Due August '07 - Part 4

[tokentotty]

Welcome all !!!!

Hiya, glad to know I'm not the only one with overzealous boobs!

itchynscratchy, did you eat lots of sugary or high energy foods yesterday, or rest a lot? That can set baby off moving a lot. And it might just be that you're more conscious of him moving because he's suddenly got less room in there. Apparently they only sleep for 20-40 minutes at a stretch anyway. However I read somewhere that if the movements get frantic you should ask your midwife to check his heartrate etc

Mine moves a lot but I'm starting to see patterns in it. Early in the morning in bed, after most food, in the car and every night religiously at 11pm he does a workout. Last night I had my top pulled up watching my belly wobble slightly when he kicked. Attractive!

Off to the car boot in a sec to see if there's any late bargains! Hope everyone's having a nice weekend!

hi bananabump, thanks and have a good car boot!
Actually yesterday I did rest quite a lot and didn't eat a huge deal. My babe's patterns are usually similar to yours, esp early morns and late nights.
It doesn't seem frantic movement, I'll try and pop into clinic tomorrow.
Hope everyone's having a lovely day, UK's so warm I hear while here it's the start of the heavy rainy season.

Good to keep following all your news.

I'm fine. Full of beans at the moment, probably after a good rest over Easter. I was in the 4am to morning insomnia club for a couple of weeks, but the last few nights I seem to have beaten it. How about you insomnia club girls? Has it passed for you?

Feel huge, especially boobs- drawing comments (but at least only from women). Tummy is 100cm and I'm glad to see that seems normal round here! I've put on 20kg (sorry don't do stone) but I was thin before. And four months to go... I think I'll be breastfeeding for a long time afterwards if I want to wear my old clothes!

Got scan next Tuesday. Looking forward to seeing him or her again. Could stare at that machine all day...

I'll just get the statutory maternity pay, but since I've got two part-time jobs, I might be lucky and get it twice. It depends if I've earned enough to pay NI in the past two months in both jobs, so it's still touch and go.

That's my 10p worth done then. Hope you all enjoyed the sunshine this weekend.

Only stayed at the carboot for an hour because of the heat but still did quite well, got three brand new with tags still on baby gap tops for £3, and an immaculate tinylove Gymini babygym with lights and music link for £3.

Was too hot to scout around for the nokia phone charger dp needed, so we gave up and went to asda, opened the car door in asda's carpark, and there on the floor next to the wheel was a nokia charger, intact....and it works too!

I like days like this.

Morning all,

hope everyone had a great weekend in the lovely sunshine.

Didn't get out much myself as was frantically painting the nursery ready for the floor to be fitted on Wednesday. Walls finished on Saturday and skirting boards and radiator yesterday. Pleased to be back at work for a rest !

Got my scan on Thursday and as really looking forward to seeing the baby again. My DH has been stroking my tummy everynight and talking to the baby (actually whispering because he said it was between him and the baby!) although I did catch him yesterday telling the baby to be nicer to him than his Mum to which the baby replied with a huge kick that made me jump! He also starting singing to the bump as well but strangely choose Fantasy Island (the 80's song by tight fit) as the baby's introduction to his singing. I know he's weird!

Morning H, morning all.

I'm with you on the 'weird father of my child' thing that's for sure. We've had all sorts of talking and singing going on. The funniest was the other night when Peanut did his usual breakdancing as I was trying to get to sleep and DH went and gave my stomach a good talking to.... Worryingly it seemed to work !!

Morning all. Scorcher, wasn't it? Resorted to some clothes shopping when I realised I couldn't fit into any of my trousers even with the biggest safety pin and ordered some summer stuff from JoJo Maman Bebe. Have found the maternity wear in shops really disappointing so far

Aw, Hersetta, the 20 week scan is so lovely - you'll see its face so clearly if you're lucky. The baby gave us a big beaming smile, am sure of it! DH said it reminded him of one of the skeletal pirates from Pirates of the Caribbean film I didn't drink my pint of water before this one, as at my 12 week scan I'd downed a pint (of water!) the hour before as advised and this was on top of my morning cuppa. They were running late, and I've never been so desperate for the loo in all my life, to the point where I couldn't relax during the scan for fear my bladder would burst!

Wouldn't worry about an active baby, itchynscratchy - mine was v active the week before last, which was why I was worrying that it hadn't moved the end of last week - but I've had a few reassuring prods over the weekend.

Hi All

Glad everything ok Annie. Hope everyone had a fab weekend in the sunshine.

After banning me from riding on the back of the motorbike a few weeks ago DP actually sold it. We went to Nottingham on the train with DPs qualified driver friend to look at a car yesterday. We bought it and i'm very proud of DP as he managed to drive it all the way back to London on the A roads. A 7 hour journey back allowing for all the loo breaks i needed. My back is killing me today and i am absolutely shattered. I suppose it is a bit of practise for the 9 hour plane journey to Florida on sat.

How is every one today? I feel big, fat and unable to breath, just had to phone my MW, been loo and (TMI) just had a big CM plug come away size of 10/50p there abouts, so phoned MW stright away she said it may be nothing to worry about, to take it easy today and if a get any cramps phone to hospital, she siad some ladies replace there "C-plug" over the time of the PG so it more than likely that! But it's something i remember getting day before birth not 15 and half weeks before even due, but still settee, legs up, choc's and tv today for me then, and I was so looking forward to cleaning the house too, LOL!
Babymadxxx

That sounds a bit scary, Babymadwithbump - but hope you're feeling reassured after speaking to the midwife. If she was worried, she would've suggested you came into hospital for a check up. Take it easy and enjoy the chocs!

