Pregnancy after LT TTC #13

[juniper76]

Still, we have two little stickies inside and FX they stay put at least until 36-37 weeks.

And this is far more important than any statistic!!

Chrissy, if you tell the dentist that you're pregnant, they'll know what they can and can't do (assuming they're a good dentist). At our first OB appointment, the midwife actually made quite a point of recommending a dental checkup. My sister also made me promise because she read a story about a woman losing her bub because she had untreated gum disease (the bacteria can spread throughout the body in the bloodstream). The hormones we've got going on now affect your gums the same way they affect your sinuses (can cause inflammation, etc).

airline, yes, if you're eligible for both baby bonus and PPL then you can choose which one you get, but you don't get both.

Lairdoz, that sucks. The PPL is the only good thing that the labor government have done for us, but even so we're still worse off overall (and my employer may end up cutting back on their employer-paid PPL entitlements because of the government scheme, so then I'll be worse off on the PPL front as well... ).

Hi to everyone else!!

Afm, I survived my trip to the dentist!! Yay! The bad news is that I need two fillings, but I need to wait until my gag reflex settles down a bit. She also recommended an xray after bub arrives to check for cavities she can't see. Really, after so long between visits, I don't think I can complain about 2 fillings! And the teeth that have been hurting when I eat/drink something hot or cold were all fine, so I just need some sensitive toothpaste for those.

On the government payment issue, I've done a lot of reading for that because I'm on the committee that wrote our parental leave policy. You can choose between either the baby bonus or paid parental leave (PPL) if you're eligible for both. There's supposed to be a calcultor on the Family Assistance website later (from October?) to tell you what you'd get for each. If you're only eligible for one of them, then obviously, you'd choose to get that one.

The baby bonus is means tested based on the family income in the 6 months following the birth. If the family has a taxable income of more than $75k in that 6 months then you don't get the bonus. There are also other requirements.

The PPL is means tested based on the individual's income in the 12 months prior to the birth. The primary care-giver claiming the PPL must have a taxable income of less that $150k in the 12 months prior to the birth. There are also work tests to be met (minimum number of hours/months of work completed in the 13 months prior to the birth) and other requirements. The interesting (and for some people, controversial) part of the PPL, is that you get paid the PPL (assuming you're eligible) if your baby is stillborn (ie from 20wks on, no matter what outcome). I find it particularly interesting since many of us wouldn't be able to take 18 weeks off work in that circumstance (my employer's policy allows for 3 weeks, which may be extended at their discretion, but they can choose not to), and once you return to work you stop getting the PPL.

Supposedly, those two means tests are meant to be "equivalent". Can anyone work that out? We'd romp in on one and (just barely) fail the other...

[Leabie]

Hi all you lovely ladies!

Have been lurking in here, haven't had enough time to post til today, and now I'm sooo far behind... again...

I'm feeling guilty, all this talk of dentists. I've been about 4 times in the last 20 years! Oops I really should go, my dentist is a school friend of mine so definitely not scary, I've got no excuse. I've been cleaning my teeth meticulously though, for fear of gum disease.

Airline - such fantastic news that you saw the heartbeat! Its magical, isn't it!? How such a little blob can be so organised as to have a beating heart. Great stuff that you've finally got a date! Enjoy telling your parents the wonderful news tomorrow. Don't worry too much about your ticker, especially if its American, mine always seems to be a day out.

MaggiePie - sorry to hear MS has set in Its a bugger. It was you asking about philly cheese a while ago, wasn't it? I got a really good resource from the NSW Food authority - http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/...y-brochure.pdf - it outlines foods to avoid etc. With processed cheeses (eg philly) it says safe to eat, but eat within 2 days of opening container. I buy the little individual tubs and it does the trick. Someone else was talking about ricotta (baby brain, can't remember), the booklet says that all those "naughty" cheeses are OK if they are in a fully cooked dish eg spinach and ricotta canneloni. Hope this helps.

Brunette - so pleased that everything looked great on the scan, and yay for the good BP! Goodness me, you're over half way (esp. if you go early ), how time is flying.

Chrissy - great to hear from you, and glad that you're feeling fantastic. I too am finding 2nd trimester is as good as they promised. I'm with the others re your job, see if you can get up and move around regularly to keep the blood flowing. Don't put too much pressure on yourself to work at their pace.

Lairdoz - glad your scan went well and you're starting to feel better!

Sweetie and Shelly Belly - Hi and a huge welcome! Hope you're both doing great.

Hi to everyone else I've missed, there's a heap, I know. I've reached the end of my baby-brain concentration span, sorry...

AFM - well, just had our 19 week scan, which went great! Bub is measuring spot on still, so pleased. Head is normal size, even more pleased! Although the sonographer said there was still plenty of time for it to grow I've been feeling bub every day, quite a few times a day since 16 weeks (luckily, the placenta's at the back), but the lady confirmed we've got a wriggler on our hands! I could've told her that, as bub was doing a Riverdance on my bladder at 4am this morning... She was getting a bit annoyed at how much it was squirming, I had to get up and move around to get it to sleep for a while so she could finish. Apart from that, feeling really good, and starting to get more active finally. Starting prenatal yoga tonight too, yay.

