The Expectant Blogger Week 20: 'Halfway there!

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

This week has been pretty good. Not only am I totally relaxed on holiday, but I cannot believe I am at the halfway point. I feel very blessed.

I've had a lot of movement this week. Lots of fluttering and a little of what feels like poking. In my current state of mind I would actually say I am enjoying being pregnant. I really feel like someone is in there now and in my mind I have started a little connection - having what might look like a crazy conversation to myself but actually speaking to Bean when I feel like he/she is awake.

For some reason I look bigger. I think, as my mother in law said on the phone, it's because I am so relaxed (it could also be for the first time in my life I am not dieting and am relaxed with my food). One of the nice things about showing is that it's made a lot of people respond to me. We went to a restaurant the other evening and all the hostesses were smiling and when they seated me they bought over an extra cushion for my chair to make me more comfortable. It's also meant when we were on the beach no one harassed me to do water sports. It was obvious that speeding off on a jet ski or doing water skiing was the last thing I wanted to do this year!!

I've also noticed that Rich has become more attentive to Bean, and on a daily basis is having a little Daddy chat with it. It's really very sweet and makes the whole pregnancy even better.

This week we have just been taking it easy with lots of swimming. I'm making a conscious effort to get in at least 45 minutes in the pool every day (let's face it, that's not going to happen at home!). It also stops me getting over heated. I have sunbathed but not for very long periods of time. Just walking around in the sun has been lovely. I also had a pre pregnancy massage with a manicure and pedicure - it was a wonderful treat, if you can get one - do - it's so relaxing.

Love is in the air
One thing which has been great is spending time with Rich. It's been really romantic - a bit like a second honeymoon, and as I am now in the energy phase this has really helped. We have become even closer to one another - we are close anyway - but having been asleep for the first three months of this pregnancy, that kind of killed the romance.

A lot of our friends we've seen on holiday have been saying 'Oh my gosh you're having a boy' and others 'It's definitely a girl'. OK people, it's a 50/50 chance you're going to be right! So many old wives tales keep coming our way - all the usual ones like have you done the ring over the tummy thing.

It's only one more week until we find out what sex Bean is. We finally made the decision we wanted to know. What's really made us decide is that it will make the whole situation more exciting and just add to the experience for us. I also want to refer to it as something more than 'it' or 'he/she'. But my advice is don't let others push you into making a decision. You should do what feels right for you. If you like a surprise go for it - if you want to find out do so.

Another reason for me is that I have come up with some girls' names but not boys, so should it be a boy I can get cracking on thinking about names without distractions.

I've met a lot of really lovely people this week, and quite a lot of mothers who have some valuable advice. It's all quite mixed. Some people have been swearing by the Gina Ford approach and say this helped them get the baby to sleep through the night after the first week. Others have just said go with the flow. I'm going to have a read of everything but not get massively obsessed. I'm not going to be the perfect Mum instantly, as I've never been one before, so I'm going to take everything on board and work on it day to day. I don't want to get myself all down in the mouth if I can't follow a text book.

Heading for home
Normally when I get ready to go home after a holiday I get depressed about leaving a sunny island and heading back to the cold. But it's not so bad this time (although I could stay longer of course) as I feel totally recharged. I also want to get back home to have my scan next week. I can't wait to see the changes and also see that everything is OK.

Flying home was good - although it was Rich's birthday and he would rather have celebrated it somewhere other than on a plane. I needed to change seats on the plane as mine did not recline and the airline were very accommodating to my situation and changed our seats on request. It's always worth asking.

When we arrived home my parents were at our place - my mum had cleaned the house top to bottom, and got in breakfast and lunch with a great big birthday cake for Rich. We really appreciated all the help. It was so nice to come to home to a fresh, clean house and shirts ironed for Rich.

And in fairness Rich did get spoilt on holiday. Friends took him for dinner, and another one cooked him a cake, and we did have a mini party for him, but equally it was so nice for him to come home to a lovely lunch - so thanks Mum and Dad!

My folks were surprised by the size of my bump - my dad thought it had grown massively over 2 weeks and said it looked great.

I am not going back to work yet I have one more day - so today I am going to find some clothes for work and then I am going to meet friends for lunch.

Until next week...

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