Vicky Evans is 27, lives in Northamptonshire and is married to photo-lab engineer James. Vicky's a full time mum to Craig, aged four and Bethany aged two, and is currently pregnant with her third child. We'll be following Vicky throughout her pregnancy. Here's the low down on the first six weeks.

We've decide to go ahead and try for baby number three (we would like four in total). With Craig it took us three months for me to get pregnant, and with Bethany it happened on our first try. This time however, I'm not sure whether the contraceptive injection I had after having Bethany will affect my fertility, as although I only had one shot I was warned that it could stay in my system for up to two years. I had it 18months ago, so we'll just have to wait and see. My next period is due in a couple of weeks.

Oh, and as well as trying to conceive, we are trying to sell our house and move!

I have been feeling really hungry, very tired, and slightly queasy and dizzy. Is it just wishful thinking? Or have we been lucky first time around again?

I can't stop going to the loo! Is it just me being hopeful?

I have been looking on baby web sites and they all say that a home pregnancy test would work from the 11th January and as I'm off to the dentist later I think I might do a test in case they need to do an x-ray.

I can't believe it! The tests (yes I did two!!) were positive!

I am now 4 weeks and 5 days pregnant with baby number three. I think I'll wait until James gets in from work before I tell him as I don't want him crashing the car!

I got really nervous about telling my Mum and Dad - I' not sure why as they know we want more. In the event they were fine about it, and happy for us though. When I told my sister she was pleased for us, but said she hoped it was the last one as we were making Christmas expensive. I told her we want four children in total and my Mum said I should have twins this time around and get it over with! I hope it's not - I don't think I could handle twins.

I did another test this week - just to make sure.

Feeling very tired, morning sickness hasn't started yet, just feeling queasy.

Morning sickness has started, it's not too bad, but I do feel pretty awful. I'm finding it hard to make meals for Craig and Bethany and even harder to sit down and eat with them, but if I don't they won't eat theirs! I'm even struggling to face drinks, nothing tastes right. All Craig and Bethany seem to want to do at the moment is make cakes too! Not an easy job at the moment.

It snowed this week and I did manage to get out in the garden and help Craig make a snowman - he was so excited, it's the first one he's made.

On top of the morning sickness I've got a bit of a cold and whilst blowing my nose I've managed to perforate my eardrum. It's so painful and the paracetamol doesn't really help much. James is being really good though, he even took Craig and Bethany to Salcey Forest so I could have a rest at home in peace.

My trousers are starting to feel tight already, I had to wear them with the button undone quite early on with Craig too, but with Bethany I didn't do that as early, so maybe this one's a boy?

I had a migraine on Sunday. I had a few migraines with Craig and loads when I was expecting Bethany, sometimes two in the same day - I'm not looking forward to that part of the pregnancy!

I keep falling asleep on the settee during the day, and I'm struggling with Bethany's nappies, they really make me heave. I must get her potty trained this summer, I don't want two in nappies. I have ordered some Preggie Pops lollipops, they’re supposed to help with morning sickness - I hope they work.

We sold our house to the second person to view! Now we've just got to decide where we want to move to. I think we'd like to move near the coast, but we're not sure if it will be too far from the main roads for James' job.

The tiredness is still causing a problem. I have to have a nap on the settee in the afternoon or I'm really snappy with Craig and Bethany.

I told all my friends from our coffee morning group this week and they were all happy for us, and said they'd been wondering when I would announce that we were going to have number three with Bethany now being over 18months.

I had my booking in appointment with the midwife. It's all a bit strange as I'm at a different surgery from the last two pregnancies as we moved last year too! She is going to book my scan and I'm going to see the consultant afterwards to discuss having an extra scan to see whether the baby has a cleft lip and/or palette (both myself and my sister have both, but Craig and Bethany are fine). We would continue with the pregnancy even if it did have a cleft lip or palette - it's just to pre-warn us.

I've had another migraine this week, and the morning sickness is still here, I have some days where I'm not sick, just feel bad, and I'm not sure if the Preggie Pops are working. I am treating Craig and Bethany to food out quite a bit at the moment as I can't face cooking!

We went to Skegness for Valentines day as James' Mum had offered to look after Craig and Bethany for us while we went out for a meal. It had all been arranged before they knew I was pregnant, but it was one of the worst days for morning sickness I've had for ages, and I had a bad stomache ache. I really didn't enjoy it, our table had been booked for 8.30pm and I was back home and in bed by 10.30pm!

We've decided against moving to the coast as it's not convenient for James' job but we're looking at the outskirts of Wellingborough instead, near to the countryside.

I'm not sure if I felt the baby move or not this week. It's probably still too early though and could just be wind! I can't remember exactly when I felt Craig move - I think I was around 16weeks, but I had definitely felt Bethany move before I'd had my 12 week scan. I still haven't heard when my scan is but hope it comes through soon. I want to check where the placenta is as I had placenta previa with Craig. I had a bleed quite early on, although I didn't tell anyone as I was too scared that I was miscarrying, but I had a bleed again around week 23 and went to the doctors. I convinced them to send me for a scan and they found out that the placenta was low lying. I had to go back again later on in my pregnancy to see if the placenta had moved up - luckily it had, and I went on to have a normal delivery.

I've managed to eat and drink more this week.

Quite a busy week on the house front, we have had the survey done on our house. I've been to see a house, put an offer in and had it accepted all without James seeing it as he was away on business. The house is in a popular area as it's in the catchment area of a good school (which I'm trying to get Craig into) so I couldn't wait for him to get back or we'd have lost out on the it.

