Week 26 of Pregnancy (Trimester 2 of Preganancy)

Heard baby’s heartbeat this week at my regular ante-natal. While the midwife was using the Doppler device (to pick up his heartbeat), baby kicked – and we could hear the increase in the rate of heartbeats after his bit of exertion!. Baby is in the Breach position – that is bottom down, head under my ribs. There is plenty of time for him to move round, so nothing to be concerned about. Height of Fundus – i.e. how high in my abdomen the uterus lies – 26 cm.

Up to this point I have been booked to have my delivery at our local council General Infirmary. But I have heard about a mid-wife led Birthing Centre in a neighboring council area, and asked my midwife about the possibility of having the baby there. She helped me make an appointment to visit the centre at the end of the week.

The birthing centre is wonderful – more like a house with lots of cosy rooms, one with a birthing pool, all done up with subdued lighting and relaxing ‘themed’ décor. There is the option to have all antenatal appointments there too, which increases the chances of knowing the midwife who attends baby’s delivery. The emphasis is very much on natural birth and giving the mother all the support and advice she needs to stay in control of her labour at all times. The midwife who showed us round said she would need to see the notes from my delivery with Rosie before she could make a decision on whether or not the Centre would be a suitable place for me to give birth. (I was amazed – this was the first time anyone had taken any interest in the particulars of my previous labour, let alone considered writing off for my notes relating to it!). So now we wait to hear back from them.

Baby’s eyelashes are growing, and he continues to grow steadily – about 1cm each week.

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