We will brook no argument for a boring, uneventful, blooming pregnancy; followed by a perfectly-timed pain-free sneeze birth; vol 5

[ScreamIfYouWantToMeetSanta]

Hi No Brookers! I do hope this has worked and is in the right place...

I've added a few extra sofas so we have plenty of space for all the Rat Smackers who will be joining us soon. There's also a nice long table filled with mince pies, yule logs, gingerbread snowmen and xmas puds! Plus some non-alcoholic mulled wine. I've strategically positioned a few clean glittery vom buckets under the table, just in case it's still a bit too early for xmas munchies for some people!

As you were...

Hi all! It was nice to hear some positive sleep stories! DH and I are now thinking about doing a big road trip around California when the baby is 5/6 months, so I'm hoping that the LO will be a good sleeper!

Sorry to hear about the puking incident Dream that sounds awkward! Yay for it being your DH's turn to get up tonight!

Best of luck to those with scans coming up. I'm absolutely petrified of my 21 week scan next week! Fingers crossed (and lots of Brooking No Argument) that we're all stressing for no reason at all!

I don't know anything about it Ninja but I can vaguely remember my SIL had this during her pregnancy a few years ago. I think she was retested and then it was fine the second time. I don't remember her saying she had to have any treatment for it or had to do anything after the second test. Might be a good idea to post on the pregnancy board? I bet there'll be people over there who can give you more info.

dream, glad DD was slightly better the night before last - hope she was even better last night. Sorry to hear about your puking incident - but at least you were in the right place! Being able to see the babies kicking out of your stomach sounds amazing - I know I'd try and be polite and not stare, but actually wouldn't be able to resist if I were your colleagues...!

Jazzy glad you've got a date through, and that it's not too much longer to wait! :)

Feeling much worse today. Was up every 30mins to an hour last night, and getting a lot of abdominal pain. Will be phoning the GP surgery as soon as it opens and hoping to nab an appointment today. Today is my day off (apart from a class this evening, which I'm not sure I'll be going to now), so I should still be tucked up in bed, but after making three trips after 6am I thought I might as well just get up

Actually wondering if the abdominal pain could be braxton hicks? It says they're brought on by dehydration (as well as a zillion other things), and it wouldn't surprise me if I were, despite the amount of water I've been trying to guzzle.

Ninja - also don't know anything about platelets, but googled and found this? I am sure though if the mw is happy to just test again in 4 weeks that the levels can't be too low. Just something they need to keep a watch on. If she said not to worry and was happy to leave it and just test in 4 weeks then she probably really doesn't think it's something to worry about and that article says if they're just a little in the low side they would just test again to see if they're dropping it not.

Scan day today though, no? GOOD LUCK!!! Brooking and waiting to hear how it goes xx

Musical, you poor poor thing!!!! Definitely sounds wise to just get checked out by the doctor if you can. Hope they can get you an appointment ASAP. If you've been doing the normal things associated with tummy bugs that will no doubt make your abdominal muscles ache so might well bring on BH just from 'over use' of the muscles iyswim (not that you have much choice about using them!). Hope they can put your mind at rest a bit though - do take care xx

Oh musical, exhaustion, tummy pain and stomach bug is hard enough when not pg, you poor thing. I hope you get a Dr appt quick. If you are a bit dehydrated diarolyte made me feel miles better in the earlier days of this pregnancy. Might be good if you can't eat too. Hope last night was the worst part and it starts getting better today.

Will be back to check how well your scan goes ninja, hooray for scan day!

Tired, but dd slept from 3am to 7, so pretty good. Dh did all getting up- with her anyway. Of course, I did all usual toilet trips/ gaviscon glugging and other irritating sleep-disturbing rituals of pg...

Oh and ninja, a blood test for me came back v low white cells once- checking for something else. Dh scoffed so much I didn't even get it rechecked. I really wouldn't worry about one low result, see in 4 weeks when hopefully it'll be normal!

Thanks dream and Biscuits. Managed to get a doctor's appointment for 10.10 - hurrah. I always feel a bit odd asking for an 'emergency' appointment, but the receptionist was most helpful. Thanks for the diarolyte tip dream - I'm guessing it can't hurt! I've managed to eat prettily heathily over the past couple of days, but how much of it's actually done any good is anyone's guess.

