So Onwards and Outwards!

Congratulations, you made it! The 12 week landmark. Scan time , Yippee!

Excited? Of course but if like me you approached this landmark with some trepidation, you are certainly not alone. This is the turning point at which you see the being within! Oh yes, and apparently your morning sickness subsides (urban myth number 3075!) Cravings become more normal (ok so blood…..oranges was a fairly safe one!)
Anyway, off you go with sweating palms, slightly green around the gills and breaking your neck for a pee (if you followed the instructions to fill your bladder) and you pray the appointments are on schedule! At least you are not the only one squirming in your plastic armchair in the waiting room.
At last you see your tiny passenger on the screen sucking his or her thumb and wonder how on earth something so small could have caused such physical carnage over the last 3 months. Hubby has a wide grin on his face and is almost beating his chest with pride….its wonderful for you both to see your joint creation but…”Please can I go pee…NOW?!!!! Make the most of this private wee too, as from here on, almost every time you go it will be into a tubular pot with a label!

Clutching your scan pic, you rush to ring your own mummy and text the news to everyone in your mobile regardless of your relationship with them! My dental hygienist was particularly pleased to hear my news!.
Maternity clothes are now a priority, not only as the girly urge to shop becomes more pressing but because squeezing into unsuitable gear makes me look fat instead of pregnant. So off I trek, complete with kicking cargo! The obvious outlets offered a variety of tents and shapeless sacks but my priority was jeans…OH MY GOD, what’s the deal?…under-bump, over-bump, side panel, jersey basque, drawstring, etc ..I want funky jeans…this is a minefield…However, I am a quick learner when it comes to clothes shopping and was well equipped in no time (sorry Credit card!)
Now I thought my body had gone through all the change it could handle! Wrong! My boobs are bigger still (they still hurt but it’s the only time I ever had a cleavage so I ensure photos are taken!) The general stretching and retching remains but its slightly less and more manageable.
Sadly, alongside a nagging backache came an even greater body shock. Who knew Ankles could become Cankles on this rollercoaster? So the simple art of wearing socks suddenly became a game of chance. Ugh.. they looked like stumps! I also added a new chin to my rounding face! I almost felt in disguise by week 16 but Mini-me was kicking me from dawn to dusk so I knew we were on the same team. Ladies, don’t be fooled, if you are lucky enough to be ‘blooming’ in this trimester, you will still be dog tired so go with it. After all, you are no longer the boss!

Thanks for reading, love from Rachel, The Black Fairy, Lafeenoire Maternity xxx