Due late Jan 2011 - come and join us in the countdown...

[BubbaAndBump]

New trimester, new thread. Here's to us becoming grumpy, impatient, fat and uncomfy while counting down the days... :o [hhmm] :o

Hey Flora sorry to hear you're feeling wobbly after the growth scan news. Did they say what the next steps are? Do you want to find out more now? What else did the sonographer say?

Thanks ladies. It looks from the graphs as though the femoral length has gone from spot on average at 20 weeks to where it is now, i.e. below normal range. I have another growth scan booked for 2 weeks' time. When I asked the sonographer if it was significant she wouldn't say. I read a few abstracts of academic papers on that internet and the upshot seems to be that there is a correlation between short femurs (in relation to other measurements) and Downs, but not such a strong one that it is among the suite of diagnostic markers. Don't know what to think really. I guess we add it to the list of questions for the GP.

flora poor you. Can't you get another appointment sooner? Try not to worry - like you said, it could be short baby, and might not be Downs? Did you have that Downs test at, was it 18 weeks? 2 weeks seems so long to wait - and it's a bit bad not speaking to you about what happenes from here. God you are getting appalling care.

running V Glam! Luckily haven't had any milk leaking or anything (yet...)

Had my bauble party last night- brill fun - even though i'm shattered and DH and good friends helped lots. And a lovely Dutch lady gave me a handknitted mini washing line of blue baby clothes to hang in baby's room. So adorable.

Fly tomorrow.... excited about getting home, but snuggled up with DH this morning (who's still asleep) and got weepy! Not like me - blame it on baby! Was the same with the cats last night. I'm such a girl

aww cupcakes it will be the hormones! Glad you enjoyed your party.

Hope the flight is ok.

flora how are you feeling today?

Aaah cupcakes - tears appear just when you're least expecting it don't they? I cried when we put the moses basket together, DP thinks I'm a bit nuts. Have a good flight!

Flora, when can you see the GP? Doesn't sound like they are being particularly helpful at all. Really difficult when you read stuff over the internet to know what to take with a pinch of salt.

I really am going to get to the aquanatal class today, got to leave at 2.15 to get there so must get some work done before then.

flora thinking of you, hope you get answers to your questions soon.

Aw, you people are so nice!

We are seeing the GP on 30th. I can't really be bothered making another appt before then; I think I have too many already (this week, last week, more on 2nd & 8th December) and am getting narked about the resultant time off work. Besides which, every time we go it stresses me out more. They seem eager to conduct investigations but then leave us hanging over what they find, which I can do without.

Like you say jjkm, what will happen will happen. If he has Downs then we will deal with it and give him a good life. There are much worse things. How are your girls doing now?

Cupcakes I had the blood tests at the same time as the 12 week scan. Nuchal fold was big, HCG was high, PAPP(?) was low. Other bloods, tricuspid flow & nasal bone were all normal. The nuchal fold was fine by 16 weeks. None of these things give a definite answer though do they, just indications.

With my rational head on, Tiny Flora is probably fine but we just haven't had any explanation or reassurance at all from the medics. I think this whole thing confirms how much I need to lay it out for the GP.

Sending you BIG HUGS Flora

Running no leakage from here either, although I am currently sleeping on 2 duvets folded up to stop leg pain at night, so probably wouldn't notice anyway, as I feel like I am in a scene from the Princess and the Pea! Hope you made it to aquanatal!

Cupcakes have a safe flight tomorrow, lay it on thick and see if you can get upgraded!!!

We had a bit of a scare on Wednesday, ended up at hospital being monitored as wiggle hadn't moved for 24 hours, but obviously as soon as we were hooked up to the monitor the somersaults started! I was so relieved, and the tears flowed, but surely at that point I was allowed and don't have to blame hormones?!

Off to see Harry Potter tonight, hope it's not too long and my seat is comfy!

Have a good weekend

Pootle - you'd notice the leakage, it was all dried on my arm . Glad to hear the little one cooperated once you got to the hospital :)

I did indeed make it to aquanatal, it was a real mix of ladies, some 5 months pg and others due on Monday! All different bump shapes and sizes too which was really good to see.

Bump has been quiet these past few days, not sure if I'm noticing it more after the epic somersaults earlier in the week. I suspect it's dreading dinner at DP's bosses tomorrow eve as much as I am

jjkm - how are the girls doing?

