Woah, baby Archel on the way! (Do not read if you hate me (or Matt) (or um, babies)).

Congrats to you both Archel. :)

No, don't call it Noel.

xpost to Nick but apparently to PJ too...

Brilliant news, congratulations Archel!

Friends of mine be having kidz! Makes me feel all growed up!

well done you two

sometimes, nabisco, you are just too much. :)

DO NOT DO THIS EVER TO ANYONE WITH A BIRTHDAY NEAR CHRISTMAS EVER. *ahem*

congrats archers!! :D :D :D

(p.s. DO NOT CALL TEH KID JULIAN OR JULIA ETC)

That is awesome news! You two are going to be such great parents. Yay for babies!

Shout if you ever need a sitter! x

Yay! I wuv big bellies and babies. :-) Keep us updated about how things are going!

yay us!

This is doing my attempts to ignore own broodiness NO GOOD AT ALL!

\o/

Many, many congratulations Archel! How exciting!!

http://static.flickr.com/38/122170862_d37490f4d5_m.jpg

Michael, Panther and people upthread, your littlies are even cuter than the Baby Animals thread and omg I am going to have to have a serious talk with Mr. Zora AGAIN.

yes my be-childed brother has been giving me longings with all his cute stories lately. His advice this morning "get to work, you're never going to have one by thinking about it." hmm.

Hope the kiddo won't be born on Christmas Day, so you won't have an excuse to give her only a one set of presents per year... But you wouldn't do that, would you? ;)

DO NOT DO THIS EVER TO ANYONE WITH A BIRTHDAY NEAR CHRISTMAS EVER. *ahem*

-- ailsa (ailsa.watso...), June 21st, 2006. (ailsa) (later) (link)

ailsa totally otm!

Oh man, is that one beautiful baby! :-))))))

Speaking about labour: I can't say much about non-epidural labour - I begged for an epidural after about ten hrs or something - but delivery is the BESTEST THING EVAH! I swear to god, it's the greatest experience ever. Okay, labour starts to suck after a while, but the delivery...
It's funny, during and after pregnancy: I get teary eyed so quickly. Even now speaking about the delivery and thinking of your pregnancy. If I would not hold back, I'd cry. heh.

(no offence, like, but it's funny)

That womb emote should change to \O/ at eight months and then \O/ for the last week or so.

Man, I spent the afternoon with the cutest baby in the world on Sunday - want ours to arrive NOW. I also officially own fat maternity clothes woah.

I can't speak for the US, but in the UK there's usually your basic blood test at about 10 weeks where they screen for all sorts so you only have to do it once. That's been the worse bit for me so far as my blood wouldn't come out and I had to sit there for ages in agony. But one little blood test is bearable even when botched like that, tbh. Midwife usually checks blood pressure and weighs you and stuff whenever you see her (not frequently until the final weeks) but that's painless obviously.

There's an optional 'triple test' at 16 weeks which provides info on the risk of Downs Syndrome and other conditions (or a nuchal fold scan which does a similar thing earlier on). You will have several ultrasound scans but these are not invasive and you get see your baby yay.

I don't know what happens later on (yet!) but unless there's problems I don't think there's much poking and testing, and you may never see a doctor at all.

Most appointments here: pee in cup, measure belly, listen for heartbeat, chat with doctor for concerns. Yeah, there are a few blood tests along the way, but not too bad. The triple test I did both times, but you just need to be aware that it has a high false positive rate, so if you get a weird result it does not mean it is time to panic. Because my first baby was a preemie, I went to the doc weekly a lot earlier than non-high-risk people and had my cervix checked for dilation/effacement. Not the most fun, but not a huge deal.

Labor: yeah, it sucks. Much better with an epidural. I didn't have one with my second baby because she came so fast, and... well, it was really fast, so I can't complain.

I have HORRIBLE veins: One of the nurses sent me to another floor because she couldn't find a proper vein. hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Labor: yeah, it sucks. Much better with an epidural.

