Maternity Leave

This is the second week of my maternity leave. Yesterday, we (me and my hubby) both felt as if two weeks have passed! Don't worry, it's not that I'm bored or something like this, but I realised that there is exactly a good reason (many good reasons!) to offer time off to pregnant women towards the end of their pregnancy.
Although I spent last week quite effectively (getting more organised with the baby stuff), as everything is in slow motion, you do not get things completed as quickly as you want. You need to bin all of your pre-maternity time notion before you make a plan. Say you will do your weekly grocery shopping. You should account for the time to dress up (especially when it's very cold and feel the urge to wear thermals), to tie your boots, to get into the car, the loo breaks, to bend and get the items you dropped (either simply from your hand or by causing them to fall with a slight touch of your bump!). I really hate it when I have to bend and get something from the floor.
Last year when I saw Canan's husband tieing her boots (it was about a week before their baby's arrival), I thought that it was cool and perceived his behaviour as a nice gesture. Now, I realise that it's actually a necessity. My hubby has been doing it for more than a month even without me asking him.
Anyway, me getting heavier and grumpier each day, it was more than high time to stop working. But I think I'll miss being at work, particularly my colleagues. (not the daily three hour driving though!) It will be my longest break since I started to work some 13 years ago and I'll try to enjoy it as much as I can.

Here are some pictures with my maternity leave celebration flowers. Unfortunately, I do not have one in the office. Thank you for all your contribution to our bundle of joy!

Counting Down

Time flies.. Starting to feel 100% pregnant (backache, pelvic pain, breathlessness, leg cramps, waddling, tiny bladder, sleepless nights..), I lost my motivation to write. I know, it's not only about joy and happiness, there'll be hard times as well. But, I did not want to reflect my pregnancy blues here. Anyway, I give up, I think I'm back again:)
During the last weeks, we had our antenatal classes (once a week for 5 weeks). It was good to be among people who were going through similar circumstances. We had two lovely midwifes who responded to our silly questions with patience. Although you continuously read about what to expect, it's much more satisfying when somebody who has been part of the system tells about it. The most exciting and informative class was with the hospital tour. If everything goes according to the plan, I'll be delivering my baby at Glasgow Southern General Hospital. The labour ward was built recently and has brand new delivery rooms with up-to-date equipment. It looked well organised, clean and fresh. Considering that labour can last more than 24 hours (first and second stages), it's a relief to know that you will have some space (I'm not sure if you'd be really aware of it during the contractions though!!). I'll soon be adding some hospital pictures taken by my hubby.
In the mean time, we are almost finished with the baby shopping. Thanks God! I'll be telling all about my shopping experience under a separate topic. Boring for people who do not need to do it but quite useful for new beginners:)
These last weeks have also been the most progressive ones for the bump. Gaining at least 250gr s each week, it's become even difficult to turn from one side to the other in bed.
It's not difficult to identify me in the office as well. In addition to my occasional loud sneezes, now I have deep sighs after long hours of sitting. Not long to go, only a week is left before I start my maternity leave. Not long just a couple of months ago, I thought that I could have worked until the delivery day if only I did not have to drive from Glasgow to Edinburgh. But now I'm counting the days. I definitely prefer to spend more time lying down (not necessarrily sleeping), it's not that I don't enjoy work.














1) By the end of an antenatal class
2) Hospital Tour: Delivery room with a Birthing Pool
3) Hospital Tour: Delivery room