Due March 2008-New thread as we all talk too much [smile]

[turtle23]

Not very original, but the thread WAS becoming ridiculously big.

I'm feeling much, much better today although last night was a corker. The stomach pains came back one last time, I had a brief bout of cystitis and a spectacular nosebleed - talk about bad things coming in threes!

PQueen that's one of the worst things about PG as it progresses and around/after labour - feeling like every damn orifice is conspiring against you. I do hope you're on the mend now. I am thankfully, have begun to be able to lie down and sleep for up to 3 hours at a time before the coughing kicks in, and the pleurisy pain has gone.

Hello SMileSam, I think it was e14mum who found you over on your thread first! You sounded so p'd off with people saying how massive you were. And I am NOT enjoying this PG anywhere near as much as the last one, like you. In my case the PG itself is no different to my first, but I seem ot have no immune system at all this time round and I'm ill more often than not, and take ages to perk up again. Still, PGagain at least I'm not in a plaster cast with twins tucked under my bump. I think of you oftena nd wish all power to your healing elbow!

When it comes to being heavy and having the taut bump, I'm sort of not noticing so much this time around - I think cos so much of my attention is going to ds1 and trying to cope with my various illnesses. Well anyway, so far I'm ignoring it as much as possible! I've always been frightened of coping with the last month - but I've told everyone who's offered to help out with family once baby has come, and lined up some extra support for february - eg taking ds out, a bit of extra house help. Will see how it goes.

Para1stTimer medical receptionists...hmmm... 90% of the time the power, low pay and overwork create a mini-dictator! About group b, try this old and goo link and also this one

Timmyinatizzy's Virtual Hen Night is Starting Here * *

Hi everyone, glad the meet up went well for those who went.

Paranoid first timer- the best thing is that you have been diagnosed antenatally as many women are never tested and only become aware if there baby has problems. On here there are many different opinions and attitudes as to how to treat gbs so maybe search the archives.

The idea of antibiotics in labour can be a bit disapointing but i think it isnt actually that bad when its happening!

I think that its hard for drs receptionists to know what to say on answer machines though, if they gave to much away and someone you didnt want to heard the message first you would probably be more peeved!

parinoid - my sis had grp b strep, they have to give you the antibiotics over 4 hrs before the birth or they have to give them to the baby instead. you have an iv in and can still move around etc. she said it didnt really mak much of a difference apart from going in a bit earlier then she would have liked to.

i dont get maternity pay from my job as im a supply teacher. i get stautotory maternity pay instead. as long as you have worked 40 weeks out of the past 66 weeks (ending on your due date i think) then you can claim it. you need to have earned a minimum of £30 a week. but you get just over £100 a week for 9 mths and can claim from when you are 28 weeks. you can get the forms and more info from the job centre.

sorry its not smp its maternity allowence and its £112 a week. all the details are on the job center site

yeah, good luck with the mat allowance claim. i am doing it too - 39 page form and all!

mat allowance

I knew there was something i had to do this week!

Can we insist on having a GBS test or do peole only get it under special circumstances. Just seems ridiculous that its not done as standard considering the amount of women who seem to have it.

from baby centre:

'Many people believe pregnant women should automatically be screened for GBS but current NICE guidelines state, "Women should not be offered routine antenatal screening for GBS (Strep B) because evidence of its clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness remains uncertain." '

Hi SmileSam! Glad you found your way over.

I'm trying to make it to mid-feb (36 weeks) before starting mat leave. We'll see how that goes!

I spent far too much time in B&Q today- but we've picked paint for the nursery and got a Christmas tree! Thankfully v. sensible friend with a car was with us- too many decisions otherwise and I am useless these days! DH was off gathering some manly DIY bits he needed and I was bogged down by all the paint choice- Matt, Silk, Eggshell, etc... then I nearly threw a strop in the Christmas tree section which was (IMO) 1. WAY overpriced 2. Out of nice small trees. Grrr....

But better now- esp since dropping by Timmy's hen do!

Paranoid1st - I really don't want to be tested for GBS, apparently about 25% of women have it but never know, and all is well. But it's something that can make them try to deny a home birth so I'd rather not know.

hellosmilesam, welcome to our world and sorry you aren't feeling so great. I have a feeling that everyone at some point or other in the last few weeks has been really low, sore and p'd off so you're in good company!
Paranoid - my sister also had it and I can echo minspugs response on that. INfact, it won't help you to know but i've asked to be tested and they won't test me. I think it's better to know although derah, I totally hear what you're saying. I'm not allowed a home birth anyway so that bit wouldn't concern me.
Purlyqueen - sounds horrible,poor you - get those feet up and chilling out. rotten.

anyone fancy filling in that long form for all of us - I need to do it - chore for this week and I can't face starting....i must I must.

