I've been on a forced blogging hiatus since our internet connection went down for a week! It's still a bit patchy so let's hope it holds out long enough for me to post this. So big news first: I felt the baby move for the first time last week. At first I was like, was that gas? But then I felt the movements stronger. And I knew. Since then I have felt movements on and off over this past week. Just like gentle nudges really. I wake Mr. T every time to tell him and every time he puts his hand on my belly hoping to feel something too... but alas baby has so far been uncooperative.
Today I am officially twenty weeks. Half-way through. It doesn't seem possible but here I am. I go for my second scan on Monday and even though it should be way less nerve-wracking than the last one, it isn't. Both Mr. T and I are already so anxious that something will be wrong.......will we always feel this way about scans? I mean we are very excited at the thought of seeing Bam Bam and perhaps finding out if he really is a Bam Bam or maybe a Pebbles... But that doesn't change the fact that I will be a quivering jelly again when I walk into the clinic.
I guess some things don't change. But moving on... I have finally confirmed my midwife. It was actually such an easy choice as she was really the best I found. I am very excited about getting to know her better and about the kind of birth I am aiming for. She will come out on my 37th week and stay until a few days after the baby is born. If I go a week overdue she will stay but I will have to pay a supplement. I am paying the normal price you would pay in the UK for a private midwife for the whole package of antenatal, birth and postnatal care. This is £3400 (about US$ 5000), though I will only be receiving a bit of antenatal and postnatal care from her, I have to pay for the full package since she won't be able to take on any more clients over that period while she is in Morocco with me. While it's not cheap I figured I would probably pay that if I was in the UK anyway and this is not something I want to skimp on. It may be that we can get our health insurance to cover part of it (or maybe all? - fingers crossed).
She will bring all her equipment with her. I just need to get the birthing pool (which I am borrowing from a friend) and an oxygen cylinder as she can't carry that on the plane. We are also paying for her return flight here and she will stay with us in our home. We have a spare room with it's own bathroom that opens out on to an inner courtyard so she should have plenty of privacy and feel comfortable. I am really looking forward to welcoming her here and spending this time with her. As she said in her email "Our relationship will be short and intense one. During my stay with you I'd give you as much time as you need to build a relationship and to discuss your birth plans and wishes and for us to be comfortable with each other."
Be back online soon! Many more posts to come including a special request from Wiseguy.