Flora - sounds like you've got your head screwed on just right, you don't need more stress right now. Hopefully you'll get someone soon who listens to you and can give you some positive news.

flora - thinking of you, is there much the doctors can tell you before the baby is born? Hope all goes well, try to do something nice for yourself and take your mind off it for a few hours.

scubamummy, how did your exam go? I'm studying for a project management exam too :)

Does anyone else have a baby who jumps on their bottom? I swear I have had this with DD1, it is quite disconcerting!

running am obsessively checking for leakage now! Good luck at DP boss' dinner.

shanster is it PRINCE2? I passed the Foundation exam and have one for Practitioner on the 10th Dec. When are you hoping to take yours?

Has anyone started antenatal classes yet? I went to my first yesterday, an NHS one run by a lovely midwife. T'was good, not at all 'dumbed down' which I had feared.

Sorry to hear about your stress flora you've had some good advice on here and seem to have your head screwed on about it all. It really is horrible to be left hanging like that, I hope you get some sort of answers next time you go.

Sorry you had a scare too pootle but glad all ok, this pregnancy malarky can be quite stressful can't it!!

Hope you have a good flight cupcakes - the weepiness is totally understandable!!

I'm starting to feel tired again, I really don't know how you guys who already have kids do it!! I'm trying to swim once a week but feel really knackered afterwards, seems to really loosen up my back and everything though so I'll keep going for now.

Welcome joey

Hi All.... well flight was good, but uncomfortable - although i was right next to toilet - but it was a very hot flight so I drank sooooo much that i was literally in the loo every hour. I think the couple next to me thought I had diorrhea (sp?) cos i spent rest of flight with hand on tummy trying to soothe bouncing kicking bubba. But people were very helpful with lifting my luggage on/off stuff for me.

And slept for 12 hours last night which was amazing. Obviously desperately needed it. And went through loads of stuff which a friend had dropped into MIL's flat - inc all her bottles and breast pumps, and bouncy chairs - brill. so pleased.

Ha ha - had more weeping on the friday night - mainly about missing my cats and wondering if they'd hate me when I turn up in 3 months time with a screaming baby!

Yeah - how were all the exams girls?

No leakage here either running... YET!

scuba i'm hoping to do antenatal classes in Jan in Devon - they stop them in Dec and I don't get there in time for the Nov ones - so let's hope baby isn't early!

Can anyone confirm - someone said that labour is kind of inherited from your mum - so if your mum was induced, with 12 hours labour - more likely yours will be same for first???

Zippy i'm getting much more tired too lately - almost like the pregnancy has finally kicked in. When does your mat leave start?

pootle pleased baby start co-operating again... maybe he was having a mammoth sleep? I'm about Harry Potter - have to wait til next next weds!

bubba you've been quiet... everything ok? Or are the kids running you ragged?

Hi cupcakes I'm here tonight, been busy with the girls, work (late nights) and decorating our new room - garage conversion. Looks lush though I've been reading up about all the things we've done wrong with painting it so soon with the wrong paint etc, so be ready for me to be sobbing about a messy, peeling room in a few weeks' time :(

4 weeks to go till maternity leave for me - 19.5 working days. Sending Naughty Bugger #3 positive thoughts about re-positioning him/herself. Seems to be ignoring me so far though - positive thoughts from you all needed please.

Re: following mum's labour, not in my experience. My mum did have a blood transfusion with me (as I did with my first), but my eldest sister had three very quick labours, no problems, my other sister had two ELCs (one because of a breach), I had one lonnnnnnnng labour, one ELC and this one to come... Couldn't be more different across the board.

Hello everyone, haven't been on for awhile as kept feeling panicked whenever I read what people had been buying as I had bought nothing. Anyway, the good news for me is I now have the start of a nursery and starting to get things sorted now. Going for the bugaboo bee which will hopefully meet all my London travel requirements. As I was checking it out a woman walked past with one so I pretty much interviewed her about how she'd found it and she was really positive.

Currently sitting in a very uncomfortable position as seem to have a foot lodged under my rib cage. So excited about baby don't think I can wait till the due date.

Thoughts are with you Flora.

