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 noticed it jen! but I keep being a) self obssesed and b) forgetful and not commenting!

Hurray jaggy! Glad it was all fine. So sweet how excited your DS is. Can't believe he sat so nicely in the scan and didn't want to run around in a whole 20 minutes or so- I can't imagine that ever happening for me at this 15-month-old point in time.... but it gives me hope! Does he mind if he has a brother or a sister? Has he stated a preference!?

I think it's meconium we haven't heard from- musical is MW and/or anaesthetist this week I think.

I feel almost left out of the 5th Jan fun . My January scan is on the 26th. Still busy counting down to my 29th Dec one first though. Then I'm onto 2 a month

Lovely your MW appointment was good and heartbeat-tastic biscuits, hope you get a good nights sleep.

oh, and I urgently need a name change, full stop. Dreamfeeder was an ironic, haha kind of name- did anyone else wake up panicking they'd fallen asleep feeding and their DC was under the covers/in bed somewhere?! oh, the bad old days!!!! An actual dream feed would never have worked for us- DD was refluky so needed holding up for 30 min after every feed, and only went 2 hours all night every night... hence why I got into an exhausted panic so much!

Name suggestions?!? I really, really can't apply my brain any more today. I don't think it is feasible for me to go back to work after the twins- the caseload is too high to do properly on my part time hours, I stay late both days and barely catch up and don't think I could do it with three at home when I'd have to go bang on time to help with multiple-child bedtime... and as a result of my mere 2 days I'm totally brain drained!!!

All your name changes are better than mine though. The Easter name change stayed until Dec so who knows how long I'll have this one for!

Yay to Jaggy and curtsey to DRFishcake - you brainbox!

I too want a Jan 5th appointment!

meconium does begin with an m.... I was sort of close!

He ran around for the last one so i was expecting that dream! DH and DS missed the first couple of minutes, was prob only in about 15 mins total as they were in a rush to get appointments done to get home out of the windy weather.

He doesn't seem to have a preference of brother or sister. He quite often says brother because he likes to read this and this and both end up with little brothers.

Oh yeah I did the waking up panic thing and am still a worry pants. What'll I be like with 2 to worry about.

I have no idea for a name change, the only mad thought that scrambled across my brain was 'LetsGetPhysio' WTF?

Hi ladies

Too I'm glad your bean's condition sounds so manageable. I'm sorry it hasn't gone away, and it was such a shock for you. As everyone else has said though, hopefully your little one will barely notice it when she's here!

Congrats to Jaggy on a good scan! Your DS sounds so sweet!

I hope Meconium is out there somewhere celebrating a good scan!

Super congrats to DrFishcake as well! That's such a massive achievement! Well done!!

Random story for you ladies. I was unfortunately on Oxford St earlier (following a nearby client meeting) and I was walking down to the nearest station. I went past a woman who was walking along with her toddler walking next to her, he must have been only 2 or 3, absolutely teeny to not be in a pushchair. Anyway as I walked past for absolutely no reason he suddenly reached up and punched me right in the stomach!! I couldn't believe it! They were both gone in a second, and it was so hectically busy on the street I don't think his mother even saw what he did. I literally couldn't believe it though! Of all the places to catch me as well, my stomach!!

I have to confess my first thought was "I hate kids!" although I did immediately realise the irony of that thought! Anyways, that was my random story!

Bonkers scream that is totally weird!

Don't worry they're not all like that If you were accosted in the street by my DS he'd most likely say 'hello lady! I got blankie!' or some such commentary. :) Most other wee ones I have met are pretty cute too.

There does seem to be 'always one' at toddlers who wind everyone up and pinches toys from other bairns, he seems to be trying to drag his mum's attention away from her cuppa and biscuit though....

Amazin amazingly gorgeous scan today :)
Baby all perfect, measuring spot on, all bits present and correct. Was so cute, lots of hiding face behind hands, wiggling little skinny limbs, amazing how much they change in 8 weeks. Got such a good photo, can see little kissy lips and button nose :) And, held strong and resisted the urge to find out gender, had a bit of a wobble in car but so pleased i didnt now. Seems mad thats it til birth day now.
Hope everyone is well, am posting and running as having a gavin and stacey fest and stuffing face by way of celebration of great scan. Feel a great sense of relief to have all clear on the anomaly scan, like its REAL and theres going to be a baby :)
so happy

Congrats Meconium! That's great news! Enjoy your veg-out celebration, sounds perfect!

Glad you had a good scan Meconium .

So we have quite a bunch of UBBs (unidentified borking beans) now then? Me, Scarlet, Jaggy, Meconium. Anyone else? Then we know Purple is having a boy and Too and Scream girls? Am I right about that Scream?

Pomme do you know what you're having? What about Hawthers and Tilder?

I'm sure I'll have missed plenty of people who have gone past the 20 week mark so could know one way or the other? it's too early for my brain to be up to much...

Oh, and of course Dream's boys! Fishcake - do you know?