My epidural wore out after a while or they had to up the amount. Very... funny in away. If you're lucky you'll delivery will last as *long* as mine did: EIGHT FUCKING MINUTES. This was a "OH WTF SHE IS ALREADY DID! O RLY, NO WAY!" The labour was a bit longer, more than 20 hrs.

But trust me, it's the BESTEST THING EVAH.

I can't remember what all the things are they screen for with the blood test, but it's partly just to check iron levels and stuff like that. They automatically screen for HIV I think and a few other things (which you can decline). Nothing you wouldn't want to know about anyway if you had it, I would think.

xpost: oh yeah I forgot about wee tests. I hate those.

Feet in stirrups... ummmm... let's see. Maybe once when first pregnant (maybe) and then not until probably 36 weeks normally. My son was born at 33 weeks 6 days gestation and I don't think I'd been checked until suddenly I was having all these weird-for-how-pregnant-I-was symptoms. The experience of preterm birth is full of needles, IVs, and - in my experience - ambulance rides, but that is very unusual. I think even when you get to 36 weeks you can decline having your cervix checked if you're not high risk. (With my second, though, I was so used to being checked and so desperate to just please get the baby out I was always delighted to hear "well, you're 50% effaced..." or whatever. Late pregnancy is an Experience, that's for sure.

My epidural wore out after a while or they had to up the amount. Very... funny in away.

Nathalie, that was a huge fear of mine during my first pregnancy. OTM about epidurals being the BESTEST THING EVAH.

(So... anyone here who did have a blood test to find out?)

That was the worst one for me - I had to take it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, and when I tried to withdraw money to take a cab to go to the doctor's office, turned out my husband hadn't deposited my paycheck, so I had to wait until 1 pm - still not eating anything - then drink the other half of the bottle before I could go in for the test. In a way, I'm still mad about that.

(Glad I'm not the only one who dreaded and hated this test!)

I then went to the doc. He said that the blood test would be done but that I was pregnant. The urine test is pretty trustworthy (if it tests positive).

I remember a friend saying that the first check-up when I was pregnant would be so aweful because they would poke inside me. God almighty did I have fun. I mean, this was NOTHING compared to my ovaries (?) test which felt like my belly would explode and an Alien would come out. I had been warned by my mom cause she had to undergo this as well. They pump contrast fluid inside your ovaries (?). The damn idiot (aka doctor) said: well, the needle is the worst. I thought: "Yeah, whatever dude, I know you're ly... ARGH HELP PAIN Grr Urgh. Fucking liar."

So uh pregnancy was more or less a breeze.

Oh yeah, trust me, get an epidural. Sure they are not without risk, but if you're in deep pain: the drugs do help. I had contemplated going *au natural*. But after ten hrs of pain, I was just too tired. Thank god, I had it cause the pain would have doubled (judging from the comp screen which measured the contractions) and the contractions went on for a lot longer.

Uh, another tip: GET AS MUCH SLEEP AS POSSIBLE. The first three months will be without sleep. If only I had followed that advice. ;-)

It is pretty amazing stuff, we sit around all the time and go OMG we had unprotected sex and made a BABY and he came out of my VAGINA and I feed him with my BOOBS OMG THIS IS TOTALLY WEIRD.

It is pretty amazing stuff, we sit around all the time and go OMG we had unprotected sex and made a BABY and he came out of my VAGINA and I feed him with my BOOBS OMG THIS IS TOTALLY WEIRD.

teeny, OTM. Breastfeeding is so bizarre (and not just because I Finally! Got! Boobs!). My friend put it best; it's like you have bacon coming out of your elbow... but way more natural.

Any experience with Group B strep? My little sister just tested positive. She's at the end of her first trimester with her fourth (!) baby. (yes, she's a bit nuts) I didn't think they even tested for that until the end...?

Here, on the NHS, you get a blood test to confirm, an early scan if you're deemed high risk, an additional 20-week scan and...that's it, I think. There are check-ups late in the third trimester but, if they've established that all is going well at 20 weeks, they don't need to fiddle about. There's also free parentcraft classes and probably any amount of counselling we didn't take advantage of.

Pam was shocked on just how many tests her American chums endured (or volunteered to undergo), and they were amazed at how little intervention there is here in the UK.

