Dreaming. And reality.

I can't help but compare pregnancy to brain surgery. They represent such different things in my life but the similarities are clear. Same hospital. Same sense of unknown. Same sense of waaaiting, and not feeling quite on form. It's like life is suspended for a little while until this big scary event happens, and then we'll take stock and move forward with whatever we're left with. In a negative sense after brain surgery, and a positive sense after pregnancy.

Getting ready for surgery is obviously a similarity and is bringing back some memories and associated anxiety. But this time I am really excited and actually can't wait: we'll get to finally meet whoever is in there. He can kick me just as well from the outside where I can see him. Time is moving really quickly now, and the last week has suddenly felt different. It is becoming real.

One big difference is dreaming. I remember thinking it was odd that I didn't dream at all in the run up to brain surgery (which was probably a good thing...) but now - jeez. Some really weird dreams have been going on. I disturb myself sometimes.

Actually, the dreams have been quite vivid throughout pregnancy, but it's only this week that they've become about giving birth and babies (or baby dinosaurs in some cases). Like I said, it's becoming real.

Things contributing:

1. Tomorrow, we're going for a 32 week scan at Kings so we'll get to see him again. I'm simultaneously really excited and a bit worried. Is this all too good to be true or is something horribly wrong that we don't know about yet? I think it's normal to worry a bit, and I'm looking forward to it being over just so the anticipation and anxiety is gone. I'm also really looking forward to seeing him - just to check he's really real. But 32 weeks! That's so very nearly 40 weeks.
   
   
2. Then there's NCT classes that we've just started a couple of weeks ago. The video we watched, and just very frank conversations with other pregnant people (and a collective sense of fear) has definitely made it more real.
   
   
3. And yesterday we saw baby H, a friend's lovely little boy who is now three months. I have seen him a lot but this time it just seemed to kick in more - we're going to have one of those soon!
   
   
4. Also excitingly, this is my last week at work. When I finish that'll be it - proper countdown mode.All the things I've meaning to do to get ready will get done, and then we'll be ready. Hopefully. Everything is finally getting there, the things we've been talking about for months are finally happening.

Despite the similarities with brain surgery and the impending sense of something momentous that we're hurtling towards, it is with excitement and impatience instead of dread and fear. It feels like we're suspended right now, but that reality is not far away. Bring it on.