I still have the occasional bout of morning sickness, but it seems to be easing at last. I've lost 4 pounds so far, so hopefully I'll start feeling better again soon and start being able to eat properly again.

I still haven't had my scan date through, must remember to phone the doctors surgery and find out what's going on.

Still plagued by tiredness, and still nauseous, but starting to feel hungry again and eating a lot of chocolate! Still it's supposed to mean you have a happy baby, so that's my excuse!

I have mixed feelings about the sex of this baby. I had been thinking it was a boy as I've had a few stomach aches and not many migraines, but over the last few days my hands have got very dry and sore which is how I was with Bethany, so now I'm confused. I hope it's not one of each!

Still no scan date, I have 'phoned the doctors surgery and am waiting for the midwife to call me back.

I'm in the second trimester now. I'm still tired but the morning sickness has just about gone.

The chocolate must have been helping with the weight gain, I've put 2 pounds on and 1 inch around my bump.

The midwife 'phoned back and has arranged my scan for next Wednesday I've also definitely felt the baby move and now feel more pregnant. I can't wait for my scan so I can see that I'm pregnant and know everything is alright.

I'm up at least two times in the night for a toilet run, can't wait for the baby to move up so there's less pressure on my bladder - I need my sleep!

I've been trying to take Craig and Bethany out and about a bit more now I'm feeling more like myself, to make up for the terrible Mum they've had over the last couple of months, so we went off to Woburn Safari Park and they loved it.

My back and hips have started to ache towards the end of the day - I'm glad when Craig and Bethany have gone to bed so I can have a rest.

I've had my scan, and there is only one baby (phew!!) I wanted to find out the sex but it's too early (I thought it would be, but I wanted to know before we moved so I know who to put in which bedroom), this baby definitely takes after it's brother and sister though as it's such a wriggler, the poor woman doing the scan had to keep chasing it all over my belly! James managed to book the day off, and we took Craig and Bethany with us. I'm not sure Bethany really knew what she was looking at, but I think Craig understood. We got a picture too, and they want to show the picture of their baby to everyone they meet.

The appointment with the consultant was a waste of time though, he couldn't understand why I'd been sent to see him, and said maybe it was because I was underweight (I'm 5 foot and pre-pregnancy weighed 6 stone 10 pounds) but as I'd had two healthy weight full term babies he was confused. I said it was because of arranging the other scan and he laughed at me and said if Milton Keynes (where we were previously) did that, then they obviously didn't trust in their sonographers, and as they had good ones here he wasn't going to waste the time of a consultant to ease the mind of "a paranoid" patient who was intending to carry on with the pregnancy anyway!

It was Mothers Day this week and we went to the National Space Centre, which was really good, apart from the fact that the lift was out of order and we had to climb up hundreds of stairs to the top of the rocket tower. We had a meal on the way home, and Craig and Bethany bought me a vase, candle and oil burner set.

Had another migraine this week but luckily they're not too bad.

Craig has missed out on our first choice of schools, because we're not living in the new house yet, which is a bit annoying as it will be our closest. However, he has got into our second choice, which is in a village and means I'll have to drive him, but it's a good school so it's worth it, and I can put him on the waiting list for the first choice school once we've moved.

I've had another migraine, and my back and hips are getting worse. I'm using a pillow in bed to help support me, but it's not helping much. I am feeling the baby move a lot more now though - I love that feeling and can't wait until I can see it move and James can feel it too. He does rub cream into my bump every night and has a listen for the baby but nothing yet. Still up in the night for the toilet though.

Took Craig and Bethany to the park to feed the ducks. Bethany has done extremely well at her potty training and is in knickers during the day now - not bad as she's not two until the middle of May.

We all went to Twycross zoo this week with Craig and Bethany's aunty and uncle. It was good fun, but very wet and cold.

Heard the baby's heartbeat at my midwife appointment. I couldn't quite see how fast it was but it looked like 145 or 155 so maybe it is a girl. I can't believe how much blood they need to take.

Hoping to get a date to move soon, so got lots of packing to do.

We are moving on the 30th April. I can't wait to be in our new house - I'm so excited!

James felt the baby move for the first time this week, and Bethany has managed to stay dry at night for a couple of weeks now.

Bethany had her first haircut this week, there's not much to cut really, it was more to get her used to it than anything else.

Bethany and I also had a sickness bug - Bethany wasn't too bad but it hit me hard, and I had to get my Dad around to look after Craig and Bethany as James was in Scotland on business.

I've phoned around loads of removal firms but they're all booked for the weekend we're moving, I think I've found somebody though.

I'm off to Dublin this weekend for my friends hen/30th birthday weekend, I'm a bit nervous about it as I'll be the only one there not drinking.

Dublin was very good, but very tiring and I was glad to be home - not that I'm getting much rest as we're moving on Friday!

The removal firm (well couple of blokes with a couple of vans) was rubbish. I did far too much but my Mum and Dad helped out a lot by having Craig and Bethany and cooking dinner for us that evening.

Saturday was Craig's birthday party. Luckily it wasn't at our house - we did a joint one (three of them from coffee morning are born on consecutive days) so we hired out a kiddy gym, and the kids all had a great time.

I can't believe my little boy is 4years old, where did the time go? He's had hundreds of presents, and loves the bike we got him.

James has got the week off to help us get sorted out, and we've had lots of visitors around to see the house.