Incidentally, I feel like crap today. Full of aches and pains like I'm coming down with flu and my throat is really sore. And the hormones make me dissolve into tears at least twice a day at the moment.

Thinking of starting aqua natal classes next week - anyone done them?

Yes, YES YES YESYEYEYYS. I totally feel this way as well. I told my husband how weird it feels that I have this baby that's growing all because I'm giving her milk. I understand that maybe for him (and others) it doesn't feel that amazing, but for me, being the mommy, it really feels amazing. There was an article on breastfeeding last month. Even now, after a few weeks, they still get letters from mommies (who didn't breastfeed) complaining that so many people give'em the *evil eye* because they didn't breastfeed. One woman claimed that in the 70s the midwives gave her shit (sorry) for not bottle feeding! Funny how different it was then.

Here we get an ultrasound ever month. Then the last trimester, I think it's every other week and the last month you have to go ever week. I think the last weeks they don't do ultrasounds anymore (unless it's necessary). It's useless anyway because the baby's too big anyway.

Aqua natal classes? I didn't do ANYTHING. I felt so ashamed when the midwive asked me in the delivery room:"So did you learn how to breathe/push for the delivery?" I was like "Uh no." She then gave me a quick lesson. Apparently my OBGYN hates it when women go to have lessons because they learn it all wrong. ROFL.

It's funny how you forget how horrible you can feel (with morning sickness) and the little problems you have. I had/have very thin veins so, uh, sex made me bleed quite badly at times. And then during contractions I bled like a pig. :-( I already worry for the next pregnancy.

And the hormones make me dissolve into tears at least twice a day at the moment.

I still get tears in my eyes pretty easily. I don't know why, but I never used to cry but now I could easily cry all day long.

One of the best books for me:

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0761134603.02._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

I think they have one for the expecting mommy as well. :-D

Any advice on morning sickness - I feel rank. Not just in the mornings either!

A friend of mine drank soup. But I guess that's not really advisable in the summer. ;-)

I met someone on Sunday who had sickness every day for the full nine months. I feel so lucky! Eating little and often helped with mine, and yes dry plain crackers/biscuits are good.

Nath - I have looked at that book but I didn't like it, it was kind of information overload for me as a natural worrier already, a bit TOO exhaustive and scientific. I've given up reading anything except when I have a specific question/problem in fact.

My OBGYN was TERRRIFIC cause when I asked him about forbidden foods, he just looked at me and said:"Ah soft cheeses are a no-no and also don't drink too much caffeine." My mum on the other hand - WHO HAD SMOKED DURING PREGNANCY - was obsessive with what I ate in the beginning. Gawd, that's one of the *negative* aspects when you are pregnant (and have a baby): everyone seems to be the expert and you the idiot. :-)

I don't mind the What to Expect titles and think there's lots of good info, but the older versions had crazy diet advice - it was insanely strict. ("You can have a bagel once a week for a treat!" I'm sorry, a bagel is not a treat; a hot fudge sundae is a treat.) I think they've updated them, but I still would avoid What to Eat When You're Expecting - bad recipes and overly strict advice.

I meant to exercise while pregnant but was just too exhausted and sick. Great if you can do it, but...

I had a huge bunch of pregnancy books; I liked The Well Pregnancy Book, What to Expect When You're Expecting and Advice from a Pregnant Obstetrician.

Archel, I'm slightly in love with your ultrasound photo! Memories...

i was reading this thread last night and had the brilliant idea to go to youtube and see if i could find a video of someone actually giving birth. Well, I found one and made it, oh, 3 seconds in before crying 'NO NO NO NO NO SWEET HOLY JESUS NOOOOOOOOO!!!!' and covering the screen with both hands while trying to operate the mouse and volume with my elbows. something tells me im not ready for this particular rite of passage. if someone can guarantee me morphine then MAYBE.

also, my sister was sick as a dog for the entire nine months to the point where my nephew was commonly refered to as 'rosemary's baby'. i wonder if that reaction is genetic.

I was horribly sick with my first; my sister had no problems and my mother never had trouble either. It could be partially genetic, but I don't think it's entirely genetic.

