Saturday 17 October 2015

Let the non alcoholic cider see the glass

I'm not really a big drinker. Well not anymore. Back in my uni days I could consume a bottle of hock in a night. A week night that is - we hardly ever had the time, energy or the money to go out at the weekend but boy did we make up for it during the week. 


Fast forward to twelve months ago when I would go out at least once a month and get pretty trollied. A typical binge drinker is how I used to describe myself. I've never been the kind of person to go out religiously every Friday or Saturday and then be so excited at the prospect of finally going out that I'd drink as much as I could in the one night. Mix my drinks (which has never done me any favours) and then spend the rest of the day in bed recovering. 

Long gone are those days. As soon as I found out I was pregnant I stopped drinking altogether and bar one beer on out all inclusive holiday in August I've stuck to it. And am pretty bloody proud of myself. 

So imagine my delight after a week that's been filed with deadlines, report writing and antibiotics - when I spotted the non alcoholic version of my favourite cider in the local Tesco! I was like a kid in a sweet shop. I could have a drink. I could feel like I wasn't missing out. I could savour the taste of strawberry and lime without feeling guilty!

And the best thing of all? No hangover in the morning. Thank you Koppaberg Brewery. You've made this thirty something pregnant teacher very happy this evening. 

Wednesday 7 October 2015

Tummy trouble

So the sonographer was finally able to take a photograph of baby T today and more importantly check his heart beat. 

Although I didn't think that she would be able to after the ultra sound experience today started off exactly the same as the one a couple of weeks ago - with my little cherub lying on his tummy at the start of the experience. 

I arrived at the hospital with an hour to spare and proceeded to head straight to WH Smith to grab a huge bottle of Evian and a bar of chocolate. Why I hear you cry? Well in order to have an ultra sound in the first place you need to have a full bladder and experience has taught me that little Thomas loves chocolate - he has a sweet tooth just like his mum - and according to the sonographer who did my scan last time - the sugar should help him to turn over (if indeed he was lying on his belly). Or not in this case. 

I made my way up in the lift to the second floor - or should I say the purple level two. Scanned my letter in - very high tech. And then ventured over to the water machine to dose myself up on even more cups of water before I went in. 

I didn't have to wait long. I was called in. Asked to lie down and could listen to the heart beat straight away! Wow! I could hear my baby's heart beat through a machine! She then showed me the monitor and sure enough baby was lying on his back with his knees up to his chest.

She's checked his measurements. And did all she could do until even she admitted that she didn't know what to suggest. I then offered to go for a walk. She suggested I pop to the loo to now empty my rather full - yet not quite over flowing bladder - and whilst I'm there have a stretch. "Try to touch your toes.."

And low and behold it worked. Well in true Tilbury style - where nothing is ever easy - he managed to turn just enough so that she could check his heart beat - all normal and to take a picture (or three). 

And here's the result. Phew! Happy and healthy. A lovely experience. I'm just disappointed that that's it now. No more ultra sounds (as i'm a low risk pregnancy) but lots of appointments.

Saturday 3 October 2015

They say a photograph can speak a thousand words...

.... And if that's the case then this one sums me up 100% today.



Not that I'm complaining mind. I love being pregnant. I've waited so long to have my own baby that I'm delighted and grateful that it's finally happened. As there was a time when I thought it wouldn't. 

But I am finding it hard to manage. I have a full time very demanding job. Am bringing up someone else's child and am nearly 22 weeks pregnant. So I guess it's ok to feel like the lady in the picture does every so often. Now I just have to work on realising that not only is my body changing but for the time being I can no longer do the things that I'd love to do on a weekend.

I know it will all be worth it in the end but today is a tough day.