Due May 2007 - Thread for w/c 13 November

[peacemakerukuk]

Morning all, Am very surprised I'm the first around this morning. Re. krispy kreme doughnuts, the 3 Tesco's nearest us have been selling them for quite a few months now. I don't see the attraction in them myself - thank goodness, I have enough extra weight as it it

Hello all.

Great news on the scan, Ginger! My hormones went all a-quiver when I read about LG&T's romantic husband. Mine is romantic is little ways (he's not keen on big displays of affection etc) - the other night he came home from work to find me conked out on the sofa. He kissed me on the forehead and gently put his overcoat on me, in case I was cold. Bless him!

Lupins - hope your weekend goes ok. I think it's great that you're treating yourself to some retail therapy and 'me time'.

I had my nuchal fold scan today. As they had a laboratory on site to process my blood sample, I got my results within an hour, which I was pleased about. The nuchal fold measured 1.4mm, the nasal bone was present (looks like this one will have daddy's big schnozz!) and my risk rate with all factors combined is 1 in 2,618, which I am really, really pleased with (epsecially as my starting odds based on my age alone were 1 in 132). So I don't think that we'll be going down the route of any invasive testing now. All I need to really sort everything out now would be for my morning sickness to finally bugger off!!

A jacket potato is a potato baked in the oven in its skin (its jacket?). Often called baked potatoes too. They're yummy with beans and cheese or tuna n sweetcorn or coleslaw or chilli or bean casserole or anything remotely foody [hungry]. DH is currently cooking steak, mash and veggies. Yum yum.

I will attempt to clarify my position on tomatoes: I don't like raw tomatoes in particular or ketchup. I can stomach pasta sauce if it has lots of other flavours in it but I don't love it and wouldn't choose to cook it. And I stand by my preference for raw tarantula. In fact I'd eat a brick before I ate a tomato. Love all other fruit and veg though with the exception of turnip.

Charley, haven't congratulated you yet. Twins? Two babies? How exciting! I'm so pleased for you and can't wait to hear about how you're getting on.

Great news on the nuchal results Creena. Hope you're celebrating.

Lupins, I will be thinking about you this weekend. I hope the rain stops, the sun comes out and you have a peaceful day. I'm full of admiration for how strong you sound, thinking of you and wee Morgan.

Pebble, your DH's Mum buys you Valentines gifts? Shocking! But I guess some men just aren't romantically inclined. DH is only romantic after many years of careful moulding and shaping.

It's interesting hearing you all chat about births, TENS, pools etc. I really want to hire a pool for my homebirth, but don't know where to start. I've seen birth pools in a box (they look like paddling pools!) and am not sure if they are any good. I need to do some proper research into it. A friend of mine recommended hypnobirthing classes today. Anybody got any experience? I think it might be my kind of thing, also looking into pg yoga classes. In the weirdest way I am sort of looking forward to giving birth- not the pain etc but the experience of bringing a life into the world (sounds a bit hippyish doesn't it?!).

Anyway, I smell steak cooking. I'm off to devour it in a very unceremonious fashion.

Thanks all for your lovely messages

Creena glad your scan went well

Fiurther on the education conversation, Willow has gone to preschool from 2.5yrs and is now 4, I have no problem at all with this and will keep her there until 5 , I think it great for her socially and she has learnt alot, I just think the strain and pressure of being made to learn stuff which you may not be interested in could potentially ruin the interest in learning earky on, I agree that for some people (most people i know actually) the thought of having there kids under thier feet all day every day would be a nightmare at worst and at best very hard to cope with, I just think europeans have it alot more sorted than us, in most ways of life not just education

