The We Will Brook No Argument for a totally boring and uneventful pregnancy, in which we shall bloom, and a pain-free birth thread, part 3!

[dreamfeeder]

Hands around a mixture of V-shaped pillows, pregnancy pillows, and re-arranges the glittery vom buckets ready.

Gets the jelly snakes going, along with some Cadburys for good measure, and a strategically placed fruit bowl to disguise the unhealthy choices.

Flicks the duster round, sinks down into a comfy sofa and awaits the rest...

I reckon scream that if you can get insurance to cover you then you will feel great having one last weekend. Maybe check with Eurostar too? I know a lot of airlines won't allow pregnant women to fly after 28 weeks without a Doctors note but not sure about Eurostar. DH and I had 1 last romantic weekend away before DS when I was 34 weeks. It was only to London so no flight or too long a train journey but it was pretty action packed. I walked all over London, saw 2 shows, did loads of Christmas shopping and visited a couple of galleries. If you're feeling ok at the time it's no different from being at home, go and make the most of it.

Generic I'm positive your results will be fine on Wednesday. The signs are all good.

I'm so tired today. My car was taken in for MOT and service at 7.30 this morning, I was at the Drs with DS at 9.30 and I've done the food shopping since then. I'm pooped already and I'm out this evening for a meal. I know how bad it sounds, but I just feel like not bothering. Not seen my friend for ages though so don't want to let her down.

We went away when I was 36 weeks scream for a last weekend as a grown up, baby-free couple only!!! 2 1/2 hours drive away, and we put the hand-me-down baby seat in the back of the car, just in case (to make sure definitely nothing happened!) but tbh, really more because a friend had gone to a conference in Glasgow (they live Manchester way) and given birth in Glasgow at 36 weeks!!! her boyfriend had to go out and buy a carseat to bring the baby home. It was lovely. We even went hill walking, though not to pre-whale like levels! I think 2 hours away on the train sounds fine. My friend went mountain biking in the Lakes at 38 weeks, and her waters broke and she had a show at 4am in the B&B, they just packed up and drove the 2 hours home, no problem, and you're much earlier in your pregnancy than that for when you're planning to go, so I think it would be absolutely fine and a lovely idea!!!

biscuits, well impressed you got your DH to read anything! I didn't! We didn't do any shopping- borrowed pram, hand-me-down cot, hand-me-down carseat, moses basket, bouncy chair, playgym thing. The only things I bought were a new cot mattress and moses basket mattress (waste of time a moses basket, these twins will never go in one, or I certainly won't get another!!!) and 5 white babygro's. And whata nightmare night- I hope you are currently having a lovely nap . Thank goodness for nursery!

I am slightly less grumpy today, sorry for my horrible cross posts over the weekend. DD is asleep in her cot now, thank goodness. Through all this evening-monkeying-around malarky, she's still gone down, awake, like a lamb for her naps, but this weekend she just stopped (!!! imagine my horror) so we were having to walk her in the pushchair again. Bit of a fight, but she's asleep- though I feel a bit bad as I've just been to check on her and she's done a poo and she and her room stink! Maybe that was part of the fuss I ignored, but still, if I had changed her she'd have got cross and maybe wouldn't have slept. Sure it won't kill her...

generic, what with you having twins (or triplets) and all with me, your levels will be sky high!!!!! Absolutely no doubt whatsoever.

Had a complete panic last night about really strong B-H when I was in bed, (which they seemed quite interested in at my last appointment after my scan), that they'd progress and I'd go into prem labour and lose the babies. Now, all the Brooking means of course this won't happen, but oh come on, 29th December, my next scan and the magic 24 weeks, they've-got-a-chance mark!!! I'm just finding this twin thing so stressful. The doctor was telling me I had to go in if I felt 'not right', even if it was that evening after my scan, etc etc, as it's 40% of twins who are born prem. I never worried about prem labour like this with DD- but then as only 6% of singletons are prem it's not really such a possibility. On the other hand, I then swing to thinking I'll go on forever until I have a section or am induced! Once I get into January, I'll be so much happier.

oh goodness, look at that- me me me me me me me

Hope everyone else is doing okay, scarlet, hope your bean is kicking well again today, purple, sure you must be feeling dizzy with such a low bp by now

Hello broccoli, I'll do some puking with you! Not been sick today though which is lovely!!!