Scanning down the list there are a few names we've not heard from in a while - never know if some are lurking though.

Oh, and DH suggested last night that, whilst abstaining from alcohol over Christmas, maybe I should try mulled Gaviscon as my tipple of choice

Ubb here too. Was the same for ds but had a bizarre random urge at my last scan to find out then thought ffs i'm 37 weeks pg - surely I can wait so managed to restrain.

After months of keeping everything crossed and keeping the baby in, I just want to go into labour NOW. Keep getting excited about every single vague approximate signn but still nada. Any ideas how I can entertain a 2 and a bit year old without doing too much lifting if running? My sheer bulk these days is making it rather hard to manoeuvre and I don't want to go too far from home.

Another girl over here - think that was all we know as I remember thinking when dream announced her boys that it was all nice and even at 3-3 now!

I am far too impatient to NOT find out. I truly can't imagine waiting the whole 40 weeks not knowing. Both ours have been pretty much named at 20 weeks as well .

Mulled gaviscon and cheddar rather than red wine and camembert is NOT the things that festive cheer are made of imo! This is my second xmas in three not drinking.

Dd asleep and dh had his work xmas party last night and stayed at a premier inn (cheaper than a taxi!) - however he has to be back at eight to leave me lots of time to get to the hospital in rush hour for my scan. Please don't let him have drunk too much and forgotten his alarm!

great news meconium! i am quite smily too now. :)

i have to say hawthers i actually lol at "FFS i am 37 weeks pg - surely i can wait"

hope it's not too long a wait and you know soon. :)

entertainment wise...a giant pile of stickers and cbeebies?

Eek pomme hope your DH turns up on time!

i prefer the gaviscon tablets so mulled ones may be out...

I'm off to gather my strength before toddler group this morning...

So glad the scans all went well yesterday. Menconium, that sounds so sweet! jaggy, glad DS was so well behaved - sounds like a rareity from the scan + DD/DS stories I've heard!

Too, sorry about LO's kidney - but if the consultant wasn't concerned then clearly it can't be too much of an issue? I have an aunt who donated a kidney a while ago, and seems to run completely normally on one - and that's with a body that wasn't used to just having one functioning! :)

Congratulations to DrFishcakes - I'm very jealous ;) Wanted to do my PhD a couple of years ago, but found it nigh on impossible to get any reasonable funding...

Generic, haven't commented for a few days, but congratulations on the HCG :)

Scream, saw this a few days ago and may have got it wrong, but am I right you're thinking of Brussels or Brugges for your final holiday as a twosome? When abouts is that? We're also thinking of the same thing - probably also to one of those two - around Feb half term! Wanted to pick somewhere where neither DH or I had been...

Sorry I've been lurking and not posting (again!). I have a question for you lovely no-brookers though. I currently have four jobs (!), and am having a problem with one of them - a one day a week teaching job. They told me earlier in the week that I wouldn't be entitled to maternity pay, which is fine as I don't earn over the threshold for them. However, they also told me yesterday that I won't be entitled to paid time off for antenatal appointments because I'm a "sessional worker". I'll dig out my contract later (working from home!), but I'm not sure how right this is, though suspect it may well be. I've already had to miss some teaching for one, which I then made up by doubling up lessons...

My problem is that I only work for them on Fridays, and that I think my midwife is only around here on a Friday. I can't make up the hours at other times because they operate a silly system, and the only other times I'm available don't work with the school. My question is this: Should I just give in my notice? DH and I have discussed it, but are undecided. They're my worst employer anyway- disorganised, AWFUL CPD sessions (in comparison to my other teaching agencies!), and this is pushing me over the edge. I think I get midwife appointments at 24, 28 and 32 weeks, all of which would mean taking a bit of time off of teaching due to when the midwife's around, and the distance I live from the school (about an hour). It might mean getting in teaching cover, which is no good for the kids. If I worked my notice I'm not sure if it's a half term or a month... It's really sad, as it's a lovelylovely school, and lovelylovely children, but the agency's so stupid.

About to head out to see the midwife (finally for my 16w appointment, at 17+5!) - will get her opinion too. I suppose dropping a day's teaching - so down to four days a week - at half term, which would be around 24 weeks wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea...

Sorry for the rant :( Hopefully I'l come back from the midwife later feeling somewhat more cheered...

Hi Musical nice to see you! Sorry to hear that your Fri employer is being so annoying! That sounds so frustrating and not entirely legal!! I'm not sure whether they're right about the "sessional worker" thing but I would certainly look into it further! It sucks that the agency is so annoying they might end up making you quit a nice school! Hope you manage to get to the best outcome for you though, and soon!

DH and I are planning to go to Bruges, and it won't be long after you! We're planning to go the first weekend after I leave work, although right now I'm dithering between leaving work at 31 weeks or 32 weeks. I think I'll probably end up staying on until 32 weeks, even though that means starting my official maternity leave at 37 weeks which is NOT in keeping with my positive mental attitude goal of 36 weeks! 32 weeks for me is the first weekend in March, although we might go mid-week because I think Bruges might be cheaper mid-week and DH's job is very flexible.