Lisa x

that is great news creena. i feel the same about the morning sickness. i was 17 weeks yesterday and i threw up as soon as i got out of bed. it is supposed to be gone by now!!! we are supposed to be blooming and glowing and all of that sh.t, right?
i keep forgetting to add my little stories in the mix on here. i went to the doc on my birthday, as i already mentioned. they are testing my thyroid as i have lost another five pounds. i have lost five pounds a month for the last two months. as i have said before i am a big gal so i am not by any measure wasting away. but still, i would like to feel good and be able to eat properly. i thought things were getting better with the appetite thing, but i guess not. any of you still experiencing a very low appetite? oddly enough, cheese is my one craving that has not gone away. mmm, cheese...
the sun is out today. it has been a very dark, wet november here so far. a record month, actually. now that there is enough light i am going to take many photos with my new lens. it is a birthday pressie from dh and i am so excited to see what it can do. it feels good to want to take some photos again. i was a food photographer before i had munchy and now i am a sahm so i miss being creative. i feel like my motivation to do anything has dwindled since munchy's birth and then my depression. i get little spurts of ambition here and there so i try to take advantage of it when it happens. i suppose i could try to tackle the giant mounds of dirty clothes and linens around my house. nah. rather take some photos.

Jessinwa, I'm still severely lacking in appetite too. I feel hungry sometimes, but as soon as I start eating, I just don't fancy it any more. In fact, it makes me feel sick.

I am also a keen but very amateur photographer. I like to develop my own pics and usually go to the local arts centre to use their dark room. However, I think I'm going to turn the attic in our new house into my own dark room. DH doesn't understand how excited I get about something like a new lens. What do you like to photograph? I love people and just wandering round until something takes my fancy. I wish film photography wasn't such a dying art- film here is getting more and more expensive and harder to buy. I do like digital and use it a lot, but I get more of a buzz from my 35mm SLR. Can't wait to have the baby, lots of pics! I bet you have some great ones of Munch, he's so cute and photogenic!

i think i am totally opposite of you when it comes to photography. usually i only like to photograph in the studio with loads of natural light. i guess i am somewhat of a control freak. my favorite thing to photograph is fruit in the studio and i love going to a farmers market and shooting all of the beautiful produce and flowers. heaven. strange, i know. my least favorite is people. i know what you mean about film. i was very reluctant to switch to digital but once i did my business became much easier and cheaper to operate. one of my very best friends just moved to london with his longtime boyfriend and is a photographer. he was telling me how much film costs there and i was floored. unbelievably expensive! it is a wonder anyone still uses it at all. yes, we have quite a few photos of munch. he is quite photogenic. i think it is his big eyes. so sweet!

Im off to bed but before i go i just want to ask how many of you cried at Children In Need Im normally ok but have to admit that tonight i had a tear in my eye when watching some of the films. I even cried properly just because i saw a boy kiss his severly disabled brother, bloody hormones Good job dh is at work and didnt see.

Im now going to crawl into bed, ive been so restless tonight, i cant find anything to amuse me. I had planned to stay up to see dh when he gets in but im so fidgety its driving me mad. Im hoping im just over tired and will settle once in bed, fingers xed. If not i'll be sat on here all night trying to find night owls to talk to.
See you tomorrow

Morning all, Sorry pebblemum didn't watch any of children in need for exactly that reason, I knew I'd spend the whole programe bawling. As I didn't want to ruin my Friday evening I watched Meet the Fockers on DVD instead and laughed all evening. I'm sure it was the better choice for me.

Hope you are all feeling good. Happy weekend to all, going to brave the shops this afternoon with dh, coming up to christmas is one thing but French shops is another.!!!

Morning all

I did watch and cry a bit at Children in Need.

Well I've just had a surprise home visit from a midwife! I was really hoping not to get this visit and when I opened the door to her I felt sick. It wasn't as bad as it could have been though. The blood tests I had on Monday came back as an age risk of 1 in 150 of the baby having downs and 1 in 200 combined result (cut off for low risk is 1 in 250) so I am classed as high risk and have an appointment on Thursday for a chat with consultant and possible amnio if thats what we want. Tbh I didn't think we would have an amnio but now i'm teetering on going for it because then at least we would know either way (and know the exact sex). DP and I have discussed this a lot and know we wouldn't terminate but it would be good to know - I think. Oh Shit!! I was really hoping it wouldn't come to this. DP is at work but shouldn't be too long coming home (I rang him) and she told me in front of the DDs so I knew it wasn't going to be that bad.

