I’m now in my third trimester of pregnancy, a milestone that felt a million years away when I first found out I was pregnant on that chilly February afternoon. And yet here it is, appearing with a bang - or rather, a pop.

Until now, when I’ve told people I’m expecting, they’ve quickly glanced down at my stomach, before lifting their eyes to meet mine and attempting to mask their quizzical expressions. It might’ve looked like I had eaten a large lunch or a bit of dairy, but certainly not like I was over half way through a pregnancy.

Today, though, it’s unmistakable. Almost overnight, my jeans no longer fit and I’m able to lift the underside of my bump and feel his kicks stronger every day. And boy, are they strong.

This side of pregnancy has crept up on me, and it has suddenly put into perspective just how little time there is between now and delivery - and my husband’s countdown on the kitchen chalkboard is well into double digits by now. Suddenly, the words ‘hospital bag’ and ‘birth plan’ are being brought up in our daily conversations, and I have hand-me-downs stacked in every available corner. And every piece of clothing........

© Herald Scotland