Feeling big, but not so beautiful

There is no doubt about it, I am enormous.

At 33 weeks pregnant I am pretty much the same size I was when I gave birth to Arlo at gone 38 weeks.

An estimate at a growth scan last week put her (it’s a girl, curiosity got the better of me) at 4lbs 9oz - with a big head and big stomach - which is both great and terrifying in equal measure.

Great because she is growing well, but terrifying because her brother only weighed 5lbs 15oz when he was born and I wasn’t expecting to carry such a big baby.

People keep telling me I look like I am about to drop or that I must be carrying twins.

The night before Arlo was born

It’s got to the point where as soon as I see them looking at my swollen belly I get in there first and say: “Yes, I know, I’m huge.”

The knock-on effect of this is that I am absolutely shattered and I am struggling to get around.

My pelvis seems to have taken the brunt over the past three or four weeks.

Walking is painful and driving isn’t great either but with a two-year-old to look after it is pretty much impossible to not do any of these things when he is around.

Couple that with having to lift him in and out of his cot, or the bath, or being clambered all over for a cuddle (which is of course lovely), pushing his buggy up one of the steepest hills in Brighton to get home, or taking him to the park, the only time I get to rest is when he goes to bed.

Don’t get me wrong, I love being pregnant, but I had forgotten what a toll it can take on your body during the latter stages.

Thankfully, I only have one week left at work and my boss has been great with taking me off jobs which involve lifting heavy equipment or driving a long way.

Me at 33 weeks pregnant this time round

Other than that we are totally unprepared for this one’s arrival.

Johnny has grand designs on our bathroom which he was planning on ripping out three weeks before my due date.

After much worrying on my part I managed to persuade him to bring it forward a couple of weeks.

Our bathroom is grim and it is the only room we have done nothing with since moving into our house just over a year ago.

The people who sold us our house painted the place from top to bottom with a standard magnolia paint before putting it on the market.

But the stuff they used in the bathroom isn’t waterproof so not only has it run down the walls revealing the poster paint blue colour the bathroom once was, it is also flaking off everywhere.

We are staying with my in-laws while Johnny and his dad wreck the place before putting it back together.

Once we’re back in I’ll be washing tiny vests and babygros which have been packed away for the past two years, waiting for this tiny person who will be living in them.

As for the birth and how a new person will change the dynamic of our family; both have been weighing heavily on my mind as my due date approaches.

But I’ll save that for the next blog.