I had my 20 week scan this week. We all went again and everything is well with the baby, and it's a GIRL! Well probably - the sonagrapgher didn't see any "boys bits". Craig is coming to terms with having two sisters, he was hoping for a brother this time, but it does mean he can have his fire-engine bedroom and his cabin/bunk bed so he's not too upset. We will have to swap their rooms around though, but I think we'll wait until we've had the baby just to be sure.

Also saw the midwife and heard the baby again, all's well there too.

Craig started at pre-school this week and so far so good.

It was Bethany's 2nd birthday this week - where's my baby gone? She also got hundreds of presents and loves the kitchen we got her. I took her and Craig to Wickstead Park for the afternoon, with a friend and her three children. In the evening when James got in we went out for a meal at out local pub and they played in the play area for ages afterwards.

My hips and pelvis ache after I've been standing or walking around a lot.

I thought I'd seen the last of the migraines but I've had another one this week.

I had really painful Braxton Hicks one night (typically the night James was away with work!!) and for a horrible moment I thought it was proper contractions again like I got with Bethany around this sort of time (might have been a couple of weeks later) but they eased off after a while and I didn't have to go in to be monitored like I did when I was pregnant with Bethany.

I'm really hoping to have a "normal" pregnancy this time and not have to go into the maternity unit until I have the baby. I've been admitted with both of the others. With Craig I was admitted because of bleeding and right at the end of my pregnancy -4 days before I was due - with Bethany. I pulled a muscle and was in agony, the midwives kept asking if I thought it was labour and I said no it felt different, but I ended up being monitored and having a dose of meptid for the pain, and being told that I was actually in the early stages of labour too.

The baby is very active now and I notice definite periods when she is awake or asleep.

Craig has also now been offered a place at our the local school which is fantastic as I’ll be able to walk him there, which will be much easier.

I registered with our new doctors surgery, and have an appointment to see the midwife on 10th June.

We went to the Baby Show in Birmingham. I enjoyed it but I think the others found it a bit boring.

I am feeling really good in this pregnancy now, I've had a lot fewer migraines that with either of the other two, probably because I'm not working this time around, and my asthma isn't playing up either. I'm not even using my inhalers. The morning sickness was worse with this one though! I have started to get the odd touch of heartburn, must remember to ask for some Gaviscon when I see the midwife.

I had a bad ache under my bump this week, think it must be the ligaments stretching, and my hips and back are still playing up, the pillow trick isn't working much.

Bethany has had her 2 year check and all is well.

We are struggling to find a name for this baby, when we do find one we end up arguing over how to spell it!! Still got a bit of time left yet.

I love getting to this stage as the baby is now "viable" which always lets me relax a little bit more. I've started playing music for the unborn baby this week too. I used it with Bethany and we found that the times that we played the music is when she would have her naps. Hopefully it'll work for this one as well.

I've put on a total of 10 pounds in weight and 4 1/2 inches around my bump, I'm well and truly in maternity gear now.

We ordered a new settee this week but have to wait eight weeks for it to be delivered. We have also booked our holiday. We are going to Cornwall for a week in a tent (which is already pitched) with Haven on 10th July and I can't wait. I think I'm as excited as Craig and Bethany!

Craig had to have his pre-school boosters this week and he was fantastic, didn't even cry. They haven't given him the polio one though in case I go into labour early and he's still contagious and the baby catches it, so he'll have that when the baby has hers.

Craig and Bethany also felt the baby move this week, I'm not sure Bethany really understood what it was, but Craig was surprised, (he doesn't remember much from my pregnancy with Bethany, he was only just 2 years when I had her) and said that he didn't think I was actually going to have a baby as it was taking too long!

My hips are sore again this week. I have ordered some maternity shorts, t-shirts and a tankini for the summer, can't wait for them to get here!

We had my friend’s two daughters for the night Friday so they could have a night out. I was a bit worried in case they all played up at bedtime but they were all great.

I'm glad my shorts have turned up, it's so hot. I just wish my t-shirts would get here too. I haven't been pregnant in the summer before and my hayfever is starting to play up, it's aggravating my asthma too so I'm taking my inhalers now.

We all went to my sisters for a BBQ for her birthday, and had lots of fun playing games in the garden.

I haven't really had any cravings so far (I craved pickled onions with Craig and lettuce with Bethany) just smell cravings, anything I shouldn't really, nail varnish and remover, petrol, polish. At least I have nice nails and a clean house! I had these with the other two as well, and so far have avoided going around sniffing petrol stations! I usually get James to fill the car up for me anyway.

I spent Tuesday afternoon with my feet in the paddling pool as my feet and ankles had swollen up with the heat, but apart from that I'm not finding it too bad in the sun.

Met my new midwife, and all is well with me and baby. She is going to come and see me next week to talk to me about Kettering hospital, which is where I'm going to have this one, as we didn't really have time this time.

I'm going to mention Bethany's birth to her aswell as it's been playing on my mind a bit more as I get closer to the big day. The whole experience was bad really, from going in at 9pm and having to wait over an hour to be seen initially, and then being told I wasn't in active labour as I was only 2cm dilated and my contractions although strong were irregular.

I managed to convince them to let me stay in the labour ward (the midwife agreed as I had a "low pain threshold"!) but the midwife "looking after me" (the sister) wasn't going to actively manage me as I wasn't in labour. She left the door open, and kept me on the monitor so she could see how I was doing - this was at 11pm.

About 45 minutes later she came to see why I was making a lot of noise and gave me a dose of meptid to help me with the pain and said "Ooh you are having a few contractions now, lets see how you're doing" and was surprised to find me at 8cm. She then asked if I would like my waters breaking. I agreed. It was 12.30am so she did it straight away.

