Hi everyone. Thought I should drop in and see how you all are. I'm afraid I haven't had time to read all your postings - work is manic at the moment, so no time to log on there, and we're decorating the spare room for ds, so the computer is in the dining room and connecting it is a bit of a faff (is that a word?).
Jacksmum, so sorry to hear about all you've been going through - is it getting any better?
Re: probiotic drinks, there was an article about this on Radio 4 a while back, and they suggested that they're not really much help on their own as they tend to be destroyed by acid in the stomach and small intestine. Apparently there are about 500 types of bacteria in our gut, so enhancing just one doesn't really do much good; your gut flora changes on a daily basis as well, depending on what you've eaten, so this has an effect too. Apparently , you need to take prebiotics as well (don't ask me what these are!) to feed and enhance the bacteria already in your gut, but they did suggest that just eating more fruit and veg and improving the quality of your diet could have the same effect as taking probiotic drinks etc. They did concede though that probiotics are helpful in cases of childhood diarrhoea. Right, I'll shut up now.
Good to hear about your scans, and that some of you have asked the sex. I'm really curious as to what I'm expecting, and would really like to ask, but don't want to appear as though I'm not concerned about the baby's health. Obviously, this is the thing we're all most concerned about, but just wondering if the sonographer thinks 'God, just be grateful it's OK, sex is immaterial'. The thing is, I was convinced all the way through that ds was a boy, but with this one I really haven't a clue; the pregnancy has been totally different in lots of little ways.
Still don't look pregnant, but have put on over a stone, so just look as if I've been pigging out, which is worse I think. Clothes all getting a bit tight, but Gap men's department has come up trumps again (found lots of stuff there last time)and have just got back all the clothes I wore last time from a friend, so hopefully I'm sorted. Did try on some stuff in Formes in Covent Garden last time, lovely clothes, but made me look like a barrage balloon. I think you need to be a certain shape for maternity clothes - and I'm not sure I'm it.
Best of luck to the rest of you still waiting for your scans. I still haven't had an appointment for mine, and I'm 19 weeks on Saturday - the midwife told me they're sent out around 17 weeks (is the postal service lousy in other areas too? It's getting really dire round our way!) and I'm nearly 19. I live in hope.