was nice to see my actual midwife again! Everything is looking good with the baby, her heartbeat was nice and strong and all of the results from my anatomy scan came back great. I had a chat with her because I’ve been trying to decide what date to finish up at work and wanted her input. I decided to stop working at 36 weeks. I worked until 37 with my first child and while it was do-able it was tough so I want to go a bit easier on myself this time. Let’s say I’m looking forward to the 1^st of December which will be my last day of work for quite a while!

My blood pressure was nice and low at this appointment and I was pleased because having had preeclampsia last time I’m being a bit wary of it this time. Also my midwife is still counting my pregnancy how I had been the whole time so I will go back to doing my weekly diary from Sunday to Saturday. This week I will include the couple of extra days to get myself back on track.

The rest of my week was busy sorting our car insurance claims and picking up and dropping off cars that had been repaired. I’m pleased to say I managed not to damage the courtesy car they gave me while my car was being fixed. At least the mortifying embarrassment stopped there! Pregnancy brain is a real thing!

On Saturday I had nothing planned for the morning so I went to my favourite café, Altura, and wrote one of the coaching reports I needed to write for a final submission. I got it done in a couple of hours and I only have two papers final submissions left to go! The end of the study intake is near and gosh I can’t wait to be able to relax a bit in the evenings. In the afternoon we went for a walk to the park and it was lovely!

How far along? 21 weeks!

How big is the peanut? About the size of a pomegranate.

Total weight gain/loss? This week my weight stayed the same. After a couple of big jumps lately I was very pleased to see it not move up.

Maternity clothes? I made the most of my Baby Show purchases and love my new Mrs Smith Maternity pregnancy and breastfeeding tops!

Sleep? Has been up and down this week, some nights great and some nights awful. At least it’s not all bad right?

Best moment this week? The Baby Show. It feels good getting my shit together and having everything we meed for our little girls’ arrival. I felt her move heaps this week too which has been so lovely.

Gender? A girl, I still can’t believe it sometimes and get a big smile when I remember it’s real!

What I miss? I really could have done with a wine this weekend, oh well.

What I’m looking forward to? Finishing my study intake and having more time to relax.

Bump? Is there pretty much all the time and is moving around heaps.