Realised I forgot to update on my hospital appointment with the anaesthetist yesterday. They reviewed all the notes from both pregnancy and from previous MRI scans, and think that the disc problem shouldn't cause too many problems as the one affected is very low down - much lower than where they'd place an epidural or spinal. He did say there was a chance it might not work - but I suppose that's true of everyone!

Ninja, brooking for you and will be keeping an eye out for your scan news!

Brooking for Ninja today - enjoy your scan and hope the low platelets aren't anything to worry about.

Musical rest today and get well soon.

Dream hope you are coming through the illness now and your DD will get better soon - good that she had a chunk of sleep.

I saw this link and thought of all you PSEPPs who aren't yet out of the closet (so to speak). Some excellent lines here!

Sorry, rant coming up! As you may remember I have been having problems with my heating and finally got it fixed on Tuesday , £500 pounds gone out of the Christmas/baby fund! Tuesday evening car won't start, mechanic came out today and said it is cam belt so another expensive bill we really can't afford!also,not likely to be fixed before Christmas:(. I had to use train to take DS2to hospital app, (opposite end of town to station) walk to uni to hand in assignment, walk to opposite side of town to gives X rays to dentist and then all the way back to the station! Shattered now and just hope nothing else goes wrong as we just can't afford it. Arrgh! Gimme a break. Ok and breathe, rant over

Oh wants that sucks. Things ALWAYS break when there's no mon ey to mend them. My car's the worst for that.

Dying to hear Ninja's (good) news.

Jazzy - Not long now - it'll be a lovely late Xmas pressie.

Here, dd slept last night and we had a lovely morning. However dh is being forced to choose between two jobs today and current boss being quite aggressive with him. There is also a big redundancy cheque involved which we need and I feel people are trying to diddle him out of. Stressful! This bollocks has dominated the whole of this pg and I am sick of it. Rant over now from me too.

Anyone else need a rant?

Yes I could do with a bit of a rant too today - thanks for the prompting Pomme

So, the bank's fraud team calls me this morning asking me to confirm if I've tried to make some certain transactions using my card. I haven't. Cue massive freak out and me being uber paranoid about this sort of thing will not take their word for it unless I ring them back on a number I know to be the bank. Several phone calls later it's confirmed someone has been trying to use my card number fraudulently . Thank goodness my bank are on the ball and they declined the transactions but I now have no bank card to use until my new one arrives. Will that be this year or next?

DS is to be referred for some speech therapy through our GP. This was agreed and arranged last week. A letter from the GP arrives this morning saying I need to arrange another appointment to sign some forms. I called and ask if I could just call in and sign said forms at reception. No I was told, I definitely needed an appointment. This was made for this morning. I rushed us both to get ready and raced up to the doctors (in between phone calls to and from the bank). We were 5 mins early for the appointment. 30 minutes later we're still waiting. Fair enough, I don't expect to be seen on time. But I was mighty miffed when a girl walked in 20 minutes after me and declared herself an hour late for her appointment and then got seen 15 minutes later BEFORE US and we were only there to sign a form which should have been signed last wee

Rant over............

pomme glad your DD slept better. Hope you and your DH manage to come to a decision and do what is best for you.

wants Nothing else will go wrong. The saying that bad luck comes in 3's is rubbish. Pleased to hear you have a nice warm house again.

musical hope you're feeling a bit better?

. Sorry I've forgotten everything else I've read and have now got loads to do because of my wasted morning.

Some great lines there Imps :D

Doctor advised me to take a couple of days off, and rest up at home with lots of diralyte. She also sent some samples back today, though not sure how long they'll take to get back. Resting up means missing a rehearsal tonight and a day of teaching for my horrible employer (!) tomorrow (who won't pay sick pay, quel surprise!), but getting well is more important to me. She checked the baby was fine - who obviously didn't enjoy being checked, as it was wriggling lots after the appointment.

If I'm not better in a couple of days I'm to go back to her, but hoping that won't be necessary!

Wants, that sounds utterly rubbish :( Our old car did exactly the same - needed £700 of work at a time we really couldn't afford it. At least you have heating now though, finaly!

pomme, that's horrible. Why are they trying to diddle him out of his redundancy cheque? It's awful when employers are rubbish, and just create more unneeded stress...hope the situation is rectified in some way or other soon.

