What can I say about making the huge leap from being DINKies (Double Income No Kids) to impending parenthood. When you decide the time is right to start trying to conceive a baby you think that you are at least 50% prepared for the changes that will confront you. Guess again!!!

When married (or actually before that), Simon and I decided we would like to have a family one-day. As ours is not exactly a teenage-wedding (we both have passed to big 3-0), the biological clock was ticking. However we did not expect that we would be successful so fast, so for all it was a surprise when I became pregnant.

Pregnancy

Having 17 nephews and nieces between Simon and I, I thought that I had some degree of knowledge about the whole process. I have to admit that when it was confirmed that we were pregnant I suddenly realised how much we didn't know. We found three books, which were really useful and relevant, and guided us through the whole process:

• What to expect when you are expecting 
• Up the Duff by Kaz Cooke 
• So you are going to be a Dad

The last two are particularly good because they look at the whole process in a very humorous way. We also found a lot of useful information on the Internet with a week-by-week summary of pregnancy.

Without the guidance of these books, family, friends and my doctor I could easily have come to the conclusion that I was going insane. Pregnancy is a very personal experience - how your body reacts is not reflective of what another person might experience. But it is certainly good to know that memory loss and general vagueness, mood swings are part of it (let me say in my second trimester I was happy one moment and ready to start a world war the next).

My body was certainly going through huge changes. The first twenty weeks were really difficult as I was experience severe nausea 20 hours of the day and also had gastro most of time. Sipping water and lemonade constantly ensured my stomach was never totally empty (an empty stomach was always a disaster) and that I wasn't dehydrated. Travelling for work was a real challenge the airline staff was fabulous but I think they would have preferred not to have me on the plane. Simon summed it up beautifully "Lisa's not glowing she is just throwing". One advantage of being this ill is that you become extremely familiar with all the public facilities throughout the State. Want to know where the closest toilet is -just ask me.

So we got pregnant in June, which means the baby is due on the 17th of March.  In the first 4 months of the pregnancy I actually lost weight (due to the sickness) so it was a bit frightening at around 24 weeks to suddenly put on 4 kilos in 4 weeks. However the baby was thriving and steadily growing and the growth rate was above average so the doctor was extremely happy with our progress.  At 15 weeks we chose to have an amniocentesis test this eliminated any possibility of chromosomal abnormalities. An amniocentesis can be a bit daunting especially as it takes around 12-15 days to obtain the results. But it is certainly reassuring to know that everything appears normal.

We’ve had several ultrasounds now and have started quite an impressive collection of scans. The two on this page show the baby from above (with the hands in front of the face like a boxer) and a full frontal, showing the ‘face’. We actually now the sex of the baby (because of the amniocentesis) but we’re not telling anyone though !! By now the baby has become quite an acrobat and Simon has been capable of feeling it kick me at various times.

At 32 weeks I had a blood test to ensure that I have not developed gestational diabetes. It takes two hours and the solution that you have to drink is absolutely revolting. We also attended an antenatal class. This was great because we were able to share the experiences of a number of couples that were having their second child and for us first time mothers the whole process becomes a little less daunting. We also had a look at the hospitals birthing facilities. We have chosen to have the baby at a small community hospital, South of Perth Community Hospital, which makes the whole process a lot more personal. Coincidentally I was actually born at this hospital myself. The last weeks were really tough again. Not only did my indigestion return, I also started retaining a lot of fluid (5 kilo's in 1 month), making my fingers, wrists, knees and ankles painfully swollen. Fortunately did my blood pressure stay normal so it was only an inconvenience and not a danger for me or the baby. However, there were several times that I wanted the baby 'out-of-me' (although not prematurely of course).

A small piece of Pregnancy Advice that I would like to share (both my doctor and a good friend said essentially the same thing):

Everybody will give you advice and suggest what you can and can't do. Respect that this advice is meant in the nicest possible way, acknowledge the advice but do what works for you. And remember you don't have to tell everybody why you have made certain choices that are between yourself and your partner.

Nursery

I started seriously 'nesting'; all those small jobs that you haven't had time to complete suddenly become a huge priority and have to be completed NOW. Simon was quite happy to let me go if I wanted to clean out cupboards, scrub dinner sets, rearrange furniture have the carpets cleaned etc., however he did draw the line when I wanted to get up on a ladder and trim the shrubs in our back yard and when I wanted to climb on the roof to clean out the gutters. The hardest part for a husband in amongst this is that just when he has sat down and turned on the sport you want him to help move furniture or paint a room.

And then comes the BABY SHOPPING. It's amazing how much equipment is 'essential' for one small person:

The "Family Car": The sporty Neon was just not big enough for a pram, travel cot, the baby and us so we upgraded to a Commodore Station Wagon. The Car Seat (they won't let you take the baby home unless you have an appropriate restraint) The Pram: I have to admit that not just any pram would do. I wanted the Emmaljunga "Super Deluxe Rolls Royce model" that a number of my hockey friends had bought. The advantage of this pram is that it can be used on grass and farm tracks etc. so you can take it off road if required. I have plans to take the baby out and about a bit. The Cot: Since the baby is arriving a little earlier than originally planned we have had to buy a cot. The 70-year-old family cot, which has been shared through many generations, is still in use at my brothers, since his twins are only 10 months old. The Extras: Baby Monitor, Baby Rocker, Baby Linen etc….

We have been very lucky with friends and family providing lots of necessities as well. We have had some beautiful baby clothes given to us, a baby sling, a baby bath, and some toys and the baby hasn't even arrived yet. And my father has volunteered to make us a change table.

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