January 2012: Thread 2

[supadupapupascupa]

As you were

Just read the messages RE. natural births.

I am going to be a first time mum on 1st January (the planned EDD anyways!) and I have always been a supporter of those who prefer a natural birth. In fact, I say, go for it. Do what YOU want and don't let anyone convince you otherwise unless you're 100% sure.

However ... I'm going for the full on hospital, drugs and everything approach! I had a 'heated' discussion with a friend recently who was trying to convince me that a midwife led unit was perfectly fine to give birth in. Fine, I said. I do not dispute or disagree with it. She said it was the most calm, relaxing environment and she had the support of fantastic MWs. I said, "It must have been lovely". HOWEVER, she had to be transported to another hospital due to complications - something I want to avoid! I'll try to explain my reasons for my choice.

I live in a rural area. My nearest birthing centre is a 20 minute drive away. But it cannot offer the epidural I MIGHT want (I don't know how I am going to react to the birth yet!) and if there was any complications such as a forceps or C section delivery, I would be transported to another hospital which is a further 30 minute drive away along two motorways!!!! The birthing centre where my friend gave birth is 40 minutes away from my house. The same situation as my nearest birthing centre applies but only a 10 minute drive to the other hospital. My choice, is a 40 minute drive away, a hospital I know and trust (I have been seen as an in-patient and out-patient many times before) and I don't need the ambulance drive to another hospital if there are complications. I can only imagine what would happen if I was at my nearest birthing centre and I got something such as placenta abruption, or a cord around the neck, decreased heart rate etc, etc. Even with the other birthing centre, 10 minutes is enough time for something drastic to happen. I know people would say "That won't happen" or "It's unlkiely to happen" That might be so, but it isn't impossible and birth can be very unpredictable and as a first time mum, I have absolutely no idea how i will cope with the event, pain etc, etc so i feel more comfortable and relaxed knowing I am in a place where my needs and my baby's needs can be tended to 'in seconds' if needed. I do know that births can go absolutely to plan. I was my SIL's birthing partner when my niece was born - in hospital but absolutely no complications and she coped fine with gas and air. But I'm not her! As for hypnobirthing and other means of courses or support with dealing with the birth, absolutely none near me whatsoever, too costly and classes are too far away - too much when I'm teaching and live 36 miles away from my job and THEN have another hour's drive on top of that! I will give the NHS classes a go but at the moment, none on offer!!!

I don't think people realise that continually going on and on about the advantages of a natural birth towards a person who has chosen to do otherwise can make them feel incredibly guilty and evil, as one poster has said she was made to feel. I think it's fine to have your opinion and share it but leave it at that and support the choice that a friend makes. I'm glad redheadbedhead that you're not one of those people who looks down on others for making choices that are different to yours.

I've definitely noticed my hormones are flaring up with this pregnancy as I've NEVER felt so passionate about my decision and yes, I have done a lot of research. I am also getting fed up of people I know who are suddenly 'my best friend' because I'm pregnant, want to stay over at my house (yet have never done so in the years I have known them!), want copies of scan pictures, are forever texting me with 'lovey dovey' messages (makes me want to vomit) and are forever patting my tummy BEFORE asking me if it is okay! I suddenly feel this pregnancy is not my own. It's made even worse when I have parents and PIL who are different generations (my folks are 52 and 55 and my PIL are 73 and 82) and have different ways of doing things. AND the PIL (and parents friends) had a go at me saying I was wishing bad luck on myself for having the pram in the house!?!?! 'Of course I am! Cos a pram in the hallway will certainly induce a misscarriage and give off 'bad vibes' that will kill my baby'!!! How ridiculous and certainly insensitive.

Getting off my soap box now! I say, god luck to EVERYONE no matter what choices you have made regarding where and how you give birth. If you want to give birth in a monkey enclosure - go for it! :)

lol knitty, i dont think we do, i just think we become wise to their crazy ways!

I am very lucky with him Knittie, he's so layed back and goes with the flow - I think I'm in for it with the next one!
Wow how stong willed is your dd! 10 hours!

Haha red a lot of people wonder what I'm on about an awful lot of the time - it's nice to be able to blame 'baby brain' for a change
Giraffe, it has to be a myth - I'm sure I've got loads worse since starting my 2nd trimester...

Morning Ladies!

Firstly while I remember: MN will log you out if you havent clicked on anything in their 'time out period', think its 5 mins. A few ways to get around it; click the option to keep you logged in unitl you log out at the original log in, or, read first then log in to reply, or, log in read type and Copy you post before clicking 'Post message' hat way you still have your post.