Hi everyone, hope you all had a nice Easter and you're all outside enjoying the sunshine. I've just got back from a week in France, feel really energised but I think it's the effects of a week off work! Had the first proper kick from bump while we were away, I was resting my book on my belly and it jumped off! He put in a repeat performance for DP too so now I just keep willing him to do it again.

Hope you're ok babymad, agree that the mw doesn't sound too concerned.

Kiteflying, good to meet you at yoga finally! Let us know how the scan went and have a good hol.

Hi everyone - back to work today in the heat got me very worried about July when I'll still be working - I'm going to melt.
No leaky boobs as yet - not looking forward to that, will measure tum tonight. Have weighed myself and only put on a few pounds. Think I lost a bit over Christmas when everyone was gorging themselves but I was feeling a bit queasy.

Feeling lots of kicks and flutters now - love it

Hi everyone. I had my twenty week scan today and the baby seems to measure up well although as s/he was in a funny position we had to go for a walk and still the pictures are not great. I am envious of everyone whose baby smiled and waved and who had a great time at their scan.
I am thinking of maybe booking a private one as ours was not fun at all and I did not really get the comfort I was hoping for on the issue of Downs (I am sure they can measure the nose at 20 weeks etc). The sonographer wrote up a report that said I "claimed" to have a due date of 28 August and that as I did not bring any notes she couldn't verify this!! Then she told us she has decided not to change our dates. I was a bit surprised and said well of course you can't change them - thinking she had forgotten we were an IVF conception - and she said "Oh, yes, I can" as though I was an idiot. Am I missing something here? I thought that for a normal conception, people sometimes had their dates changed because the measurements suggested an earlier or later date. Bizarre.

Hi kiteflyer. Sounds like you had a disappointing scan experience.

I'd rest assured that she's probably checked for all the markers for things like Downs. I referred to this feature for what they looked out for. They say about half of all abnormalities can be picked up via a 20 week scan.

I had the triple test (a blood test) at 16 weeks for Downs, but that only rates your risk level and can cause unnecessary worrying.

Maybe give your midwife/hospital a call to explain that you're still concerned. Perhaps you can go in and talk your scan through with a midwife. I had a follow up chat with the midwife after my scan and think it's routine, so think you're perfectly entitled to ask for one.

Sorry your scan was that good kite , i have my on friday and am a bit worried about it, i had private ones at the begining ( they were fab) but also had 12 Week NHS was was pretty poor _ not the machines, it was the person that scannned!!

They can pick up nasal bone at 20 weeks as they picked up with my ds on a dating scan at 10 weeks that his was absent at that time and after weeks of worry, CVS and trips to kings , they did detect it at 18 weeks and by my 21 week scan it was pefectly formed , still has a little button nose now!!

Thanks Annie. I also had the triple test and was happy with a 1:881 result. I think I just expected the big warm glow and excitement of my 12 weeks scan to be double at this one as we would see more, but in fact it was not nearly as good. I am very greedy - I should just be happy that bean is growing well and has all his/her fingers and toes (and both kidneys!)

Hope everyone has a lovely summer evening today.

Katybird - twas great to meet you too!

Hi Kiteflying, are you going to go for one of those 3d/4d scans?

My local scanning centre charges £85 for a half an hour scan with 4 thermal pics, so not cheap, and you need to have it between about 26 and 32 weeks before baby gets too cramped for the best images.

Link to cute 4d scan clips

It'd be an awesome keepsake to have pics of that sneaky peek on him! I keep wondering what/who he looks like. Not very patient, am I!

Oh Kite, that is disappointing. Is the reason why I didn't even bother going to the NHS 20 week scan as they were abrupt, rude and uninterested at my 12 week. Go to the Fetal Medicine Centre - go on, go on !! You won't believe the difference.

I agree. My 12 week NHS scan was done by a really nice nurse, but the quality of the images etc were terrible compared to the private scans I had! I could barely make anything out, where as the private scans were incredibly detailed. I went to The Birth Company on Harley St and they were fantastic.

Hi everyone - thanks for the messages of support. I have been mulling over it for a while now and have in fact decided that I will get another scan in Harley Street. It is very indulgent but I may only get to see my little treasure this way once and so I am going for it. I cannot have my memory of this important stage marred like this.
Sorry to those who have also had their scan experiences spoilt by the people involved (did I mention we were walked in on twice!!)

I know the answer is probably no, cause i'm one of the first due but just wondered if anyone had done the letter to their employer yet? I got my MAT B1 form at the midwives today and am doing a letter based on what i've been told to say, but its just seems very formal for the sort of office I work in. Suppose it has to be done though.

Good for you Kite - let us know when you get it booked so we can get excited for you too! The guy we saw at the Fetal Medicine Centre was called Daniele Luminoso and we liked him so much the first time we saw him again at our 20 week scan.
As for getting walked in on twice...

(btw - many thanks for the cheque, arrived yesterday)

Oooh Conkertree, well done. You've just reminded me to call my midwife to get mine as they didn't have any at the hospital when I went on Friday.

Hi conkertree
I just sent my mat b1 off to my employer. I found this website really useful. it has a template of a letter on it that i copied and adapted a bit.
mat rights

Kite - Glad you've decided to have another scan, i wouldn't want anything to spoil this experience and would have done the same thing.

Conker - My work requested my MATB1 yesterday so the midwife is sending it to me. I didn't realise we had to write a letter too, i thought it was just the form.