Thanks so much everyone

I just had dinner with DF's father and stepmother, who conceived DF's half-sister through IVF and she told me that she was in the same boat as I am. Mind you she had had her stomach stapled right before she became pregnant and she thinks this may have contributed to how she carried.

She also reminded me that normally on TV, in magazines or in movies, etc... the pregnant women that are shown are the 'typical ones' people expect a pregnant woman to look like (if there is such a word) ie the ones with the perfectly popped belly as it wouldn't be so dramatic to show a pregnant woman who merely looked like she had eaten one Big Mac too many.

So after hearing your experiences I feel so much better. I guess just because this pg was such a huge shock that I wanted some sort of validation that I was in fact pg (besides the multitude of tests, scans, etc...yes I realise I'm sounding like an absolute nutter right about now). But I'm just going to keep reminding myself that I am completely blessed to have become pregnant like I did, and low PAPP-A or not, this Sprout is healthy and well...sprouting...whether I look like I swallowed a basketball or just merely a pine nut.

But please keep telling me your experiences if you can-it's both reassuring and confidence-building at the same time.

Shari xo

PS - And Townsville Girl, I think your strong ab muscles theory may be spot on with me. Considering I am tall, slim and had great abs before getting pg thanks to the 'Shred' DVD, this could be why my ab muscles are hanging on strong.

Also Jen, my Belly Buddy-the fact that you're having twins, we're both due 2 days apart and you just popped now: you have no idea how much more relaxed that makes me feel. Oh-and I'm the queen of trying the 'sucking in' move. Sadly for me it still looks like I'm trying out to be a girl in the Playboy Mansion (thanks to the newly acquired Pamela Anderson boobs) -which I guess wouldn't be so bad on a normal day but when you're desperate for a bump it just stinks.

Please everyone remind me of this thread when I'm whinging (hopefully) in a few months time about how I'm the size of a school bus. xo