Shy Baby

18 +2

I'm so disappointed baby was in a bad position but the scan place were brill and didn't charge me for the scan and have offered me a 4D scan for £35 when I'm 26 weeks!! Hopefully we can find out what we are having at our hospital scan 2 wks on Wednesday!!

Hoping for a scan today!!

18 +2

Today we are off to Fleetwood to the Bump and Baby exhibition. There is a company there offering scans for £35. You can't prebook you have to turn up and register and they will give you a time to go back. I'm so excited and really hope we can find out what colour bump we have!! Hopefully bubba will have their legs well and truely open!!

I am so nervous too and just want to make sure everything is ok with our baby. I could hardly sleep last night for thinking about it all. Dh is working unfortunately so am taking my mum and the kids with me.

We have kindof decided on names, Poppy for a girl and Toby for a boy. They are the only names we all agree on. As the kids are 10 and 7 we are giving them a say too in the name which does complicate things trying to please everyone but we want them to feel involved in the pregnancy.

Right best go get ready and will update again later after the scan.

18 Weeks

You are now 18 weeks pregnant (or in your 19th week if that's how you prefer to count it).

This week, you officially begin your fifth month of pregnancy. Your baby may have reached 15 cm from crown to rump by now, and he can both feel and hear. Admittedly at the moment, all he can hear is your heartbeat and the flow of your digestive system but soon he'll be able to detect noise outside the womb and identify your voice.

You're just a week away from the half-way mark. Pregnancy care is much more relaxed than it used to be, so you're unlikely to see your midwife or doctor often unless you need extra attention. But don't chew over things alone if you're feeling anxious.

However, in the next few weeks you'll probably have an anomaly scan, to check your baby's organs. Seeing your baby curled up inside you - or kicking or rolling - is immensely moving so take your partner with you if you can. If your pregnancy is problem-free, this may be your last opportunity to buy a scan photo for your baby's album. In a very small percentage of cases though, the scan shows up problems. If this happens to you and you want to talk about whether to continue with your pregnancy, you can contact Antenatal Results and Choices in the Organisations A-Z.

Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now. Treat yourself to a new pair of shoes also in a bigger size, your feet will swell along with your body, and pick a low heel for extra stability as your bump grows.