I didn't scream, just made the *puffing* sounds. I guess I'd probably be all Linda Blair when didn't have an epidural. BUt I did and am thankful I asked for it. I'd probably have been too tired if I didn't have an epidural. If you get an epidural, you won't feel anything. Or at least I didn't. It all goes so fast anyway (once you're in the delivery room).

I more or less stopped watching all those gazillion baby programs. It wasn't for me, the hypochondriac.

Also, I want to recommend the childbirth classes - the breathing techniques are really useful, not just for delivery. I used it frequently when the kids were small, and use it still, to calm myself when things started feeling way out of control, or if someone got hurt or wouldn't stop screaming.

I've mentioned this before but I'm really glad I took prenatal yoga; great breathing and stretching techniques. I got the epidural but only after my contractions had gotten strong enough that I thought my husband was going to have a heart attack watching me go through them. I *MIGHT* consider going natural next time because the medication really knocked me for a loop, I was highly disoriented for the next 24 hours or so. But really the epidural was great, I took a nap after it kicked in but still had enough feeling (and enough memory from when I was going through the contractions unmedicated) to know how to push effectively when the time came. It was about 8-9 hours from the time my water broke at home to delivery, they gave me pitocin with the epidural to help things along.

I've been looking at pregnancy yoga but the only class I could go to involves what they call 'challenging meditations'. I think I'm being challenged enough thank you. Quite fancy bobbing around in the swimming pool though and the aqua natal class is v cheap.

They asked me if I wanted the mirror, so I said okay, but when they brought it and set it up, the vision of what seemed to be my nine foot tall vagina really wasn't anything I wanted to see, and I made them take it away.

Birth classes can be good or bad. The first one I had featured a teacher who said stupid stuff like, "if you just do your breathing right, you probably won't want any drugs at all!" Okay, sorry, I'm not stupid, I know that is a lie. (Even my devoted natural childbirth fan friends admitted that they wanted drugs at times). I switched hospitals and birth classes and it was much better. Warning: the birth classes do often feature videos. But also lots of helpful stuff about relaxing through contractions, breathing, and other coping mechanisms.

BTW this afternoon I have discovered that the apple flavour Aqua Drops are good for sickness. Mmm, sour...

One thing I remember still about both deliveries - there came a point where my body just took over completely and I got a massive rush of something that made me feel like the most powerful woman on the planet. This huge exhilaration, and I started to just roar with joy.

I was fortunate because both my labors were short - but both kids were born in a teaching hospital so the labor and delivery rooms were packed with interns and students. Both times, afterwards, one of them came to thank me, explaining they'd never had the opportunity to see anyone progress from labor through to delivery and how helpful it had been to them. (Like I really had that much to do with it! Anyway, it was sweet, and I didn't care or even notice that the room was SRO.)

Delivering - you don't need painkillers in the "critical area," in my experience - I think it just gets so stretched out you are kind of numb. (Now there's something you don't want to think about too much.)

And yes - when your body takes over, that is Something. J. was coming so fast and the nurses told me, "dont push!" - but they might as well have said, "stop a train with your body." You can't do anything but go along. (Thankfully, an ER doc made it up the stairs to my room to catch J.)

xpost - I don't know what your Aqua Drops are, Meg, but that is maybe similar to something I tried; lemon drops. They helped some.

Also, if you're like me, and you tear and a couple days later decide if you want to see the stitches, do not be surprised or alarmed if your vagina is BLACK WITH BRUISING. I almost screamed out loud.

Epidural for me was no big deal at all, and they didn't let it wear off either! I guess I was pushing well enough even with it.

Yikes, I never wanted to see the stitches (only had them with Baby #2, who was full-term). And I'm glad I didn't look now! I do remember being stitched up afterward, though, and wondering how they could stitch up a moving target - I was shaking like mad).

They let a friend join?!? Not even my parents were allowed in the labour room. A good thing, I think. When I had delivered, a woman in the next room came back and THE ENTIRE FAMILY WAS ALREADY THERE (with beer and stuff). I mean, WTF! This woman has just delivered, give her some rest and privacy. Iditios. I'm sorry but I wouldn't have appreciated that. I wanted some time with my baby and husband.

