21 weeks

Here I am, 21 weeks, and I can finally say I am feeling my little bubba bump move. Not a great deal and not very strong - but consistent enough now that I can be sure that is my little bubba. As I type she is giving me a few gentle jabs in the cervix. I haven't had a great deal of time to focus on this development - but every now and then when I get a quiet moment (usually lying in bed at night) I feel a few movements and find myself smiling. It's pretty special, this part of pregnancy. I found a poem on facebook the other day that describes this special time perfectly:

I weighed myself this morning (I actually remembered!) and I am sitting at 77.65kg. My weight is definitely jumping up a lot now. I'm trying not to think about it, or let it worry me. It is hard to know how much is normal pregnancy gain, and how much is from my chocolate consumption though!

I have genuinely been trying to eat better this week, and I sort of am. I made the healthy coconut rough (made with dates, coconut, cacao powder and coconut cream), and I have been having pumpkin soup for lunch, and porridge for breakfast a bit. I'm not having any cravings, but I do find I get hungry often and want to eat, eat, eat!

The exercise side of things I find easier. I have gone to the gym and gone for walks (including a loop of the gorge and zig zag track!) and did my pregnancy yoga. Pregnancy yoga yesterday was actually really hard - we hold warrior two for two whole minutes, and man does your thigh burn!!! My back leg was shaking, I really struggled - but I made it.

After yoga yesterday the class got talking about birth, and as it turns out, pretty well everyone was going through Anna/independent midwife, or knew her in some capacity. We spent a bit of time talking about natural birth and the disappointment in the hospital system, etc and how amazing home birth is! It was so lovely to be among like-minded people talking openly and passionately about birth. It reminded me how strongly I feel about the whole thing! I guess it got me thinking about my birth too - before now it hadn't really been in my thoughts at all and I was a bit worried I wasn't going to feel prepared or be excited like I was last time... but I think as the time approaches and I read more I will. For now it just seems like so long away.

And here is my belly pic for this week. Definitely growing. The little miss wouldn't move, so she is included in this week's photo haha! I had my first pregnancy comment from a complete stranger over the weekend. The cashier at the petrol station asked 'How long have you got?' - it actually took me a few moments to click that she was asking about my pregnancy. That question makes me think she thought I was a lot further along than I am too! As I left she even said 'Good luck'. Anyway, it's still nice when the outside world can definitely tell you're pregnant, not just fat.

I'm looking forward to movements getting stronger over the next few weeks, and next week I have my next appointment with my midwife Anna. Can't wait!