Hello again everyone.

It’s been a few weeks since my last blog and quite a lot has happened. I feel like my life is just one big hospital appointment at the moment. At least I am being closely monitored.

 So I have had two scans since I last blogged. The first was a growth scan which showed that baby is not squashed and is growing well. We then had another consultant appointment and she is very pleased with how my pregnancy is going. I mentioned some strange sensations in my lower legs (more feeling than normal) and a change in the colour of the skin. This she says is the result of increased blood flow. Normally, my circulation is reduced due to the nerve damage and lack of use of my legs. However, in pregnancy, extra blood is made by the body and this combined with the blood thinning injections and Aspirin is meaning my legs are getting more blood. Not a bad thing.

My Mum and Dad took me for a 4D scan last week. It was lovely to see him looking like a real human. He seemed happy enough, kicking away. It doesn’t look like he has any of my features, more like his Daddy I think. No hair either. Oh well, there is still time.

I finished riding last week which was emotional for me. My spasms are gradually increasing, especially at night, but I am trying to hold off re-starting the muscle relaxant. I will have to see how it goes. I am starting my grooming sessions with Choco on Monday so at least I still get to see my favourite pony and be in the fresh air.

I had my 29 week heart scan today. This, as I have explained previously, is performed on all women who are pregnant and have received Epirubicin (a type of chemotherapy). The scan is performed routinely every 5 years and then twice in pregnancy. At this stage of pregnancy, the baby is doing the most growing and blood volume is at its highest. The chemotherapy can weaken the heart muscle and mean that the heart is under strain during pregnancy. I am happy to say that all was normal, in fact, I was told that my heart seemed to be unaffected by the additional strain. Mind you, it has been through worse.

Although we weren’t planning to have a baby at this time in our lives, i think it is a blessing that we did as I really have felt so healthy. The cardiac radiologist says this is largely down to my age. Had I been 6 or more years older, she thinks things may have been tougher for me.

My new Carer started toddy and she is lovely. I feel confident we will get on well.

From next week I will be working from home 3 days a week. I am still managing the commute and climbing in and out of cars etc but my work are very understanding and there’s no point tiring myself out. I have started handing over my cases. Some of them I have had since I started at my firm over 4 years ago. It is hard to say goodbye but they have all been very happy for me. I think working in clinical negligence makes me more aware of health complications in pregnancy and I have learnt a lot over the years about child birth. Hopefully the knowledge will come in handy.

I desperately need a new wheelchair. Mine is falling apart. The NHS only provide aluminium ones and they are heavy. It makes it hard for my carers to fit it in the car. I considered private options as I fundraiser for my current chair and I love it as it is titanium and super light.  However, since I got this chair, there have been funding cuts and  the NHS only contribute £1000 and a replica of my current chair is about £3000.  I therefore had an appointment this week with NHS the wheelchair clinic and I am considering all the ways to make the NHS chair as small and light as possible. It won’t be like I have now but I need it to be reliable so I need to just go for it and make the best of what they give me.

Louie has been building the cot and crib. DIY isn’t his thing and I can’t help. He did it though so we are pretty much sorted.

I feel a bit sad this evening as my Mum, Dad, siblings, their partners, and little Grace are all off to France without us. I just can’t risk going and going into labour abroad, not with my history. If it was a normal pregnancy, I could have gone but given that the consultant said he may come from May onwards, it’s just too risky. I don’t think I could do the journey anyway. Sitting for long periods is uncomfortable. Being unable to stand up means I have to slump in my chair to make more kicking room. There will be plenty more holiday. I just hope babstays where he is, he can’t come out without his Grandma and Grandad ready and waiting to meet him.

I went home last weekend to see my Grandad for his birthday. I realised that we will have to be very organised when baby is walking. We went to the Hoe and it was me, my brother, and Grace. She was so good and helped push me but as soon as she saw the bouncy castle she was off. It’s difficult to push fast after her, especially when you are carrying a potty and colouring! We will use reins I think and have to invest in some storage for the wheelchair.

Anyway, I hope you all have a lovely weekend and I will blog again on 27th June after our next scan.

Lots of love xxx