Ooooo thanks for the gender summary Biscuits! I can never keep track of that kind of thing. You're right my bean (or mango according to my "what to expect" app!) is apparently a a girl based on the 16 week scan. Waiting (and waiting and waiting!) for my 21 week scan in ten days' time to see if they confirm the gender.

I'm also mourning the lack of mulled wine this xmas! Although I've promised myself one glass on xmas day itself (I've been totally abstaining so far). Somehow mulled gaviscon just doesn't cut it.... Besides, gaviscon isn't even sufficient for heartburn!! I miss Zantac....

Hope mw was okay musical! Hope you sort out your annoying Friday people too. Brook no argument! Good work to meconium too on a good 20 week scan and healthy ubb!

Dh got back in time and scan was good - her tummy has grown loads so everyone happy and no need for more scans till 34 weeks now. Yay! She is breech though so needs to turn around in the next few weeks sharpish!

DH is however now sleeping. He had totally failed to dress dd and had had cbeebies on all morning. Men...

Glad your scans went well meconium and pomme.

I've been trying to think of a better name for biscuits but have failed miserably and thought of one for scream instead. It's not that great but I have to mention it. ScreamIfYouWantToMeetSanta

Jen I love it! I shall wear the new name with pride! By the way, I did notice your shiny new xmas name as well, but I usually post from my iphone which means I always forget the specific things I wanted to respond to before I finish drafting my message! Clearly you are the xmas name queen

:o

Fab scan news Meconium and Pomme - I am brooking no argument that miniapple will turn before the big day.

Love the new festive names - aany ideas for me Jen?

That's great news, Pomme :)

Midwife appointment went well. Measurements all good, and heard the heartbeat - yay! Good to know things are going ok in there. Next appointment is a scan on the 4th.

Jen, I noticed your festive name too, but have the same problem as Scream - often posting from my phone, and I have a tendancy to forget lots of the things that happened before.

Thanks for the words about work Scream and Pomme. All my other employers are lovely thankfully :D About to check the contract, but my midwife appointments will always be on Fridays, so it doesn't look good. Seems a bit unfair on the kids for them to have a different teacher every 4th week (I know it doesn't work out like that, but you know what I mean!). I'm considering starting maternity 'leave' (unpaid!) with them as soon as I can, just to lessen the stress of it all- and not returning, obviously :D

Scream, mid-week is a good idea. My DH can book time off for next year as of Jan, so think we'll try and get the middle of half term maybe! Very excited about booking something - we haven't been away properly since our honeymoon a couple of years back...

By the way, mulled wine lovers - someone on another thread mentioned that Ikea is selling quite tasty non-alcoholic mulled wine? I'm guessing if they are, it may well be available in other places too? As someone who's not really a fan of mulled wine (or wine! yet..) I'm personally not too bothered, but I know some people adore it!

So pleased to hear your scan was good Meconium.

pomme yay for your scan too. Great that your LO is growing and everyone is happy. DS stayed breech right up until 38 weeks when I went in for an ECV (manual rotation if you're not aware). I'm brooking that your LO will turn by then but if you end up choosing an ECV there aren't any risks, it's just a tad uncomfortable.

Musical how stressful for you that work are not wanting to cooperate about your appointments. I'm not sure whether they are right or not. If it turns out that they are, would you consider changing midwives so you could attend another day? I suppose it depends how reliant on the money you are. If you're happy to drop to 4 days it would be nice to have a long weekend. If you can't afford to go to 4 days then you could change midwives and see her on a day where you'd be getting paid during your appointments by one of your other employers? I know that sounds a bit sneaky, but you've got to look out for yourself first. NHS community midwives are always being swapped around anyway, so if even if you stayed with the one you're currently seeing there's no guarantee she'll be your midwife all the way through. Do you see her at your GP surgery? I'm not sure if you're able to see a midwife at another surgery without changing GPs so I might be completely overthinking this anyway. I hope you get it sorted anyway, you could do without the stress.

DH and I went out for a meal last night. Decided last minute as PIL offered to look after DS because they knew we'd not been out together for yonks. While we were waiting to be seated the waitress asked how many we'd booked for. I said 2. She put both hands aroung my bump and said "are you sure it's not a table for 4?" I'm not one for being bothered about people touching my bump or making comments if they know me and know that I'm pregnant. But this was a complete stranger! Thank goodness I am pregnant or I'd have been mortified. The good news is at least I now look pregnant rather than just fat! The bad news is I'm only 21 weeks, how can I possibly look like there's more than one in there, enough for a stranger to comment on the size of it?

What was wrong with my little festive smileys? Can someone tell me what I did wrong? They look right to me.

I think they're broken - Currently I'm blaming Smegs on the ttc for breaking it!

wonder if the non festive ones work

[woulddoafestivesmilehere]