I then said I needed to push and she looked at me as if I was daft, but went off to sort the birth pack out. I gave birth to Bethany at 12.44am with the midwife on the other side of the room shouting at me to stop.

Bethany was also really tangled in the cord around her neck and body and wasn't breathing, she buzzed for help and another midwife came in and wheeled the resus trolley over. An announcement for a Dr went out about a flat-line baby. I couldn't believe it when the midwife then picked Bethany up by her ankles and slapped her on the back. She was then given suction and oxygen and luckily gave a little cry.

I was told to feed her as she was in shock (me too!) she was too weak to breast feed then and so had a bottle and was then put under a heat lamp while I had my tea and toast. The a doctor burst in asking where the flat line baby was? Only about 20-30 mins too late!

Needless to say I get a bit panicky sometimes that this baby will be tangled and have problems too, my old midwife said there's no reason why this one should have those problems, but they've both had the cord around them (Craig wasn't as bad) and I worry. If Bethany had been my first baby I'm not sure I'd be having any more!!

I had a busy weekend. On Saturday we went to see my Brother and his fiancé and their two boys in Hastings, all the children enjoyed playing with the pebbles on the beach, and with the kite that my Brother had bought.

On Sunday it was my friend's son's first birthday and his party was at a farm, which was fantastic, and afterwards we went to their house for a BBQ.

I though my hips would be really aching after that weekend, but they only bothered me at night.

The midwife came out to see me on Wednesday to tell me about Kettering hospital and we can go on the tour any Saturday or Sunday at 2pm. I told her about Bethany's birth, and could feel myself welling up as I did, she said the same as my last midwife really, that they wouldn't know until the birth and there wasn't anything we could do about it. I think I'm going to ask to be on the monitor throughout my labour so I know the baby's alright. She also said to mention in my birth plan that my contractions are irregular, and I'm going to put in that it only took 14 minutes after my waters were broken until Bethany was born aswell.

My hips have been a lot better again, so maybe the baby has moved into a different position, hopefully it's still head down though. She is getting very active now, and Bethany felt her again and was very surprised as it was a definite kick. I still play the music t night when I go to bed and have started to play it once Craig and Bethany are in bed, so hopefully that will mean that she'll either have a nap at those times or at least be happy to lay and listen to her music while I put Craig and Bethany to bed.

Craig had to visit his school twice this week (with Bethany and me). They had lots of different toys out in the hall for them to play with and we met his teacher and the classroom assistant, who were both very nice. We also had a tour of the school and got to see his classroom and the separate outdoor play area for the reception classes. I think he's quite excited about it all really, but next Tuesday will be the test as he's supposed to go in on his own, and I've been having problems with him doing that at pre-school this last week or so!!

We took James out for a meal for Father's Day, and Craig and Bethany made him a photo frame each with a cute picture in.

James had to work away from home for two nights running this week, and came back saying that he couldn't have the week before the baby is due off of work as he's the only one in that week!!! Let's just hope this one comes on time, or not too early, the weekend would be good. I hope it's listening!!!

James' Mum and partner came to visit on Saturday and took us all out for a meal to celebrate our 7th Wedding Anniversary (next Monday) and it was lovely, they really enjoyed taking Craig and Bethany out and said we would have to do it more often.

We've got my Mum and Dad coming tomorrow night to baby sit for us so we can go and watch the new Harry Potter film which I'm really looking forward to.

Mum and Dad babysat for us on Sunday evening so we could go to the cinema and watch the new Harry Potter film for our 7th wedding anniversary (Monday), Craig played up before we went as he didn't want us to go without him, but we had a good time, it was strange but nice to be out on our own, it's probably been about a year since the last time it was just us.

James is in Scotland from early Monday until Friday morning and then is working all day so we won't see him this week

Craig had his morning at school on Tuesday, but he wouldn't stay on his own, so Bethany and I had to stay too, but he had a good time, as did Bethany!! We even managed to get most of his uniform too.

As we're on our own this week I've been trying to keep us busy, we had our usual coffee morning on Monday, and my friend and her two girls came over on Tuesday afternoon, we went to my Mum and Dad's for dinner on Wednesday after Craig's gym class, and my midwife appointment, which went well apart from the fact I forgot to take my notes with me!! This pregnancy brain, I've never done that before!! All was well with baby and me, my BP and urine were fine, and the baby is head down with a strong heartbeat. I always take Craig and Bethany with me to my appointments as I want them to be involved all the was through, I've got to go back in three weeks time for my next appointment, and I've got to go and see the blood nurse next week for some blood to be taken to check my iron levels. As usual though I forgot to get the Gaviscon, will have to make a special appointment just for that now!! My hips have been a lot better this week, and I have started to have cravings for red peppers, orange or yellow will do, but red is definitely best.

On Saturday we all went to the carnival in the rain with my Mum and Dad and Craig and Bethany had great fun throwing their money at the floats.

What a week!

As we’re off on our camping holiday in Cornwall next Saturday I decided I’d take Craig and Bethany to the nurse to get some hayfever liquid just in case they do suffer ( I can never decide whether it’s a cold or not), I also remembered to get my Gaviscon, hooray!!

I had my bloods taken on Tuesday by the blood nurse, and she really hurt me and left a huge bruise on my arm, I’ve never bruised before, so that’s going to look good on holiday!

