WEEK 31

This has been a hard week.

The baby is wriggling around like a demented worm inside Maria – I know this because of the endless times my hand has been placed on her stomach to confirm it.

Oh well, we tell each other, it must be a healthy sign. However, all this baby aerobics is not helping Maria sleep through the night. Each morning comes the weary refrain: "I hardly slept a wink last night, I just wish I could get some sleep."

The situation is not helped by Maria’s employers putting intolerable demands on a woman who is less than 10 weeks away from giving birth.

She is forced to get into work early and doesn’t get home till late. "Where’s Mummy," says our confused son Sam as I help him put his pyjamas on ready for bed.

When she finally gets home Maria is exhausted. And then comes another aerobic session from the little bundle of fun in her stomach. It’s a tough life this pregnancy business.

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