My Pregnancy Diary: 19-24 Weeks

Hey guys. Thanks for coming to check out my second pregnancy diary post. If you haven’t already, be sure to read my 14-19 weeks pregnancy diary, which was the starting point of my pregnancy blogs. So what’s new? It feels like this second trimester is absolutely flying by, and has been so much more enjoyable compared to the first. A lot of people say this is the best time of a pregnancy, and I think they could be right. Although my bump is growing by the day, it’s still a manageable size and the aches and pains haven't really kicked in yet. I am staying active and feeling like myself again, just with the addition of an energetic kicking boy inside me! Every week has brought exciting pregnancy ‘firsts’ and new milestones, as well as a few new scares and worries. Here is my week-to-week pregnancy diary from 19-24 weeks…

Week 19

Feeling The First Flutters

I signed off my last pregnancy diary post by telling you all I was preparing to go on my officially holiday of the year, to Almunecar in Spain. It was a relaxing villa holiday with my girlfriends, which had been planned months before I knew I was pregnant. Despite knowing I’d be the designated driver, and the only one not on the Sangria, I was still really looking forward to the much-needed break. I took the week off to have a bit of a digital detox which I blogged about here.

Week 19 was very poignant for me as it was the first week I felt some movement from the baby. At the time, I wasn’t 100% sure. I couldn’t really distinguish whether what I was feeling was baby, or just gas and digestion. But now looking back, I know that week 19 was definitely when I felt the first faint movements of our baby. It felt a bit like having butterflies, or feeling like you’ve got a little fish swimming around in your tummy. Such a surreal but amazing feeling!

Week 20

Half Way and The Anatomy Scan

We had plenty of reasons to celebrate in Week 20. Firstly, because we had reached the halfway milestone of the pregnancy. It was quite surreal to know I had just as many weeks of pregnancy ahead of me as I did behind me, and I was out of the ‘teen’ weeks. Week 20 was also huge as we were booked in for the all-important anatomy scan. The main reason for this scan is for the sonographer to check the baby’s organs and body parts in close detail, making sure everything is growing healthily and as it should be. You also have the option to find out the gender at this scan, and we decided we definitely wanted to find out. But like any Mum-to-be, I was anxious to get that confirmation that the baby was healthy before getting excited about the sex. It was such a nice feeling to hear that our baby’s anatomy was looking healthy and all the developments were on track.

It’s a Boy!

At the same scan we found out we were having a little baby boy! Both Scott and I were so shocked and surprised by the news, as we’d both convinced ourselves we were having a girl. I am one of three sisters, and my sister and cousins have both recently had baby girls, so the girl power on my side is very strong. Scott’s side of the family has a more neutral split on gender, but everyone we spoke to also seemed to predict it would be a girl. I’m still amazed that I have a little boy growing inside me I think finding out the sex has helped me to really bond with the baby and visualise life when he arrives. I love him so much already!

Week 21

Flying Long Haul to Florida

On Week 21 Scott and I flew to Orlando in Florida for an exciting campaign with TUI and Universal Studios. I knew that it would be my last long-haul trip before the baby arrives in February, so I felt really excited about it. Because I’m pregnant, I wasn’t able to go on the vast majority of the rides in the parks, which was quite gutting, but I knew it wasn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I still loved exploring the parks, watching the shows and doing the walk-through experiences. On the days where we weren’t in the parks, we visited shopping malls, feasted in diners, relaxed by the pool at the hotel and spent a day at the quaint town of Winter Park.

Being pregnant with a now-visible bump, I was a little apprehensive about the 9 hour flight. I can fly freely up to 28 weeks without a doctors note, so I knew it was totally safe, I just worried if I’d be uncomfortable. We flew in economy in the TUI 787 Dreamliner, which was actually pretty comfortable for the most part. I sat in an aisle seat so I could reach the toilet easily (pregnant women wee A LOT) and drank tonnes of water. The only real difference I felt was feeling more swollen after the flight, and like my bump had grown twice the size. I don’t know if it was just a mental thing or not, but I felt as if I needed to be decompressed when I stepped off the plane!

Read my new Orlando posts;

• 19 Essential Things to know before visiting Universal Studios Florida
• What to Expect at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

Seeing my Bump Move For the First Time

By week 21 the baby kicks had got a lot stronger and I was 100% sure that what I was feeling was the little one moving. Until this week, the movements had only been internal feelings, but this week I was laid on the bed and saw my bump move for the first time! It was only a tiny amount, but it was the first time the baby made his presence known from the outside. It was the most incredible and unexpected moment, and I just remember having the biggest smile on my face. A few people told me 21 Weeks is quite early to see surface kicks, especially as I have an anterior placenta (at the front) but I definitely know what I saw. It was amazing! 

