Due in September 2009: we are now officially blooming!

[StealthPolarBear]

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

nitnat, I too am a teacher and we have slapped cheek in school.
I have also been sent for a blood test and am awaiting results. I found this info

NHS site to be useful and quite reassuring (IE the risk is very low)

I know I am also not immune to chicken pox either and may have to have the immunoglobin injections whch I had in my last pregnancy

gonnabamumma You can have my double bump any time- it feels like my ribs are being pushed apart already. i have stopped eating in the evenings as I can sleep at all otherwise. I'll never make it to 38 weeks for the caesarian

Hello all - had my 16 week midwife appointment today...she was an absolute cow!

Got all of the stuff out of the way, and she was just booking me in for my 28 week appointment. As she was finishing up, I asked if there was any chance of hearing the heartbeat. She launched into a lecture about how NICE guidelines said they shouldn't use dopplers anymore, and women should go on fetal movements. I said I understood this, but that I didn't want to hear it for reassurance (as I've already been feeling movements, and this week, some most definite kicks!) just that I'd not heard the baby's heartbeat yet, and that it would be nice. She then said "I suppose you think I've got nothing better to do?" followed by "I thought 2nd timers were supposed to be less precious than 1st timers". I couldn't believe what she had said! It made me more determined to hear it then, so I smiled at her and said "nonetheless, I'd still like to hear it, and I was under the impression if I asked, you had a duty to me to try and find the heartbeat". She tutted as she picked up the doppler...I was so angry it was all I could do to walk out of the surgery and not ask for a complaint form. Grr - still, at least those ladies who have had crappy service from their GP's can be reassured you're not alone!

Anyway, was lovely to hear the heartbeat which she found relativly quickly (at first she couldn't find it, and said that was because of my extra padding!) and was nice and strong. Everything else seemed ok, and I'm not seen now until my 20 week scan on the 30/04/09...got a lot on between now and then, so should go quickly. Still not decided on whether to find out the sex or not.

Was a bit naughty at the weekend too - DH was away Thurs - Sun on a stag weekend, so needed a bit of a distraction. DS and I went to the local Mamas and Papas store (who were having a 4 day sale) and bought pretty much everything we'll need for the baby's nursery. Hadn't kept much from DS as DSIL had a baby last year, and was under pressure to give her all of my baby stuff. Anyway, decided on the Hodge Podge range as I thought it was nicely unisex...DH says he likes what he's chosen (didn't mind not being there, as it's 'girls stuff'!) but haven't admitted to him how much I've spent. Have bought it with the new HIP grant in mind

Hope everyone else is well - so sorry to read that some are still suffering with MS...really do have my fingers crossed for you that it disappears soon!

Much love to all x

nitnat - hopefully by week 16 I'll start getting better then, I seem to remember with dd at 16 I was typically blooming - running out of time to meet that timescale now tho I think!! It's definately worse when I'm tired i.e. - just got up, and in the evening!
Train sound is a boy and horses is a girl! My MW was pretty sheepiish when she admitted to believing in this 'old wives tale' but she said it never fails for her - and she's delivered hundreds of babies - she's been a MW for years and years - she's one of the 'old school' lot!!
Its quite hard to tell to the untrained ear tho - I always thought dd's sounded like galloping horses but it wasn't until I heard another woman with the train sound that the difference became so obvious - sooooooo excited to see if I can guess with this one - dp doesn't want to find out the sex officially!!

Didn't click to nxt page so only just noticed this last few posts!!!
Audrey - so glad your feeling much better now - I've not had it anywhere near as bad as you! Too right about the nappy changes tho - uuuuurrrggghhh!!!

