Hello everyone,
so many of you in need of hugs right now so I'll drop in a big and apologise in advance that I can't talk to you all.

Poppiefairy - I think a few of us have felt that isolation you are describing and the way it makes you feel so lonely and removed. You've certainly done it on a grand scale and have many factors weighing down on you but I hope it will help you to know that if you can even make some small steps towards reaching out, catching up with your friends somehow or family that you are missing, you can go on. I just had to do that myself recently, go back home and see all my family and then get a good dose of my Mum's company and then everything is right with the world (or a hell of a lot easier to cope with on your own when you are pregnant). You are probably in that window also where you just need some security and home style loving that noone else seems able to provide. If you can do it, I would try to have that contact that you need and tell people what you are feeling. In the mean time, I had a good chuckle at your birthing classes and rest assured, we would be the ones joining you in the giggle fest at those god awful perineum massages (and there's no proof it works, the pictures just make you want to take it up for fun...not....youch!). Your class sounds like they might be toffy Rover drivers are they? anyway, great that you found someone to talk to and to help you through. It's just a phase and it's okay to feel sad, you'll come through it and be back to your jam making in no time. Oh the accupuncture thing...well I lie on my back for a lot of it, but that works for me despite all the stuff about not doing it and I think that's because she is breech, then when I have to lie on my side, it is always on the right side and I feel rather seedy now cos of the indigestion I always need to keep at bay. Sorry, not much help, but it is always a wonderful peaceful experience even these days when it's not as comfy.

P.s. Poppiefairy - do you not have a car cos DH has it for work, or do you not have a licence and can't drive? If it's the latter, maybe you could see about learning as it can be isolating to rely on others too.

Grub - I'd give DH those cuddles for you but at the moment I'm in can't bear to cuddle mode, which is just really sucky. I fully understand those movements you were describing after your mowing, but I've done nothing to bring them on (except maybe stressing). I did gloss over some pretty rough stuff that happened this week involving fights and confusion with the hospital and gatekeepers keeping me from my OB etc despite having been told I needed monitoring and to bring packed bags, then noone letting me see my OB urgently or booking my scans....arrrghhh! Luckily I have the best GP and she got everything sorted. so my little tike yesterday was nearly making me cry with all that rearrangement of internal organs and really painful tumbles and having that "I'm so over it" kind of feeling that we all get guilty about saying. bugger it though, we wanted to get pregnant and have our babies safely, not get kicked around and feel bloody awful, rundown and at the mercy of every ache and pain and then blame ourselves for bringing them on. My DH came home after walking the dogs and found me at the sink on a chair doing the dishes (damn back, aching legs, you know the drill...and I sure aint up to dog walking). he proceeded to give me a massage right there at the sink and ohhhhhh, that took away some stress and the almost tears I was about to cry. then later, while giving my ice-crazy dogs some ice, george spat his out right under my foot as I walked on it and I really twinged and hurt my back trying to avoid falling on my ar$e and really did some damage so that I have had the crappiest night sleep. when does it stop? In 11 days!!! Hear that Greenslw...in 11 days..you havent been paying attention I'm going under the knife and woohoo, bring it on!

Misty77 - great to hear from you. It's always nice to have an update as so many on our list are kind of unknown and you worry that everyone is okay. Congrats on finding out it's a boy! As for not feeling movements, I was a bit of a late bloomer too. All those things the girls have said are right but there's no need to assume indigestion, it can feel fluttery, bubbly, etc at first. One of the girls in here went through her whole birth without ever having braxton hicks contractions, and I nearly went my entire pg without ever feeling my baby have hiccups (til last week, very cute). We are all so different and comparison is the source of suffering. I know that cos OBs insist on telling me that my baby's abdominal cavity measures off the scale (size wise) when compared to all the babies born in Australia...oh but don't worry, it's only a statistical comparison...yeah just like nuchal scans! Grrrr.

Something tells me I have some issssssuues today and I am expressing a little passive aggressive hostility towards certain recent events, so I might leave you to enjoy your sunday without my rot today.

BOC - thanks for taking up the list next month. I think the moderators just have to enable your edit function but we can talk about it later.

Grub -how very dare you (re shooting looks in my direction insinuating I could talk under water with a mouth full of marbles!)

Lots of love to all. rant away, it makes me feel normal