Spring is sprung, the grass is ris, I wonder where my toenails is - Due June 2010

[greensnail]

Ok, here it is ladies. Nice new thread for us all to enjoy

Forgot to say earlier that I am practically mainlining scones with blackcurrant jam and clotted cream

Hi, glad to hear you feeling a bit better filly, you should still try and take it a little easy though, 150 mile trips sound a bit much! I too seem to have a sickness bug but mine comes and goes a bit, have a good day then a sick day, getting a bit fed up now. Also getting much more tired. Was feeling great for the 2nd trimester but as soon as i hit the third its started going downhill somewhat. I do realise I have it so much easier than lots of you though, just feeling a bit ill and miserable right this moment. On the positive side of life am very excited to be able to watch the new season of House again

I was wondering the same thing about cribs, how long do they last for? Cant really fit a cot in our bedroom and moses basket wont last long enough. Am shocked at prices for bedside cot type things, they want you to pay £200 for things that look like travelcots. I do think there is a lot of overcharging going on for baby stuff. Thank goodness for ebay.

All this talk of scones and clotted cream is making me feel very hungry. We're having a week in Devon next week to start looking at areas we might want to live in, so will definitely need to sample some of the local produce while I'm there.

mampam I'm with you on the early mornings. Was a bit of a shock to the system having to leave the house at 9am to get to my hospital appointment this morning . My next one is even earlier, hopefully I'll be able to leave DD with someone so I don't need to get her ready to leave that early too!

Am absolutely exhausted from my appointment this morning. Was there for well over 3 hours and DD was well and truly fed up by the end. She ended up being fed chocolate biscuits by one of the midwives, so she didn't think it was all bad! Then I think we both fell asleep while they were doing my CTG . Anyway the upshot of it all is that I now officially have obstetric cholestasis which is actually a bit of a relief after all these weeks of knowing that I'm heading towards it but not quite there yet. Got started on meds for it today, I think last time they helped my symptoms within a couple of weeks so that's good news. Bad news is I now have to have weekly monitoring, which will be a bit of a nuisance, although nice to get the reassurance that all is well.

filly I'm so sorry, I'd forgotten all about your back . Glad you're feeling better. What has happened to you has really made me stop and think. Whilst I think I'm invincible on my crutches my Physio has warned me I'm still not allowed to do anything more than I was before I had them. I guess it could happen to any of us and I really am being extra careful about turning over etc now.

Meggy what a stroke of luck that you're getting one on one sessions now Hypnobirthing sounds very interesting. Did you see 'The Wright Stuff' last week with Nadia Sawalha (SP?) and she sung it's praises. Apparently had a horrendous birth with her 1st and breathed the baby out with the 2nd, no pushing involved thanks to Hypnobirthing. She did say it was hard work in the weeks leading up to the birth but said she was glad she made the effort.

Saucepanman I love blackcurrant jam too but have got strawberry to put on my scones this evening.

Meggy So sorry to hear your news but glad you have so much support from your nearest and dearest.

My left hand side has stopped 'tingling' now and is not so puffy but I have hit the point of constant kicks in me bits - feels like the baby is twanging something each time! Also I came into work today and announced that I think I am officially waddling now! When it comes to sleep I am very lucky, we have a memory foam mattress which I think is making all the difference having spent a weekend sleeping at my mates, I woke up with pains down my rib cage from where I think my hips took all the pressure where as the memory foam absorbs the lumps and bumps.

It't not scones for me it's toasted crumpets with Nutella, something I discovered as a teenager and now feels like a necessary foodstuff.

greensnail Cream Teas are a must when you come to Devon Is Cholestasis something to do with the liver and itching??

Hopefully tonight I will get a better nights sleep as last night I was awake from 01.30 til about 04.30 hence the waffling on about scones and clotted cream!!

No scones here - but might have to put some on the tesco order for tomorrow night!

I had my GTT test this morning - very boring and uneventful.