Week 22

Is Nesting Kicking In?

Week 22 was spent back at home in Leeds, catching up on work and trying to re-adjust my body clock to UK time. I remember feeling very happy to be home and to have my bump / baby back in its safest place. I started planning the nursery this week, browsing online for nursery furniture and picturing how to transform our spare bedroom (which currently still has a double bed in it). I suddenly felt the urge to ‘sort’ and ‘get the house in order’. Was this my first urge to start nesting?

Week 23

Our Babymoon in Dubrovnik

On Week 23 I was packing my suitcase again, this time for our babymoon in Dubrovnik! I’m going to be blogging all about our baby moon in my next post, so I will save all the details for then. But it was such a special trip, and I tried to appreciate every moment, knowing it would be our last trip together as a couple before becoming parents. Every time the baby kicked, I quickly grabbed Scott’s hand to try and feel, but every time I did the baby would stop. We also celebrated Scott’s 30th Birthday in Dubrovnik, so I hoped he would feel the baby on his birthday, but it wasn’t until we got home that he felt the first kick. We were lying in bed and it was such a lovely moment.

A Sober Night Out

After getting back from Dubrovnik, we had one day to recover before hosting Scott’s 30th birthday celebrations. I’d hired a private area in a bar in Leeds and had 25 of Scott’s friends confirmed to attend. Despite being pregnant and tired from the trip, I was determined to be involved in the fun. With nothing in my wardrobe fitting, I ordered this gorgeous maternity dress from ASOS, which I felt comfortable and feminine in. It skimmed my bump rather than clung to it which definitely made me feel less self-concious in the bars. I will definitely be bringing it out again at Christmas. I sipped on mocktails, danced in heels and even managed to stay out til 1.30am, but I did feel very aware of my bump in the busy bars. I had a great time but that will definitely be my last ‘night out’ for a while. I’ll be happy with a winter of cosy dinner dates and bubble baths from now on.

We Chose Our Pram and Ordered the Nursery Furniture!

On Week 23 we also ticked two big things off our baby checklist; the pram and the nursery furniture. We decided on the new Joolz Day3 in Amazing Grey for our pram, which should see baby through from being newborn til about 4 years old. I love the design and can't wait for it to arrive! We also ordered the Atlas 3 piece Nursery Furniture Set in nimbus white from Mamas and Papas. It doesn’t arrive til the 2nd of January but at least it’s one less thing to sort.

Week 24

A Worrying Day

Last Monday I had felt significantly less kicks from the baby compared to a usual day, which began to really worry me. I usually feel him when I wake up, and around mid-morning when I am at my desk. I hadn’t felt anything by lunch time, which didn’t feel right. I’d only started to establish this type of pattern in the last week or so, so I tried not to panic too much. I had an appointment with my midwife the following day, so decided to wait and speak to her about the issue. That night, I felt one big kick from the baby after I’d had dinner, which was a huge relief, although I still wondered why the movement felt reduced that day.

The next day the midwife advised me that if I ever feel reduced movement for more than half a day, I should ring the maternity unit at my local hospital. If they’re concerned or if I am, they’ll ask me to come in to check the baby over. The next day, our boy was back to usual with his strong kicks and active wriggles, which I began to appreciate even more. I am glad that this happened as I will know exactly what to do if his movement pattern changes.

Hearing the Heartbeat for the First Time

It was just a routine appointment with the midwife on week 24, but I asked her if we’d be able to listen to the heart beat. For some reason, we weren’t offered this in our scans and I really wanted to hear the heartbeat, especially after being worried about movement the day before. Using a doppler-type device, the midwife found the baby’s heart beat straight away. It was loud, clear and very fast! It was the nicest sound in the world and I could have laid there for ages just listening to it. I’m so glad Scott was at the appointment to hear it too. He was equally as amazed.

Flu Jab and Whooping Cough

Over Week 23 and 24, I’ve also had the flu jab and whooping cough vaccine, both of which are advised and offered free to pregnant women. I had to have them on separate days, but both jabs were fine. My arm felt sore for a day or so after and they did make me feel a bit tired and lethargic, but nothing major. I want to make sure I am passing on as many immunities as possible to my baby.

I love writing these pregnancy diary posts as they make me realise just how much is happening in a short space of time. I know they’re a bit different compared to my usual travel posts, but they will be so nice to look back on all of these mini-milestones in years to come. I also hope they come in useful for future expectant Mums. Weeks 19-24 have been jam-packed full of special occasions and memorable moments, and I feel so grateful everyday to be on this new (and very different) type of adventure. Thanks for joining me!

Do you have any advice for me as I reach the end of my second trimester? Is there anything in this post that you can relate to in this pregnancy diary? If you enjoyed reading, I’d love you to leave a comment in the box below. Jess x