Calmly and regally gestating our beans in a land of obsessive ILs, placenta horticulture, sweary doctors and naked pancake cravings. It's the JS grads thread 23!

[LaLaLaaaa]

Welcome, welcome, welcome to the 23rd grads thread... celebrating the success of Just Shagging in getting us viroids upduffed!

For those that don't know, a 'viroid' is from the original JSing thread 1, where someone was trying to type ladies (in reference to all the JSing ladies), but their phone decided to call us all viroids instead!

The name stuck and we've been the JSing viroids ever since.

The thread we have graduated from is here in its 40th outing. WARNING: they're all a bit kerazy not to mention randy!

There is also a Just Mumming thread in postnatal clubs here for once your babies come along, or to keep up with the graduated graduates!

There is also a private facebook group (so it doesn't give the game away in your news feed!)... if you want to join to see photos of new babies etc, just ask in-thread!

The stats sheet is here

So, roll call below please, viroids!

I definitely felt the connection after finding out the sex this time around. However I didn't find out with DS and was deeply attached to my bump then! Mind you it was completely different when he was born and there was a baby not just a bump. I thought my heart would explode. Not everyone feels the same way at the same times though and it might not be immediate. There's no right or wrong - and it will be no reflection on you as a mum. I've built a mental image of what the baby will look like but I was miles out with DS and probably will be this time around too!

You're all making me jealous. I want to eat but physically can't. I managed my pizza of course but there's a fresh key lime pie in the fridge (gotta love school cookery!) and I can't face even a taste of it as I'm still soooo full. Maybe I'll have some for breakfast.....

Evening all.
I have a scan appt for the 30th of March. Still haven't been booked in by the midwife but I'm lucky enough to be close friends with a lady who is close with the Grande Dame of the women's centre. I had an appt after one quick phone call. This is my first staff perk this decade.

Fresh. Key. Lime. Pie
Phwoooooooooarrrrrrr!

The tax credit threshold is £26,000 per household. I think I'll qualify when my pay drops (end of April) since I am a single adult by their definition. It does seem deliberately obscure to work out though particularly as I'm not an existing claimant (so will have to set up a new claim based on last year's income which is above the threshold then when they tell me I am not eligible I can update my circumstances with my reduced pay)

It's missing the meringue as they ran out of time but there's enough whipped cream on it to make up for it

Not what you know but who you know eh Ga! How many weeks will you be then?

Ok then, not eligible

Have just ordered Nepalese. Oh dear.

Oh is it per household? I thought it was per earner like child benefit. Not that it makes a difference.

I am still eating loads. Unfortunately didn't stop after delivering the bump.

Hmm actually the income limits increase with the number of children you have - makes sense really! MSE have a pretty good overview here

I found the space for pie. It was good.

Sorry didn't mean to sound like a rich snob there saying I earn too much - I meant we are over threshold as household (not just me!!) so we are not eligible.

the HMRC tax credits calculator is pretty good but PiS is right you have to apply based on last year, get rejected then update. dumb system! you may get childcare element once you go back to work, think the income limits are different for that.

I'm glad we are all fatties at least! Just polished off a hot cross bun before bed. Only another three to go! It's a challenge but I think I can do it.

Good luck tomorrow lemon! Great you've got a date now too gaggia, good friend to have!

Anyone got any input on itchy red boobs? Happened a couple times now - not nipples, just the boobs when I release them at night!

Dulcet I get that sometimes. Aloe vera jelly helps for me, or some really simple non scented moisturiser.

Sky has done a kitten on the undergrads fred!

Just as an aside... If you're not eligible for child benefit, or for only a small amount as it is reduced on a scale I think, still apply for it as it'll keep up your NI contributions even if you don't get much or any money. This is good for your state pension. needs to organise herself

I've never heard that one zyla, where are you getting this info?

Interesting, zyla - how on earth does that work if you are ineligible? Not sure i will qualify, but would definitely want to keep pension contributions alive.

Can anyone explain when this burst of energy arrives in the second tri? Am now pushing 16 weeks and most evenings, could be still used as paperweight...

I was wandering the same thing deeply so far all the second tri has brought me is headaches that make me feel sick if I move my head too quickly :(

Good luck tomorrow lemon and great news towns!

If one of you earns over £60,000 and the other isn't working (or earns less than the NI earning threshold) you make the claim but opt not to receive a payment. So you don't get the CB but you do get NI credits instead. This explains it. I remember having to sign something to get NI credits after I had DS but had forgotten all about it!

Ahem, sorry to bother. La, your presence is required by the undergrads please.

As you were!

I'm going to read this tax stuff tomorrow when my brain isn't mush. Just had first orgasm in 23 weeks hooray! Cobwebs are gone for now.

I'm here honey! Just posted on js thread!

Congrats La

What pis said about the payments. Sorry I probably didn't explain it well! :)

Hurray La

23 weeks! Bet that was a good 'un la!

I've been slathering myself in aloe Vera baby oil dulcet - I had the itch too, midwife said its the skin stretching so I've been applying it before bed (much to Mr tee's excitement, what is it with men and oily tits eh?)
I didn't get my burst of energy/un tiredness until about 18 weeks deeply and the afternoon fatigue has started to creep back now, so if you get it, I would make the most of it! I felt pretty good mid second trimester, def didn't feel the glow to start with!

Woke up with the just been kicked in the foof feeling. Mr tee has a significant birthday this weekend and we have a houseful, so I really need to start organising stuff for it. Maybe I'll just do a tesco delivery rather than drag my sorry arse around Makro.

Makro is never as cheap as I want it to be tee! But ours has started doing free bacon baps on a weds and sat so I'm told so could be worth a trip for that!

Weekday orgasm la?! Good work!

Don't believe all that bull about 'glow' deeply, that's a low pregnant people tell to make you keep going! Really though, I don't know. I'm knackered a lot of he time but I'm struggling with sleep so probably as much that as anything. The sickness stopped and heartburn lessened at about 14 weeks so that was better.

Better get myself some aloe vera then by the sounds of it. Thanks viroids!

pis I will be 12+3 I think on scan day I think. However AIBU to think that at my scan they will actually tell me I'm much further on.
I must be, it cant be normal to have this much bump at this early stage. Its obviously even in floaty tops. Did anyone else get this?