Testing, testing Tuesday 25 September 2007

As expected, only a single line today. Feels exciting to be on this stage though, this month has dragged on and on. I’ve already succumbed to the wretched www.bounty.com forums, although I’m only reading them rather than getting involved (yet!).

Have completely given up on basal temperature taking – which is a bit crap isn’t it?! Oh well, hopefully my cycle will stay nice and steady and the testing strips will be enough.

On a completely unrelated topic – what is with the cadbury’s chocolate ad with the gorilla??? Very disturbing if you ask me, it almost puts me off chocolate. Almost.

Waiting Wednesday 12 September 2007

I’m growing increasingly impatient as the month limps slowly along (or so it appears in my world). For once, I’m actually looking forward to getting my period, although it’ll probably show up during our weekend away, just like the cold I’ve nearly got will probably explode nicely! Next month of course, I shall be hoping that there is no period at all…

Haven’t managed to check my temperature for the last 3 days as daughter awaking early (and screaming) makes for a leaping out of bed without a thought for the whole, reach-for-thermometer, wait-for-it-to-be-ready, lie-with-thermometer-under-tongue-for-a-couple-of-mins-to-get-the-most-accurate-reading, log-result shenanigans. Maybe tomorrow… At least I’m managing to keep up with the folic acid though.

Just remembered another thing I’d like to do this time – make a belly cast a few days before the due date.

Don’t hire me as a scientist! Thursday 6 September 2007

Hmmm my basal temperature is up and down like the proverbial knickers and unless I’m about to ovulate again (within 3 days of the last time, I don’t think so) I’m clearly doing something wrong. Or I’m an uppy-downy temperature kinda girl. Who knows?

No 1 child has been keeping us on our toes the last few days, and I have to admit that I’ve had nearly second thoughts about No 2 on several occasions. Still, when it comes down to it, we think 2 kids will be right for us. And we believe that our daughter will benefit greatly from having a brother or sister, so I guess my wobbles are just a natural part of it all. Once I’m pregnant I’ll move on to worrying about myriad other things instead!

Random ramblings Tuesday 4 September 2007

I think we’ve decided to go for the end of October ‘window’ which would mean (if successful) a due date of around 21st July 08 – it feels a bit weird thinking that far ahead. But, the timing is crucial if we want to maximise the opportunity of conceiving a boy. Boy sperm swim faster than girl sperm but die more quickly, so knowing when ovulation takes place will help with timing.

I’m not using the OT strips again until later this month (really just to determine that my cycle is regular) but I’m continuing with the temperature plotting throughout. Meantime my head is buzzing with all the fun stuff like baby names, birth plans, maternity clothes.

My list of ‘want to do this time’ currently includes:

• Keep a diary – check!
• Don’t tell anyone until the 12 week scan (this will be the hardest one)
• Keep a check on what I eat – last time I put on nearly 4 stone and am still carrying some of it to this day
• Go to at least one antenatal swimming session
• Aim for a homebirth (so very nearly managed it last time) possibly in water
• Make a CD of music to listen to during labour

There will undoubtedly be more as they pop into my head, and undoubtedly some will be no more than items on the list of things we didn’t get around to doing.

You can stick the thermometer… Monday 3 September 2007

… in your mouth. The instructions which come with the basal thermometer didn’t say where to put it to measure temperature, so I assumed it went ‘down there’. Last night something niggled me about that and on googling, discovered that you actually put the thermometer in your mouth. It seems so obvious really. D’oh. And before you ask, yes, it was cleaned between measurements!