Scarlet sorry you feel so tired. Surely your friend would understand if you need to rearrange tonight. Alternatively, does your DS nap? Maybe you can have a disco nap!

Thanks for your good wishes about my blood test results. Those of you that had an early scan - was it worth the money for the reassurance you got? I have now seen the letter my dr wrote asking for an early scan for me and I don't think it is phrased strongly enough really. I am going to ring the antenatal department and see if they can do anything, but basically, I think the letter could be interpreted as 'please make the scan appointment for as soon as possible after the booking appointment' ie not waiting until 12 weeks, but no rush to have it done earlier. I really want to know before Christmas, especially as I feel so sick already. I just think knowing there is a viable little bean in there would cheer me up a lot. Sadly you can't self-refer to the EPU here. Perhaps the sky high blood results on Weds will help!

scarlet, I know what you mean, I have no doubt that I was so sick and felt so rough and was such a complete cow to DH over the weekend because I'd been out on the Friday for a work meal, just til 11:30, but I'm just knackered so easily these days. DVD for DS and a break for you?!

Cross posts Dream glad you feel a bit better today. I totally understand your anxiety re twins/high-risk pregnancy. Take it easy lady and hope DD keeps getting better!

generic, the sky high results will be great reassurance it is all going well! I didn't have an early scan even though I was desperate for one, as DH insisted we weren't paying for unnecessary tests to reassure me. I for one am very, very pleased I didn't have one now, as if I'd seen two babies on an early scan, I'd have felt far worse, not better, as the NHS info on 'vanishing twin' syndrome say there is a very good chance if you see two babies on an early scan there will only be one viable at 12-13 weeks (like 40%). As in one empty sac by then, which is reabsorbed and doesn't harm your remaining baby. mememummy on here had it- empty sac on a scan at 8 weeks I think???. With your really high HCG I'd be tempted with that as enough reassurance and wait, especially if it could be two!! But that was because as soon as I saw the two of them, I've been desperate for them both to be ok, not just one IYKWIM so would have increased my worry exponentially until after 12 weeks.

Hello hello sorry for the silence. Lots of visitors staying (DM and DMIL birthdays on consecutive weekends) so i've been over entertaining and I'm exhausted! Still pregnant - 37+3 today no sign of labour or even any head engaging from mini hawthers so think I'll be around for some time yet. Will have to catch up on all the news and post again later. Hope you are all good and thanks for.the brooking while I was well. Oh forgot to say that I had a scan last week at 37 weeks and mini is estimated to be 6lb 4 woop woop.

Bugger bugger. Been meaning to order Smokey The Fire Truck for DS and now it's out of stock everywhere that was selling it for a reasonable price. The only ones stocking it now are the rip off merchants who know that it's in demand and I'm loathe to pay another £20 extra. I can remember years ago (when I was late teens) and one of my older friends had a young DS. I couldn't believe anyone would get in such a state trying to get hold of a yellow Teletubby. It was like the world had gone mad for them just before Christmas and they were literally gold dust. I laughed at her and told her to "just get him something else" and was inwardly rolling my eyes about it all. I get it now

I had an early scan and thought it was well worth it (although the thought of multiples wasn't really there and if it was I'd never know about this disappearing twin thing that Dream mentioned). We had a mc before DS and I never had an eat scan with him (I don't think I knew they existed) but I was very glad if it thus time. I was still stressed out until the 12 week one but at a slightly lower level between 8-12 weeks. It was literally all I could think about up until the 8 week scan. We got one for £75.