Wednesday outside gym club, Craig got stung by a bee, luckily he didn’t have a reaction apart from a bit of swelling around the sting site, but now he’s worried about being outside, and then the car broke down, something to do with the suspension. James has had a look and can fix it, but we need to wait for the part to come in, so I’ve had to cancel our dentist appointment and play date with my friend and her son and daughter.

Thursday lunch time I get a phone call to say that our tent blew away in the storm we had Wednesday, and we can no longer have our holiday at that camp site, they could transfer us to one in Devon in a Rory Caravan though or we could have a refund. Rather than miss out on our holiday I agreed, and James managed to fix the car too.

Luckily all of the ups and downs don’t seem to have upset the baby, she is still wriggling all over the place, my hips have been a lot better, and the Gaviscon is helping me to sleep better, just wish I wasn’t up in the night for the toilet still!!

The car journey down to Devon was a long one, I got quite achy in the car, luckily we had to make a few toilet stops (not just the children’s fault!) and we stopped for lunch so I managed to get out and stretch quite a bit. We arrived around 3pm in the pouring rain only to discover that we didn’t have a Rory caravan but a 3 star one, which after a row I accepted, but once we’d found it discovered that there was still people in it, after another row at reception we went to look at a 4 star one at about 5pm, and for Craig and Bethany’s sake decided to stay (we nearly demanded our money back and went to find a hotel). We unloaded the car, and grabbed our swim suits and went off for a relaxing splash in the pool, only to find out it had already shut. Not a great start to the holiday, and I hardly slept that night as I’d been snappy with Craig and Bethany as I was in a bad mood, and I was achy and tired, I did manage to drop off after watching some T.V.

We spent Sunday and Monday around the pool and beach, and had some chips in Exmouth in the car as Bethany had fallen asleep; Craig was so cute trying to cool his chips down using the air conditioner!!

Tuesday we had a day out at the Big Sheep, and Craig and Bethany bottle feed lambs, and feed older sheep dried food from their hands, I watched from afar and took ‘photos as I knew pregnant ladies aren’t allowed contact with pregnant sheep or lambs.

Wednesday we had a lovely lazy morning Craig and Bethany stayed in bed until 8.30am unheard of!! Then we went to Powderham Castle to watch the jousting, Craig and Bethany really got into the booing and cheering, and Bethnay even had a ride on one of the horses. In the evening we went to see the Rory show.

Thursday, and Friday we decided to relax again. We went swimming, and watched a pantomime, and had dinner at a restaurant on site a saw another Rory show.

My highlight of the week though was Friday morning, and my treat at the on site spa. I had the “Mother to be” package which involved a back massage and leg massage, a bump massage with anti stretch mark cream, cooling gel on my legs, a special pack put on my bump, a lovely facial, anti stretch mark gel on my bust and a firming mouse too, and at the end a lovely body lotion all over. I was so relaxed at the end I wasn’t sure I’d manage the walk back to the caravan!! Baby loved it too I could feel her wriggling and squirming all through the session.

My pelvis has ached more this week, but I’m sure that’s because I’ve done more walking, my heartburn has also been playing up, so glad I got the Gaviscon. I even had a couple of ½ pints of Guinness, just to help my iron levels honest!!

Saturday after we had checked out we decided to have a last swim, and chips in Exmouth before we made the long journey home. It was around 5pm when we got back but we were too tired to cook so we went out for a meal to finish our holiday off.

We spent Monday with friends and on Tuesday went to see an old school friend who has just had her first baby. She is 6 weeks old and gorgeous. Craig and Bethany had a cuddle, and I’d forgotten just how small newborns are!

Wednesday was my midwife appointment, and this time I remembered to take my notes. All is well with baby and me, my BP is nice and low, and urine still fine. Baby is head down but still free, and her spine is along the centre on my bump. I asked for some more Gaviscon and my midwife recommended Gaviscon Advance, so I’m giving that a go now.

I had a lady out to talk to me about reflexology, as I’ve been thinking about having a treatment for my birthday ( 6 days before I’m due), as a present from James. I’m a bit worried about it starting my labour off that week as James will struggle to get any time off of work, so I’ve booked my session for the Friday evening, and then I’d actually quit like it to start off my labour.

We went for a picnic with friends on Thursday and had our new sofa delivered on Friday morning, I no longer have to be embarrassed when people come over!

Saturday we spent the day a Blenheim Palace as they had a game fair on, and James is quite into his air rifles. It was a lovely day, nice weather, but a bit too much walking, we were all exhausted by the end of it.

Baby really likes the music I play for it it’s a CD I got when I was pregnant with Bethany called “music for the unborn baby” and it’s still amazing watching limbs move across my bump even though this is number three. My hips have been hurting again this week, they are at there worst in bed when I turn over and I tend to sleep in one position until I wake up for the toilet, and then have a dead arm as I haven’t moved all night.

Starting to worry about not having enough storage space for baby clothes, and we can’t find a name we both like!!

Another busy start to the week. We had a baptism on Sunday, coffee morning on Monday, and then lunch at a friends house. Tuesday we went to a 3rd birthday party. James was overnight in Wales Monday night and I managed to have a nice relaxing bath instead of doing the ironing.

Wednesday we had Craig’s gym club and then went to a friends house in the afternoon, so on Thursday we decided to have a day of relaxing and watching T.V, Mum and Dad popped over in the evening to see our sofa.

