February 2014. The cake mix is in the mug, the microwave is on, it's slowly rising and we'll be pinging in three more months!

[Shropshiremummy2B]

Sadly my cake mix is rising too much and resulting in a serious muffin top.

Eeyore what an absolute nightmare. Yes, get union involved!

Feeling a bit bummed/stressed right now. Another day of much weaker movements, so I eventually called the hospital about it. I mentioned that I hadn't been able to feel 10 kicks in an hour and very officious woman (NOT midwife) snapped "well where did you hear that?" I said "online" - realised it's just something I've assimilated from reading about Count the Kicks campaign, etc. She then said a bit snidely "is this your first baby then?"

Lovely midwife then came on who said don't worry, it's probably just that baby's changed position... it just feels wrong, you know? Argh. People always say follow your intuition but my intuition is to be a bit of a worry wart :)

Sorry for memememe!

Sorry the lady was such a cow bag marzi. I hope you're feeling a bit more reassured now. I think it's quite common for movements to still be a bit sporadic but it doesn't stop it being a worry. I hope you get some big kicks soon to properly put your mind at rest.

I've just had my first bladder kicks - she's definitely shifted herself today. Think I should wear an emergency Tena lady tomorrow just incase!

marzi how mean of that lady, you're totally right to trust your instincts.

Sorry about my grump earlier. I've got a plan of action now so I feel much better. I do love a plan.

I get kicked much more on some days than others - I think the more I'm on my feet then the less kicks I get/feel but if I'm sat down a lot then I get booted more! So maybe that's true for some of you too?

I will be getting the whooping cough jab - I have whatever is going unless my bf (a hospital pharmacist and daughter of 2x GP's) tells me not to! My mw did mention that this jab has been given to all pregnant women in America as a matter of routine for the last 5 years.

eyeroish sorry to hear your boss is continuing to be an arse. YY to get unions involved. GRRRR.

Movement: Yes I only feel baby wriggling when I am sat down still. This is apparently why babies like to be rocked to sleep in the big wide world - our walking/movement rocks them to sleep in utero. Also, tapping their bottoms reminds them of our heart beats as their bums (hopefully) spend so much time up there :)

Baby always kicks if I lie on my back - can't decide if they are enjoying it or pissed off? We worry when we can't feel them and worry when we can

Sorry not all pregnant women in America obvs!

eeyore I can't get over how much holiday you could potentially be losing! It's part of your renumeration package - if you do lose it then you surely must be owed some money at the very least? Hope the union help your boss see sense!

marzi sympathies for you... go with your gut.

DH's work is useless when it comes to holidays. We have tonight had to sit down and plan when he will take his annual leave for the whole of 2014. His boss can't deal with managing people so he likes to have the whole year mapped out by Christmas. It's rubbish. But at least I'll be off most or all of the year.

Midwife appointment today went well. Everything as it should be apparently but I had a trace of protein in my wee sample. Said not enough to worry about but of course now I am! She told me off for not booking my anti-D appointment yet so am under strict instructions to phone to book it tomorrow (not needed until 1st week in Dec) and if I can't get it for that week in Dec I have to phone her urgently so she can refer me for a special appointment! Felt like a naughty schoolgirl who hadn't done her homework... silly me for thinking a month's notice for an appointment would be ok...

Cake update - I am now on the next level of indulgence. Mince pies. Mmm...

Was anyone else told at their booking in appt that they needed to book a heart and lung test with the doctor? I haven't heard anything about it since.

Marzi It's 10 kicks in 2 hours and you can tell that cow it's written in RCOG guidelines! What a bitch. I hate this 'it's your first baby, shut up' condescending attitude.

Petty Haha, I also wonder if I can feel him kick in that position because he doesn't like it!

missk nct sales are fab, or at least the ones in Cambridge were. For those even as members you needed to be there 30+ mins before the nct time to be near the front as that q in itself was mental. Equipment goes first, so if there is two of you, split finding what you want between you and do that first. We picked up a little life carrier at one for £20 that was still on sale in shops for £160. If you hesitate it will go.

Top tip especially for boys stuff where there is just less choice, pick loads of stuff, then go through it properly.

I went to a toy one last week and picked up a fisher price playgym for £7.50 which is on Amazon at nearly £50. Plus some bits for ds.

For those in the north east, there is one in Sunderland on the 22 or 23 Nov. It's on their website.

Durk don't think about size and how you get it out, just go with it. DS was 9lb 4, the midwife thought he was about 8lb when he came out (long n skinny), then she weighed him. Then she congratulated me and got me a mug of tea! Now I've laid myself open for repeating birth in the same stubborn/mental manner as my delightful friends put it.

Ooh thanks cam may have to nip along to that!

It's Saturday 23rd 10:30-12 (10.15 if a member). At Fulwell Methodist Church Hall, Sunderland. £1 entry.

No idea how big it is, the ones in Cambridge are held in a massive sports hall!

We will possibly see you there. we'll also be chasing a 2 yr old around hall

Aw thanks for all being so lovely :) And you are all right that things are likely to still be very sporadic at this stage.

And julietee thanks for letting me know that - actually someone very kindly linked to the RCOG guidelines a while back so I should have remembered!

I think I am probably being a bit over paranoid, it just feels like it's been such a battle getting this far! But got my 28 wk midwife appointment next Tues so at least I can discuss all my (deranged) concerns with someone then :)

jazz I'm glad your appointment went well. I do seem to remember reading somewhere that bits of protein can get through quite easily when pregnant so it's probably all good if she wasn't worried (says the world's biggest worrier...)

There's an NCT sale near us on Saturday, I'm definitely thinking about braving it. Are there usually prams?

littlepanda the room will look nice, just get rid of the orange/yellow blind, as that will not be great with the rest! pale blues/white/grey with some wood will be lovely, although you might consider painting the wood white as well if you have time, or perhaps put on a laquer/oil thingy for a slightly different colour. Depends if the pine is yellow or not :)

Dunno if I'm having a vaccine or not - not heard anything about it, perhaps it's not common here. No idea :)
Little one is kicking my bladder obsessively -.- He can kick anywhere else and I don't mind, just not there, it makes me jolt with every kick :p

littlepanda I love the grey and bright sunshine yellow combo.

When not pg, newborn sleepsuits look cute and tiny, but as Feb approaches, they are looking fecking huge and scary. Seriously, hold one over your belly

marzi the ones I've been to, they have had loads of prams. In fact pretty much everything, including second hand dummies why?
head straight for them though.

uhm guys, I'm going to midwife tomorrow for 24 week apt, but have to bring a urine sample....what do I put it in? O.o I have either a small glass jar (that contained some vitamins before) ooor a plastic drinking bottle :P what to doo.

I will be having the whooping cough vaccine. The benefits out way the risks in my opinion.
I have my 28 week appt/anti D on Tuesday and I've been told the anti D hurts!! I'm not good with needles!

jazz I also had protein in one of my samples and they were concerned it might be a uti but my consultant said its very common, especially if you have discharge, and at the next sample 5 days later it was clear.

I have a couple of odd questions...

Ok, you know when you're lying on your side and (at least for me) nearly half the bump on that side is pressed into the mattress - is that squishing them? I ask because LO must have just got a bit bigger and I'm feeling him dance on the part of the bump that's pressing into the mattress. And I'm paranoid.

Also - So, the babies drink the amniotic fluid, right? Well, do they wee it back into the fluid, or does it get delivered into our systems and we wee it out? Not concerned about that, obviously, just interested :D

Laura I'm also shite with needles. I've got through the most recent blood test by flicking through photos on my phone. Which make me happy, and so distract from whatever's going on.