Selia's pregnancy diary

It's also time to start shopping for some maternity clothes. I don't want to spend too much on clothes that I'll only be wearing for a few months. On the other hand, I don't want to feel frumpy and sloppy - the idea of 'borrowing' my husband's clothes, as some pregnancy books recommend, does not sound too appealing. I think that jeans, two pairs of black trousers and some summery trousers should get me through work and casual events. Top Shop and Dorothy Perkins have some great basics that won't break the bank. I've picked out a few old jumpers and tops from the back of my wardrobe - I figure that they'll get stretched out, but it will give me a great excuse to invest in some new clothes after the baby is born! I also found that, depending on the style, buying tops a size or two bigger than my normal size worked just fine for me.

I'm nervous and excited about my 20-week scan - this is to measure the growth of the baby and check that the major organs are functioning properly. They will also check things like the placenta and umbilical cord to look at blood flow. It's amazing how much detail can be seen on the ultrasound - the chambers of the heart, the lobes of the brain, etc. But I am mesmerized by the baby moving around constantly - we see her make a fist, and then stick out her tongue! Her face and profile are much more human-like. The doctor says everything looks fine - her growth is progressing and she is now at the fiftieth percentile for most things. Last time she was only at the fifth percentile, so I feel relieved. They estimate she is about 20 centimeters long and weighs about 450 grams.

Weeks 23-27 weeks
This month is all about relaxation. We decide to book what could be our last holiday alone for the next 18 years! The doctor says I can travel up to about 28 weeks. (It's a good idea to get a letter from the doctor so you don't get any hassle from the airlines.) There's a lot of pressure to plan the perfect getaway - it can't be too hot or too long of a flight. Also, we don't want to go somewhere exotic or remote just in case I need any medical attention. We decide on the Greek Islands and Athens - the perfect combination of an exciting city break and island paradise. The flight was pretty uncomfortable - mostly due to back pain. With hindsight, I'd recommend bringing a pillow along for any travel during pregnancy. Once we arrived though, it was all worth it. I found it heaven to just relax and read a book by the pool. I was careful to stay out of the sun and enjoyed swimming a few times a day. It was wonderful to just float in the water! I slept about 12-13 hours a day - I guess I hadn't realized how tired I was. I came back to work feeling refreshed and rested.