Due March 2008-New trimester, new thread

[turtle23]

I'll start one!

the gold standard is the integrated test (nuchal + triple test with combined results at interpretation)

see what we mean about postcode, turtle? norfolk doesn't offer nuchal alone as standard to mums under 35, but central london uch will give integrated to mums over 35 as standard. i don't what they offer younger mums.

yes my nuchal was intergrated with a blood test but i had to pay extra for that, they would do the scan on its own for £100, or the scan plus the blood test for £140, i paid the extra as i did with ds3.

if you are under 40 in norfolk you are offered the triple test at 16wks. but from next year everyone will be offered the nuchal test combined with the blood test. at least that is what the consultand and midwife told me

so if i had waited to try for baby no 4 i could have got it for free.

modsaluk, so glad to hear everything's well with you. sounds like you've really been through the ringer a bit recently. make sure you get a good rest over the weekend if you can.

turtle, I was just offered it but was not offered a nuchal test at any point. I guess it's postcode lottery stuff. The doctor I saw at my scan told me that even in the area some hospitals charge for it, but mine doesn't.

tori, you poor thing - a pin cushion! my god I make such a fuss about having blood taken and it's always been really quick and painless. I just hate it anyway.

3mb - I can't wait to feel the moving, I guess it being your 4th and also being a bit further along you're having it already. I'm a bit

merryberry, [waves] hope all is well with you

cheers skidoodle, i'm cheerful despite a very lingering cold. i think it's irritating having a depressed immune system for the duration of pregnancy. dp and ds sniffled a bit for a day when they got the virus, muggines here is hacking and streaming for 4 days and counting!

Guess I should relax as had nuchal scan?
Can I take a moment to rant? Been at work (nanny) since 8 (and yes, I'm using the laptop as dad has breezed in for a 15 minute child time and I got a break!) and so far...
I got in this morning and Mum said "I see you've planned a tea party here today" (I write everything in diary) "You may have to tidy up a bit (not my job) as it's not very tidy" I got into house and she had decided to make jam. There are 200 pots with nowhere to put them. Congealed jam all over surfaces, can't budge it. All pots involved left for me. Last night's dinner left for me to tidy. Went into playroom and every toy is out, crayon on walls, biscuits everywhere. LO has emptied all her drawers in her bedroom, last night's bathwater still in bath(Oilatum water...ick) with toys and toothbrush in it. DIRTY NAPPY from last night on hallway floor.
I want to cry. In fact, I am. Is it the weekend yet? Am I being unreasonable that this is a bit much?

turtle23, sounds totally outrageous - who are these people....dirty nappies, bath water, dear lordy - wish I could hop over and help - but on basis I can't I just send you a hug and say, stay calm, if you possibly can and remember that you are unbelievably clever producing a little miracle in your tummy - have an out of body experience and remember it really is nearly the weekend, merely hours to go and you can lie back and put your feet up. Count to 10....!

oh turtle - poor you. I do think that is really ridiculously unreasonable - you are paid to look after their children, you aren't paid to be their bloody housekeeper (although sounds like they really need one!) Big hug and cyber cake on its way from dreary west London. HQ xx

Hey Turtle- my parents live near Toronto. They'll probably come in May. My dad loves springtime in London. Oh, and his first grandchild too of course! (Sorry to hear about your morning...)

Sorry to sound daft, but I've had bloods for a quad test- is that like the triple test?

Am so tired today. We went out for dinner last night and I wasn't in bed until (gasp!) after 12! At least it was a work thing, so everyone else looks as bleary as I do.

TGIF.

Hey Turtle,Big hugs indeed you deserve them , only a few more hours and you will be safe and sound ...the weekend is coming....

Very tired too, it has been a hard week indeed, last night I was hosting a workparty...and really did not feel like socialising at all, smiling etc...I never thought my bed would be so enticing.

I have not seen DP for 10days now and will not see him until next Saturday, however I feel a bit better now - my hormones are calming down, he is based in Bermuda at present and we manage to see each other every 2-3 weeks or so...can't wait for the end of November when he will based in London until early Jan, when we will both be moving to Bermuda for the birth...but so much to plan...grrrrrrrr.......all that to make sure we can cope with LO arrival financially....

