I haven't read through the latest yet so if my personals are a bit sparse please forgive and just know that I am enjoying reading everyone's news! I am so c#%p at doing personals. My brain just doesn't cope normally let alone when suffering from pregnancy brain. So belly rubs to all and keep well and enjoy those growing bellies.
Saph-Yay another boy! Mine did the same thing at the scan. Seemed to be very proud of his spine as that was the only thing he would show. Sonographer said it was because he was a good boy and was showing me all angles of his spine because I had expressed concerns about Spina Bifida. She was less patient though with him an hour later when he wouldn't budge! She lifted me up and down on the bed, inverted me, jiggled my belly, made me go for a walk etc etc and the little so and so just stayed put! He showed his face once and the only shot she got of it looks like a monkey!! Good side is we got to see them on screen for longer!!!
Krikkit - sorry to hear about your mum being difficult. I have a stepmother who turns everything into her drama as well. Just when you need your mum to be a mum they go and makes things all difficult. Hope it gets better for you.
Murph- It will be mid-winter here when I give birth. I have all these plans of skin to skin contact and breast crawls etc and I forget that it will be about 2 degrees! I also haven't planned for if it snows when I go into labour!!! My hospital is about 12 miles away and since it only snows about once or twice a year here the whole country goes into meltdown and roads are closed and public transport is cancelled. Oh no another thing to worry about. As for clothes I must admit I always wished for a winter baby as I love babies in babygros and the idea of snuggling them in blankets etc however I always imagined a Queensland winter. That is one babygro and a blanket not the getup I need here. This is what he will have to wear when we go out (if I can be bothered to leave the house!) singlet, babygro, matinee jacket, mittens, snowsuit (an all in one padded babygro like a baby coat) and a wooly hat. Then he will need to be snuggled in a blanket or as I have a close parent carrier he will be snuggled in that. A far cry from just a singlet and a nappy!!!!
Greesnlw- I was just wondering is that PC game Sims by any chance? That is the one I was addicted to.
Persephone - I love your name. I love that story of Demeter and Hades etc. I hope the spotting is settling down. The fact that it is brown blood is really good as it is usually only old gunk. Your numbers also sound good so just rest and look after yourself.
Bridget - Glad to hear the bleeding stopped! Don't you just hate how casual the non fertility specialist docs are? You want to scream 'This is not a 'normal, common garden type, stereotypical, textbook' pregnancy!!!!! It took X many years, XXXXX many intrusive, sometimes demeaning and insensitive, life sapping treatments and XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX much heartache to get here! Treat me gently and take this into account when you deal with me please!!!!!'
Melbel- what a terrible chain of events. If pregnancy after long term ttc isn't stressful enough, you have been hit with every possible disaster potentiality. I am glad it is looking good though now. Thank god the heart is OK. At least now you have regular scans to ensure the growth is on track and although they are a little stressful in the lead up it is reassuring to see the baby regularly. I have been told because of my Graves Disease that I need two more growth check scans as it can cause slow growth. Although I am a little tiny bit worried, I think they are only doing it because it is procedure as they don't seem overly concerned. I think if I take my drugs properly it should be all ok. I am just glad to have the big ones out of the way that I had no control over (Downs and Spina Bifida, heart function etc) I hope your scans give you the reassurance that your baby is growing nicely and you get to say a few more hellos before the big day!
Grub- Glad the work thing has been sorted!
Everyone else Belly Rubs!!!!
AFM- I am glad to be the venue for regular dance parties now (i.e. exclusive dance parties for one!) Sleep is a thing of the past. It isn't that the dancing is uncomfortable yet but the constant peeing, the backache, the planning in my head!!!! Midwife comes to visit us on Thursday. I get my MATB1 form which means I can apply for my ?190 Health in Pregnancy grant. Cloth nappies ordered immediately afterwards! I can also apply for my Maternity Allowance from then. The Government here pays Statutory Maternity pay if you are employed of about ?120 a week for 39 weeks regardless of how long you have worked at a place. Your employer tops that up to 90% of your normal salary if you normally earn more than that. If you are self-employed or unemployed (like me as I had to leave my job in London to move here to Somerset for DH's new job and then got pregnant. Employment prospects nil with my rather pronounced belly at moment!!) but have worked in the last year for at least 26 weeks then they pay you Maternity Allowance of the same amount for 39 weeks. Only catch is they force you to start it 11 weeks before the baby is due if you are unemployed. So that means you only get it paid for 28 weeks after the baby is born. (if they come on due date that is!!!) I guess that is our version over here of the Baby Bonus as everyone more or less gets it. Do they have Paternity Leave in OZ? We get two weeks paid leave here but DH doesn't qualify as he hasn't been in this job long enough. It is a bit stricter for men here. I want to move to Sweden where they get a year's stat maternity pay at 90%, breastfeeding breaks at work and lots more!
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