We went for our 30 week check up on Friday, which was exciting as we hadn't been since 21 weeks and we got to hear the baby's heart beat. The baby's heart rate stayed around 130 so it's obviously a nice and relaxed baby (I refuse to believe the whole old wife's tale that 140 and above it is a girl and that below 140 it is a boy!).
The doctor told us that baby is head down, so it is in the right position and all ready to go. Hopefully it's not fully engaged yet as that would be slightly worrying, we would like it to stay in for at least 8 more weeks. The Doctor showed us how to feel the baby's head, it is tiny and, although she assured us that we couldn't, we worried about squashing it.
When the doctor asked whether we had any concerns or whether I had any questions I explained to her that I hadn't been as 'regular' as one might expect to be, her advice was to eat 2 or 3 prunes with my breakfast every day. Gregory looked strangely excited by this; later on he told me that he thought she had said prawns and he was imagining the many ways that he could eat prawns for his breakfast: Masala prawns, Coconut prawns, Fried prawns! Honestly!
After we had finished with the doctor we decided it was time to go and see the Labour Ward. This was very exciting, Gregory acted a little bit strangely, nervous perhaps? It is very unusual for Kenyan men to be in the room with you when the birth is happening. A great example of this was when I was on a recent training course about behaviour management; we were shown an incredible video clip about the development of a child's brain from birth all the way up to 24 (when the brain finally finishes developing). While we watched we were asked to make notes of 'wow' things we had seen and 'new facts' we had learnt. In the feedback session a Kenyan teacher immediately put his hand up to contribute to 'wow' things that he had seen, he explained that the most amazing thing he had seen was the man in the delivery suite!
Therefore, I am very grateful that Gregory is coming into the room with me - but really he has no choice!
The labour ward is reasonably small and as clean as they would be in England. There is a choice of 'ward beds' - 4 beds in a pod all sharing a bathroom, 'duplex rooms' - 2 beds, shared TV and bathroom or two different 'private rooms' - either in the labour ward or in the Princess Zahra Pavilion, Gregory is able to stay the night in these ones and you have your own bathroom. As the insurance is now paying I am going to go for the nicest, private ones.
The lady who showed us around informed me that I am not allowed to only have midwives delivering as they are not qualified. I also have to have the on duty Paediactrician and Gynae - it is going to be a full room. There is now a birthing pool in one of the rooms, so I am hoping that when I go in to labour it is free. I would love the option of a water birth.
In other news, we finally get to move in to the bigger flat tomorrow! Woo hoo! This means that we can start organising the baby's room. There is a lady from school who has started doing a PGCEi with us, her husband works in the army and she has very kindly let us use her BFPO to send things here from England. Everything is so much cheaper in England. We think we have the main things that we need now:
- moses basket
- cot bed
- reusable nappies
- sling
- car seat
Everything else we'll get as and when we need it, also Dad can bring bits over when he comes in February.
I am sure that with the end of term and Christmas, the next few weeks will fly by and our baby will be here before we know it so we are making sure we make the most of the weekends by having looooong lie ins.