Congrats Addicted yu must be so relieved. How is DD after eating the lilly?

NHS/NCT: I havent experienced NCT as the only class in my area was too far away iykwim. My NHS class was small and very informative, non biased as well. We were encouraged to remember that it is us that are having the baby and no one else. And so only our opinions and feelings regarding BF/FF and or drugs is the most importnant, but obviously being in the hospital means that the help/intervention was there if and when neccessary. We were encouraged to visit the local BF club before birth to experience the support that is there if thats the method you/your baby will choose.
New Mums: can I just say just now how important it is not to let anyone, including yourself, make you feel bad/guilty about not trying BF or tring and stopping. BF is not for everyone! I was eager to BF and as quick as I could after birth I had dd latched on. The MW were full of praise for us both. HOWEVER, once we moved up to the materninty ward DD refused to go back on the breast.
I had great support from the lovely mw's with trying to get dd to eat. And they were all happy that I was happy to put dd on FF. There was one nasty judgemental MW you I had never met before and never saw again. But it was obvious to her that DD was soo much happier on the bottle.

Just remember some hings are out of your control no matter how hard you try. Dont get yourself down about it. Happy mum = Happy Baby!

I had my 16 wk check on Wednesday. Got hear the heart beat!!!! She found it instantly which was great. DD loved hearing it. She is obsessed with playing doctors just now.

We are leaving for the Scottish highlands today. A whole week at the beach! Cannot wait. My 20week scan is only a week and a half after we get back - bonus!

Hope everyone is feeling good and bumps are healthy
Sho x
Ps, sorry for the long post x

My motto is 'if they're quiet, they're up to no good'!

Xposts shonnomanom enjoy your holiday, sounds lovely! A fantastic way to pass the time whilst waiting for your next scan too!

My "second trim. energy" seems to consist in not falling asleep if I sit down on the sofa after about 3 o'clock in the afternoon But at least I'm sleeping through the nights!

I won't really enter the natural/medical debate other than to add my personal experience. With DD1 I was all geared up for a natural birth, my yoga teacher (never having had kids herself) was quite wrong I think in convincing me that if instead of moaning/mooing I converted the sounds into "Omm" everything would be hunky dory. I think I also read a few too many "orgasmic childbirth" stories [rofl] and kind of got this warped view that basically it was all a piece of cake...
I looked into home birth but alas in Poland at that time there were literally 3 midwives in the entire country who were prepared to deliver at home (the nearest 2 1/2 hrs from us by car), DH was quite rationally anti the idea and I had to go into hospital.
Roll on labour and I was quite bewildered that the reality was not orgasmic, not remotely copable with using the word "Omm" - and promptly begged for an epidural. I might add that the epidural is the only form of pain relief available in Poland (no pethidine, gas and air, nothing). I quite remarkably got one (they happened to have a spare anaesthetist, doesn't usually happen) but it stalled labour and they then put me on an oxytocin drip and eventually pushed the baby out by force.

SO when I had DD2 I went into it with a battle mentality. Basically: right, there is no point in psyching yourself up that you will get any form of pain relief (because epidural might not be available), it will be bloody painful, but you will get a baby at the end, so you just have to get on with it. And I felt a lot more in control and managed a lot better. I guess because my choices are so limited it takes a lot of the dilemmas away.

Not that that helps any of you, I just think that the "prepare for the worst, hope for the best" strategy is a very wise one to have. And not let other people make you feel guilty, at whatever stage and for whatever reason (birth, bf/ff, co-sleeping/not, BLW/spoon and all the other 1001 things people seem to get hung up about on here).

As you were

Chocamum, my sentiments exactly. Being informed is essential. You've no idea how your body will react to labour so thinking through all the options before the event is really useful.
NCT vs NHS classes, I haven't ever been on an NCT course but I did go to the NHS one with dd1 and found the mw who taught that to be very interesting and also VERY against medical intervention. She advised us all to stay out of hospital until the pain was unbearable otherwise we'd get pumped full of drugs and one medical intervention would lead to the next until we were all ending up having c sections!! She scared me so much that I did exactly as she said and arrived at the hospital pushing ( I nearly had the baby on the motorway!!), no time for any drugs except gas and air, even if I'd wanted them!

It seems that for me the pain isn't unbearable until I'm in transition. But I know for a lot of my friends their experiences are very different. Every woman should be empowered to a)do what feels natural to their body eg standing up to push rather than lying down and b)choose any medical interventions they want and need without being made to feel guilty, in order to have a good birth experience.