Does anyone know when Ninja's scan is/was? :)

Crossed posts Scarlet...

I'm feeling a little better thanks - probably largely due to the fact I'm at home rather than working, which I think didn't help yesterday.

So sorry to hear about the fradulent card - but hurrah on the part of your bank! I think they tend to reissue cards quite quickly in those circumstances. Thankfully its never happened to one of my personal cards, but it has to a business card - was sent out pretty sharpish though I seem to remember!

I hate it when things like that happen at the doctor's surgery. Luckily it all seems to be quite systematic where I am now, but I remember being wound up at numerous episodes of queue jumping at my old one.

Imps love that link - I will be going with 'I tend to get racist after a few drinks'.

Wants that is bad news re everything going wrong at once, but glad you've got your heating fixed.

Pomme your DH's work situation sounds very trying. Hope it is sorted soon.

Oh my goodness Scarlet what a morning for you too! Glad your bank spotted the fraud and stopped the card. A similar thing happened to my mum twice and she got really paranoid about it - it upset her an awful lot. Hope it is sorted soon and smoothly.

Musical I'm glad you are taking some time off, although boo re lack of sick pay.

Just popped in for news of Ninja...

Hello, just a quick one from me, scan was fine and lovely. Baby was definitely there and not my imagination! Sonographer thought measurements looked fine but will get results next week. Just told my mum and dad and my dad burst into tears bless him. They are v chuffed. Due date moved forward by 2 days to 27 jun. Next scan is on Valentine's day.
Be back later, need to go and collect ds from nursery.

Fantastic news re your scan Ninja and how lovely your parents are so delighted.

musical glad you're feeling a little better. A few days off will make all the difference I'm sure.

very very happy to hear your scan news ninja.

Sorry to not name check anyone else, but I'm off out of a Thai meal in a minute. Might use one of Imps' suggestions as to why I'm not drinking!

I'm 6 wks 1 day now. Nothing else to report. Boring.

Hello, I have been awol recently so apologies
I am too lazy to catch up on the end of the last thread did I miss anything?
Glad to hear of the great scans :)

I must admit to feeling some pressure when I squat to do anything which is new, but no pelvic floor problems yet.

Glad your epidural would be fine and your consultant appointment went well Music try and rest up as best you can, you may as well enjoy it. :)

Sorry Dd is ill Dream she will have the immune system of an Ox when all this is finished and will never get ill once the twins are here!

Wants such crap luck! I have had a real patch of this but hopefully it is getting a bit better and it is such a relief!

I am feeling pretty happy atm got a bargain pushchair although my Dad is bringing it when he nexts visits which could be February and I want it now!

My Christmas shopping for the girls is all done, just need to buy some more Christmas food and buy things like smoked salmon nearer the day! Started to get a bit excited!

Now you know how socks go missing, the smaller they are the more likely this is going to happen? Imagine my surprise to find not one, but two of DDs (clean!) socks in the box of Christmas decorations? Odd of course.

I can't actually believe I will be 28 weeks tomorrow, seems only minutes ago I was like 8weeks! Now I am like, quick slow this train down I am not ready yet!

Great scan news Ninja - v v pleased.

Currently sat under a dark cloud of grumpiness with DH, or just H as he might be known now. Supposed to break up for Christmas on Tuesday evening just gone, subject to working Friday and next Tues and Wed. Worked yesterday. Worked today. Probably
working the weekend. Working Monday most likely (which was supposed to be a long standing date for Christmas shopping while DS is at nursery). Plus working Friday, and next Tuesday and Wednesday as previously planned. I know it's crap that he has so much work to do and he'd rather be here and all that. Doesn't stop me sitting here with a face like a slapped arse though.

DH can't see my sour face though, because of course he's still at work

Sorry to not respond to everything else and everyone else. Will do better tomorrow xx

Congrats to Ninja on a good scan, it's such a relief to get that one ticked off! What a lovely Valentines Day pressie for your next one as well.

Scarlet your doc's appt sounds so frustrating! How ridiculous that she was allowed to go in after barely waiting at all, when you were on time and made to wait ages! At my GP they would have told her to either reschedule or wait until the end of the surgery to see if the doc could fit her in at the end. Otherwise what's to deter her from doing exactly the same thing next time!?!