Anyway, in a few hours will be in Paris...I don't know if anyone is in the same frame of mind, but trying to put as many trips/weekend away as I can before the 28/30weeks...as after it won't be so easy....for a long long while

In terms of the scan, if your hospital does not have great equipment, try to do one privately..it is not cheap £100 or so, but you can't compare it. being able to see clearly the head, fingers etc...will anyone do a 3D scan or has anyone got one done with previous DD?

All the best to everyone and have a great, restfull weekend

Morning all . Just a quick one from here today as feeling really rotten. Caught a horrific cold from DH and been throwing up since yesterday . Just got off phone with NHS direct and was told I can take paracetamol but not ibuprofen. So am going to turn house upside down looking for some.

Have a good weekend all x

Thinking of you my1st. Hope everybody else is feeling better.

I have read your views on 'Bringing up baby' with great interest. I have no experience in it whatsoever, but watched it with my DH. It just dawned on us, we'll have to do parenting quite soon I am currently researching all your recommendations. In the end we'll just have to wing it anyway. Our views and personalities will not be changed by any books.

I had a stressful couple of days, but apparently handled it very calmly. I am responsible now for another little soul, so have to be careful!

Sometimes when I put my hand on my bump, I feel some very regular movement. I know it cannot be the HB, but it is like that (or LO practising very fast karate movements). I hope it is normal.

Hi ginger -
My bump (slowly becoming discernible bump rather than just looking like I'm laying down an extra layer of winter blubber, thank god!) seems to have a bit of a life of its own. I'm nearly 15 weeks so it's definitely not baby movement I'm feeling, but there are all sorts of stretches and grumbles going on, and sometimes when I sneeze or turn at night it does feel as if the baby is hammering on my uterus telling me he/she is uncomfortable!
Then again, it's probably just wind
I've just put myself on the waiting list for the Active Birth Centre antenatal class near me which I mentioned last week. It's an hour or so of yoga followed by a drink and chat. It looks like a place won't become available until late November but apparently you can't start it until you're 4.5 months anyway so I'll only be waiting a few extra weeks and it's something to look forward to when the weather is even colder and more miserable than today!
The nice thing is that they do a postnatal class on Monday lunchtimes which you can do from 6 weeks post-birth and it's a mix of mummy yoga and baby yoga so HolidaysPrince(ss) can join in too!

My eyes are going square. Have spent the entire day looking for somewhere to hold our staff away meeting on a shoestring budget.

Prisci we are going to do the 3d scan in December when I'll be 28 weeks. Can't wait. It's not cheap (£200) but I think it will be worth every penny tp see the LO's face in 3D. It's like we get to meet him before he is out.

turtle i cant believe how inconsiderate your employers are being, that is awful

i am slightly jealous of you all talking about your 'bumps' i am not getting a bump at all yet,i am sure it will pop out at some point but i think it was not until after 20wls with the boys.

i have been thinking of getting a 4d scan, a friend had one done a few weeks ago, they got loads of pics and a dvd of the baby etc, it was amazing however at about £100 for a basic one, i am not sure, esp as we have already paid for a nuchal scan. i will have to be REALLY nice to dp

Bump? What bump? I look like I'm on steroids.
Got weighed at my work gym today. Boy, was that a shock. I can't have put on 5kg in three months - surely?

Still missing my mum but I'll phone her tomorrow and I'm sure the next few months will whizz by.

Oh goodness, I've just fallen in love with mozerella cheese! Not sure why but baby seems to like it and I can't stop eating it! I got two balls of Sainsbury Basic to pop on tonight's pizza (we always make pizza on a Friday) but I keep eating the mozerella before it's even on the pizza and I can't stop myself!

Going back for more......

hi everyone, im full of cold as well,looks like its doing the rounds!

where i am everyone is offered the triple test at 16 weeks but not a nucual fold. they only do this if its a multiple pregnancy and then they have to refer you to a different hospital.

did a nice long post to y'all, in some detail for individuals. and mumsnet wouldn't load it so i lost it. DARN. too in need of bed to repeat, so have this instead

Wow! This thread does move fast..I've been gone a couple days with crushing work report and have missed so much! Sorry to hear about all the crap days this week, hope everyone is enjoying the weekend.

Someone was talking about tests at UCH; I am 33 and was offered one so I think anyone can get one there. I got my results in less than a week.

Imjin100 and others - amazing how bump does come overnight. I didn't believe it would be like that but last weekend, voila! Still pretty small but I am just happy to have one.