I was thinking of starting a thread on it but probably couldn't deal with the flack. May do it next week, just to get some advice.

One thing her visit has taught me is that I really musn't sit reading a book when there are jobs to do i.e. pick up breakfast dishes/trays from lounge floor, move school bags from where they were left last night, get dressed (it was nearly 11am!) etc etc etc

Hi SKYTV

Sounds like you are OK with your results, yes they statistically count you as high risk but you are at the upper end of it. How is dh about it? I think I would need to have tests to know one way or the other, I don't think personally I could wait that long with something like that playing on my mind.

If you do start a thread on it be careful. Have you read any of the thread on there at the moment about down syndrome? In fact it has just made me sooooooo cross that I posted my opinions that if pople can not post sympathetically then they should not post at all. Poor woman she got slated before she had chance to understand what she was talking about. Sorry rant over.

I'm sure you'll be OK and there will be plenty of support on this May thred for you whatever your results or decisions that may lie ahead.

FSF. I read it! Thats what I meant about the flack! I've been reading them all and there are lots of fors and againsts but like you I think I need to know its a long time until May! I think the 20 week scan could possibly pick up some markers if we didn't amnio but didn't think to ask the midwife this morning. Will ask next week at appointment. DP will probably go with what I decide although I had already told him I wouldn't amnio whatever. Never mind i'll just tell him its pregnacy hormones and I can change my mind whenever I want ha ha. Its his first baby you see and he is a bit bewildered I think.

Sorry sky just seen it is dp not dh. Of course you can change your mind. It has nothing to do with being pg. It's because you are a woman and CAN!!!

Id have to go with FSF on this one, i would want to know what was happening. You could just be so prepared and read up on all you need to know before the baby is born. there is an awful lot to think about during your prg anyway without something extra. You are the high end and im sure that everything is ok, but peace of mind could mean a much less sressful prg. The risks of having an amnio are so small now too.

Poor you having to get your head round this it must be so hard. We are all here for you to chat to anytime, ive been a bit scared by some of the posts about this too so would'nt bother until the info had sunk in and you are prepared for what may be thrown at you.

Hope everyone else is ok, i had an awful dream last night.... someone next to me was crunching a live tarantula.....i knew it would come back to haunt me

My house is all sparkly clean, was going to wash the carpets downstairs but cant get the bloody george hoover to work. Ive borrowed it so dont know what im doing wrong or if its just broken. I have to dismantle my bed tomorrow as my new one comes on monday, hooray! Have no idea how to do that either! Where is a man when you need one?!

Afternoon all.

Sky - I totally agree with Frenchie and LG&T. It is completely and utterly your decision. I would be exactly the same in your position - in fact, we had already decided that if my risk came back as 'high', we would have gone ahead with an amnio. The reason for this being that we would want to be as informed and prepared as possible; knowing what was going to happen would allow us time to accept it and prepare ourselves and find out more information for what lies as ahead os uf as neither of us have any experience in this area. There is nothing wrong with not wanting to wait until May. I also agree with you about being reluctant to start a thread. I have deliberately avoided the threads on Down's because I kind of guessed what would happen - someone wanting advice and more information would be met with open disapproval. I knew that if I read them, I'd get upset and angry and end up wading in there, telling people to back off - not a good idea, probably! It is totally your decision and, as others have said, you can always feel that you can post about it here with us, as we'll try to support you as much as we can.

By the way, LG&T - got anything planned this afternoon? My house is a right disgraceful tip at the moment!!

SKYTVADDICT,

I'm sorry you're high risk, but honestly when you think about it it's not that high. If I were you I would do the testing too. I think many people associate doing the testing with deciding to terminate. Personally I think that you should do it for your peace of mind. I wouldn't want to spend the next 27 weeks wondering.

Sky just want to say that no matter what you decide you know you can always rely on us for support. At the end of the day its your decision and you will do what is right for you and your dp. I know that the results wont make any difference to how you feel about this little bean but at least if you have the tests then you will now for definate. And you would find out the sex!! By the way I always get caught out by visitors whenever I choose to relax a bit before tidying up so dont worry about it. I think everyone i know has a sixth sense and decide to pop round at the worst times, no one bothers when the house is spotless

LG&T are you trying to shame us with your spotless shiny house

Of course i am pebble Sorry creena im all cleaned out. I need to go food shopping but feel so awful i cant face it.

