Week 23 - does the bump know?

Week 23 and another of many check ups dawn at the antenatal clinic. As i stand in line at the hospital a girl with very limited english attempts to assess the liklehood of me having swine flu, via a flow chart. I pass with flying colours and am allowed into the waiting area, without being ushered into quarantine...phew things are going well!

The scales are tipping in the weigh in, 1 stone and 4ibs of weight gained in 23 weeks, that's got to be some sort of record. I imagine my wedding photos from 2 weeks ago, in which my husband, looks leaner than ever. His regimented fitness routine, has stepped up a gear since I have been pregnant, allowing me much more space on our sofa to wallow in reality TV and chocolate.

In the Doctors room I'm greeted by a very nice girl, who looks only marginally older than my six year old niece. Up on the couch we listen to my little boy's hearbeat loud and clear, like the most fabulous high speed train I have ever heard. My niece's playmate proceeds to measure my bump with a tape measure and after several attemps which involve poking my pubic bone, she conceeds that a second opinion is required. I lie in wait, tummy covered in gel and it's not long before Dr G arrives and greets me with "I know you, I made you cry" mmm happy memories of a previous visit, when i was provided with inaccurate information in a most unfortunate manner. "Yes" I laugh! Dr G takes out her tape measure and confirms the bump is 2cm smaller than it should be, but she isn't concerned as everything else appears fine and in anycase, measurements should only be adhered to in this way post 24 weeeks. "You look better, you've put on some weight" Dr G says as she leaves, "you looked better as a distant memory" i think to myself as I smile.

My niece's playmate later assures me there is no real cause for concern as further investigations are only carried out if a bump is 3cm smaller than it should be. It's given me something to worry about until my next visit, but i'm off to find the nearest supermarket, buying biscuits, will help things along!