TrixieVix - OMG what a cow bag - I think I'd have either slapped her in the face or burst into tears if anyone spoke to me like that - I think you should still put a compliant in tho, thats really out of order!! "I thought 2nd timers were supposed to be less precious than 1st timers" - oooo the nerve!!!
Don't feel guilty about the spending - well needed retail therapy I feel - you should even throw in a glass of wine for good measure!! My dp gets extra commission this month (works in car sales) and I've alreay spent the extra he's earned with a big baby stuff shopping list!! hee hee

Trixie - omg your mw is a complete bitch How dare she speak to patients like that. I am a nurse and no matter how awful my patients are (and believe me - sometimes they are awful) I would NEVER ever speak to them in that manner. All that performance just because you asked to hear the hb I agree - you should make a complaint. Someone less robust might be very upset if spoken to like that.

Sorry to hear some are still being sick. Glad yours is easing up Audrey.

I've got my consultant appt. tomorrow. Not quite sure what that entails.

trixie OMG I don't agree with violence but bloody ell she would have got a right dressing-down!! My Mum ended up making a complaint with GP for the way he had spoken to me....had another episode of bleeding a couple of weeks ago, doc told me there was no point going to EPU as they couldn't save the baby, etc etc. Complete t**d. Some people shouldn't qualify to care for people!!

Hey I told the self-serve till in Asda to 'sod off' last night...got some filthy looks!!! They are far from fast and 9 yr old DD
loves to 'pay herself'!!

Trixie - agree with everyone else, you should definately make a complaint - what a cow . Wish I had made a complaint after the first time I saw my MW she made me cry, I was only 5 weeks and the receptionist said I needed to see her to sort out booking in etc so made me an appointment, when I turned up she said 'oh, what are you doing here? you do realise that it is VERY early days and there is a chance of mc?' I just sat there with my mouth open, DH could not speak either so she then said 'well, I'll give you some leaflets, if you think its worth it' we just took the leaflets, left the room and I managed to get to the car before bursting into tears - she took all our exitement away in seconds. Really feel for you, they can be total bitches.

Thusnelda I haven't had a 16wk appointment.
I had a booking appointment (just a chat and tour) at 9 weeks, then my first scan at 14wks (bit late as they misfiled my records!) and have now got my 20wk scan appointment (on 23rd April). Not sure what comes after that...

Sorry to hear about your fall too, I've also had a particularly nasty one at 13 weeks (fell right onto my left side, massively bruising my bum and even 3 weeks later my elbow still hurts!). Baby was fine though as still well in the pelvis, but I was really worried about it.

TPT: forgot, but measured this am and I'm nearly 8 sheets (which isn't much more than before). Like others, I'm certainly bigger but I think it's the bit under my belly button that's increased! Can only do up one pair of work trousers so putting my bump bands to good use holding them up!

Told boss this morning too. She seemed really pleased so assuming it's some way genuine. Hassle to get a temp to cover me but she's paid to sort these things out! I'm now counting down the weeks to maternity leave... yay!

Meant to say, I'm really pleased for everyone hearing HBs Smiles all round!

BLimey TrixieVix what an utter cow I think you handled it very well but I think I'd be putting in a complaint.

TPT - 9.5 sheets it's the first time I've done it so no idea if it's up or down. Like many of you, my bump is too low as yet to make much impact on my waistline.

I'm still not really eating very well, I lost about 1 1/2 stone due to HG and haven't put a single pound on since I got it under control . Apparently this is normal for larger women though so I'm not worrying about it... it was just a bit of a surprise as I think I'd put about a stone on by this stage whilst pg with dd.

Glad your boss took it well PCH - my work colleagues have been brilliant, I'm very lucky in that respect.

Hi ladies, had 16 week check yesterday and all was fine. Took an instant dislike to the midwife tho who is new to our practice. She had absolutely no time for me at all, no interest in my history just wanted me in and out as quickly as possible. I don't have to go again now until 28 weeks but will be making my app. with the midwife who works on a Monday instead. They split our town geographically between them so she doesn't cover my area but i will argue that we live in an age of NHS choice and will just claim that I can't make Wednesday apps anyway.

