It's Spring, and the Old Birds are nesting. First hatchlings coming soon!

[stubbornstains]

This started as a TTC thread about a year ago, which, as so many of us C'ed, kind of fizzled out . Since then, we've been joined by many other over-35ers to share the joys and grumbles of pregnancy in our decrepitude, and watch first our pubes, then our feet, disappearing from view.....

Have been monumentally terrible about keeping up with this thread as I hate posting from my tablet as it's a faff and DH keeps hogging the computer. He's just popped out so I am taking advantage while I can.

V jealous of all those with scans coming up - I'm still at that stage (6+4 today) of not really having much to show for pg (apart from the bloating, tiredness and constipation ). I held off making a GP appt as I didn't want to tempt fate so I have that tomorrow as I am now past the stage I got to last time - I know it's no guarantee that I won't MC again but I feel a bit better about life. At least once I've had the GP appt I'll be 'in the system' so get can sort out booking appt and first scan date.

Although I have always been a meat eater, it is only really vegetables that are getting me excited food-wise at the moment so I can see that I may end up following a more veggie regime over the next few months. Any recommendations for tasty dishes that I may not have come across previously? I'm getting particularly drawn to broccoli and spinach (why couldn't I have developed cravings for doughnuts and junk food given that pg is the one time I can go nuts?!).

Happy belated birthday stubborn.

Mmmm...spinach...your midwife will be very impressed! .

Wilted down and mixed with greek yogurt, chopped garlic, lemon and a squizz of olive oil makes a lovely dip....

You can wilt it and mix in crumbled feta, squizz of O.O. and a dash of nutmeg, then either layer it with filo pastry in a big dish or, if you're feeling fancy, make little triangular pastries with the feta- that's a Greek dish called Spankopitta.

Or spinach frittata- fry some onions slowly till caramelised, throw the spinach in till it wilts down, maybe add some cooked potato, then several beaten eggs- stir slowly over a low heat till it starts solidifying- add cheese to taste- when the bottom's cooked and the top's still runny, pop it under the grill till it solidifies and goes all golden and bubbly....

....I LOVE spinach! I'm hoping to sow some on the allotment today, but it does appear to be raining .

Refined carbs when you're pregnant are really yummy and treaty, but I've been forced to eat more healthily again by the twin evils of heartburn and constipation (damn)!

stubborn just read spinach frittata recipe....sounds yummy, will be trying that, I really like veg but not much of a fruit eater.

I'm all about the curry. I always have frozen spinach in, so just chuck in a few cubes, and voila.

Love the sound of the spinach frittata recipe. Might also have to revisit the Hairy Bikers pea and feta omelette at some point.

We're off for a curry on Thursday for DH's birthday so I can see I may go veggie on that one (especially if they have a paneer one....making myself quite hungry now!)

Oh there are lots of other veggie people here! That's nice.

Carikube, you are so lucky to crave green veg! All my food aversions seem to be iron containing foods, unfortunately (greens, pulses, pumpkin seeds, prunes and molasses) but I think they are starting to ease off a bit so will definitely have to try some of these lovely recipes. Hopefully the iron in the Pregnacare will keep me going in the meantime.

Normally, I like broccoli stir fried with ginger, garlic and chillies and a sauce made of soy sauce/tamari, white vinegar, a little brown sugar, sesame oil and a tiny bit of cornflour. it really soaks up all the sauce nicely. I also love Arabic style spinach pastries (Fatayer bil sabanekh) which are filled with spinach, pine nuts, lemon juice, olive oil and onion.

I have a slightly odd craving, which is to drink the Mumbai tap water in a stainless steel beaker. It's years since I went there but the taste keeps coming back to me. Maybe it was because it was so hot both times I was there that I was always glad to get water and it seemed more refreshing than normal. We went to see the new Marigold Hotel film at the weekend and one scene had Judi Dench drinking water from a metal beaker in Mumbai and my mouth really started watering. I don't think I'm going to get to indulge that craving though!

Did you manage to get more info on your test result from the doctor today, Stubborn? Hope everything is ok.

Mm, Carikube I could so do with a curry house curry. Haven't had one/a takeaway for ages. Have a lovely time!

Cineraria, I love broccoli stirfry usually, but I just don't fancy it at the moment. Having a (veggie) Sunday roast tonight as it didn't happen yesterday, mmm, can't wait!
I'm wanting saucy-type meals mostly - Thai curry, Indian curry. Well, curry, really. And Sunday roast with lashings of gravy. I don't think I have any real cravings or specific aversions. I am a boring pregnant person.

I can't say I have had Mumbai tap water! But I know what you mean re the memory of a certain drink being particularly fabulous because you were extra parched at the time.

The doctor's letter turned out to be about NOTHING! Apparently it was a letter they always send out when your bloods show a higher than normal level of white blood cells........as they always do when you're pregnant! Pffffftttttthhhhhhhhtttttttt......................................................

Mumbai tap water! Best weird craving ever!

stubborn glad to hear it wasn't anything serious but what a great way for them to increase someone's blood pressure!

