Second Trimester Update - Weeks 13 - 18

As I write this I'm currently 19 weeks pregnant. I don't have any diary entries since the 12 weeks scan.
The days following the scan were a blur of telling people, excitement and then soothing injured feelings as some people didn't get to tell the people they wanted to because others had got there first... Let's keep the important thing in mind, here, okay folks? I'm having a baby - it's a happy occasion....
Anyway.
I still haven't been feeling any sickness. I get tired more easily and out of breath more quickly. I haven't had any cravings.
I've managed to put off buying a pregnancy pillow - still not entirely convinced it'd be worth the money - and been making do with two extra pillows. I'm getting used to the pillows but finding it a real struggle to sleep on my left side. I'm a 'front-sleeper' by habit although that hasn't been possible since about 7 weeks as it was uncomfortable on my growing bump. Some nights are okay but other nights my shoulder is in agony and it's now getting more difficult to move about in bed.
Last week we had a major scare as Cillian developed GI stasis - the very thing that killed Pancho. He seems to be doing fine now, but he's still on medication.
I hadn't been feeling like I was looking pregnant - more like I'd been at the mince pies early - but now I'm uploading the pictures I realise my bump is definitely looking like a baby bump!

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Week 16

Week 17

Week 18

12 week scan

Waiting for the 12 week scan was a bit of a nerve-wracking experience. We were excited to see the baby for the first time but terrified that there wouldn't be a heartbeat.
My appointment letter said to drink a 'large glass of liquid' one hour before the appointment. Now a 'large glass' is pretty subjective - to me that means a pint, and I knew that if I downed an entire pint of water I was going to be distinctly uncomfortable by the time the scan came round. As it was I drank just over half a pint of water and was still very uncomfortable.
The outpatient clinic - running both antenatal and obs and gynae clinics - was surprisingly quiet. As it was I overestimated how much time it would take for us to drive to Newport, park and then walk to St Mary's hospital. My full bladder protested somewhat at the short walk but we ended up arriving 40 minutes before our appointment.
 We headed into the room and the sonographer set me up with the jelly - which was surprisingly warm. I caught the barest glimpse of a baby-shaped being before she announced that my bladder was 'far too full'. She told me to go next door and to take a urine sample while I was there. Then she handed me a pot with a circumference only slightly larger than a test tube.
"You're going to need good aim," she advised.
I didn't empty my bladder, thinking that the letter wouldn't have advised to drink something if a completely empty bladder was acceptable. So I went back in and off we went with the jelly again.
"Your bladder is still far too full," she said immediately. "Do you have trouble emptying it completely?"
"Only since I became pregnant," I replied.
"Well, we can still do the scan. The pictures just won't be good."
And then we got to see our baby - she spent several minutes pointing out various body parts before finally confirming there was a heartbeat. I don't think SBB and I breathed or took in a single word until she did. It was only after she pointed out the heartbeat that the baby finally moved and it was gloriously active.
SBB and I left with 3 photos and walked on air for the rest of the afternoon.