Anybody else due in NOVEMBER 2009 :-) PART 3

[ldeeanna]

Hopefully this has worked?

Easyeggs just looked at your scan pic - wow!!! I really hope I have one just like that tomorrow at this time!!

Koumak also struggling with the disability thing. Not discussed it for a while with DH but he said before that he would want to terminate. Thing is, am not sure I could. But then would I be able to cope with a disabled baby?? So hard. I am desperately hoping to not have to think about it.

Well, I went to work and got sent home for looking too ill I am really glad I did, I have been in bed all afternoon and feel worse than ever. At least I went in and people know I am not skiving though. Not sure what to do since I can't take these anti biotics. It will get better on its own, won't it?

DH is really excited about the scan and I am petrified. 16 hours to go.... Belgianbun I will wave to you I will be the gibbering wreck with the ultra-calm DH. Are you taking part in the research thing? My leaflet says I would have to have a heart scan and placenta scan. Think I will, but it sounds quite scary.

Lemontop sorry you are constipated. It's horrid isn't it.

Has anyone been watching Born to be Different on Channel 4? I think it was on Monday night last week and this week. I found it very moving but it didn't help at all with the disability issue as I saw both sides watching that programme. I felt the most for this one couple with an autistic son who also has brain tumors. How they coped so well and with such good humour was totally inspiring.

Have seen that programme advertised, BeckyBendyLegs but not actually seen it. I think deep down I am pretty scared of disability, which is absolutely awful, I know. It's just not talked about, really, is it, although obviously a lot better than a decade or two ago. I think my direct experiences are limited, although I have taught a few autistic children. To be honest the most 'challenging' child in that respect had fetal alcohol syndrome. If ever you need a reason not to drink (to excess) in pregnancy, this child is it... By the way, have people cut out alcohol altogether? I have but I really can't stand the thought of it at the minute! Not sure about later pregnancy but don't think I will. I've never been v good at just having one, so don't think I will risk it!

Sorry, really hope that last post didn't seem insensitive to anyone...

Katster, I couldn't drink at all with my previous pregnancy due to the ongoing nausea, but I think that I'll probably have the odd small glass of wine later on. I don't think there are any studies showing that small amounts have horrible effects - the gov just says 'No booze at all' because they think that pregnant women are too daft to work out the difference between 'small quantity' and 'binge-drink all night with my mates'.

I love this Zoe Williams article on advice on drinking for pregnant women, btw - it's brilliant.

www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/may/29/health.medicineandhealth

I'm sure no-one with a disabled child knows how they will cope until it happens to them. I know I would struggle and in fact prefer the head-in-the-sand approach right now. I read a really good book about Downs I think it was called Danny's Challenge and it was written by the father of a Downs boy and how it affected him, his relationships with his wife and child, it was heartbreaking.

I had the odd glass of wine with DS1, one glass of champagne at a wedding and a gin and tonic at a hen do but in those days the advice was 'the odd one doesn't hurt' and in fact my midwife at the time said 'it'll do you good: help you relax and give you a treat' (we're talking much later on in pregnancy though than now - still can't bear to watch people drink on TV - Brothers and Sisters is the worst as they are always drinking wine!).

tamlin, just read that Zoe Williams article and thought it was really good.

Last time I was pregnant was in 2006, when the guidelines on drinking were 'no more than two units twice a week'. I did drink a bit, but never more than that.

This time, I am finding it hard to take seriously the changes in guidelines as I am already programmed to think 2 units is fine. I remember reading quite a lot when they changed that it hadn't been down to any new research, but that they thought it was easier to say 'don't drink at all' than to say you can drink so little. In reality, I have had one glass of wine at two different weddings in the past two months (more before I found out I was pregnant, though). I don't feel like it at all at the moment, but if I did I would probably allow myself the very odd glass of wine. Katster like you say though, if you don't have any it's not too bad, but if you allow yourself a glass you remember what you're missing!

