October Plans

I  have missed writing up my plans for the month on the blog but have been distracted with the pregnancy, now it is coming towards an end, I thought I would let you all know my plans for October (even though some are pregnancy related!)


2nd October: 34 Week Midwife appointment and Cameron's 2 Year Developmental Check

Tomorrow I have my 34 week check up with a new midwife (my original one has apparently now gone on maternity leave herself). I will be making sure I ask about the whooping cough jab that is being offered to women between 28 and 38 weeks of pregnancy). It is also Cameron's 2 year developmental check up where the health visitor will check he is doing what he should be for his age range as well as looking at his weight and height etc.

3rd October: First Christmas shopping trip!

I am very excited about this! I love shopping but can't go as much as I would like as I don't have the money. Having saved up some pennies, I am going on the first of three big shopping trips to try and get the Christmas presents bought before my little girl enters the world!

5th October: Possible Maternity Photoshoot

I say possible as we have had to rearrange so might have to again, but hopefully I will be having some photos taken alongside Tim, Cameron and of course baby girl bump!

12th October: 1 Year Anniversary with Tim

On 12th October it will have been a year since me and Tim first started going out. This year has gone so fast! It is a bit crazy that by our one year anniversary we will be only a month away from meeting our baby girl and will have been engaged for three months!

13th October: Birthday Celebrations

It is my brother's girlfriend's birthday on 15th so there will be celebrations at the weekend, got to love an excuse to celebrate!

14th October: Wedding Show

I haven't been to a wedding show for a few weeks so I thought it was about time I went to another, especially as we have now got our definite date having booked our venue! I shall be on the lookout for a photographer for the big day, as well as possible DJs, although we haven't decided whether to have a DJ at all yet. It is also a chance to get some brilliant ideas and freebies, yay!

17th October: Relaxation Antenatal, 36 Week Growth Scan and Consultant appointment

I have a very busy morning planned as I have my first of two relaxation antenatal classes at 10am before going straight for my 36 week growth scan and then onto the consultant appointment where they will let me know whether my fluid levels have continued to rise or not (fingers crossed they haven't).

22nd October: Full Term!

This is very exciting as it means the baby could be born from any point now on. It is also the time when I allow myself to start trying a few things to help the baby along such as eating spicy curries and fresh pineapple (though I would never try castor oil or anything not classed as safe). Although it will feel good to be able to do some things that might help baby along, I know deep down that baby only comes when ready!


23rd October: Vicar visit to book Church for our Wedding

We are booking the church where Cameron was Christened for our wedding and I can't wait! The church is beautiful!


24th October: 2nd Relaxation Antenatal

I don't really know what to expect with these classes but hopefully they will help me relax during labour! If nothing else I hope to meet some fellow pregnant women.


29th October: Cousin's 21st Birthday

I'm not sure whether my cousin will be doing anything to celebrate which I would be able to join in with but either way it is an exciting time for him. I was 5 months pregnant with Cameron when I turned 21 so didn't get up to much!

Pregnancy appears to make me Rant.... A Lot!

It would seem that a lot of posts I have written lately have been opinionated rants. It would seem that pregnancy hormones bring out the bitch in me...

I am not alone in my annoyance about the latest thing to get me worked up, however. After speaking to a few people about my experience with antenatal classes during my last pregnancy, including Facebook friends and health professionals, I have been met with resounding shock and indignation that what happened to me should not have happened.

When I was pregnant with Cameron I was single and going it alone. My midwife at the time was quick to mention this at a routine appointment at around sixteen weeks. We had been discussing antenatal classes when she mentioned to me that she thought it might be best for me if I gave them a miss, instead offering me individual classes at my home at around thirty weeks of pregnancy. Her reason for this? She said that she thought I might be lonely and feel alienated attending the classes as a young, single mum. At the time I didn't question it. I didn't really know what the classes entailed and didn't think I would be missing out on much. In the end I didn't receive the promised individual classes either, I'm not sure if they are even possible to be honest.

I still don't really know what the antental classes cover and so don't necessarily feel that I was less prepared for Cameron's birth than other mums were, although people tell me that things would have been a lot less stressful during labour if I had of been more prepared for what would happen.

Looking back on the whole experience now, I do feel somewhat robbed of an experience I can never really get back. I do fully intend to attend antenatal classes this time round, if not for me then for my boyfriend who is doing this for the first time. However, I believe I will go into these classes with a sense of not needing to be there as surely I already know what to expect now, having done it all once before? I am really angry that the midwife I had with Cameron was allowed to use her own poor judgement to prevent a nervous first time mum from getting the education she was entitled to just the same as anyone else, whether in a couple or not.

I would urge any pregnant first time mothers to consider attending an antenatal class in your area, even if you are doing it alone like I was. The classes can really help put you at ease and feel prepared for labour and I hear they are also a great way to meet fellow expectant mums in your local area (something I definitely could have done with as I have yet to make one local mummy friend twenty one months after having Cameron). Midwives do know what they are talking about 95% of the time, but on some matters make sure you use your own judgment as well. I wish I did.