Then had my 25 week check with the midwife this afternoon and remembered to pick up my MATB1 form for work. Also got a form for £190 from the government for a Health in Pregnancy grant which was a bit of a surprise. Has anyone else had one of those? I didn't have anything like that with my other 2 children. I heard the baby's heartbeat too!

filly thanks for asking,i'm feeling even more rubbish i'm afraid,had to have day off sick today,i've slept ALL day and still feel knackered,hope tomorrow is better

Nizzy yeh everyone gets the Health Grant now,its a new thing,i didnt get it with my other 2 either. I think they pay it straight into your bank account too,nice eh?

mampam i now will not be satisfied until i have clotted cream scone because of all this talk of it If (fingers crossed) i feel better tomorrow i will be hotfooting it to sainsburys for a pack of 6 goddamit!!!

meggy at your hypnobirthing classes,they sound fab,i'm going to have a look see if we have one local.

Oooh quite fancy a scone now!

Meggy sorry to hear your news The hypnobirthing classes sound good, our most local one is about 30/40 minutes away so coupled with the cost have had to give them a miss. Will be interested to hear how you get on (and any tips!)

Nizzynoodles I also had 25 week check with midwife this afternoon but as I am not officially 25 weeks until Saturday I have to wait until the next appointment for the health in pregnancy grant form, very unfair I suppose it will make the fact I am having the anti-d jab at that appointment feel slightly better...

imkeepingmum - i could email you the hypnobirthing affirmations if you like ?

Nizzy I got the form last week, and posted it yesterday- I think the money should appear in your bank account in a couple of weeks.

I am also slightly shocked- my SIL is pretty sure she's pregnant again..... with number 6 The oldest will be 9 when the newest is born. She's tasked us with finding a bigger house and a job near here (here mum lives about 1/2 a mile from us) as she doesn't have the internet. She doesn't have a car either, so quite how her tandem-with-trailer and seat will work for so many...

mampam yep that's cholestasis - dodgy liver and crazy itching! I think I was awake the same time as you last night - its so frustrating!

Barbeasty wow your SIL really will have her hands full! I have a SIL with 5 children - I think we'd all be very if she announced she was having another.

I forgot to ask for the health in pregnancy grant forms, thanks for reminding me nizzynoodles must remember next time! I think I just missed it by a few months last time around.

Goodname - I saw a German made one on ebay that looked acceptable. It had a part that slid across so there was no gap between your bed and the baby's, which I liked. It was something like this though this doesn;t say if there is a connecting / overlap piece included. The German ones were new and improted by an ebay seller and will probably come up again, I think. Having said that, I'm not going for it. This is mainly because we can get a cotbed in our bedroom, though.

Thinking I might suddenly have SPD. Nasty pain on both sides between legs where legs meet pelvis. Worse after walking some distance and on first getting up. Does this sound like it?

On the upside, I just scored a rather lovely moses basket on ebay for a piffling £1.07. Whoopeee! However, it still doesn't solve the irritating-mother-wanting-the-cot-back-to-give-to-distant-relative dilemma. I did make my feelings about giving it up after 3 months quite clear and am hoping that if I don't say anything more about it, said distant relative, and my mum, may forget about it. Hmmm.

Are we all supposed to have a Glucose Test? I'm 28 weeks and nothing has been mentioned by any of the midwives I've seen (there's a different one every time!)

greensnail Glad to hear that they're doing something for you and hope it'll make the itching more bearable.

Crackin' thread title Gromit...and seems things are rattling along at the same brisk pace!

Meggy just to add my voice to the general chorus of sympathy - it must be sooo hard to lose a friend so suddenly and unexpectedly. Great that you have RL support , hope it continues for as long as you need it.

MadameFreckle heartburn, for me, feels exactly as it sounds: a burning sensation at the top of the stomach, rather like you might get shortly before you're sick. Feels like you've had a very hot curry and it's repeating on you. But I believe the symptoms can vary from individual to individual.

Mampam with the breathlessness, do you have any 'safe' positions? I have similar problems and it's always so comforting to be able to get on all fours or lie on my right side and check that it's just a positioning thing. I'm afraid it's probably only going to get worse over the next 15 weeks as everything expands....

Ebay is definitely your friend for baby stuff: I've been able to lash out on a new chest of drawers, luckily, as the old one in DS2's room has exploded and isn't big enough for clothing for 2. Hopefully that will arrive on Thursday - we have the decorators in (no that's not a euphemism) next week to strip and repaint our bedroom and DS2's room, so after that it will be all hands on deck to make enough room for baby in the 2nd bedroom.