Looking forward to seeing everyone next weekend - I imagine we'll be talking at once with this chatty group! :.)

I put the stretch mark question to a friend who is a dermatologist. She says Strech Marks are an inherant feature - if you slated to get them, you will. She says you are more likely if you got them when growing. Anyways, she also said, by all means moisturize bc your skin needs moisture to be able to be elastic for the growth and also COME BACK from the stretch, also reduces uncomfortabilty/itchiness. Best idea according to her is to mix an oil with a lotion (go cheap she says, but natural,no perfume).

Had boring 16 week check up where all I did was pee, gt measured and a black look for the gp when I asked about the peanut debate. Maddening. Now onto the 20 week scan....

Frannieinthecity - thanks for sitaram link, will be checking it out this week.

Prisci, I just booked to Paris as well. If you find any fab baby/maternity shops, let me know as I am going in late October.

See you on the sixth at VP!

morning all -

i am sleeping miserably at the moment - wake up at around 5am needing the loo and then find it impossible to sleep again due to all sorts of discomfort in my tummy. i feel as if the baby is trying to tell me that it is really uncomfortable and desperate to get out - i hate to tell him/her that there is another 6 months to go... anyone else got this, or any tips on how to get comfortable and back to sleep? i dread to think how uncomfortable i'll be when i actually have a big bump!

derah - i am so using your excuse for food now! whenever dh sees me eyeing up some chocolate, i will just claim that it is his child that likes it, not me FWIW, I am also loving mozzarella and homemade pizzas at the moment. excellent nutritious pregnancy food, especially if served with garlic bread...

spugs - i get the same as you. no nuchal scan unless multiple births or over 35 so having my blood test next week instead. it surprised me a bit as i'm at queen charlotte's which is meant to be a leading fetal medicine centre so i sort of imagined nuchal scan would be standard there

off to cambridge this morning to visit my friend who has 3 kids and lots of parenting tales to tell... i hope i am inspired rather than put off, as it's too late to back out now

have good weekends all!

HQ, for sleep comfort try a maternity/nursing pillow. it wedges your upper knee up perfectly to give bump space, and gives you a shelf to rest your upper arm on, very good for when boobs are tender ++ or if you are getting upper arm, neck, shoulder aches. i got mine with ds and whipped it out a while ago with great pleasure! it is such a comfort to me. there's a variety around, try and get one like the linked one, as it is full of wee beads rather than foam and so offers endless varieties of position. ALso great in early days of BF for propping baby up into position, and relieving strain on arms and shoulders.

Hello

I've had a really horrible stressful couple of days at work Soooo glad it's the weekend and I can switch off and relax! I'm going to tell my boss on Monday so am kind of looking forward to all my workmates finding out and I can finally start talking about pregnancy and baby chat with them!!

Anyway, off to the football today and then we're going for a curry tonight, just realised that sounds very bloke'ish' , but promise I am female

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend! xx

hope you're all having a good weekend- having a crap day at work- customers can be soooooo frustrating especially when i am being more reasonable than i need to be!!!

i was up most of last night with an agonising backache- the pain was actually making me throw up so dh called the doctor out who said- "Good golly pet its only a water infection, you really should be taking better care of yourself" he promptly shoved some tablets in my hand and a glass of cranberry juice and told me to have a warm bath!

I did feel better after the bath etc but the way he was saying it was as if a uti wasn't at all painful and how would i cope with having two babies- well i have done and that was less painful than this! It felt like someone had stabbed me in the back and was still wiggling the knife.
UTI's are very common in preg though and tend to take you by surprise so if you do get any symptoms go and get it sorted rather than have to call out a very stroppy 60 year old quack at 4am!

Have a good weekend all!!

Hi all, lots of hugs and sympathy to all who had a crap time at work this week, seems to be catching. I also seem to have got a cold since yesterday, nose is streaming.
Can't wait to meet you all this Saturday! How will we all get a word in edge ways with the speed that we chat!!

turtle your employers seem outragious in their expectations, you are a nany not a cleaner! Grrr. Hope you have a nice, relaxing weekend.

I have to second the v pillow. I used to put it between my legs with the other side under the bump to help back ache.

I'll third the pillow suggestion, I loved my last time around, and it was v handy for bf too.

We're off to a party this afternoon. I feel like a good party, so am very that DH gets to drink and have fun and I have to be responsible! BOOOOOOOO!!!!!