24 weeks
For me, this is huge: the first viability marker. If our daughter were born now, she would have a chance - not a great one, but at least a chance. It is a massive milestone for me, as every twinge, every pain up til now has been accompanied with wild thoughts of “if she’s born now she wouldn’t make it.” I don’t have any reason to think she would be born early - but my brain tends to go into anxiety/panic mode very easily!
A lot has happened in 24 weeks.
For one, we’ve spent a lot of money! We are gradually getting everything together that we need - still a few big ticket items missing but we are getting there. The nursery now has a cot and a rocking chair in it (both purchased second hand) and a friend of mine is giving us all of her baby girl clothes as her youngest is growing out of them. So a note: we don’t need any more clothes! 😂. (I had an amusing chat with a friend last week who has just had her second baby. She announced in no uncertain terms that having a baby was “free until daycare” which I thought particularly funny as they had just spent $2500 on a stroller!)
We have also been to numerous scans and doctor appointments - just a normal part of having a baby. Everything looks just perfect with her, the only thing that came up on the last scan was that I have a low lying placenta, so in early February we have a fourth scan to check that the placenta has moved up - which is pretty normal. I am signed off to stop flying at 27 weeks, which puts my last day on the 21st December. I could have worked a week or two more, but it will be nice to have a Christmas at home with Dave before our daughter arrives, and also, the company I work for doesn’t have a maternity uniform so right now I am wearing a home-amended attempt and I’m not sure for how many more weeks it will fit! The doctors and midwives seem very happy with how everything is progressing and despite the placental position, I am categorised as low risk.
It is going to be really strange not to be flying. I realised a few days ago that I won’t fly a 717 at all in 2020 and I definitely have mixed feelings about that. I could of course go back to work early, but I also feel strongly that it is important for me to be there for the baby, and I really want to breastfeed too, which isn’t very compatible with my work lifestyle. Work has told me that they don’t need me in the office at all so from Christmas I’m going to be twiddling my thumbs at home (in the air con). I am trying to think up some projects to keep me busy (not too active) in those 3 months leading up to the baby’s arrival, otherwise I am going to go stark staring mad!! I get paid by work up to 34 weeks no questions asked, after which I have to get certificates from the doctor to say I COULD work if work should want me to do so. Then at some point I go on maternity leave.
At the moment, my parents are planning on visiting in May, which I am very excited about. The distance from family is one thing that is particularly difficult so it will be lovely having them over for a few weeks.
Well, being as I am now 24 weeks plus 3 days I really should post this! I may get around to writing more Some Other Time.