Luckily we've still got a bedside crib that we can keep in our bedroom for the first few months (we'll probably semi co-sleep) while we try and get her sleeping well enough to share with her brother, but I'm trying to work out if I can get by with our rather knackered ancient cot or whether we need a new cotbed as well as all the other expense.

Sorry...not very interesting this evening. Filly you have my sympathy with the back problem and work: I'm getting the impression that your work is doing what mine is - ramping up the workload just in time for maternity leave . I lost my weekend to moving into a new office and, knackered, I am beginning to suffer some serious sense of humour failures at work. Is anyone else finding that they are much more aggressive assertive in general? I scared the pants off my colleagues by barking at them in a meeting today and frankly have no regrets in doing so, but it's not very characteristic of me. Normally I have more patience.

Hello all!

filly how are you feeling today? I can't believe you are even contemplating round trips to Manchester in your current state. Is there any way you can avoid travelling so much at this stage?

Hello gizmo nice to "see" you. I'm in agreement over the aggressive/assertive piece. My patience levels in the workplace have definitely been curtailed. I just want to get in, do my stuff and get out. Someone asked me on a conference call yesterday if I had older brothers (which I do). Apparently this was because I boss all the boys about at work .

My work will be getting increasingly stressful, as the runup to the birth coincides neatly with our financial year end. As I am an account manager, it's all about delivering numbers and the pressure simply increases as you approach year end. However with a bit of luck, providing the twins don't make a hideously early appearance, I will benefit from working right up until the end which will financially see me through on my year off work.

Enough of that stuff. Still no offers on our house, so unless a miracle happens this week, I've accepted we're stuck here until post-birth. This does present a few challenges in that all the double-buggies we're considering won't fit through our front door, but I'm thinking we will just have to store it in the boot of the car and get it out when needed.

Still haven't bought a thing. Priority is new car that fits 3 carseats in the back. CSWS any joy in your search for a Discovery?

Morning All,

filly hope you're on the mend - remember to take it as easy as you possibly can.

I got my health in pregnancy grant paid into my account this week - think i am going to book myself a lovely mother to be massage at the local aveda salon...Not sure if that's what the money is really meant for but i can't wait! Contemplated booking one for dh too but i'm afraid i have decided this is all about me me me

Thanks for the tips on the travel cot, will get scouring ebay for a moses basket.

madamef I think you only get a glucose test if you are at risk of having gestational diabetes (think that's the right name for it) or if sugars show up in your urine test. They asked me if i wanted one at my last appointment as my father has type 2 diabetes but as i have been feeling fine & nothing had shown up in urine or blood pressure i declined funnily enough!

Is anyone else going to apply for Maternity Allowance as opposed to Maternity Pay? I am not entirely sure where to get the form from as the midwife was a bit stumped by it & kept trying to give me MATB1 forms...

Okay time to have a moment alone thinking about scones smothered with jam & cream mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Good Afternoon All

Mini - I am claiming Maternity Allowance as I am Self Employed. You can get the form from this website as a .pdf or pick it up from a jobcentre
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4017811
You still need to collect the MAT B1 Form from your midwife as this proves to them that you are expecting your baby on the given date. You need to send this form with the completed application form. I've just posted mine so am keeping my fingers crossed that they will give me something

thanks ilove will take a look at that link now. Hope you qualify!

wow I have only been away form here a few days and the the new thread is so busy already!

Hope you are all well; havent had the chance to read in too muich details, but like everyone else, send lots of love to Meggy. I am interested in your post terrier as I will be starting off on regular maternity leave, but my fixed term contract will end a few months into that, so will then have to apply for the maternity allowance. Hope it isn't too complicated!

madamef think it must be different depending upon the policy in your PCT re the GTT test. The pre printed maternity notes in my area suggest that everyone gets the test at 28 weeks. Ante natal care seems to be such a lottery!

Well, today is my birthday; I have hit 31!!! i feel old and tired! I think this is down to a rubbish nights sleep. DH has got theatre tickets for tonight as my birthday treat; really lovely of him but all I want to do is stay home and sleep!

