Pregnancy week 26: a risky business?
A pregnancy update at 26 weeks pregnant…
Pregnancy and being high risk:
In my last update, all the way back in the distant and misty times of being 25 weeks pregnant, I wrote about labour and birth choices. A couple of people asked why this was an issue, so in my 26 weeks pregnant update, I wanted to explain.
It’s because I’m high-risk, in a way that has nothing to do with the stock market, live electrical cables, or fantastically 80’s films starting Tom Cruise (unfortunately).
High risk applies to lots of people for a whole multitude of different reasons (anyone else?). Mine are an underactive thyroid and blood that’s predisposed to clotting.
So what impact does this have on pregnancy? For me, it means I’m under consultant-lead care, and see specialists and an obstetrician as well as a normal midwife. It means more medication and extra growth scans. So we all yo-yo to and fro between medical appointments and blood tests. I also have to give myself daily injections until six weeks after birth. It was why I had a slightly bumpy ride first time, and why I’m amazed – and slightly suspicious – that it’s all going so smoothly now.
There’s also an impact on delivery, and it automatically means a big tick on the ‘will give birth on the labour ward’ section of my medical notes, which is where I’m interested to see if there’s an alternative this time.
And then there is, also, the worry; what if something’s wrong, what if something goes wrong? It tends to sneak up when I’m not expecting it, like when I wake in the middle of the night, a few hours before dawn. It makes me feel fragile for my tiny unborn baby, floating around inside me.
But all pregnancies are, to a certain extent, a big unknown. You can’t really predict what will happen. I’m closely monitored and trust the care I’m given (isn’t the NHS brilliant?). The daily injections can be a pain in the…stomach, literally, especially after doing it every day for nine months – but lots of people do this every day for the rest of their lives. And it would be a long, long nine months if I was stressing about everything, constantly.
And look, a smiley photo! In answer to my mum, yes my top is supposed to look like that (hi, mum).
What else happened at 26 weeks?
26 weeks pregnant has been a pretty normal week of wallpaper removal – I’m like a wallpaper terminator, I just can’t stop – and feeling generally fine.
That was my 26 weeks pregnant update…here are some pregnancy updates at 25 weeks, 24 weeks, 22 weeks, 21 weeks,
20 weeks, 19 weeks, 18 weeks, week 17, week 16, week 15, week 14, and the first trimester.
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10 Comments
Lee-Anne Connor
July 14, 2014 at 10:15 am
I feel for you with the injections, I had to do this through my two pregancies due to a previous blood clot. I was also classes as high risk so wasn’t allowed a water birth as had to be monitored. All that went out the window when baby came as I was in labour 30 minutes. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy. Really enjoying reading your blog x
gillian
July 17, 2014 at 12:22 pm
Argh, it’s a pain isn’t it? But good to be monitored and check everything’s on the safe side. Thank you so much (and great to hear that you had such a quick labour! How did it compare to your first?) xx
Shirley
July 15, 2014 at 5:19 pm
Tired eyes aside you do look good though, you have a pregnancy bloom about you, even with a whirlwind non stop active daughter enjoy last few weeks while you can
gillian
July 17, 2014 at 12:18 pm
Thanks! I’m hoping the heat might slow her down a bit (yeah, right :-)) xx
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Lee-Anne Connor
July 19, 2014 at 7:42 am
My first was only 6 hours long. I was induced on my due date with my second and they think I have an extreme reaction to the drug as got it with my first as well. Was so quick with my second that hubby missed it. Good luck for when baby comes x
Katrina
July 19, 2014 at 12:03 pm
Gill I love your positive attitude, in a situation that is pretty tough both emotionally & physically. Sending you hugs, you trooper Mwah xx
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