merryberry - ive claimed it with my last two babies as well so im an old pro now

dontlookatmynose - you can have it done privatly for £30, theres a site that will send you out a kit, you or your mw do the test and send it back with the money. ill have a look for it. not sure how reliable it is though.

im hoping to keep working till feb half term, i only do a couple of half days a week so i would prob have kept going till term, but need to sort a date to start getting mat allowence and for the kids i teach it would better for a new supply to start after holidays (they eat supply teachers for brekkie where have you got you mat allowence forms from? have you gone to job centre or printed them off, or can you ring somewhere and get one sent out?

baby was very quiet yesterday and just when i started to wonder what she was playing at i realised she was kicking right round my side! cant remember having this with the dds, but imagine she must have been lying traverse to have got her feet so high and so far round. shes back to her normal position today though. feet down by my hip kicking away. hope she realises that shell have to turn round eventually.

test for gbs

sorry for gbs and stomach pains..hope all is better soon!

on the tight tummy situation, i have been having this for a week or so. when my mw was examining the bump, she said you know this tightness is Braxton hicks, right? NO! So apparently, you have them from 20 weeks but don't really notice them or like me, just think they were the baby! Second timers, insert comments here. they're normal (uterus practising) and typically not painful although last night and today, mine were quite pronounced. book says is only a problem if you have more than 4 in an hour which i got so close to last night, i almost called the hospital. we're timing them now again - quite surreal to be timing contractions at this point!

e14mum, say yes or try getting into the ones at Active Birth Centre. I think the NCT ones fill up pretty quickly and you could get locked out.

going to lie down with contractions - ahhhhh!

MarchMum re the Braxton Hicks, I've been getting them alot for quite a while (I'm 27+6) (Oh, cripes that's a scary thing to write, glad I am sitting down) especially in the evening. About a week ago a had lots and quite uncomfortable. I was quite worried, but dh looked on the internet and it said that it's quite normal. Didn't say anything about mustn't have more than 4 an hour and I'm sure I did. Anyone else got more info / experience?
had to use new smiley! about to decorate tree now - if I can persuade Scroogey dh to bring it inside for me!

Thanks for the feed back - much appreciated. I'm a bit concerned about the GBS stuff but I have it and have to deal with it so I'm just gonna have to put my big brave girl head on.... But I suppose I should have that head on for the whole labour and baby thing too!!!

I'm off to the jobcentre site for my lovely 39 page form then....

Thanks again and good luck with the Braxton Hicks everyone!

you can get mat allow form online too

I'm sorry, am moaning again! I don't want to gross anyone out, but is a varicose-type vein across your arse normal? It kind of starts mid way across the underside of my bum cheek and then carries on underneath (sorry) and is really lumpy/bumpy just like an old ladies varicose vein! Have never had these anywhere before?!

blimey, i don't think i could even see under my overhanging shelf to know if i had one.

seriously, sounds like varicosity and you can get them there (and worse she said darkly, remembering her aunt freaking her out with stories of 'em where the sun really don't shine).

SOUNDING PERKIER they dial down laods after PG! do check with MW If worried?

with dd1 i had no braxton hicks and with dd2 shed loads, used to get lots more then 4 and hour. towards the end i used to think i was in early labour every other day as they would last for about an hour every 10 mins or so. i would stick with what your mw says but try not to worry about it.

urgh dont mention varicose veins, got slight one on calf with dd1 which got little bit worse with dd2 now have visable veins all the way down both legs. including a lumpy sticky outy bit on one thigh could be worse though. i have heard of the horror of which merryberry speaks and that along with piles is something i pray i never experiance

talking of popping veins i am the proud owner of my first ever pair of bloodshot eyes this weekend - from coughing so damn much last week.

so i now look like with the red dots covering the black dots.

but i feel loads better today!

Hi all hope you all had a good weekend.

Braxton hicks, during my first pregnancy i never had any of these but carrying twins this time may get them, i think it could be quite scary if you have not had them before but i am sure they are common.

We moved house on Friday, i am sure it has been the most tiring and stressful thing i have even done, i went through every emotion, guilt as my DS who is 2 kept getting in trouble for getting in the way of people, and also because my DH had to do all the lifting and carrying as the boxes etc were to heavy for me. The house we left i have lived there for 20 years firstly with my mum and then we bought it from her so it was really had to be leaving. We also found out last week the house we were meant to be buying has fallen through so we are in rented accomodation on a monthly basis and we are looking for a house to buy again.

Xmas shopping, i have not even stareted, dont know what to get people usually really organised and know what i am getting people if not already got it but really worrying about it now.

Baby purchases, we have not got anything new for the twins, only things we have are form my DS so need quite a lot so after xmas will have to get started getting that.

I've been getting what I guess are B Hicks this time around, but I really don't remember them last time.... very weird!