Having the epidural was *nothing* cause my contractions were HORRIBLE. And, yes, they did wear off but they upped the amount. By the time I was in the delivery room, her head was already showing so I only had to do three pushes. I had already pushed a tiny little bit in the labour room. heh.

Ophelia cried 'n' screamed for 24 hrs after the delivery. Oh yeah, that was one "oh wtf no not a colic baby!" and then "well, who WOULDNT scream after being pushed into this world?"

Just kidding, it's actually REALLY good to hear some real life experiences. I'm hoping it'll be just me, Matt, my mum and the midwives there when I give birth. Probably won't go for a water birth because of lack of space, but looking forward to being able to get in my own bath early on if I feel like it.

And the beer thing sounds brilliant! Archie, I shall turn up with Archers and Lambrini 5 minutes after delivery if that's okay with you.

I think in a way it must be harder for the dads. Not physically, obv, but emotionally. I am reading this naff BBC book about How to be a Great Dad or something (a friend of ours is a case study in it!) and I keep bursting into tears.

Archel, we had our first at RSCH and they were pretty good in truth. It's all very private rooms with just parents-to-be and the midwife. They've improved their procedures too so that random doctors can't just barge in unannounced. It did help that it was quite a short labour, so we just had the one midwife for the whole thing (and she was great btw). They do do tours in advance, your midwife will be able to give you the details, but you can go and have a nose around anyway. Might be worth doing, just so you're familiar with it if you do need it.

We're definitely planning on having number two at home though. Any day soon... (gulp!)

Nah, it's not. I mean, it's upsetting to see the love of your life endure all that pain (with Pam she was 2 weeks overdue, so they did the prostaglandin thing, which induced faster than they anticipated and left no time for the epidural WHICH SHE HAD STATED VERY FIRMLY THAT SHE WANTED...so, just gas'n'air and the TENS machine, which kept coming off) but I think practically everything - from early in pregnancy to birth and beyond - is tougher for the mother.

I'm not saying it's not hard, but I don't have it hard like Pam has it hard. (Ooer, sounds a bit rude). Leaving for work before Ava gets up and getting home after she's gone to bed is sad, but at least I have time to myself, which is a long-gone thing for Pam.

HOLY SHIT! WHAT?!?!

They let a friend join?!? Not even my parents were allowed in the labour room. A good thing, I think.

Yes, here you can pretty much have whoever you want with you (I suppose there are limits on the number of people, although no one ever stated that). We had been sent to a hospital in St. Paul after being up all night trying to stop labor (because I was too early) and we were just exhausted. After I got the epidural we called my friend MJ who had visited the hospital the day before offering any kind of help. I was so happy to see her when she walked into the delivery room (which was full of about 10 doctors and nurses I'd never seen before); I think both my husband and I were relieved to see someone we knew who had actually showered within the past 24 hours. My husband and MJ sort of became an encouraging team for me; they each held one of my legs. Then my husband went with 4l3x to the NICU (I was lucky to get to even hold him, but he was doing okay); MJ was there to stay with me. MJ lightened the mood considerably and I was so glad she was there. (Of course now I always joke that she's seen every part of me except my back...)

Archel, I know a couple of women who had done home births and were really happy with that decision; if that's what you want, I think it's great.

Re: bleeding nipples - this never happened to me and I think it is avoidable for most of us (no need to panic there, sunny...)

Someone needs to test this! I wonder if there's a world record for 'highest number of people attending a birth'?

"cracked" would be a better word than "clove" (not to criticise your excellent English, nath) in this situation. Do not put spices on your nipples. ;) Lanolin should prevent cracking, I don't know how people managed before lanolin.

Someone else can test the limits on the number of people in a birth room in a hospital setting; I'm done. (But I notice there are several pregnant women here...)

I need to get one in Taplow.

I agree though, much harder for mums on every level.

The only time I have to myself is crammed into a horrible commuter train, so it doesn't count.

(I am about to have 16 days to myself though.)