I did find that with dd2 (arrived at hospital earlier) the mw's tried to 'do' various things to me that I thought were unnecessary, like lying me down attached to a monitor continually 'just in case'. Nothing whatsoever wrong with the baby so I refused that one. They also wanted to put a drip needle in my arm 'just in case I needed it later', I had to ask under what circumstances I would need it later, 'if my veins collapsed and I needed medication', apparently not likely to happen so I refused that one too...the list goes on.

Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate medical intervention when it's needed. I had a retained placenta with dd1 and was very grateful to be in hospital with all the painkillers around me to have that taken out but I resent the feeling of being under siege by medical intervention, why should I have to fight to push my baby out in a position where I'm helped by gravity, rather than lying down. I shouldn't have to FIGHT people and sign forms to say I don't want certain medical interventions, when I'm at my most vulnerable. I should add that I am a complete control freak and hate to hand over control to anyone...it might actually be easier for everyone if I was given a general anaesthetic and woke up with a baby in my arms !!!

I should add that it is absolutely all worth it, my (now quite big) babies are beautiful and amaze me every day.

mumtobe I feel the same as you. I live a 20 min drive from two MW led centres. They said that if there's an issue, that they will call an ambulance, but the transfer to Oxford would take an hour from the time of the phone call. As I'm due 8th Jan, there's the worry about snow, ice (and if it's early, Christmas traffic). There's a MW centre in our hospital with 4 beds so I'd rather try for that but if I have to be on the hospital ward, so be it. I want to ensure I'm near medical support if it's needed. I read the horrible birth stories thread on here (I'm pretty sure I saw comments from some of you on there too) and that just solidified the thought that things can change quickly. I hope for the best but plan for the worst.

No one has tried to touch my stomach yet. It's not going to end well for anyone that does.

Love the general anaesthetic and waking up with babies in your arm idea lamb!!!

Our MW was the same about only going into hospital when you really had to, and we left home about half an hour before the transition phase started and I'm so glad as I went a bit loopy at that point!

Bun - completely agree about if they're quiet then there's trouble! Can I ask how old your DS is? I keep thinking about transferring my DD into a bed as she has recently become very interested in beds and pretends to go to sleep on ours lots. We have a cot rather than a cot bed so I might try a mattress on the floor over the weekend. I think with potty training I might wait till next year as she's still oblivious to when she poos or wees and I've heard lots of people say they can regress when a little sibling appears. But two in nappies also sounds like a nightmare!

2nd trimester energy boost sounds great, I don't remember this from last time but it would be very welcome anytime soon! :)

Choca he's 2yrs 4months. I think he could have had the sides off a while ago but I wanted to make the most of him not being able to get up as soon as he wakes up in the morning!
DS will be almost 3 when DC2 comes along so he might be ready for potty training by then, just going to go along with when he's ready for it and keep my fingers crossed it's this year rather than next!

I'm needing the afternoon naps more than DS is this week!

Hey all I'm in a bit of a panic. I had my booking appointment and a scan on Mon. Met consultant and was told I wouldn't see him again until later in pregnancy unless there was something wrong. Today I get phonecall from his secretary saying he would like to see me first thing on Mon a letter has been sent but he was concerned I wouldn't get it on time (snail mail). Cue me now sitting in state of [panicky] .

Hugs Belini, hope all is well. What was the scan like?

I'm off on hols for a week and won't be on MN so wishing you all well till then (and please make Thread Three easy to find because I'm sure it'll be half-full by then!

take care all!

2 weeks today and I have my 20 week scan. DH wants to be in team yellow; he's quite adamant about it but I want to know. I've a feeling I way bend to DH's wishes.
Hormones have come back to planet Earth now. Not sure about the 'come into hospital only when the pain is unbearable' scenario. For me, that will be an extra 40 minutes and the chances of DC1 being born in a lay-by I think I will go when I feel the time is right. I will argue if they want to send me home again because I'll just end up getting home, turning around and venturing back! Anyways, I've got (hopefully!) 5 months to think about that.
I've been really suffering with what I can only describe as ligament pain low down on both sides in a v shape pattern towards my pelvic bone. Normal? I can't seem to sleep on my back either as I get stomach ache?!? It's relieved when I lie on my side (both).
No flutters today but I guess that's normal.