I saw the consultant in the afternoon who initially frightened the life out of me because she was so confident and assertive. I came to quite like her tho. She put forward the new policy of not giving anti-biotics automatically just because of a previous GB Strep diagnosis and of re-testing at 36 weeks. I countered her argument as I know that these tests are very unreliable and I am just not prepared to take the risk of stillbirth or meningitis and am more than happy to have the anti-biotics. She fully respected my wishes and documented it in her notes and mine. As for the issue of large babies she was very anti-interventionalist and was confident that as I had delivered a previous big baby with no trouble that I am more than capable of doing it again.

So just the count down to 20 week scan now whcihc is 3 weeks on Tuesday. Very excited to find out what flavour we're having!

which! Lost my ability to type since being pregnant!

Hello ladies, urgh I?m having a really shit day. First of I was feeling much better and hadn't been sick for nearly a week, woke up this morning feeling so tired and yuck, couldn't keep much down before 12 today, I thought I was past this at 17+6!

Not only that I work in an office of mostly men who are un-caring & un-sympathetic about the fact I feel so very ill and I have had several comments about why I?m not "happy today" as if i should be happy all the time. The only other women isn't much help either telling me not to think about feeling ill (she?s never been pregnant).

My 17 week appt was rubbish, they were running and hour late, & when i did get called i was rushed in and out, it was so quick I couldn?t even tell you the mw's name.
Sorry to moan but if I don?t come on here and off load right away I?ll burst out crying in the middle of the office!

Poor mumtobe23 - sounds like your having one of those crappy days that pop up every now and then x x would hate to work with men as they really have no idea, even when you say try living with the hangover from hell for several months at a time, but would have thought that a woman, even one who has not had kids, would have some sympathy cos it really is grim. On the plus side, it's 4pm and hopefully you finish in an hour or two, and can have a nice bath, and maybe a sneaky glass of wine when you get home x x

Oh poor you Mumtobe23, it's grim isn't it? It's probably no consolation at all to hear that you're not alone, but you aren't, I'm still on stemetil to stop the sickness and even then I still have days when I feel rough as a dog's arse. It's lovely to have somewhere to come and have a whinge

Going to sound like a complete bitch here...if you think mw's can be off-hand, wait til you've had your little bundle of joy and get treated like sh1t by ward sisters. Maybe I'm being cynical but I've not had good experiences with them at all. Maybe it's because I was quite young (21+23) when I had DDs??? I bled with DD2 the day before 8 week booking in scan. Mw said, 'You do know that 1 in 5 pregnancies end in mc, don't you.' So kind...

I've had a rough time with this pg so far. Bleeding every few weeks. But thankfully no sickness. I feel for those of you who are suffering and getting sod-all sympathy from the people who are supposed to be reassuring you that baby's fine. Well, in less than 6 months time we won't have to deal with them anymore!!

Aww mum2be - sorry your having a shite day, nearly home time (hopefully) so have a nice bath and like erhianj says - a glass of wine to cheer you up!! Call in sick 2morrow - pregnancy related sickness doesn't count towards a sickness record!!

Ahh thank you all for being kind, i really have had a pants day but is so lovely to come on here and read messages from you!
I'm cheering up because i leave at 5.30 and its sunny here so I'm gonna go home and have a bath & early night!

Hello all- Got my test results today to see if I am immune to Parvo (slapcheek) today and I am so pleased as I am! Phew! Was getting worried as so many kids at school are getting it.
mumtobe- sounds like a fab idea! Hot bath and an early night.

nitnat84 - think lots of us need hot baths, wine and early nights!! aaand reelaax..!

nitnat what a relief!

nitnat
some horrible MW stories here - TV what a bitch! It's hardly as though you were asking for expensive invasive tests!
blue - I was when you said you told the server in asda to sod off - I reread it a few times before I understood And realised I do it too, or certainly think it!

I need an early night, had a very disturbed firat part of the night with DS yesterday, but he slept through the 2 previous nights so I was spoilt and very unused to it last night!

Evening all, still at work sigh.

Good news for you nitnat.

Was very angry reading those mean MW stories - sorry to hear they have been so uncaring and crap. Why do the job if you are going to be like that??

Was very jealous of everyone going home for an early night and a bath. My deal has overrun by a week so am probably stuck working heaps until Monday...