Congratulations on all those positive scans! And I am sure, tomorrow we will have some more positive news

I don't think, anybody can imagine how it would be to have a disabled child or how/if one would be able to cope with it.
Actually my husband would not have been against a termination in certain cases but he agrees with me now (don't really know why, we didn't have a long discussion about it)
I think, I would prefer to be prepared if there was a safe examination to tell you for sure. As there isn't I prefer to wait and see (and to be a bit optimistic)

About the drinking question: I don't mind if other people around me are drinking but I don't have the slightest desire or interest.
I suppose it is better to avoid drinking but I don't think it can harm the baby if you have a glass of wine every now and then.
I actually know a very nervous women who had been told by the doctor to have a beer every evening to calm a bit down (just for the last couple of weeks)!

I'm pretty sure Guinness used to be recommended in pg in Ireland to keep your iron levels up...

katster37 are you going to Kings? I've got my scan there on Monday and they've said about doing the research thing...taking your bp in both arms simultaneously too, as well as the heart and placenta scan.

Good luck tomorrow with all the scans! Almost another week gone :-) and soon the weekend
:-))

Brightonbaby I had my scan at Kings a couple of weeks ago. I was there for 3 hours as it's so busy there (take a good book or magazine!) I had my blood taken first, followed by the scan. You are given the blood results whilst you're there. They are very good at Kings and I felt in good hands.

Yes brightonbaby it is at King's! Are you doing the study? I think I will although it is something else to think about. Will let you know what it's like after tomorrow!

No I definitely wouldn't be averse to the odd glass of wine at the end if I could trust myself that it wouldn't just result in me wanting half a bottle! That article in the Guardian was good - and it is def true that the government have changed the 'rules' not based on evidence but on simplicity because they think people are thick...

Right, I am going to bed I think. DH has finally finished moving furniture around and it actually looks quite good! I feel like I have a new house!

How cool that more people are at Kings!

Tamlin grt article, thanks for posting, this thread really is fab, so another long post from me.

BeckyBlegs glad your horrid boss is no longer. Maybe we should all pen a book about awful bosses, but I suppose the Devil wears Prada nailed that genre.

lemontop good news re your scan results. The only thing that has helped my constipation has been the consumption of two of those innocent smoothies (each bottle is 2 portions of fruit).

Katser all the very best for your scan tomorrow!

I have a spectacular triple chin. I have just finishing an inspection of my rolls of fat - to check the triple chin was not a nightmare flashback ... I am going hide under my duvet and go snooze.

Oh to live in my pjs, it wld save having to buy bigger clothes for work. to anyone working from home, enjoy.

roll on more good news from scans to come.

Congrats everyone on the scans - v jealous of your pics EasyEggs...

One week today til my (first ever) scan. Getting excited now

Thanks for the Zoe Williams article - I think she's brilliant. Funny, funny, funny but then always pulls these fantastic serious, feminist articles out of the bag too!

Off to bed now, this is a late one for me these days and school in the morn.

Night night everyone x

Morning! Not had a chance to properly catch up on all yesterdays posts, but just wanted to say that all the scans today go well

I didn't hear back from the 'withheld' number so assuming it wasn't about the nuchal results!! Had no more dreams about it either so have stopped being silly and worrying now! Just out of interest, I don't remember really getting a choice about having the test done. I think it automatically gets done here. Maybe you have to opt out or something. Probably wouldn't have paid to have it done but it seems part of the course here so just went along with it!

Went out with a friend last night who I told about being pregnant and then felt really bad as later in the conversation it came out that she has recently had a termination (something that was right for her right and needed to be done right now) and is struggling to cope with it. I did say at the end of the night that I was sorry for going on and hope it didn't make things harder for her and she was absolutely fine about it, but still feel a bit bad and sad for her

southernbelle, sorry about your friend. I am sure you dealt with it really well though. It's so hard though - I had to tell my friend who has just had an ectopic about my pregnancy, and felt awful.

Raggie hope school is going well at the minute.

Pinkfizzle I was just inspecting my thighs! They look rather wobbly and tree-trunkesque...

I've been up since 4 I am so nervous, my stomach is in knots. Just thinking of all the people we would have to tell if there was something wrong today... Wish we hadn't told anyone about the baby now, but I am totally rubbish at keeping my mouth shut...

