We have movement! After weeks of feeling around for strange bubblings and “butterflies”, the bubblings and butterflies have come to me! No manipulation of the stomach area necessary. Now that I can feel them, the movements, they happen all the time. I feel as though I’ve swallowed a fish and it’s alive in my stomach, which is possibly a disturbing example, though it would have been more disturbing if I’d said what I really meant which was “I feel like I ate a fish for dinner, and inside my stomach it somehow reassembled itself and started living again”.

Anyway, I have twitchings and strange throbbings and it can all be a bit offputting if you’re sat trying to have a serious conversation with someone. My face must have been a picture yesterday – I was at a skincare press launch trying to look as though I was truly engaged in the presentation when in fact my stomach was jumping about all over the place! What fun. I say that without an ounce of sarcasm: it is fun. I have waited for years for this moment and nothing – not even the “you wait until you start to…” stories that everyone seems intent on telling – will rain on my parade.

Nothing else to report for 21 weeks, though I think that the wriggling and somersaulting is enough. (Baby, not me, obviously. I gave up the gymnastics about – ooh – twenty-six years ago.) Note on maternity jeans, the ones with the “under-bump” elasticated band: they are all crap. I have tried loads now and they all fall down. Last week I got off the tube and by the time I had reached the top of the escalator my whole bottom was out! Luckily I had my parka on, but should a stiff breeze have sprung.. I have decided that leggings are the way forward. High-waisted ones in soft jersey but with good hold on the legs and knees. My ASOS maternity ones aren’t at all bad, but I have NEXT on my list of brands to try so I’ll let you know how I get on with those.

*written at 21 weeks + 3 days