Pregnant Women Q&A's

Why do pregnant women always rub their belly's?
This idyllic image is nothing to do with bonding with the baby beneath. No. Really its because stretching skin is itchy and uncomfortable. And especially in my situation, the baby will sometimes stick something out through your belly in a bid to permanently enlarge their room. It is therefore a normal reaction to reach down to this spot and by rubbing try to convince the baby to change position. However this doesn't always work, and if your baby is anything like Starbucks they'll actually push back and reassert that they are now claiming this place for their own.

Why do pregnant women always put their hands on the arch of their backs?
This is annoying. There is simply no where else to put them. You can't cross your arms normally, as there's a bump in the way, you cant fit your hands in your front pockets anymore as thigh growth has made this pocket incapable of holding anything other than list of all the things you can't remember. Additionally, anywhere you can find on your front to put your hands will only contribute to overbalancing forward as your already very front heavy. Therefore somewhere on your back is the only option, so why not go for the typical pregnancy pose, as if you are pushing the bump out from behind.

Its fun learning these things, as they are pretty much an instinct and nothing you can do to stop them without a massive conscious effort. Its so odd being part of the pregnant culture. My only fear is - how much will remain post birth?!

Father Hen

I have not been busy nesting, XSS has. Over the past three weeks we have painted every wall in our flat, got a new boiler and two new (larger) radiators, new carpets throughout and yesterday a flat pack cot and change unit arrived! Xss made the cot instantly. In someways it makes this whole journey more believable, and in others, its just really a little odd. Why do a perfectly normal 20 somethings couple need a tiny little bed in their spare room. This worries me a little though- When will it seem real? When I'm screaming pushing her out- is that a little late?

Its great to have new carpets throughout as walking on the cold 'floor boards' (read big chunks of plaster board) to pee in the middle of the night was getting old. But in order to fit the carpets we fit our whole flat, and lives, into our bathroom. And there it remains. We can access the toilet, and half the sink if you lean over the toilet. It feels good to know we own so little stuff, and it encourages me to throw more things away. Part of the liberty and joy of travelling was having so little stuff with us, however ironic that might be to the locals as we wandered past with massive rucksacks containing only a sample of our lives but double the amount of stuff they will ever own in theirs.

In other news i have gained a new niece, bringing my total up to 4 nieces and nephews! Rhea was born on last Monday night, and is doing a good job of keeping her parents and elder sister awake all night at the moment. I'll update with a picture when i have one. Its a great a joyous occasion when someone has a baby- a whole new person enters the world. But its easier to see it when someone else has to raise them.