Pregnancy diary by Anastasia Brien for weeks 30-32

Anastasia lives in London with her husband, Nick. They’ve been married for three years and are expecting their first baby

Back to school

It’s hard to believe I’ll be a mother in less than two months. Nick will be a father. We will be a family. Wow. Starting our NCT classes has made this all seem real for both of us. Last night we sat in the crèche room of a local community centre (you should have seen eight pregnant women trying to squeeze into child-sized chairs) and were forced into reality by Sarah, our NCT teacher. She has a calm manner and is very matter-of-fact when she talks about things like mucus plugs. Nick was actually very interested (or he’s a great actor). If nothing else, it’s refreshing to be in a room with other people in the same predicament. Our collective ignorance gives us a sort of bonding power and I already feel I could discuss anything in front of the rest of the group. Over the next four weeks, I’m sure we’ll get down to the nitty-gritty: bloody mucus and the works.

For Nick and me, it’s not enough that we’re having a baby. We’re also moving house. And continents. Yes, we’re going to the States where Nick has a new job. Everyone thinks it’s my doing because I am American, but the truth is, part of me would rather stay here. I’ve been in London for six very formative years. I fell in love here, got married, pregnant, and established an entire new life and career, complete with incredibly close friends, including much of Nick’s family. Wonderful though it will be to live nearer to my own family, it’ll be very difficult to leave this place. Yes, I hate the pollution, the public transport and the incessant crap weather. But I will miss it all.