Salt Don't panic - still plenty of time to buy things, and even with the internet, you can always order stuff online after baby is here. As long as you have a few outfits, a bit of bedding and car seat - you'll be fine :)

Glad you made it back ok cupcakes - so are you here now until baby arrives?

Good news on getting the conversion done bubba I'm sure the paint will be fine

salt definitely don't panic, I know a couple who moved just before baby was born and had practically nothing and coped. Babies really don't need much at first!

DH and I were having a 'discussion' last night about who would hold the baby first and he said it would obviously be him as he would pass the baby to me from the midwife and I was like err no, she will pass it straight to me if I'm the one pushing it out I get to hold it first!! This is a ridiculous discussion to be having is it?! I'm sure it doesn't matter

Zippy - I've put it into my draft birth plan that I want to hold baby first, unless I have to have a CS in which case DP can. Definitely better to have this discussion now!

Hmmm, talking of DP, he's just mailed me to say he needs to be in Sweden the morning after our first antenatal class. Which means he'll be going the previous afternoon & missing it, he's trying to sort now but I don't know how likely it is. Not impressed, but he can't help it so mustn't be too grumpy with him when I get home. Given that I dreamt last night that he left me the poor guy is having a rough time of it.

Welcome back to the UK Cupcakes - the weather's just about to turn to welcome you home! :)

My sister had a good feel of my bump on Saturday and said "it's very solid". Now she's got 3 kids, but she didn't tell me if solid was good or bad.

Bubba - sending baby Bubba lots of wriggling thoughts. :) When do you finish work? I finish Christmas Eve but with various days of A/L I think I'm on 19.5 working days to go.

Thanks again to everyone for the kind thoughts. I had a good weekend doing very little for once, so wasn't sick - haven't been sick since Thursday in fact, so pretty nice. Tiny Flora has been very busy with his exercises and he now seems to react to touch. We have established that he is not a fan of banjo music (unlike the cat) but he does like a bit of acoustic guitar.

I'm feeling quite positive about whatever the next growth scan indicates. We could still have an amnio at this stage but I don't want to; he's nearly here anyway.

Nice choice with the bee salt. Did anyone see that on Armstrong & Miller a few weeks ago? I felt v. sheepish about the bugaboo reference! Ours isn't that colour though so they can't mean me .

Hi all. Yeah - weather is lovely and cold in London but gave me an excuse to get a beautiful grey beret - and my MIL let me choose gloves and scarf to (kind of match) - i went for ivory gloves with a bear on them... oh so practical. ha ha!

running Poor you doing antenatal on your own - i'll be doing them on my own too, but i think people'll take pity on us, and we might make more friends. Plus hopefully, it'll only be one class for you.

Flora pleased to hear all's good and positive thinking is the way ahead. Good on you girl!

And i hadn't even considered what zippy said about holding baby. I'm not too bothered, as long as no one drops him!!!

I bought a letter "J" from mamas & papas yesterday for baby's room so obviously i'm pretty much 100% about baby name...!

Oh - and last count, I had 8 (yes, 8!) knitted/crochet blankets and one more on the way! I did try adn stress to MIL that we lived in syria where it's boiling hot.... . My mum made 3 - so i'm going to give at least one of hers away (and hope she doesn't hate me for it!)

Fab news about the lack of sickness Flora. Loving the fact that mini Flora doesn't like banjo music - we appear to have a music critic here too who objected to my nice soothing Sunday afternoon John Denver CD, either that or it was the Sunday Times offending them!

Cupcakes - I feel your pain with the knitted blankets. We have approx 15 knitted cardigans and they are still being made.

Anyone else sporting an outie belly button now?

Hehe Running, not yet! I'm quietly optimistic it'll stay in. My laparoscopy scars are fading though.

We went to a 2 hour talk at the hospital last night about the stages of labout, birth and pain relief. I am now absolutely fucking terrified.

labour, tsk.

Had a midwife check up today and all looking good, but baby is quite happily sat upright still. She says there is lots of time left for moving around so let's hope bump doesn't get too comfortable where it is!!

running my belly button fluctuates dependant on where bump is, when it's right behind it looks quite 'outy' but when it moves it goes in again. Is quite freaky to be honest!

flora we've started NCT and I have to agree, I think the less you know about labour the better I feel far too well informed and freaked out already!!

I also have ANOTHER stinking cold, the third one since September, lovely pregnancy immune system!!