Friday we went shopping as I think it’s about time I got what I need for my hospital bag, so I bought some disposable breast pads ( I will use washable ones again, but the disposable ones are easier for the hospital and the first couple of days), and maternity pads and some cheep knickers, as I’ve never fancied the disposable ones. We also got an outfit and coat for bringing the baby home in (neutral colours, just in case the sonographer is wrong) Craig and Bethany also picked out a cuddly bear which rattles as a gift for the baby. I just need to get to the shops without them now so I can get something for them from the baby.

There’s not much else we need for the baby now, I want to get a couple of different bottles to try out, I couldn’t get Craig or Bethany to take a bottle at all, Bethany wouldn’t even have any other milk that mine! I think I left it too long to introduce a bottle with both of them, so this one is going to have one a day from the start!! I also need to hire my T.E.N.S machine.

The only other thing we need is a name!! James and I just can’t agree on one, we never had this much trouble with the other two. Still we’ve got a few weeks to think of one.

Saturday we had a nice evening with James’ sister and boyfriend and had a meal at our local pub.

We went to the science museum on Sunday with James’ Dad and partner, and had a really good time. Craig and Bethany had great fun pushing all of the buttons and having fun with the interactive bits. Geoff (James’ Dad) had been worried that the tube would be too hot for me and the children as it was a really hot day, but we were lucky and managed to get seats.

We had a dentist appointment for a check up on Monday, all was fine, and Bethany even went in the chair all by herself!! I did ask if my gums were OK as I experience a lot of bleeding when I brush, but she said they were fine and it’s just a pregnancy thing, so that was a relief.

Tuesday we went to a farm with some friends which was nice, but I decided not to go on the tractor ride, didn’t want to risk the bumpy ride setting labour off!!

Wednesday morning I was quite worried as by the time I’d had my shower and got dressed I still hadn’t felt the baby move, and usually she is quite active in the morning. I had my breakfast and sorted Craig and Bethany out and then did feel a kick, by the time we were ready for gym, about an hour and a half later I had felt a couple more movements so I decided to take Craig to gym and monitor the baby there. We came home for lunch and although I had felt her a few times I was still a bit worried and decided if she wasn’t boogieing about by the time we’d finished lunch I’d ring my midwife. Much to my relief the ice cold drink I had seemed to do the trick, and she didn’t stop wriggling all afternoon then!!

The end of the week was a bit of a disaster. Thursday Craig tried to balance on one of the toys whilst talking to his Dad on the ‘phone and fell off!! He landed awkwardly on his elbow, and when we sat down to dinner about half an hour later he couldn’t put any pressure on it, so I went off to A&E with him. (My Mum and Dad looked after Bethany for me as she was already poorly with a high temperature and I didn’t want her to catch anything from there) Luckily Craig’s arm was just bruised and by the time we left A&E (only about 2 hours after we got there) he was using it again. Then on Friday Craig was sick, and Bethany was covered in a rash, but the temperature had gone. I was a bit worried that it might be measles, even though she’s had the MMR, and was worried in case it was something that could be harmful to the baby, so I called James home from work, luckily he was only in Milton Keynes (and not in a mobile dead spot like earlier in the week, not sure what I’ll do if I can’t get hold of him when I go into labour – panic probably!!) When he got home I took Bethany to the nurse who said it was just a virus and nothing to worry about bump wise.

Luckily I’ve felt the baby lots this week since my scare on Wednesday, but my heartburn has been quite bad. The Gaviscon Advance seems quite good though.

We spent the weekend in Skegness at James’ Mum’s, just had a quiet day on Saturday as we didn’t get there until 4pm ish. The car journey was uncomfortable; I just couldn’t get my legs and hips right, and was really glad when we stopped off at a shop on the way so I could have a stretch. Sunday we went and had a nice day on the beach, with chips for our lunch, it was lovely.

Monday was our coffee morning and then one of Craig’s friends came back to our to play and have his dinner, luckily all three of them played nicely, and it gave me a rest really as they were happy to play in Craig’s bedroom and let me rest!! My lower legs and feet have been quite swollen this week, I mentioned it to the midwife when I went on Thursday but my BP and urine were fine so it must just be the heat, I wasn’t overly worried as my BP is usually low. Baby is still head down, but not engaged, but Bethany never engaged either, so I’m not really expecting this on to either. Have to see the Dr for my next appointment in a weeks time (should have been two but she was away until September, and I thought that was too long to wait), and then it will be my blood tests, hope it’s a different nurse to last time as I don’t want another bruise.

I have measured my bump and it now measures the same as it did when I was full term with Bethany, and only half an inch less than it did when I had Craig. Hope that doesn’t mean I’m going to be the size of a house this time around!! Or that the baby is going to make an early appearance.

The baby is making herself known this week with lots of movement to make up for the scare she gave me last week. I have managed to pack a very basic labour bag this week, but there are still bits I need. I have also ordered our new chest of draws and bedside table and they should be here by the weekend so I’ll be able to sort out the baby clothes then, and get a bit more organised.

Did some serious baby stuff shopping this weekend, I was starting to panic a bit. We have now got the car seat and base, mosses basked mattress, baby sleeping bag, and toiletries for me for the hospital. We also bought Craig’s school shoes and some trainers for him to wear now, so he doesn’t ruin them before September. So now we have no money for the rest of the month!!

Coffee morning was at my house this week, and everyone stayed for lunch (they bought their own!) and one of my friends bought her blow up bouncy trampoline, but unfortunately it rained and so we bought it inside!!

My hips have been quite bad again this week, it is mainly at night, or if I stay in one position for too long, my heartburn has also been bad.

