Due in September 2009: we are now officially blooming!

[StealthPolarBear]

Even if it doesn't seem like it most of the time

Afternoon ladies. Don't normally get on here during the day, but have come home early due to not feeling well. I nearly fainted during a meeting - I think it was due to bolting down my lunch after rushing around during my lunch hour. Still felt a bit wobbly an hour later, so came home (I do feel a bit guilty and pathetic, but am trying to get over that ). It's the usual kind of thing we all do, but I guess I need to get used to the idea of slowing down a bit and making sure I eat properly. I've been fooled by having so much more energy than I did a few weeks ago, I think.

I was reassured by Miriam Stoppard's verdict on fainting: Risk to baby - None, unless you fall very heavily on your stomach. Biggest problem has been convincing the cat not to trample on my bump while I've been lounging on the sofa (she's really pleased I came home to see her).

Looks like I'll be giving yoga a miss tonight - which is ironic as one of the things I was rushing round for at lunchtime was a pair of trousers for that (and I didn't need any, as my old ones still fit, but were just annoyingly short ).

So pleased for your one of each, Neddie - and the foal. And for the girls mumtobe and mummyhill Was the lo shy or obliging Hangingbelly?

I'm not normally a worrier about such things, but the idea of there being a particularly nasty strain of flu going round this autumn, while we have new borns, isn't great. Plenty more things to worry about, though, aren't there?

Have a fab holiday April!

Not thinking about labour / birth for a few months yet. [terrified emoticon]

Great news mummyhill

Minshu - take care and get plenty of rest. Do you get low blood pressure as well? I rushed around in my lunch hour too trying to get some trousers. No joy. I need a long leg and Mamas + Papas concession in Allders only had Reg or Short legs. Ended up buying some shoes in Topshop instead They are identical to a pair I have, only reduced to £12. Mine are a bit knackered. So a bargain My cat keep walking over my bump as well.

Liz - yeah IKWYM. I used to have a very lazy boss who would rant every now and then telling people to pull their finger out. I felt like telling him to get his head out of the sand. I think the fact that my previous work place was horrendous makes me see this one through rose coloured specs.

stayfrosty - can tell you're still on a high aren't you

One of my cats tramples on my belly too, although she's less enamoured of it now that it's getting harder and isn't entirely squidgy She's also taken to sleeping next to me nearly every night since I got pg, which I find interesting. Stick your feet up and enjoy the rest minshu. FairySparkles I couldn't hear anything you said since I had my fingers well and truly in my ears

No, still no baby for my friends...

hi ladies cant believe how many posts i've had to read to catch up its so busy on here

congrats on all your scans and pink and blue bumps.

I went to m&p today as they have 30% off maternity wear all weekend only managed to get a tankini really wanted shorts for my holiday but 14's too small and 16's too big. No where else seems to have any maternity shorts and i feel like sulking

Well - had my scan today! All appeared healthy and well, which is a huge relief.

Am a little bit disappointed though I must admit. We didn't want to find out the sex of the baby and asked the sonographer not to tell us. She said ok no probs, and then was referring to 'baby'...'baby's heart, baby's arm' etc. At one point, she said oh, I can't get a proper view of his heart because he's lying face down. I looked immediately over at DH who raised his eyebrows back at me as he'd obviously heard her say it too.

Anyway, I was trying not to read too much into it, thinking most sonographer's don't tend to look 'down there' unless the parents have asked, and maybe she just always used the masculine. But, she was a student and had to get a qualified sonogrpaher to check everything. When she came in, she also referred to 'him' and then checked herself and asked if we wanted to know the sex.

It doesn't help that at the end, the sonographer said "I know what you're having" (mucking about in a jokey way) and I asked her if she referred to one particular sex all the time, and she said "nope, usually just refer to 'baby' unless the parents want to know".

So, REALLY, I don't know what we're having, but I think we do! I just feel a bit cheated that we didn't want to find out, yet we kind of know by default IYKWIM.

The main thing is that everything's ok and am so relieved about that - was lovely to see the lively little monkey on screen again too.

Have got some fab pics, so will post them on my profile in a bit. Got a lovely one of its feet, and also one of its scull front-on where it looks a little like Skellator something I should worry about??

Trixie glad all is well with baby but if they were referring to the sex, it's really off - especially as you told her not to tell you.

Congrats on your scan

LittleCheese - Jojomamanbebe have some lovely shorts that are really comfy and Next have some linen ones.

LOL at Skeletor, TrixieVix! DP pointed out that in one of our scan profile shots our little girl looks like a chimp - she must take after daddy, then! It's not good that they effectively ignored your request at your scan.

Lizlemon - we've been trying to stop the cat sleeping on my head since I found out I was pregnant, with some success. I've heard that some cats are sensitive to the hormones and can react differently to pregnant owners. Mine's just more wary of me, but mainly because my boobs have been so much more sensitive than normal and she doesn't like me screeching when she crawls over me.

Ladylush - my blood pressure is normally fairly "normal". I'll get in touch with the mw or gp if it happens again, but think it was just the rushing around on an empty tummy, then stuffing my face too quickly The shoes sound like a bargain. Shoes almost always are...

Glad to hear everyone has been having good news scans. I had my rescan this week just to get a clearer picture of the heart and all is good. Amasing how much clearer everything was after just 3 weeks. She looks disturbingly like a monkey with big lips but cute anyway.