Good luck for all the scans today!
Katster - please calm down, everything will be fine! [she said remembering how nervous she was at her first scan, almost threw up] I'm sure in a couple of hours we will have a post of you with lots of grinning smilies. Is your husband coming with you?
southernbelle - good to hear that you are not worried anymore. And I am really sorry for your friend. It must be even more difficult if you are being luckily pregnant so it was good that you told her that you felt sorry.
Interesting that they didn't really give you the choice about the nuchal scan, was a bit the same like me. They just said they would check the nuchal fold and it was up to me to say that I didn't want to.
I hate it when they don't really explain you what they actually do and why.

Morning!! DD had us up SOOO early this morning, she is very excited about holidays and is currently dancing and screaming round the lounge!!

Scorpian - did you get anywhere with the NHS nuchal? it is quite new (certainly since my son was born 10m ago - think it came in end of last year), but we are definately entited to at, I had mine arranged for JR2 but dates didn't suit as we are away and Horton were willing to be more flexible (we've had dating scan so this is just for nuchal), plus we plan on having baby there so makes sense to go to Horton. You can def look around the Horton and Chippy, but don't think they allow it at JR anymore, they give you a dvd!!

Southernbelle - they just said to at the first scan "are you wanting a nuchal done?" and checked we knew what it was about, as it turned out the dates weren't right anyway so couldn't do it. I feel for your friend, but am sure you did what she thought was right for her, can't be easy mind.

Oh Katster good luck. I was you on Monday! It is the nerves from hell, isn't it?

I had a bad night last night worrying about the damn cat who we hadn't seen since about 8pm so I had her run over, kidnapped, stuck up a tree, in the washing machine with all the washing, dead on the doorstep, the lot. But no, 5am rolled around and she jumped on my chest and started purring as if nothing was amiss. We think she fell asleep under DS1's bed and didn't want to come out all night!

Just a quick one to wih katster good luck with the scan today Hard not to worry beforehand I know but enjoy seeing your LO.

Anyone else have a scan today too?

Also on the subject of the NT scans, the reason I have had one with all of mine apart from my 1st baby is because I didn't get a 12week scan with first pregnancy as they weren't offered where I was living at the time. This meant I very naively went along to my 20wk scan completely oblivious to the fact anything could be wrong and was just looking forward to seeing my baby and getting some pics to show off. Unfortunately this wasn't to be and it was at that scan I was told my baby had a condition "incompatable with life" and she would never survive if born even if she did make it that far. It was the hardest thing I have ever gone through in my life. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. My daughter, Kara, was born sleeping a few days later. So the reason I have the NT now is so I am at least prepared that there may be something wrong and then given the choice to find out in more detail what that problem might be. Not that I am saying I wouldn't keep my baby anyway but I want to have all the facts.

Hope that hasn't upset anyone but that's just my reason for why I agree with the NT testing

Hi all hope all the scans go well and congratulations to all the lovely scans that have been.

DH and I have had the Downs chat. My best mate has a Downs toddler who is a pleasure to be around and a happy toddler, but I think he is lucky that he hasn't had many medical complications. We decided we wouldn't cope but when it comes to it I don't think I could terminate. Haven't told him that. She delivered a month before me and I spent the last month of my pregnancy watching her come to terms with it and it was hard. She is the strongest person i know and I'm sure all of us would find the strength. They are a happy normal family. I've done lots of research on Downs since and i suggest if some of you are really worried you should do the same.

I still feel sick!!! AND have a flabby belly..not a pregnancy belly - on a happier note had another dream about an ex.. Poor DH is now getting quite frustrated at the lack of action in the bedroom. I just don't feel like it..do you think its natures way of avoiding it???

beepbeep - I will call in today and ask about this. Very puzzling why they insisted on private. Thanks again and enjoy your hols.

katster - thinking of you. Good luck and take it easy.

Also good luck to everybody else having their scans today. Monday week for me, such a long time to wait.

beepbeep - just called them and they confirmed that the scans are freee of charge! Yipieee! Thank you again for the info, it looks like my GP has got his wires crossed... Phew.

Just popping in to wish any scanners today good luck!