Have a great arvo ladies, to all!

[BOC]

Hello lovelies!

I am very excited to announce that Tiana Isabel has arrived! Weighing a very healthy 3.8kg and 51cm. Both Tiana and Paula are doing brilliantly.

Will be making a formal post in the BAs shortly!

[airline]

Congratulations Juniper on surviving your trip to the dentist!!!! 2 fillings isn't bad after such a long time.

Leabie how cute that she was squirming so much for the sonographer!...and that just by walking around you can put her/him to sleep...just like when they're born! Do you have to have done yoga before to do prenatal yoga?

AFM, just had to share my crazy parents with you. As I"ve mentioned tomorrow's the big luch when we're going to tell them. I've used fabric glue on some felt, stitched scrapbook letters and glued the word SURPRISE onto a babygro for them to unwrap.
So of course we've been avoiding them since they arrived home from overseas last Thursday, but today Dad discovered the art of sms ing and asked if I'd be home after 5pm. I said sorry no, see you tomorrow. BUT knowing my folks I took precautions, turned lights off, closed blinds, put the dog outside. Sure enough, they rock up and boy were they persistant!!! Knocking on the door, on the window, and I could hear the side gate being shaken. DH reckons my dad was scaling it to look in the garage window and could see the car!!!!! OMG! I think mum went to the neighbours too to ask if I was there! As DH says, for someone who's tight like my dad, the lure of a free coffee from our coffee machine was too big! I was hiding with some very confused looking cats and the dog was good as gold and didn't bark. I felt really bad, but at least tomorrow I"ll pay them out and ask if they do that everytime we don't answer?!!

Right off for some apple and cheese. xx

[airline]

Yeh!!! for Paula and Tiana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! congratulations.

[WeeMansMummy]

Congrats paula!!!
Airline your folks sound hilarious!!!!!

[airline]

Jaki, trust me they have their moments!! The first story they told me when they arrived back from holiday in Europe was that my mum didn't have her glasses on in the shower at a campsite, grabbed the 'shower gel' couldn't work out why it wasn't lathering up so used even more then squinted and realised it was Aldi mayonaise!! Just realised you and I are pretty much bellybelly girls....let's hope we both have a good ride.

For anyone wanting to try something different, I sucked on a couple of squares of Lindt dark chocolate with orange bits in it tonight. It went down a treat and I've never liked dark chocolate!

[Brunette]

OMG this is a busy thread! So hard to keep up with everyone's news.

Firstly, congratulations Paula on the birth of Tiana Isabel.

Airline, I have to say I have been sitting her cacking myself at you hiding out at your home while your parents were staking out your house! Classic. I bet they will be so excited tomorrow when you tell them your news. I am planning on joining a local Multiple Birth Association group, thanks.

Leabie, it was me who raised the issue of whether ricotta cheese was safe to eat. I googled it and found a site that said ricotta was not safe to eat during PG; it didn't mention anything about it being safe when cooked. Aaagh, so confusing! Good news that bub and bub's measurements are spot on at your recent scan. Did you find out the sex? And, if so, you must be keeping it a secret ...

Juniper, you've done really well to have only two fillings after not seeing a dentist for so long. My gums have been really bad the last few weeks, bleeding esp on the bottom teeth every time I floss. It feels like my gums have receded heaps, esp the lower teeth. Hope I don't have gum disease?

Re the Labor government and ex-PM K Rudd's decisions, don't even get me started on his capping of obstetrics fees, IVF etc. I hate the man. He's my local member and believe you me I can't wait to get to the polls early Saturday and NOT vote for him. We get nothing except for the immunisation allowance of two x $150 payments. We would qualify for PPL but dont' think I can just cross my legs to hold the babies in till 1 Jan. Plus if the LNP are elected, their policy re PPL has changed and people won't get it now until 1 Jan 2012.

Jaki, I too heard about IVF numbers decreasing this year, being a direct corollary of reduced IVF benefits. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that if the fees go up and the benefits decrease, a lot of people can't afford to do IVF, hey? Is it true that Medicare benefits are going to be reinstated to their former levels as a result? I was musing that this would probably happen with my DH recently but hadn't realised there was talk of this happening.

Chrissy, my understanding is that it's okay to get fillings done with local anesthetic as it doesn't go into the blood stream and cross the placenta to get to bubs. I specifically told my dentist when having a crown done I was PG and she said a local would not harm my babies. X-rays are now supposed to be safe during PG but I would hold off having them if not absolutely urgent - but that's just me.

[airline]

Brunette, it was funny me literally hiding in my bedroom with my animals looking at me like, 'what're you doing mum? answer the door already!'

