GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR I just typed out a MASSIVE post and then the power went out and I lost everything!
So I'll see if I can remember everything.

Hi Fuzzy! My thoughts on your thoughts

1. I'm still very much up in the air about the swine flu jab. I have a very long and complicated medical history of asthma (and being allergic to almost all the asthma treatments out there) bronchitis and pneumonia. Basically my lungs are seriously messed up and look like I've been smoking 4 packs a day for about 50 years despite the fact I've never smoked a cigarette in my life. So when I get sick it really knocks me and I usually end up hospitalised. Even considering my medical history I am still not conviced of the vaccine's safety. I've spoken quite in depth about it with my Ob both the vaccine and the pro's and con's considering my medical history. But he won't recommend either way. All he did say is that if I do choose to have it I should wait until after week 20.

2. I don't think there is any 'normal' or 'abnormal' as far as belly growth goes. I think it's really all dependant on the woman, her baby, and her particular body shape. I know I didn't really show until after week 22. Before that I could very easily pass as not pregnant depending on what I was wearing. But somewhere around week 22 I popped overnight. Litrally. I went to work on friday, was wearing a shirt that I'd worn before getting pregnant and all through my pregnancy. It wasn't tight or uncomfortable. Saturday I was going out shopping and was being lazy and didn't want to go get clothes off the line so went to put that same shirt on and it wouldn't fit.

3. I think there are two main reasons that you often hear not to eat shell fish. The first is that if not stored/chilled properly it can go off very quickly. And shellfish that is off is very dangerous to eat at the best of times, let alone when you are pregnant. So like Kirsten said I wouldnt' eat it unless it came from a source I could trust (in my case a friend's partner works on a fishing ship and I get all my shell fish from him). Secondly, if caught in shore there is a higher chance of shell fish (most being filter feeders) of having highish levels of mercury or other heavy metals. So if you ate it every day or even regularly there is a risk of these metal bio-accumulating in your body and reaching toxic levels. Because I LOVE shellfish this is another thing I specifically asked my ob about. He said it was okay to eat but in moderation. He said as long as I only ate one serve every fortnight or so I was safe to eat it. BUT it had to be COOKED and it had to be HOT. So no oysters on the half shell and no chilled prawns.

Kirst - Well JLeigh seems to think I'm doing enough exercise for both her and me, so maybe if I add in some vaccuuming, mopping and bathroom cleaning I can have you covered as well

Can you post the pumpkin and coconut cake recipe? It sounds pretty yummy! (I think everything is sounding pretty yummy to me at this point in time )

JLeigh - I might have to make that soup along with the thin veggie soup on the weekend. I've been having a bit of a thing for soups at dinner lately.

Considering your only a week or so out from your EDD I think you POSSIBLY have a reason to not exercise. (although I've heard that walking regularly up until the birth can make the birth process easier, not that I know from personal experience, I think I might have read it somewhere).

Ammaki - have fun with your DSD this weekend. Taking her to the park sounds like a fantastic idea!