I have this hideous head cold, nose and eyes running, foggy head. I feel like i need to flip top my head and scrape it all out give it a good rinse and flip it back again. Am drinking bloody lemon and honey, have only got paracetemol in and dont really hurt enough to take it, just feel bunged up and drippy. Cant be doing with the hassle of dressing 5 kids up and driving the car to the chemist (cant see anyway)

Pants....

Sorry to hear you arent well LG&T. I hate having colds/flu when pregnant it always feel 100 times worse than usual. Hope you feel better soon.

lg&t, so sorry you are feeling bad. hope you feel better soon. {smile}
sky, i would get an amnio for sure if i came back as high risk, not because i would terminate but because i would want to be as prepared as possible. pregnancy is a lovely but very stressful time in a woman's life and i don't think anyone can or should judge anyone else for making decisions either way on topics like this. i am not going to search for those threads you guys talked about earlier because i know i would have to say something to the judgMENTAL jerks giving people flack. boo. i echo what others have said, you will always find support here.

Good for you jess not looking at them, I just couldn't help my self and did wade right in there to stick up for the poor woman who had been slated. I'm probably on some black/most wanted list in the deepest darkest area of MN. Oppppps!!!!!

Sorry you are rough lg&t, I've had a similar thing all week, just getting to the end of it now.
Keep warm and rested! (probably not the best advice for a lady with 5 dc)

Been shopping this avo. Needed to get Mums bday pres; dvd/video combi. Me and 2 of my sis are going in on it for her, do you think the bloody shops had the one I wanted. Grrrrrrr after going round 4 different electrical shops I ended up having to spend an exta 100euros to get one. I can't believe the shops just don't hold stock, it's not as if it's that close to x-mas yet. Mum is going to be so pleased as the twins are flying over for her birthday next weekend and she knows nothing about it. Just trying to work out how I get to the airport fri am without her sussing something is up. Not like me to go out in the morning you see.

Thanks for nice thoughts everyone. Still feel like poo, had a childs lemsip cold sachet at 4 as couldnt see to make the dc some tea, hope the baby forgives me.

Have just watched xfactor, love it i say Leona and Ben to win, cant decide which yet! Just yelled up the stairs for the umpteenth time for them all to shut up or their tv's will be going off. Hugs has just crept (scooby doo style) out of the room holding a dalek remote control over his face, he obviously thinks i cant see him

Am wishing i bought the huge box of all gold dark that was on bogof in the coop on friday. I thought one for me and a box for a pressie, it was a good idea and right now im very disappointed in myself for not doing it. Im still craving KK's.......

Am also stuggling with what to get Dh for xmas, i wanted to get him an ipod but looked online today and for a 4gb nano they are about £150!! Way too much, anyone got any ideas?

FSF feign an appointment with the midwife/hospital, that has just come through the post. No wonder you thought twins were on the cards, didnt realise you had twin sisters, are they identical? My twins dad is identical and his cousin had identical twin boys too, far too coincidental. When the boys go out with their dad and his id brother its quite funny to see.

No lg&t they are not identicle, but isn't it non-identicle twins that are heriditory, ability to produce more than one egg at ovulation and all that? You've got me doubting now, and having twins yourself I'm sure you know more than me about it. Yes that was the reason we thought it might be though. It was my mother that put the thought into my head, she said I only felt rough with the twins not with me or my bro. Bad mummy, freaking me like that!!

SkyTV - my friend got a risk of 1 in 100 of Downs from her tests. The one thing I remember her saying about it was "there are 99 chances it will be ok". Mathematically that is obvious, but for me it was a new way of thought, I could imagine that it might help to take away a little of the stress of a "high risk" result. She didn't have further testing. Personally, in that situation, I would need to find out. But I know you will make the right decision for you and your dp.