Also, I am still feeling hardly any movement from this baby; a little bit of squirming around first thing in the morning if I am lucky, and thats it. I am not getting much sleep at night as I keep waking in the hope of feeling movement and nothing at all happens! How can I not feel the baby at 26 weeks?! It's hardly tiny any more. I know I have an anterior placenta blah blah blah, but seriously, I am starting to worry myself sick. I daren't go back to GP or midwife as they will think I am totally neurotic; they have told me I am probably just one of those people who won't feel much. Not fair! any previous experience/tales to make me feel better?

Meggymegs so sorry about your friend - it must be so hard to make sense of. Well done on raising all that money in her memory - what a great friend you are.

Mampam hope you enjoyed the scones. Do you put the cream on first or the jam???

Greensnail good luck with your hunt for an area you like in Devon. You will definitely be spoilt for choice!

MonkeyMargot can relate to the work stress although I don't have the additional strain of carrying twins. The busiest part of my year is the beginning of May when I organise two major events for the charity I work for. I'm usually up to 10 hour days by this time of the year but just can't do it this year. When I'm feeling sane, I just think oh well I can only do what I can do but when I'm feeling emotional like yesterday just feel like I can't achieve anything.

MM2 love the idea of spending your grant at Aveda on a wonderful massage.

It is lovely working from home today. Two robins are building a nest in the tree right outside the door and keep eyeing me warily. Amazing how much they can carry in their beaks.

Chestnut - I have anterior placenta & am 28 weeks & don't feel much movemnt compared with my first. Often feel a sudden pressing on my bladder & the ocassional squirm but not regular definite movements. Even when I'm in the bath most I hardly ever feel anything, with my dd I alwasy felt movement when in water.

Madame freckle - That sounds like my spd when it first started. Hope for your sake it's not that & it's a simple case of overdoing it.

chestnut100 Happy birthday. I'm sure you'll have a great time at the theatre and feel much better for getting out in the evening. Might even help you sleep better tonight. One of my friends was telling me the other day that she never felt any movement at all with either of her pregnancies, and now has 2 very lively girls, so I suppose it really does vary from person to person.

I'm not feeling huge amounts of movement generally, but whenever they strap me to a monitor at the hospital the baby goes absolutely mental and starts moving all over the place. I think it said I had something like 86 movements per hour on my CTG yesterday(!!) but I hardly feel anything most of the time at home. I'm under strict instructions to keep a close eye on movements in the next week as I'm missing next week's weekly monitoring appointment as on holiday. I really hope the baby cooperates.

aaargh my pregnancy brain is getting worse - it just took me about 10 minutes to remember the word cooperate!

Chestnut lovey, please don't worry about what the doc/mw will think if you go back. You will only see them when you are pg anyway, and they prob won't remember. Do go and get some monitoring if you are worried- at this sage you can ring the number for clinic or delivery suite if out of clinic hours, they will no doubt say come in and strap you to a monitor for a bit

Other than that, have a cold drink or an ice lolly. Or get on all fours on the floor, that sometimes pre-empts a movement. Is it your 1st baby? (sory cba scrolling up!)I have anterior placenta, but this is my 4th so am getting lots of movement and from earlier on. Try not to worry- and don't suffer in silence. Huge hugs x

I am claiming Maternity allowance also and it was quite confusing working out how to do it. Got it sent away this week though. One more thing ticked off my list .

Thanks for link to the bedside cot LaTurcha.

Had midwife appointment today and was there for 2 1/2 hours for no real reason. Asked for my health in pregnancy form and it took half an hour to find one. Then had to wait another half hour as the consultant wanted to see me (for about 1 minute). Then had to wait while they booked in a scan for me at 34 weeks. Quite excited about this, dont think I actually need one but they are keeping an eye on me because I had cancer before. Then had to go to phlebotomy for blood tests (as midwifes cant get anything from me). They had 2 fainters in just before me so there was a massive queue. Most frustrating morning. Had a quick swim to chill out after tho before I went back to work so that was good.

Beautiful sunny day here, feels like spring but sadly been stuck inside most of the day.