Thankyou abeautifulbutterfly scan was fine two heartbeats measuring for dates no issues flagged. Hope you have a lovely holiday

belini how far along are you? did he not realise how far along you are so therefore didnt do all checks he was ment to? or maybe just need to see you for a sheduald visit? dont panic, take a deep breath. go and look at your pregnancy notes is there any information missing that should have been filled in eg family history? it could be as simple as that. IF it were something seriously wrong firstly he would have picked it up at your appointment secondly he would get you in right away, not wait untill after the weekend. someone would have seen you at the hospital today.
I know more than anyone how easy it is to get yourself worked up in a state of panic. but really it will be ok. put this to the back of your mind and try and relax untill monday (impossible i know). can you paint your living room or go out for the weekend with dp to take your mind off it all?

mum2be i cant believe your already almost half way!! i also live 45 minutes from the nearest hospital and to be fair the hospital last time were very good about it (before they knew of my strep b) said they wouldnt send me home because of the journey time.

good luck Belini, try not to worry!!

sick all day pissed off.

Me too redhead

belini you poor thing. I agree with addicted. If your scan was normal then it's probably something trivial which is easier to sort out with you there than over the phone. If it's anything urgent they would normally ask you to go in on the same day. Try like addicted said to do something to keep you busy if possible, it's so hard not to worry.

mum2be - 2 weeks is very exciting! Mine is in 3 weeks, can't wait! I am a very organised person and like to plan so I need to know the sex I'm afraid. It's hard enough thinking of names for one sex let alone for both. I really like the idea of a surprise but I'm far too impatient!

We live about 10 minutes from the hospital so I am lucky in being able to wait till I need to go. If there was a proper journey involved I would not take the risk of delivering in the car or alone!

Enjoy your holiday butterfly :)

It's definaly a myth. Unless they mean "extreem bouts of crossness" and are confusing this with energy. I just want to be in bed asleep. I must have managed to keep down about a small bowl of food in total so far today. Just want to be asleep.
Got a call from Drs today asking me to go in and discuss my results (swabs)...to them be told the GP I saw was on holiday for 3 weeks and no, she wouldn't tell me over the phone (but they might tell my MW on Monday! WTF...MY medical records, not hers!) Anyway, was too tired by then to argue (1000h) and have booked an appointment with different GP on Monday, tho alas, after my MW appoinment. Here's hoping the MW doesn't take more than 40mins...

I've come off the list too. So...

Fifitrixabelle - EDD 01/01/12
Shonnomanom - DC2 EDD 01/01/12. 20wk Scan 16Aug
summerfruitsalad - DC2 EDD 01/01/12
Broodyandnewtothis ? EDD 01/01/12
Mum2be79 - EDD 01/01/12 20wk scan 12th August
Sleepywombat - DC2 EDD 01/01/12
Emmyjj - EDD 01/01/12 20wk Scan 15th Aug
d0gface - EDD 02/01/12 Scan 27/6/11
Buttertart - DC2 EDD 02/01/12
GiraffeAHolic - DC2 EDD 02/01/12 Scan 24/6/11 20 week scan 19th August
Conchita -DC1 EDD 02/01/12
Knittiekitty - DC2 EDD 02/01/12
GwendolineMaryLacey - EDD 03/01/12
BonzaBlue - EDD 04/01/12
Spagbolagain - DC2 EDD 04/01/12 20wk scan 18 Aug
aurorasky - DC1 EDD 05/01/12
LaBobkin ? EDD 06/01/12 12 wk scan 27/6/11 20 week scan 30 Aug
tigana - DC2 EDD 07/01/12
Purpleteapot ? DC1 EDD 07/01/12
Deesus - EDD 07/01/2012 Scan 27/6/11
Nanny01 - DC5 EDD 08/01/12
Moobee - EDD 8/1/2012 -scan 27/6/11
milkyways - EDD 08/01/2012 20 weeks scan 20/08/2011
ChocaMum - DC2 EDD 09/01/2012 20 wk scan 19th August
Hazysun ? EDD 10/01/12
Wormshuffler- EDD 10/01/12- 20wk scan 27/8/11
Trubble - EDD 11/01/12
bustersgirl - DC6 EDD 12/01/12
fishandlilacs - DC2 EDD 12/01/12
ghosteditor - DC1 EDD 15/01/12 - 12 wk scan 05/07/11, 20 week scan 17Aug
MercyMe ? DC2 EDD 12/01/12
MabliD ? EDD 13/01/12
Bellakins ? DC1 EDD 13/01/12 BA 02/06/11
Fr00tbat- DC1 EDD 14/01/12 BA 10/06/11, nuchal 6/7/11
abeautifulbutterfly - DC3 EDD 14/01/12
Tanif - DC1 EDD 15/01/12
Weevie - DC1 EDD 15/1/12
SlightlyScrambled ? DC2 EDD 15/01/12
kdiddy - DC1 EDD 15/01/12, 20 week scan 30/08/11
Joules281 - DC2 EDD 15/01/12, 20 wk scan 24/08/11
Falabalamb ? DC3 EDD 15/1/12, 20wk scan 25/8/11
sassylassie - DC1 EDD 17/01/12 20wk scan 07/09/11 (late cos of naughty hols)
K4mi - DC1 EDD 18/01/12
Oeisha - DC1 EDD 18/01/11
blueeyedmonster - DC2 EDD 18/1/12 12 week scan 4/7/11 20wk scan 30/8/11
Curlygirl72 - DC1 EDD 19/1/12, 20wk scan 6/09/11
mummyzoe2012 ? DC1 EDD 20/1/12 1st scan 15/7/11
Capybara ? DC1 EDD 20/01/12 ? scan on 14/07/11
Supadupapupascupa - DC2 EDD 20/01/12 20wk scan 06/09/11
Joy33 - DC1 EDD 20/01/2012
kelli10 - DC1 EDD 23/01/12
Mummaroo ? DC2 EDD 23/01/12
redheadbedhead - DC1 EDD 23/01/12
Greenlady78 ? DC1 EDD 25/1/12
BigHotMama - DC2 EDD 25/1/12
Belini- DC4+5!! EDD 27/1/12 12 wk scan 25/7/11 20 wk scan 5/9/11
BunMyOven - DC2 EDD 27/01/12 ~ 20wk scan 09/09/11
scarlettsmummy2 ? DC2 EDD 28/1/12
Fryn - DC2 EDD 28/1/12
Monkeymomma - DC1 EDD 28/1/12 scan 18/7/11
ParsleyLion1 - EDD 30/1/2012 BA 13/6/11 12 wk scan 15/07/11
Lily06 ? DC1 EDD end of Jan
Xkatyx ? DC4+5! EDD
magaddict - hopeful!

