Due May 2009 - our bellies are getting as big as Santa's

[FiKelly]

It'll be an alternative merry Christmas for us this year ;)

Congrats on the scan Fi

MsG 1stMrsF thanks for posting about the health in pregnancy grant. I'll ask my midwife about it at the next appt (24wks, but looks like I'll have to reschedule for the following wk so I'll be just over 25wks).

Cote hope you're feeling better. I was wondering if you could get your DH to ring NHSDirect from France for a bit of advice, but I think it's one of those numbers you have to call from a UK line.

Momino I stopped looking at the Ptolemy thread when it dropped off the 'threads I'm on' but thanks for the ref, seems a few more Ptolemys have cropped up. We're still thinking, but it remains the current favourite so we'll see!

I'm a bit worried about our cat . She had a funny turn at lunchtime which I think could possibly have been a small stroke. As soon as she regained her balance she went straight to her basket and did a bit of yowling and panting, but after a lot of petting she eventually started purring & has now gone to sleep, still purring! She was due a check up at the vets so we're taking her down tomorrow morning.

Hi all, that £190 grant is a nice bonus. I know its meant to be for healthy eating and important purchases, but it just made me think of buying baby clothes, as I have a lot of stuff from last 2 pg.

Is anyone else having serious growth in the boob region? I'm 18+1 weeks, and the last week has gone from not quite filling my 36c bra to that being too tight, and when I dug out my 36DD which i got at the end of my last pg, that already fits very snuggly, and all this from a 36A!

Off to do xmas food shop and arrange party food for DDs birthday party on 27th. Busy time for us!

Congratulations on scans Jael and Fi Cote really hope you're on the mend.

Pula not much growth in the boob region (thank god - they were comically large to start with) but my nipples are MASSIVE. Sorry, probably tmi...

Spangle hope your cat is ok. I swear they know it's Christmas.

I'm 21 weeks today and I've had to take my engagement ring off already as my hands are starting to swell. They're also really hot. Anyone else having this problem?

Apart from that all is well. Still got lots to do before we head off to the in-laws in Somerset tomorrow. Best get on with it then. See you all later! x

Can't believe we are on another new thread already!!!

Not had chance to catch up on this thread yet so will do shortly, not been on for a while as been poorly with flu and my chest is still pretty bad, my dad has been in and out of hospital and I am only just back at work, but last night in tonight, so am looking forward to the rest (ha ha ha!!)

DS who is 3.5 years is soooooo excited about chrimbo, he is absolutely hyper.

Am 21 weeks today and had my 20 week scan today and................................................................................................. ................................................................................ITS A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are absolutely thrilled, have been crying all day (tears of joy!) and DH is so excited, the promise he made not to tell anyone has gone completely out the window!!

Anyway, just wanted to share my news with you, am off to catch up on this thread.

Hope you are all OK.

Help please! Could someone please remind me know what the schedule of appointments is for pregnancy in the UK. I can't remember at all and St Thomas' kept my notes. Have nothing now till 21 weeks, and then who knows.. my doc has changed the hospital he uses and not bothered telling me - now much less convenient so am quite annoyed! There is no structure it seems, so down to me to sort it out.. and not feeling v organised... THANKS!

Alapala just checked my notes which say I need to see GP/midwife at 20 26 30 32 34 36 39 and 40 weeks and the hospital at 38 and 41 weeks. Not sure if this is 'normal' though!

just checked my notes and they say.. appointments at 19-22wks for scan, 28wks, 34wks, 36wks, 38wks, 41wks.. if you're a first time mum or they're keeping a close eye on you because of previous probs you get extra appointments at 25wks, 31wks & 40wks.

I saw midwife at 6 weeks and not sue to see her again till 28 weeks, even though ~I had severe highblood pressure last time! Seems a bit crazy

alapala,

I saw midwife for booking in, then 16 weeks, and she said to book again for around 24 weeks, a few weeks after my 20 week scan. If you are working, you need to get a mat1b form from your MW before 25 weeks as you need to notify work that you are pregnant and this is needed.

I see 2 consultants, a specialist midwife and a specialist nurse once a fortnight because I am special have gestational diabetes. I also have to ring the nurse every other day with my blood sugar readings.

Hi girls
Had my scan today and all fine (altho I didn't much like the sonographer - grumpy old bat!) Didn't find out the sex as we're going for a surprise. Scan pics are rubbish as well but as long as all is okay then thats all that matters - we were there for 3 hours tho as lots of emergencies and problems for other people

Cote its each to their own hun, homeopathy works for me and my family but I guess a lot of it is down to attitude and beliefs in your own body (pretty much like natural birth and using hypnotherapy, NLP as well...!!) Teething granules work miracles for my DD and they are homeopathic remedies. If you're not "into" that sort of thing that's fine but cetainly no harm in trying new things IMO.

