The Expectant Blogger Week 19:
'Have bump, will travel'

Our blooming blogger talks us through the weekly ups and downs of a first-time pregnancy.

Just as I grab the last few things before I leave for the airport, I take one last look in the mirror (I am wearing my new getting on the plane outfit) and there it is - my recognisable little swell of a tummy.

My Dad stayed last night and is dropping us to the airport. He hasn't seen us for a month or so and the first thing he says is, 'You look pregnant now love.'

All change
As we get to the airport I realise this holiday is going to be different from the others. For a start I won't be dancing in clubs, getting tipsy on rum punches (my usual trick used to be drunkenly making friends, introducing them to Rich and then running off and leaving them with him - which I know always mildy irritated him).

Nor will I be drinking wine for dinner every evening or eating swordfish (it contains a high amount of mercury which is not good for the Bean). Basically, it's going to be my first holiday without a drink, and the first holiday I will think about what to eat, and how long to sunbathe for. I'm a self-confessed sun worshipper, but I have always been sensible about it.

For the plane I've decided to wear my first ever maternity get up which I think looks really nice - and crucially is also really comfortable. It's a roll top stretch trousers and sleeveless top by - you guessed it - Blooming Marvellous. I finish the outfit off with my gold VANS and my DVT socks. Nice!

Come fly with me
We've booked a seat on the front row of our section so I have plenty of leg room to exercise my ankles. For some reason I'm afraid they'll swell up, perhaps because I read about everything swelling up all of the time.

I'm offered a glass of wine with lunch but I replace it with a nice Virgin Mary. Not having a drink now feels normal. I haven't had once since New Years Eve which is a long while ago now. I'm a reformed woman!

I make a conscious effort to get up and walk around the plane every 30 - 40 minutes or so. I even pop to the loo to do some squats and circle my arms and shoulders so I don't look like a crazy woman.

For the first time ever I notice the amount of children on the plane and I begin to panic! How do you cope with having children on a plane? What do you need to bring with you? What do you do when it starts to cry? On one of my many trips to the loo I meet a lady with a three month old baby girl so I decide to get her to answer my questions. She's really nice and notices that I'm pregnant with Bean. It turns out this is her third baby and third girl, so she is the perfect person to ask.

Here's what she told me:

• Feed them on take off and landing this helps to stop ears popping
• Walk round with them as much as you can on long flights as they get bored in the confined space
• Always bring a bag of toys so you can keep them occupied
• Bring your buggy up to the door of the plane.
• Nappy changing can be done in the loo.
• Organise with the airline before hand to see that they have a bassinet and a baby bouncer.
• Try to get a bulkhead seat as they have the tables you can rest the bassinet and bouncer on.
• Finally, try not get paranoid about the baby crying. Most people wear headphones to watch films and people expect babies to cry.

The plane journey was good and it was a learning lesson - I feel more confident about future holidays.

Beachwear and the bump
The first week of the holiday has been great. I've managed to get a lovely tan, even though I'm using a high sun factor. I am wearing all of my maternity swimwear which is lovely and not unsexy . Not that I'm trying to look like a sex kitten on the beach. I realise this is not going to happen when I look around and see all the skinny Minnie's. But I feel good.

I've managed to unwind from work. I got Rich to read a book called 'You're pregnant too, mate!' which he finds totally amusing and says he has learnt a lot from. He's told me the later you conceive in your cycle the more chance you have of having a girl. We calculate mine and guess what it's happened exactly half way. Anyway, I'm just glad he read it. It means a lot to me that he wants to know what to do as well.

As I hit the end of the first week I notice that Bean is getting bigger or it could be the pudding I had last night. I get Rich to take a photo to see exactly what I look like and I really do look pregnant. In the daytime Bean shrinks, but at night it really swells up. My diet is really good, lots of fresh fruit and fibre. One good thing is I'm not getting any constipation. The reason I mention this is because it's a common occurrence at this point of pregnancy. My top tip is weetabix, brown bread, and wholewheat cereal. Trust me on this one!

One new thing is that we've started talking to Bean now. At the moment we're discussing boys names. Girls I have found easier but boys names seem a lot harder. I'm off to the beach now with hubby in tow.

'Til next week...

• Read more from our Expectant Blogger here
  
• Weeks 17-20 - your baby's development
  
  
• Travelling while pregnant