Gone but not forgotten -

Hotcrosses
ShimmeryPixie
DizzyKipper
Browncoat
Tummytickler
Mama5isalive
Fubble

Arghhhhh...please please please don't make me fall off the list again...I am paranoid enough about this pregnancy without being randomly erased by cyberspace gremlins!!!!

So...

Fifitrixabelle - EDD 01/01/12
Shonnomanom - DC2 EDD 01/01/12. 20wk Scan 16Aug
summerfruitsalad - DC2 EDD 01/01/12
Broodyandnewtothis ? EDD 01/01/12
Mum2be79 - EDD 01/01/12 20wk scan 12th August
Sleepywombat - DC2 EDD 01/01/12
Emmyjj - EDD 01/01/12 20wk Scan 15th Aug
d0gface - EDD 02/01/12 Scan 27/6/11
Buttertart - DC2 EDD 02/01/12
GiraffeAHolic - DC2 EDD 02/01/12 Scan 24/6/11 20 week scan 19th August
Conchita -DC1 EDD 02/01/12
Knittiekitty - DC2 EDD 02/01/12
GwendolineMaryLacey - EDD 03/01/12
BonzaBlue - EDD 04/01/12
Spagbolagain - DC2 EDD 04/01/12 20wk scan 18 Aug
aurorasky - DC1 EDD 05/01/12
LaBobkin ? EDD 06/01/12 12 wk scan 27/6/11 20 week scan 30 Aug
tigana - DC2 EDD 07/01/12
Purpleteapot ? DC1 EDD 07/01/12
Deesus - EDD 07/01/2012 Scan 27/6/11
Nanny01 - DC5 EDD 08/01/12
Moobee - EDD 8/1/2012 -scan 27/6/11
milkyways - EDD 08/01/2012 20 weeks scan 20/08/2011
ChocaMum - DC2 EDD 09/01/2012 20 wk scan 19th August
Debs39 - EDD 9/1/12 :)
Hazysun ? EDD 10/01/12
Wormshuffler- EDD 10/01/12- 20wk scan 27/8/11
Trubble - EDD 11/01/12
bustersgirl - DC6 EDD 12/01/12
fishandlilacs - DC2 EDD 12/01/12
ghosteditor - DC1 EDD 15/01/12 - 12 wk scan 05/07/11, 20 week scan 17Aug
MercyMe ? DC2 EDD 12/01/12
MabliD ? EDD 13/01/12
Bellakins ? DC1 EDD 13/01/12 BA 02/06/11
Fr00tbat- DC1 EDD 14/01/12 BA 10/06/11, nuchal 6/7/11
abeautifulbutterfly - DC3 EDD 14/01/12
Tanif - DC1 EDD 15/01/12
Weevie - DC1 EDD 15/1/12
SlightlyScrambled ? DC2 EDD 15/01/12
kdiddy - DC1 EDD 15/01/12, 20 week scan 30/08/11
Joules281 - DC2 EDD 15/01/12, 20 wk scan 24/08/11
Falabalamb ? DC3 EDD 15/1/12, 20wk scan 25/8/11
sassylassie - DC1 EDD 17/01/12 20wk scan 07/09/11 (late cos of naughty hols)
K4mi - DC1 EDD 18/01/12
Oeisha - DC1 EDD 18/01/11
blueeyedmonster - DC2 EDD 18/1/12 12 week scan 4/7/11 20wk scan 30/8/11
Curlygirl72 - DC1 EDD 19/1/12, 20wk scan 6/09/11
mummyzoe2012 ? DC1 EDD 20/1/12 1st scan 15/7/11
Capybara ? DC1 EDD 20/01/12 ? scan on 14/07/11
Supadupapupascupa - DC2 EDD 20/01/12 20wk scan 06/09/11
Joy33 - DC1 EDD 20/01/2012
kelli10 - DC1 EDD 23/01/12
Mummaroo ? DC2 EDD 23/01/12
redheadbedhead - DC1 EDD 23/01/12
Greenlady78 ? DC1 EDD 25/1/12
BigHotMama - DC2 EDD 25/1/12
Belini- DC4+5!! EDD 27/1/12 12 wk scan 25/7/11 20 wk scan 5/9/11
BunMyOven - DC2 EDD 27/01/12 ~ 20wk scan 09/09/11
scarlettsmummy2 ? DC2 EDD 28/1/12