Tuesday we went to Gillingham with James as Craig’s been pestering us to go to work with Daddy, but the journey was horrible for me. I just couldn’t get comfortable; I don’t think I want to go far in the car anymore without a lot of stops!! I was also feeling dizzy and sick which really didn’t help.

Wednesday I saw the Dr and when she did my BP check she said it was really low, and asked if I’d been feeling dizzy, as I’d forgotten to mention it!! This pregnancy brain is really bad. Later when I looked at my notes I saw it was only 90/46. I was told that there isn’t really anything they can do for low blood pressure; I just have to make sure that I drink plenty, and sit down if I feel dizzy or faint, and to go back if I get really bad. Not sure what really bad means though. I had my bloods taken on Friday, and so I’m sure I’ll get told off at my next midwife appointment in a fortnight as I haven’t been taking my iron tablets very regularly, and I’m sure my iron levels will be much lower!!

The baby seems to be making much bigger movements this week, and they feel lower down... Sometimes she seems to stretch which is a really strange sensation, I get feet stuck under my ribs and a head and hands attacking my bladder and hips!!

As I thought my iron levels must be low, as I received a prescription for some more iron tablets and they’ve increase my dose to 2 tablets a day instead of 1.

We finally managed to make it to the hospital tour this weekend. The hospital is lovely, the labour rooms were a bit small, but I’m hoping not to actually be in it very long!! Must get around to writing my birth plan too. I have now packed my labour bag properly though, we just need to buy nappies, and then we’re set. I think we’ve even managed to settle on a name and spelling that we both like too!!! (It’s bound to be a boy now!!)

We went to the balloon festival which was lovely. We met up with James’ sister and boyfriend, and they announced their engagement!! It was a lovely surprise. The wedding probably won’t be for a couple of years, but they have asked if Bethany can be a bridesmaid and Craig either and usher or page boy, they said they might like to have the baby too depending on how old she (he) is at the time of the wedding, of course we said yes! The balloons actually made it up this year, and Craig and Bethany loved it, although it did get a bit late as we stayed for the balloon glow, Bethany fell asleep and we hadn’t taken the pushchair with us, but luckily my Mum and Dad were with us and parked near to our car, and my Dad carried Bethany for us (James was carrying a very weary Craig)

We had our usual coffee morning and stayed for lunch with another friend and have been for a walk and picnic around Salcey Forest. It was going to be the last time we saw each other before they go to school, but we’ve decided to meet up again on Tuesday, can’t believe how the summer has flown by, and that in a fortnight my little boy will be at school!! I’ve washed and ironed his uniform and put his labels in everything, so apart from needing a belt he’s ready, (physically if not mentally, I’m sure I’m going to get loads of tears and tantrums, like we did at pre-school, but hopefully they’ll be short lived)

I've had a couple of dizzy spells this week, but luckily I've been at home and so have managed to sit down until they pass. I have been a bit better with my iron tablets too, so if it’s dizziness caused by anaemia that should sort that out, but I think it’s my BP. Won’t find out until next week though at my midwife appointment. Still eating red peppers like they’re going out of fashion, the amount of money we’ve spent on them is amazing!!! I can quite easily eat a whole one at a time, without even thinking about it. My smell cravings are still around too, but don’t seem as bad as they were earlier in the pregnancy. Somebody said it looked as if my bump had dropped this week, maybe that’s why the movement seem so much lower and bigger? My hips and pelvis are really bad in bed now, and I always wake up in agony when I move, and of course then I need the toilet!! Craig and Bethany are also taking it in turns to have bad nights, so all in all I’m not getting much sleep at the moment, and usually need a bit of a rest come 2pm, but I’m not having my early nights like I should be, as I’ve become a bit addicted to watching the Olympics!!

After spending the day on Saturday with my Mum and Dad while James entertained the children at a computer fair, I woke up early Sunday morning with mild contractions, they seemed to be about every 45mins so I got up to potter about and see if they increased. They didn’t they died down, we even took Craig and Bethany to Wickstead Park to see if I could walk the labour pains back but nothing, must just have been Braxton Hicks.

Tuesday was Craig’s first day at infant school, and it went a lot better that I thought it was going to. He did cry but only as I left, and came out at the end of the morning with a huge grin on his face, having had a good time. I was so relieved.

Wednesday I had my weekly antenatal appointment with the midwife and baby is now 3/5 engaged, my BP is still low 90/45, but everything else was fine.

Apart from a bad tummy ache, (period type pains) and low back ache the rest of the week went as normal. I hope that baby shows herself soon, I’m beginning to get fed up now.

We didn’t plan anything for this weekend really, as it may well be our last before the baby arrives.

On Sunday we went to my Mum and Dad’s for a birthday dinner for me, and we have a lovely afternoon, but make it quite an early night as we have to get Craig up for school in the morning.

Midnight on the Sunday I start to have contractions, very mild and I still manage to sleep through until around 6am when I decide to get up and see if they disappear like last week, but although they aren’t painful, they stay with me, they are around 45mins apart, so I tell James to take the day off of work as he should have been in Cobham, Surrey which is hours away. I have a GP appointment at 3.30pm but was hoping that I would be in the labour ward by then. However the contractions aren’t getting any stronger, although they are getting slightly closer together, and by 3.30pm they are about 30mins apart. I manage to convince the GP to do an internal to see if anything is happening, I was 1cm dilated, and the cervix is fully effaced, she hopes that I’ll get stronger contractions as a result of the examination, and hopefully have the baby by the end of the next day. The contractions don’t get any stronger as the day goes on, although they do increase to 10mins apart, and when I went to bed they stopped aaltogether!!! What a birthday!!