I also have to have a growth scan at 28 weeks Mumtobe23 and probably more after that just to keep an eye on size due to the diabetes. I got taught how to jab myself with insulin this week but don't have to start just yet. Bit shocked, thought I'd bought more time as my blood sugars have been good. They are really strict though.

Blue - I cycled until really late with DS. Didn't get very big, was still pretty fit and didn't have any balance problems. Think the general rule with exercise is to do what you are comfortable with - not get out of breath or overheated.

Babylady sorry about your Grandad. I've done that flight when my Dad was dying. Not fun and hard being so far away when something like that happens. Hope you have good support close by.

Off to clean the house - that's my exercise for the day.

Thanks for all the cycling advice, ladies! I
ve been off work all week due to this dizziness, so when I'm feeling 'normal' again I'll give it a go! Still daren't get on the scales...my thighs have started to rub together so that's enough of a sign for me!

Great news on all the scans. Mine is in 13 days...can't wait! 20 weeks on Sunday, so I'll be nearly 22 weeks when we go. Dying to find out the sex. Dp really wants a boy as I already have 2 girls...??

Was feeling really deflated yesterday at the thought of having to wait 2 weeks to see baby - especially when I kept reading eveyone's posts about their scans. In bed last night, baby must've decided to take things into their own tiny hands and started kicking really hard. Surprised dp didn't wake kids up shouting for joy! [Wonders if he'll shout for joy when I'm cutting off his circulation and screaming during labour]

Heh heh just found this on tinternet! Thought it might make an amusing but informative read...apologies if TMI!!

Mozillx is maintaining the tone of pelvic muscles and vagina. If the pelvic muscles are strong, orgasm is likely to be more intense and pleasurable. Regular sexual activity and orgasm means the pelvic muscles are used and well toned - just like any other muscle of your body that you use often!

Better blood circulation and nerve development associated with exercise does several things: it means more awareness and perception of genital sensations. It means increased bathing of clitoral, vulval, vaginal and pelvic cells in oxygen and circulating sex hormones. It also helps your immune system fight disease because it increases the genital flow of white blood cells, which defend the body against viruses and bacteria.

www.lovelifeplus.com.au/Sex_and_health/PelvicFloor.htm

blue - makes complete sense but tbh these days I am too knackered. Was hoping I would turn into one of these pregnant nymphomaniacs but alas...... I do think it's important to make time for it though cos after having ds I was so sore for ages and by the time we tried it again it felt that it'd been an age since we'd been intimate.

Liz and Minshu - when I was pg with ds my cat avoided me big time but was all over dh. This time she wants attention ++ but I don't know if that means anything significant.

Ladylush - good point about soreness! Isn't it funny how people tell you horror stories about giving birth, yet fail to 'just let you know' how much bloody pain you will be in afterwards...I got 1 hell of a shock with dd1 because I just wasn't prepared...

That said, I have read in the past that regular orgasms make for an easier birth. I'm not sex mad, btw - just sharing vital info with you folks!

Blue, I'm exactly the same: 20 weeks on Sunday and scan isn't until the 14th May. Are you at Queen Charlotte's too?
It seems like ages after everyone else but on the plus side my mother will be here then and maybe I can take her in with me. It's her first grandchild and she hasn't seen me at all since I found out I'm pregnant!

I'm intrigued by the cats' reactions, I wish I had a cat! I've always put off getting one though because I go away so often. Well, maybe next year. Apparently, children growing up with animals are much less likely to get asthma and allergies.

Thanks blue, much appreciated

Thusnelda my scan is on the 14th too. !I'm trying to see it as a good thing as baby will be bigger! I'm oop North on the Wirral.

Like the info blue Not that I'm much in the mood, but I take note that I might as well try to be now when I'm just tired rather than sore...

I'm in the waiting club too: I'm 20 weeks today and my scan is on the 20th May. I'll be 22+5, and the wait is making me feel a bit glum. It'll be nice for your mum though Thusnelda.

Trixievix that's such a shame about the sonographer, but at least everything is ok. You could always make a complaint to the department - it won't change what happened but at least you'll have let them know how it's made you feel.

more4mums.co.uk I ordered some lovely trousers on Monday - lightweight, smart and summery - and they arrived today. They've got loads of shorts as well, littlecheese. It's unbelievably cheap, designer stuff. They charge £1.50 postage which is even more of a bonus!! I logged in with paypal so didn't have to go through the laborious registration process.

and so it begins.... someone asked me today if I had long to go. This happened all the way through with DS, so am expecting a barrage of 'aren't you big?' comments to begin soon.

JRocks - I know what you mean. My belly is huge already!

Great scan news all! Getting very exiting !

Filed all morning and am stiff and exausted,think I'll make a pact with my collegue that she can do the bottom drawers and I'll do the top ones! Once I'm down I can hardly get back up again,goodness knows what I'll be like later on!!

JRocks I have the opposite, I get 'oh are you pregnant? wheres the bump then?' or 'you dont look 21 weeks' etc, very annoying as why the heck would I lie?! feel like sticking my belly out and holding my back for a bit. I worry then that bubs is smaller than he should be etc - people should THINK CAREFULLY before addressing pregnant women about their bumps!

I will second Next for shorts LittleCheese good value and really comfy! Nice cream pair to go with your lovely shoes!

Good findings Blue!! only wish I had the 'pregnant sex maniac' symptom that you hear of in the books a well as the other not so attractive things...!