September 2013 - Definitely in the third trimester now!

[badguider]

New thread... will try to find the stats thread and link...

Ah Mooster I'm looking forward to my NCT classes. Every appt at the twin clinic they drill into me how strongly they recommend an epidural (at least!) - ELCS will depend on the babies' positions two weeks today.

You would think that their chat would be a bit more standardised and more neutral. I think it's rely unfair (and inappropriate) of them to try and talk particularly first time mums into one thing or another. What suits some people is not going to suit others, but it would be good to know the unbiased pros and cons of each.

Bloody hell - With twins, I'd demand a general anaesthetic!

Oh great, I cant wait for the classes now! My dh already thinks its easy as my DSIL just plopped her last one out and has done nothing but spout about how easy it was and what an amazing experience she'd had drug free. . Of course that was her third and she never talks about the other two, I wonder why!

Emma just been in and i actually had a diiferent mw this time....the other one was useless...so useless that she wrote my blood group down as b- even tho it's b+!!! Certainly had me confused when this one tried to offer me anti-d! Thankfully it's been corrected now, and altho I had a lot more faith in this one, I decided to limit the number of holes in my arm so he's given me the forms to get it done at the hospital on Friday :-)

Getting my whooping cough done by the practice nurse in a couple of weeks.

ready hopefully its a different nurse, or they've sent her for retraining! If its not Im just gonna refuse if she takes the needle out after the 1st tube. Im not good at being assertive with medical people so might just fake feeling faint or something, see if I can get it done at hospital!

I wanted to ask what the situation is with scans for you, we only get a 12 week and then 20 week over here unless there's some cause for concern, is that the same all over the UK?

Ordered my changing bag yesterday from Mamas and Papas. lovely JJ Cole bag that's fairly unisex for DP to use.
www.mamasandpapas.com/product-jj-cole-mode-ash-woodland/1306j6200/type-i/

Decided on Maclaren Techno XLR and to take advantage of the Kiddicare 15% off which MIL is buying us.

Had a big clearout and discussion about what we need to prepare at weekend which relieved the stress as feeling like I was doing most things on my own.

Had a very emotional moment on Sat evening as we discussed song playlists for labour and burst into tears as DP put on Take That - Greatest Day (listen to the lyrics!), then became inconsolable as I told DP I wanted him to be the one to put our baby in my arms for the first time.

All feeling very real now!! Little one is wriggling around regularly now which is lovely - keep staring at my jumping bump!

Sorry for tmi, but has anyone else been extra gassy recently? Mine has been like clock work, every afternoon, regardless of what I eat/ don't eat, and it's really annoying! As if heartburn isn't bad enough!

There's a baby constantly rubbing up against our digestive systems....I think gas is inevitable!

Kim: how many weeks are you? I mentioned to my midwife today about a hospital tour. She said to just ring the hospital and book in but don't want to seam too eager

DH did me a play list for DD but I didn't get to listen to it in the end due to the circumstances at the time.

He put Ian Brown 'Set my baby free' on it

Perhaps will try again this time if I get my Vbac.

My 'Ready Steady Baby' book (the one that the nhs gives us in Scotland) says something about Child Benefit today and I realised I don't know how the new system works.

I think my husband might just make £50k if you include his car allowance and shares/dividends and pension etc... All I can find online is that if he makes more than £50k and we claim then he'll have to do a self-assessment tax return.. does that mean that we'll have all that paperwork just to end up paying the money back again in tax the following January?

I won't need the NI credits you get by applying because I'm going to keep paying my self-employed NI payments as I'm only taking three months totally off and it'll be less than £50 total for those three months to keep my NI record.

YY to gassy. Uncontrollable. Lovely.

emma I think you're right that it's usually just 12 and 20 weeks for scans. I have lots because I have a weird thyroid (but they're less exciting now because all they want to do is measure things so I never get to see the nice exciting pictures where it actually looks like a baby, just lots of cross sections of her tummy).

badguider I believe it's a sliding scale after £50k, so there is money in it if he's earning under £60k...just not very much!

Just found this which is quite helpful:

www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/tax/9781037/Child-benefit-how-to-beat-the-tax.html

Always good to know we have to add tax returns to the list of things to get ur head round when having a baby...

Thanks again all for the hanging bag tips earlier - cant remember who suggested the wallaboo but that's what we've gone for, in black www.wallaboo.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/c/h/changing_bag_nore_baby_black_2011_3.jpg

Awwww LCR bless you Ive not given labour music a thought at all...reckon I'll take my iPhone and some speakers and see how the mood takes me - depending how painful it is I might appreciate a bit of heavy rock/metal!!

Thanks, that's really helpful. We'll see if DHs 'adjusted net income' drops below £50k when he starts claiming childcare vouchers, if it doesn't then I don't think we'll claim as paying back would just be a big pain and come at exactly the same time as my self-employed tax bill each year too.

mammagnomes - im 31 weeks tomorrow :) I had to arrange the tour myself directly with the hospital. We rang about 3 weeks ago to book ours because our local hospital seems to get booked up really quickly (which doesnt fill me with confidence for the big day!).
How far along are you?

badguider you got me reading up on this now...u need to fill out the form regardless for state pension & baby NI number & then opt out of receiving the actual payments if u don't want to be stuck with a tax bill.

Such a pain, unfortunately it's not a straightforward decision for us as my income fluctuates depending on my bonus....and DH will be taking a pay cut from april when he goes on additional pat leave. Might have to just stick it in an account & be prepared to pay it back....either that or decide it's just not worth the hassle!

It's bloody ridiculous isn't it ready? I am s-e and do self-assessment every year without difficulties but this is just a whole other level of confusing...
I don't need the NI credits towards pension etc as i'm going to keep paying s-e NI contributions throughout as i'm only taking three months completely off work and it's easier than stopping and re-starting...
But I don't know how we work out dh's 'adjusted net income' as he gets some kind of weird company shares which i'm sure are a benefit (even though we never see any income from them) but no idea if they're taxable and we also don't know what the tax relief on his pension is...

Yep, think I'll just admit defeat & tick the 'please don't give me any money but do give my child an NI number so they don't end up cursing me in 16 years time' box.

I'm sure we've discussed if before but what do Braxton Hicks feel like? Tummy feeling odd tonight....

Mooster and bear - your bidding against me on the baby bjorn a too but am now leaning towards a new once seeing as they go for so much second hand. Means I can sell it when I'm done. I want a wooden toy too!!

Thanks for the backache tips ladies, I've actually found myself in that position trying to alleviate the pain a couple of times over the last 2 weeks - glad to know it even has a yoga name!
As for changing bags, I was informed tonight that my siblings are going in together to buy us this:
Yummmy Mummy which is lovely as our Mamas & Papas one from 2010 has certainly seen healthier days! Looking forward to owning a wipe-clean bag!