Spangle about cat - hope all is well at vets tomo x

Ok everyone we're off to Kent tomo to MIL so won't be on for a few days - hope everyone has a very very merry Xmas!!

Has anyone heard / know if Rubysmom is ok? Very worrying that there has no update

Yes, hope rubysmum is OK.

I was nice and relaxed about xmas as things were going so well. DH did the shopping today including an expensive turkey joint from waitrose. At lunchtime i opened the fridge and the light didn't come on so i just thought the bulb had gone. Only at 10pm tonight did we realise the fridge wasnt working- tried changing the fuse but no good. Now i am stressed about getting someone out tomorrow to look at it (and how much theyd charge for xmas eve) or getting a replacement at such short notice.

I wish we'd looked at it earlier when we were having a relaxing afternoon not doing much...

So the turkey has now gone in the freezer, as have a few other things. now we have the worry of knowing how long to defrost it for before its cooked...

I was wondering about rubysmom too.

Well we've got the tree up, but just discovered the lights aren't working so we'll have to get some more tomorrow. Looks like DH will get his wish to decorate the tree on Christmas Eve after all!

I'm fairly chilled out this Christmas as we're doing very little entertaining for a change - BIL/SIL Christmas Day, my Dad's Boxing Day then traditional sales trip to Manchester on Sat. At least I won't be tempted to buy clothes - although there are always bags and shoes....

detsy have a fab Christmas

pulapula nightmare about the fridge - what bad timing Re the turkey, you could follow Nigella's suggestion - put it in a bucket of water with various herbs & spices and keep it outside overnight (having defrosted during the day first) - obv you have to make sure no cats/foxes etc can get into the bucket!

Cat is back to normal for the time being. She might just need an adjustment to her meds (already on 3 tablets a day, poor thing).

detsy forgot to put congrats on the scan!! (am watching Con Air while MN-ing and plainly can't do two things at once!)

Morning everyone

I went out last night with my DH and friends [for the 2nd time this year], I only had diet coke to drink and we went for a curry afterwards but I feel like I totaly hit the town!!!!!!

Hi Ladies - jsut checking in from Bansko, Bulgaria!! DS & DH haveing a ball on the slopes. I'm just about to go and have a lovely massage. Not sleeping very well here - the air is so cold my nose is very dry and at night I'm finding it hard to breathe. But Santa comes to night!! Yippee!!!

Hope you all are keeping well - don;t have the time to read up on the last efw days, but will catch up properly next week when I'm back home.

Take care and Happy Christmas!!xx

Happy Christmas Eve everyone!

divedaisy mmm... massage sounds lovely

Dandy I know what you mean about baking, there seem to be so many things to go wrong. But if you're doing cookies they should definitely taste nice even if they end up too gloopy/dry - so long as you don't burn them to a crisp you'll be fine.

After feeling fairly chilled last night we've had a bit of a grumpy morning. I was all stroppy about the tree not being up, decorations/presents/wrapping lying about everywhere and DH having to disappear off for most of the day & generally that we've left everything to the last minute. DH was grumpy because some faffy things at work and - completely justifiably - because the cat projectile vomited out of her basket all over him on our way to the vet's (she gets travel sick).

Anyhow (now that DH has clean trousers on) we've both now regained our Christmas spirits

Thanks all for your replies. I'll just request appointments like in the UK. It picks up towards the end a bit, but I guess that's normal. Just got maternity tights again, as I just couldn't find my last lot. My they are comfortable, I might wear them all year round!

Merry Christmas to all!

Merry christmas everyone,

Well after freezing the turkey etc we found out before going to bed last night that the fridge was in fact working (phew) so nightmare is over. We had decided to just use a freezer bag and ice blocks and store other things in the cellar/garage as its pretty cold down there, and get a new one in the new year, although at least now we dont have to splash out £300 on a new one...

I felt a bit bad to put the kids in nursery today, but we had a lovely day getting the house looking lovely for xmas, had a nice relaxing lunch out with DH and went to visit a friends 3 week old baby- i always forget how small newborns are (although this one was 7lb now which was still smaller than my 2 were at birth). Very cute though and just made me want to meet my LO.

Dammit- just realised the pin is missing from my glasses so the lens is falling out- another job which will have to wait a few days now as opticians will be closed.

Anyway, off to a nativity/carols shortly with the kids and then get them to bed for an early night as no doubt they will be up early.

Merry christmas everyone!

I've spent most of the day with a bad back. Nothing I do seems to help so I've resorted to paracetamol. I'm feeling very pregnant today as a result.

Have ham in the oven, and waiting for Sex and the City to start.

Have a good day tomorrow, everyone.

Nadolig Llawen to any fellow taffs out there.