Hi all,
We have had a busy few months, and my blog has been pushed to the bottom of my priority list for way too long, so I'm doing a mammoth update to let you know how the Chalmers clan are getting on...
Well, we've had half term since the last blog, so I had a few days to rest and chill out, although I was ill for some of it (the last half) with a pretty rotten cold. I even took the Monday off following half term, only to receive a phone call at lunch time asking if I could get in for the afternoon as we had had THE CALL from ... (cue dramatic music) - OFSTED!!!!
I still managed to go swimming that Monday, then worked 6.30-9.30 on the Tuesday, getting ready for lesson observations and book inspections - not fun! As it turned out, the inspectors saw me on the Thursday, were very complimentary about my class and teaching, and all the stress and time and effort paid off.
I really could have done with the rest though, as just two weeks later I ended up with the worst bout of sinusitis I've ever had - a remnant of the cold I'd forced myself to recover from after half term. My doctor prescribed me with a low dose of Amoxycillin and up to 6 (yes, 6) paracetamol per day. It took the full week to recover, and I still had pain when I returned to work a week later. The kids missed me at school, and apparently their behaviour deteriorated while I was off. That was around week 26.
I've had a couple more midwife appointments since my last blog, and heard our little girl's heartbeat - she is a sturdy little thing by the sound of her :D
Scott and I started Parentcraft classes in June, and learnt all about pain relief in labour. We've decided that, all being well, we'll have a water birth in a birthing pool at Ashurst Birth Centre, with pain relief via Entonox only. I'm under no delusions about the pain - I fully anticipate labour being painful, but it's not something I will worry about.
One thing I found out about at the parentcraft classes was breastfeeding... us girls (no men allowed!) were shown a video of a newborn baby who was just left on his mummy's tummy after birth - he had been dried but not washed. After around 30 minutes he literally crawled up towards his mum's breast and fed with no assistance, no midwife to grab the back of his head and "help him" and everything seemed really natural. Not sure what the fuss is, if babies instinctively know what to do, why does breastfeeding seem so difficult for some mums?
We had quite a broad range of couples at the classes, including a lesbian couple, who were really lovely and deeply committed to eachother and their future baby - we got on really well. One girl who made us all cringe every time she opened her mouth (which was pretty often!) was the youngest of five, the others all being boys, who felt the need to share every bit of advice and experience her mother had ever given her. Most of her sentences started "My mum says that..." or "I've heard that..." It was comedy gold to watch the other mums around the room roll their eyes every time she spoke :) My favourite moment was when she asked if you could take an underwater camera in the birthing pool. Now, call me old-fashioned, but I'm pretty sure there are some things you just don't need a photo of!
Another moment of joy for me came at the final parentcraft class, where one of the mums was moaning about how much weight she had put on - 25kg!!! That's about 4.5st!!! She asked how much I had put on, and I was still 5lbs under my starting weight! I still am, by the way - I put it down to no alcohol, loads of fruit, and a smaller appetite in general.
I've been booked onto an Outdoor Pursuit course for my final day at school, which has annoyed Scott and I rather, as it seems a rather unnecessary risk so close to my due date - I'll be 32 weeks by then! I may just have to sit out of a few bits if I don't feel up to it.
We went to Reading in week 28 to review the Devolution Magazine Alt Collective event, which brought together all sorts of designers, photographers and models for a day of revelry. Scott had a photo stand, and snapped most of the models and some of the visitors. He even managed to take some new photos of me, complete with red and black wig and 4" platform heels.
This week I had my first leaving present at school - a packet of Pampers newborn nappies... nice! We are going eco for nappies, and will be using Bambino Mio washables. We can buy them using the "Health in Pregnancy" grant money which should be winging its way to us in the next few days - the governement give all mums to be £196 to spend on healthy food in the final couple of months, so I figure that will cover the cost of birth-to-potty nappies for our little pickle.
We made a gift list at John Lewis during half term, as so many people have asked what we need still (we've managed to get lots of things via NCT sales and through friends and family, so are really set up for clothes up to 3 months and have lots of toys - thank you so much to everyone who has given us so much already). If you are interested in purchasing from the list, the number is 372130 - go to www.johnlewisnurserylist.com
Last weekend we went to the Blissfields festival and managed to camp out for two nights, which was far more comfortable than I thought it would be. We had plenty of sun, plenty of beer (alcohol free for me, of course) and plenty of dancing. I think a few people were a bit shocked to see my skanking and pogoing to Imperial Leisure, though, and the St. John's Ambulance people looked decidedly nervous at times! Since our return I've had a lot of pain in the left side of my pelvis, but swimming seems to help immensely, so I'm going to try to go twice a week now, rather than just once. Anyone wanna come with me? :)
I have just five days of teaching left now, and there are less than 10 weeks until our due date, so I'm getting more and more excited. The baby is kicking lots, and Scott is regularly being kicked in the head when he tries to hear her heart beat. As I'm typing she has a foot up in my ribs (which I can feel for the first time in years, along with my now-visible collar bones!!) and is giving my lungs a bit of a seeing to.
I'll sign off now, and promise to do another blog in the next week or so. Take care all, and I look forward to your messages as always :D
Jeanie
xx