Fryn - DC2 EDD 28/1/12
Monkeymomma - DC1 EDD 28/1/12 scan 18/7/11
ParsleyLion1 - EDD 30/1/2012 BA 13/6/11 12 wk scan 15/07/11
Lily06 ? DC1 EDD end of Jan
Xkatyx ? DC4+5! EDD
magaddict - hopeful!

Gone but not forgotten -

Hotcrosses
ShimmeryPixie
DizzyKipper
Browncoat
Tummytickler
Mama5isalive
Fubble

Oh, err yeah also, no idea why MN hid a load of messages form me (yes, I was obv too tired to see them) I was talking about '2nd trimester bounce' as someone called it today:

belini like others I'd have thought if it were urgent they'd want to see you 'today'. Will be thinking about you as I try and stay rational about my swabs.

Can't wait to get to 20wks,...fingers crossed for all those due to see DCs. Might feel less constantly shite then. Bump might actually be Yolkis too rather than just bad posture/bloating...so many friggin people are telling me "I look pregnant" now...for me to then say, nope, I look bloated... I think they're seeing what they want to see.

Anyway, I'm off to bed. :(

sorry to sound smug but think I am experiencing the second trimester bounce. However, this is only as compared to the first trimester when I was like a bilious zombie.
I think it counts as a bounce because

1. I don't yearn to crawl under my desk to go to sleep by 2pm.
2. I've lost that ghostly pallour that you get from morning sickness.
3. I can make it to gym approx once a week to do the kind of exercise that would shame a 70-year-old.
4. Although I've still got baby brain it's no longer at the level where I forget my own name or start randomly shouting nonsense.

I also think it's entirely fuelled by all the sugar I've been craving.

Sorry for everyone who's still feeling ill and thanks for the NCT feedback. still undecided! Main task in next 5 months is to grow a healthy baby and a much thicker skin! Got my down's test back today too- very low risk which is a relief and was dreading the dilemma of whether to have an amnio.

Oh yes a thick skin is essential for having a child! You are now public property and everyone has the right to ask you anything - from your parenting choices to your vagina (seriously, I've had a lot of both ) doncha know!

I ended up not having the down's syndrome test in the end. I had the scan bit done and on the way up to get my bloods done I turned to DP and said "I don't want to do this!", that freaked him out a bit because he thought I meant I don't want to have a baby with him, bless him! No I decided that even if the results came back as high risk it would only be any good for worrying us because we wouldn't consider ending the pregnancy because of it.