Pomme the job issue for your DH sounds so stressful. I'll be No Brooking that everything turns out for the best in the end, I'm sure it will. Soon this will all be a distant annoying memory whilst you're out enjoying the benefits of the redundancy cheque they will be paying out shortly!

May I jump on the rant bandwagon for a moment? I'm afraid it's BIL for me again. Although he is really annoying in his own right, what drives me up the wall is the way my DH acts about him!! It's like the sun rises and sets on him! I'm absolutely gutted because it turns out that not only is he coming back to the UK for Xmas (from THIS Sunday!!) he's possibly staying here for as long as a month!! To make matters worse, although he usually stays with his girlf when he's over here, this time she'll be out of the country for part of his trip, and DH keeps trying to get me to agree to let him stay at our house instead of "all by himself" at his girlf's place (this is a 31 year old man who has numerous relatives and friends in London, who will be "all by himself" whilst living in a sumptuous flat in zone 1). I'm not going to bore you all senseless with the history of why BIL and I do NOT get on, surely it's sufficient to say that we can't stand each other and why on earth does DH think it's reasonable to ask me to spend so much bloody time with him!! It's actually completely wrecking my anticipation of Xmas, and I LOVE Xmas usually. I just feel stressed out even thinking about the whole week of arguments we have coming up about this. ARGH!!!!

Sorry, I'm done now.

On the plus side I haven't worried about my scan once since DH announced just how long the evil BIL will be over here for. Silver lining anyone?

D'oh! Sorry I'm in such a bad mood I forgot to congratulate Musical on the good news about the epidural still being an option. I'm sorry you're not feeling well but I'm sure some proper rest will have you sorted in no time. It's amazing how much more a bit of sleep and getting rid of some stress can do compared to taking loads of drugs!

Also Wants how irritating that the car would pack up now!?! I know nothing about cam belts but I hope everything is sorted ASAP and works out a lot cheaper than expected. I'm always deeply suspicious that car mechanics are trying to rip me off, but it's probably just because I know nothing about cars! I hope you have a nice mechanic!

It's great to see Purple, I'm glad everything's going well. Also thanks to Imps for the hilarious link! I wish I'd had that before 12 weeks!

Biscuits that's really sucky about your DH (or H!) having to work so much in the run up to Xmas. It sucks for you both. I hope he ends up finishing sooner than he expects, and you get a chance to sort out your Xmas shopping! I think I may be joining you though and adjusting my husband from DH to H as well!

Scream how about a swap - your BIL for Mr Biscuits. I could do with Simeon to come Christmas shopping etc with me, so someone actually on holiday, and you could have Mr Biscuits, who would be a barely there house guest cos he'd be at work all the time?

Sympathies to everyone else for all relevant rants too xx

Simeon? Someone.

At this rate the iPhone will be sleeping in the garden with Mr B if it doesn't start behaving

I should add, I know this week would be super early to finish for Christmas, but (D)H has worked so hard since the summer and this week was actually in place of holiday he didn't get in October.

Ninja, that's brilliant, congratulations on a wonderful scan :)

Thanks Scarlet. I've taken a turn for the worse, but overall better! I'm meant to be going to the theatre tomorrow night, but we'll see. Am then having people over on the Saturday, but they're all good friends and DH will do all the cooking (he always takes over!), so I think that'll be fine as long as I'm on the mend.

Biscuits, sorry to hear about DH's mad amount of work, how annoying :( I have to work Mon, Tues and Thurs next week in school, and Wed from home - not particularly impressed, but leaves me with more holiday in the end I think. I always work quite a bit on projects over the holidays, which is something I suppose I won't be able to do again after this year..!

Scream, so sorry to hear about the stress of BIL potentially staying. Why on earth does your DH not think he's capable of living on his own in his girlfriend's flat for a bit?! Very relieved about the epidural - again, still not planning on having one, but nice to know it's not "ok, we have a problem, you're going under!", and that it's still an option should the gas and air not be enough for me . Just have to get over the idea of the HUGE NEEDLE first! Already feeling mentally and physically much better after a day at home, although still suffering, so hoping I feel even better after tomorrow! Having just written the email telling my horrible employer I want to go on early maternity leave probably helps too!