Re. the PPL and LNP, they've announced that they'll keep the existing Labour PPL in place till theirs starts if they get into power. My DH has done a LOT of reading about all the parties recently, and the Greens are in bed with Labour, and I am with you Brunette and really can't stand Rudd or Gillard (is it just me or does that woman have THE most annoying uneducated accent?? - I mean really, she's representing us on the world stage).

I just don't know how they could justify themselves saying that the OBs have been taking advantage of Medicare system but yet what they did was penalise the public who need the help. I feel for all those poor couples who don't know yet that they need some assistance to fall pregnant, and then just simply can't afford it now. All the more reason to feel as blessed as I do right now.

Well ladies, I've had my fill of Desperate H/wives for the night (watching season 1 from the beginning for first time, and nearing the end...v. exciting!) and I'm off to sleep. . . broken sleep, but sleep xx

[airline]

just a quickie,i switched laptop on to ask this question from bed.
there may be tmi for some folk,it's a bowel question.

just went to the loo, initially hard stool then some diarreagh (sp?). should i be concerned about that? I ate toast with vegemite today, some chicken and cheese/vegemite roll for lunch, an apple and hard cheese in arvo and an egg roll for dinner. I drank water all day, some oj and half a cup of tea.

paranoia? thank girls xx

[juniper76]

Massive headache and I'm procrastinating...

Paula, congratulations on the safe arrival of Tiana! I hope you recover quickly and are loving every second of having her in your arms! Can't wait to hear from you!

Leabie, good to hear that your scan went well and bub's head isn't too big (so far)!

airline, your story about your parents cracked me up! Thank goodness mine wouldn't do that (it's a 1 hour drive to get here, so they wouldn't waste the petrol). My mum can be equally persistant in other ways though. I hope tomorrow's big announcement goes perfectly! I had some of the Lindt Mint Intense. I might try the orange next time. On the Julia front, I just can't get past the "back-stabbing" aspect. Bald-faced lying seems to be the trademark of the Labor party based on their performance over the last 3 years. At least the LNP just seem to be evasive (so you can guess what they're up to). But all "good" politicians are dishonest, so maybe I just expect too much? On the bowel front (ha, never thought I'd write that!), I wouldn't worry about one bout of diarrhea. If it continues it'd be worth working out the cause. The biggest concern is usually dehydration, so make sure you keep up the fluids. Constipation is completely normal during pg. One of those "fun" symptoms... And you're not as paranoid as me, so don't worry about that either.

Brunette, that sort of change in the gums is supposed to be normal due to the hormones, but they say to see a dentist because it could also be a sign of gum disease and you just need to get an expert to check it out.

I meant to say earlier, I heard something (on the radio I think? maybe?) that although the LNP disagree with the medicare caps but weren't promising to remove them. I guess they're leaving their options open? This was a week or two ago when Abbott was in Tassie.

Afm, I've been reviewing a report for a work colleague since 5pm and it's now 9.30pm (ie past my bedtime!) and I'm up to page 54 out of 107. I'm exhausted and my head is killing me and I thought the whole thing would take 2 hours... I'm so ready to chuck a tanty right around now...

[Miss K]

Congrats Paula on your little miracle Tiana!!! I know you will be enjoying every single moment!!!! xxoo

[WeeMansMummy]

Oh Airline Gillard is defo a bogan alright! I'd rather listen to pauline hanson sing me to sleep!
And as for the Poo problem, im not sure if our young bodies are the same as old folks but sometimes when you get constipated there is also runny stuff. Its called 'overflow'. Maybe you just had a bit of build up.
Meanwhile ive never been more regular than in this pregnancy..!!??

[airline]

Oh juniper sounds like you had a rubbish night! I don't envy anyone who has to take some of their work home...I have discovered I am pretty much useless from 2pm onwards! Luckily I leave work about 2.30pm. I hope you feel better this morning.

I'm off to vote this morning as I'm off to NSW tomorrow. The other thing that annoys me are the people that hang out outside polling stations shoving flyers in your face. arrghh. I'm also going to call up the Northwest hospital as my friend says they do tours once a month. I've only been to visit her....3 times. I guess I should book ante-natal classes too as I remember someone saying about them getting booked up.

Right I'm off to feed the brood of furry family members...with my breath held!

[airline]

Jaki...we post together again!

[juniper76]

airline, as someone who has been one of those "volunteers" that hand out how to vote cards, go easy on them. My parents were members of one of the parties and I was stuck handing the damn things out a few times because they were short on volunteers. It's a long boring day... Of course, at the other end of the spectrum, there's the zealots that love it...

[glenny_c]

Airline- I'm going to Northwest as well! They have open days every 2nd and 4th Sat of the month.
Also- bit confusing, they have an online booking form to have baby there but you need to fill out the paper stuff as well. I think they want you to book into classes around 15 weeks.

[wantbaby#2]

CONGRATULATIONS PAULA on the arrival of baby Tiana Isabel. Im so proud of you! Cant wait to hear how your going.Am heading over to FB to see if you have posted.i got your message about your c section just now (2 days later) as i havnt had time to go online.
xoxox