Pregnant with a Peppercorn // 36 weeks pregnant

The word of the week has to be “Emotional”. Nick has had me sobbing on him most evenings, usually about Busby and how quickly she’s growing up, but it’s felt pretty cathartic letting all the tears out, and I feel like this is a pretty normal thing to feel emotional about at this point in a second pregnancy? Everything seems to be moving so fast now, and I can’t quite believe we’ll have a little bundle of baby in our lives in what could only be a few days… Squee!!!

This week Peppercorn is around 47cm long (about as long as a romaine lettuce) and weighs around 2.7kg (as heavy as a large cantaloupe melon). I’ve almost given up on sleeping now; I’m getting my best sleep between 6am-9am and if I’m allowed a nap; obviously the most awkward times to sleep with a Toddler around! Peppercorn really enjoys a good ol’ wiggle and kick just as I’m about to go to sleep, which I suspect is quite normal as it’s when I’m most relaxed during the day.

Our birthing pool arrived at the end of the week; a very exciting delivery! It also made everything seem so real! We attended a beautiful wedding on Saturday, and found myself talking about birth for most of the day – everyone had questions! They were amazed that we were having a Home Birth, as a number of people didn’t realise that having a Home Birth was even an option! Yorkshire is very different to Brighton in terms of Home Birth rates (1-2% in East Yorkshire, compared to 40% in Brighton!) and I always forget this… at one point I was deemed the “Birth Oracle” – it’s such a fascinating subject, I could probably talk about it all day.

My body has certainly been preparing me for labour this week; I’ve been eating and drinking copious amounts for the last 4-5 days – I can’t seem to get enough food or water! I’ve not craved anything in particular food-wise this week, which has to be a first in this pregnancy. I have been desperately craving warm weather and floating in warm water again…

As well as eating like a horse, I’ve been nesting like a fiend, with sudden bursts of energy to sort out Baby’s clothes and make lists… Nick built the Baby’s Snüzpod this week, so that’s now ready and waiting for his arrival, and we spent last Monday buying essentials such as maternity pads and newborn nappies.

We had a great time at the wedding on Saturday; I even managed to get up on the dance floor and have a boogie (YAY!), but sadly it left me feeling rather conked on Sunday, and with huge swollen feet. Not sexy! I also had a small “am I in labour?!” scare on Friday evening, where I heard a little pop when peeing and some liquid came out… I kept an eye on it all evening by popping in a pad, but no further liquid appeared, so who knows what was going on! Dr Google suggested it might be the hindwaters leaking a little – I’ve got a Midwife appointment on Monday, so I’ll have a chat about it then.

There’s a full moon on Tuesday, so we’re half-wondering whether Peppercorn might decide to make his entrance… I’ll be 37 weeks pregnant, and therefore able to have my Home Birth! I better start baking for the Midwife!
Hannah