Had my first visit to the GP today. When I told him about the problems I had when having DD2, he said he'd refer me to the consultant. I asked him not to saying that I'd prefer to have midwife-led care if possible which is when he dropped the bombshell that the midwife would refer me to the consultant anyway "what with me being over 40 and all " so he might as well get in there first. Nobody warned me that us old dears had to go through a consultant ...

Oh yes! But don't worry, if your pregnancy is straightforward it could mean just a couple of consultant appointments alongside the normal MW appointments. Although you will probably come under quite a lot of pressure not to go overdue......

Glad all's ok, Stubborn. Not nice of them to give you a scare, though.

Does best weird craving win a prize? Trip to Mumbai, maybe? I just bought a stainless steel cup. Maybe that will be ok with London tap water.

It seems being over 40 is not risky where I live! The consultant who dealt with my previous unsuccessful pregnancy had included a letter on my file saying that I should see a consultant at the 16/18 weeks appointment in any future pregnancy and in order to book a consultant appointment, the midwife said I'd need to be marked as high risk and she couldn't find any proper reason to do so as this pregnancy isn't high risk. I suggested that being over 40 might be one but she insisted they don't count age in as high risk unless you have other minor risk factors too. Maybe she was just being tactful, though, or perhaps they have too many over forties here to give extra care.

Oooh roast dinner, Abs, yum!

I'm so glad it was nothing, stubborn, but what a waste of time, emotion, energy, and an NHS stamp! Ridiculous.

I'm over 40 and there wasn't a sniff of a mention of a consultant. So so odd how it's different from place to place. Mind you, when I was pg with DS, the GP said hospital birth, because of my age. Luckily, the MW got a measure of me (hippy earth-mother leanings) and asked if I was hoping for a homebirth, and was perfectly happy to oblige when I said I was. So the MWs certainly don't automatically agree with the GPs.

Roast dinner was yum, am thoroughly stuffed though. Still! And it's been hours.

Yes, my MW said she used to live and work in Brighton, and being over 40 wasn't considered to be anything out of the ordinary, but down here everyone tends to breed younger, so it's more of a big deal.

I don't feel out of the ordinary, most of my pals from school are all at the same kind of stage in life, just starting to have children in the last few years.

Glad to hear that the consultant thing just seems to be an East Midlands conspiracy rather than nationwide. Had my first two down in Southampton so am new to how it works up here. I know I won't try for a home birth as with both deliveries so far I have ended up in theatre for one reason or another but I had hoped for midwife only led care this time round.

Eaten junk today and now feel really sick. Remind me to stick to the broccoli and spinach in future....

Evening all, had my 20 week scan today. Had been really quite anxious about it the last few days having read up on all the checks that are done. Baby was not in the best position so have to go back for another try but they were able to check mist things and all were fine.

Re consultant appointments. I had one as was classed 'high risk' by the mw. (age 37 and hole in heart, tenancy to pass out etc) But consultant said i wouldntt need to see him again unless I started having problems which is unlikely.

Didn't find out the sex today, thought I would be really tempted but no, think all the other checks distracted me.

Having had the constitution issue and developed a pile constituted once ffs I decided to include a couple of things in my diet that i know will help. Had chips for lunch, from the chippie. Willnot be doing that again. Its worked but my god it was awful!!

Going shopping with mother on Friday, really looking forward to it. Want to get some baby clothes and maybe a couple of things for me. :-)

Well, I don't know now, Cari - today I got a letter inviting me to a scan next week and to meet with a doctor at the antenatal clinic afterwards. Will be 34 weeks, so that's new to me, and I don't remember the mw mentioning it. So maybe they have just automatically included me on this as I am over 40.

Glad you had a good scan, Notta, even though it wasn't all possible due to position. Little rascals, aren't they! :)

Happy shopping. I still want some nice new storage (for baby clothes, nappies etc), but other than that, we are mostly set.

Hi everyone, not slept all night .... Have had a phone call I think from hospital !!! NT RESULTS . They rang home and spoke to my mum but only said it was the practise nurse and nothing to worry about ... Phoned doctors and they said it wasn't them, rang hospital to find department closed ... Ringing this morning to find out if it was them .

Feeling for you lola....but I've just scrolled back and your scan and blood tests were 8 days ago, weren't they? If you were high risk my guess is that they would have phoned you within about 2/3 days- the fact that they've left it this long is really positive.....PLUS the nurse said there's nothing to worry about. I really hope you've been put out of your misery by now xx

Phoned hospital the women who may of phoned me will not be able to ring me back untill 12.30/1 ish ... The person I spoke to was unsure that I had been rung by them .... This feels like a small form of torture !!!

Oh, bloody hell- aaaarrrghhh!

Oh lola, how stressful for you. I agree with what stubbirn said. Hope you've heard from them by now x

Oh Lola hope you hear something soon. Its a airfield of worry isn't it, being pregnant. I had no idea!

Thinking of you, Lola.

Still no word rang again leaving my work number , told someone would ring back and nothing ... I feel I've done nothing but cry this evening . Thanks for the best wishes