Still, it's worth speaking to the antenatal dept to see of they'll do the extra one. If it were me I wouldn't want the NHS one too early (if I was only getting one) as they wouldn't be able to do the nuchal stuff. So I'd want an extra early one iyswim.

Scarlet I totally understand about not wanting to be bothered to go out - I'm terrible like that!

I'm off for a nap I think. I've had a day of family dramas and am even more knackered now!

Oooh Hawthers - congratulations on passing 37 weeks and having a 6lb plus baby in there - good brooking!!

Dream I do feel for you with all the extra stress of a twin of. But the doc is right. If you're worried 5 mins after your scan you get right back in there and get yourself checked out! I think it's good that the docs are so keen to reassure you that they won't think you're wasting their time. And roll on 24 weeks for you. I'm 24 weeks tomorrow and feel a wee bit relieved about getting there, actually not a wee bit - a huge amount!!

And I would have no qualms about leaving DS in a poo if it meant him finishing his nap. I might open the windows though when he woke up

Scarlet - what's Smokey the Fire Truck? I've never heard of it. DS is obsessed with Finley the Fire Engine at the mo. we have to watch it again and again and again .....

Just googled StFT and a debenhams have it for £52? Doesn't say it's out of stock?

biscuits, I didn't know about vanishing twin til I had my 12 week scan and googled and saw how common it was!!! I got worried there'd only be one next time even though I was dead on 12 weeks and their measurements were identical then (and they're still very close now). I just mean if I'd had the scan at 8 weeks, and it'd been twins, I'd have googled then too for info (I did only look at NHS to not scare myself on some silly website of dubious reliabilty!) and got really worried anyway . I think in general, an early scan would be very reassuring, unless generic's super high HCG means it's so much more likely it could be twins, and so I think if I were her I'd wait with 2 reassuring blood results (and there will be two very reassuring results generic). Though, actually, I want to know, so go on generic have a private scan if necessary!!!!!

hello hawthers I really thought you'd had minihawthers!! I keep thinking of mini as 'him', even though I know you don't know the sex! I'm going for boy though. And I thought in second babies it was common for the head not to engage until you went into labour- not sre if its the same if you had EMCS first time round, but I don't really see why not (not scientific there at all!).

scarlet, keep hunting or bite the bullet and cough up cheerfully and never mention it could have been cheaper if you'd done it earlier to your DH!!!!! Thats what I'd do!!!!

Biscuits when you select it to add it to the basket they then decide to tell you that it's out of stock. Thanks for looking though.

dream I think you might be onto something there. I've seen it's £65 at Boots so I might just have to cough up the extra and keep it secret between us

Hawthers good to hear from you and very pleased to hear you're ok.

Generic I'm going to go out. It's my last night out this year so I'm going to enjoy myself (or at least try to) I really don't like letting people down, especially not on the same day.

So what's so good about this fire truck then Scarlet - what does it do? Is it based on a tv character or anything?

I feel like I'm even out of fashion with kids stuff!

Generic I was able to have an 8 week scan at my local EPU and it made a massive difference to how I felt psychologically. If I'd been refused one I defintely would've paid for a private one. I wouldn't have one before 8 weeks though. With my second MC I had one at 6 weeks and everything was fine which gave me a false sense of security because I then had another MC just over a week after that.

Obviously that's not going to happen to you, but if you can wait until 8 weeks the chances of anything going wrong from then on are reduced dramatically. If you're having to pay for it and you had it before 8 weeks you might be tempted to pay for another one to make sure things are progressing. If you have it at 8 everything should be in the right place with a little heart pumping away.

If you have the choice of bringing your 12 week NHS one forward instead of an early one just make sure they can still do the nuchal measurements if you were opting for that.

Hope that all makes sense.

Seconded about waiting until 8 weeks if poss. The chance of a mc comes down to

No Biscuits it's not on TV. It's a fire engine that makes loads of noises, you can change it's shape so it stands up like a robot and sings and dances. Overpriced probably like most battery operated toys, but DH seems to think that DS will love it. Given that it's the only present DH has chosen for anyone this year it would be nice to be able to get it. It has very good reviews and the low stock everywhere seems to suggest that it's popular this year.