Tuesday James has the day off again as the GP warned that even if the contractions disappeared they could come back suddenly and mean it. However there is nothing happening at all, until around 6pm when they start up again at about 10min intervals but again not very painful, and when I go to bed they stop!!

I move my reflexology appointment that I had booked for Friday to Wednesday evening (I sent James back to work Wednesday too). Reflexology is lovely, nice and relaxing and Janine stimulated the uterus and pituitary gland so fingers crossed for the weekend. During and after the treatment there is a lot of movement from the baby, and Thursday it feels like the baby has moved lower down, and I’m getting a lot of Braxton Hicks, the baby is also pushing more on the nerves for my legs making me leap around the room!! However there are no contractions even by Saturday, maybe the baby will come on its due date!!

Sunday
Well instead of having my baby today, we cleared out of the garage!! James is doing up a beetle and it’s been sat on the driveway since we moved in. I want the driveway for my car so it’s easier to get 3 children in and out (when this one decides to arrive!!) also we want the beetle out of the winter weather.

Monday
I had another session of reflexology today so hopefully this will kick start things. Last week when I had it done I didn’t have any sensitive spots on my right foot, and the left foot was only a bit sore on the relevant spots. Today I could feel the spots on my left foot, and it was actually quite painful on my left foot. Janine has said that if I want her to she will come out on Wednesday and just stimulate the labour related areas; hopefully I won’t get that far though.

Tuesday
Today is the day that my Mum and my Aunt would quite like me to have the baby as it was my Nan’s birthday. I get more and more down as the day goes on as there are no signs of the baby making an appearance. I just want to have her now. I have a midwife appointment on Thursday so hopefully I’ll get a date for a stretch and sweep, or just to start things off, sooner rather than later I hope.

Wednesday
Well here we are and still no baby. I have asked Janine to come and give me some more reflexology tonight. If nothing else it’s relaxing and I usually sleep well afterwards.

The reflexology was really painful tonight; Janine says this is the most stubborn baby she’s worked on!! Usually the areas are only stimulated for a few minutes during a session, and a couple of days later out pops baby, I’ve now had two sessions like that and an intense one tonight around 40 minutes just on the labour areas. I think this is going to be a trouble baby!!!

Thursday
I have had tummy ache since last night, and my back is really sore too. I hope they’re good signs, baby keeps pushing on my leg nerve and makes me have to sit down quick, the only way to relieve the pain really is to lie down, but that’s not always possible. Midwife check went well, my BP and urine were fine, baby is still 3/5’s engaged and in a good position, the heartbeat is nice and strong too. I am booked in for a stretch and sweep for Tuesday at 10am at Kettering General Hospital. James has booked the day off of work and my Dad is going to come over so he can look after Craig and Bethany for us.

Friday
My friends have come over for the afternoon with their children and we went to McDonalds for our dinner, it was a lovely day and all the children had fun, it was the first time they had seen each other since starting school and they were used to seeing each other at least once every week. I was quite tired at the end of the evening, and as I went to the door to say goodbye Bethany wanted a cuddle (she was tired as it was quite late) I picked her up and my leg went, and I almost fell onto the stairs, I had to get James to watch them go, I started to have a really bad stomach ache on top of the leg pain, and was in pain most of the night, I really hoped it was the start of things.

Saturday
I woke up with nothing, no leg pain or stomach ache, when is this baby going to arrive?
James took Bethany to Tumble Tots for me and Craig went with them, so I had a nice relaxing bath. We just had a relaxing day at home.
I have resigned myself to the fact that I will have the sweep on Tuesday and probably go in to be induced; this baby is far too comfortable!!

After a couple of false starts, I had some stomach pains in the wee hours of the morning but didn’t think much of them at the time. However, they soon started again and I got out of bed at 2.50am. By 4.30am, I decided that these pains were for real and asked James to put on my TENS machine. Over the next hour, my contractions started to come more regularly and by 5.30am they were coming every 5-8 minutes and lasting over a minute, which made us decide to get over to the hospital.

We called my parents to come and look after Bethany and Craig and they arrived at about 6am, at which time my contractions started to slow down. However, we decided we’d go to the hospital anyway and when I got to the hospital and was examined, I was seven centimetres dilated!

The midwives at the hospital couldn’t tell which way round Layla was facing so they decided to break my waters. I was a bit nervous about this because I had my waters broken when I was having Bethany, and she arrived only 14 minutes after they did it! This baby was different though, because when they broke my waters, nothing happened! However, they did find that Layla was lying in an anterior position.

Not much happened then until 9.05am when the contractions started to come quick and fast. I had some meptid to take the edge off the pain and even dozed off for a few minutes at one point. The painful part of giving birth to Layla only lasted a couple of hours and I remember feeling the urge to push. I told the midwife this and as she walked towards the door of the delivery room to get her trolley Layla’s head popped out! The second stage, delivering the rest of her body, only took three minutes longer. She was delivered onto my tummy and I fed her very soon after delivery. It all went rather well and relatively quickly I thought!

Having a third child has made the mornings a bit frantic, particularly the school run which means a 15-20 minute walk there and back, although in the first three weeks or so we have started to establish a bit of a routine.

Craig and Bethany have been really good with her since we brought her home. They really want to help with Layla (even when sometimes it’s not actually that “helpful”!) and Bethany has dressed one of her dolls so that she has her own baby. Craig has been more cuddly and helpful with Layla than Bethany, something I didn’t really expect, but they are always surprising us!