Oh, now I want one!

Bugger! It sounds cool!

Oh and dream that makes total sense about generic's high HCG. You know when the results of today's test come back - would the level / increase from last week give any indication as to whether it's a multipack of mini colas in there?

Oh and it has a water cannon that it fires out balls from

Great news re minihawther's weight! Not long for you now (are you sick of hearing that yet?)

Dream thanks for the info re vanishing twin syndrome - never heard of that. I don't really think it's twins, but I suppose it's something else to think about during these early weeks! LOL at you saying I should get a scan though just so you know!

Scarlet I know what you mean re the must have Christmas present. I never got it until this year when we wanted a balance bike for DD and all the ones we wanted were out of stock or for sale at silly prices. We've ended up with a scooter, which I think is probably better for her anyway. Hope you can get the STFT - I've seen it advertised and it does look fun! I'm so excited about Christmas with DD this year now she is 2.3 and getting excited too about 'Father Missmass'!

Biscuits thanks for your comments re early scan as well. If I did have a private one I would wait until after 8 weeks. When I had a mc earlier this year we found out at my 12 week scan that I'd had a missed mc - ie there was a sac and my uterus had grown so had my belly and I'd had morning sickness but sadly no foetus. It was a real shock and I think this is why I have so much anxiety about waiting for the 12 week scan. Plus like you said, I want the nuchal translucency test, so would need to wait until 12-13 weeks for that, so a scan at 10 weeks or so wouldn't be much help to me. I know I sound like a right moaner, but I would love to have a scan before Christmas and at least console myself with the knowledge that there is something in there! I'm not planning to tell anyone until after the 12 week scan, but I think it would help with keeping it a secret over Christmas if I knew it really did seem to be going OK. Perhaps I'll wait until Wed for the blood results and see how I feel then. Yay for you reaching 24 weeks so soon!

LOL @ multipack of mini colas! I have calculated that my hCG should be between 60,000 and 120,000 based on the assumption that it doubles about every 2-3 days (and it was 15,000 a week ago). Then I need to check that against the ranges for 6 weeks. Having said that, the ranges are very wide so a high level is not really an indication of multiples.

By the way I'm in maternity pants today! I'm so bloated and the nausea is better if I don't have a waistband digging in. I am brooking no argument that I am in fact very slim and this is all down to bloating not cakes. Mind you, I did need a pasty at lunchtime. Pastry is very appealing at the moment when I'm off certain foods. Maybe I should change my name to FullFatCola.

Scarlet I meant to say sorry to hear about your miscarriages. Must have been horrible having a good 6 week scan, then losing the baby anyway. I have had 2 mcs as well and it does make you more anxious. I have to keep reminding myself that the chances are in favour of a good outcome for all of us.

Absolutely Generic. It is tough those first few weeks after your BFP. I didn't make it to the 12 week scan with either of my MCs so at least in my head I had a "target" to reach. You know, "if I just get past 7.5 weeks I'll start feeling more positive" etc. Based on your previous history if you have a scan at 8 weeks and see a baby with a hearbeat you will feel so much better. I think around £100 is around average for a private scan.

I should also change my name to full fat cola. It's my drink of choice now. I've been so healthy with my drinks started with shandy then went to Lucozade and now full fat coke. I do limit it to one can a day though as I'm conscious of caffeine intake.

oh generic, how horrible to have the scan and no foetus... can't wait for your HCG result so we can start guessing on how many are in your minicola multipack . From the Amwrican Pregnancy Association Website:

6 weeks LMP: 1,080 - 56,500 mIU/ml

so if yours is 60-120, 000 that's great!!!! (and high).

I'm going for generic for twins!!! or triplets.

ANd purple, I put bump pic on, where's yours?! or anyone else's?!