I don't think I'd want my mum inside the delivery room with me. Nor anyone else except the docs, midwives and my husband.

I think you could bring an extra person with you if you wanted to film the *event* (but only if you asked beforehand). I wasn't up for that at all. Filming my vagina? No EFFING WAY. :-)

I actually meant to have a friend along for J's birth, but she arrived so fast that it was impossible. Whatever is most comfortable for you is always the right thing to do in this situation. It never occurred to me to ask my mother because she is really not the supportive type.

Breastfeeding: worst part for me was adjusting to having so much milk all of a sudden. Before pregnancy I had been a small B-cup; suddenly I was a rather overfull D cup. Once that got worked out, it was great. It also made me incredibly hungry and I ate a ton, and yet I lost weight like mad. I think I frightened my visiting MIL by eating so much...

I felt kicks this morning, quite faint ones but definitely there! (And not just wind which earlier movements could have been...)

What about you, Meg, how far along are you?

Still feeling nauseous and exhausted, but it's worth it :)

people abort babies depending on sex??

and isnt 11 weeks the abortion cut off, anyway?

where are you? US? UK?

I don't have a webcam but I will take some photos of bump soon!

Mind you, I can't imagine any NHS doctor performing a late abortion for that reason.

I quote from the Public Health Genetic Unit website:
"There has been debate in the United Kingdom on this issue since the House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology advocated a liberal position on sex selection in their report on ‘Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law.’ Commentators have argued that relaxation on the policy in this country might encourage those from other countries, such as India where there is a cultural preference for male children, to come to the UK for sex selection procedures."

BTW congratulations Archel, I was on holiday when this thread was started!

(Neither Ava nor #2 cooperated in revealing their genders in the womb; #2 has pyelectasis so their'll be a 32-wk scan to check up on this so we may find out then [pyelectasis more common in boys so we reckon it's a he this time]. All this at NHS hospitals in Denmark Hill and Croydon.)

michael jones' kid is freakin' adorable.

Replying to her fan mail:

http://static.flickr.com/61/201073295_39b583d5f7_m.jpg

Our NHS hospital (St Georges in Tooting) was happy to tell us the gender on a second scan (it R boy)

HURRAH! :-) How far along is Mrs Ewing?

Tom: Pam's due 14/11, you must be close to that?

With our first we did not want to know the gender (turned out to be a boy). With our second, we did try to find out partially because my MIL was so obsessed with the idea that we must have a girl that we wanted to give her ample time to adjust to another boy before birth if necessary. The verdict wasn't clear at the ultrasound, but my OB did say, "well... there's no turtle sign, so probably a girl." (And he was right.)

(My OB's way of describing prenatal genitalia - boy - "turtle sign," girl - "looks like a hamburger..." He's a funny guy.)

:-( Oh poor Pam. I also had low blood pressure, but I was/am used to that.

Ailsa, I'm not pregnant! I'm just PHAT!

Think I will be checking out eBay's pram section.

Ha ha. I'm sure that's how clever people do it. We waited until an 18-month spell of unemployment and a new job at half my previous salary conspired to wipe out our savings and plunge us into never-ending debt. Welcome to the world, Ava - we need to get you a credit rating.

Michael, I want to smooch Ava's face off - I can't imagine how y'all haven't!

Trust me, the cheap ones are better.

Beautiful Couple? Girl as first child?

congrats archel!

Anyhow, Archel, CONGRATULATIONS! I didn't care one way or the other. I find it odd that people have a preference. I mean, who cares, boy or girl, both are GR34T fun. :-)

(this is sam by the way. i got locked out of MsMisery.)

Would you like us to suggest names? How about Starshine?

We have done the 'wedding ring on a strand of hair' test a couple of times and it predicted girl.

haha, good question!

Yeah I've done the ring on a chain thing before except it was supposed to lay out all children and their genders.

It helps that I have one too I guess, in that I know it doesn't have to be an issue at all, but at the same time I don't feel great that my genes have made our baby's life potentially a bit more difficult. And no doubt it will be a bit traumatic for us watching her/him go through surgery in the first few months of life - just keeping our fingers crossed that it's as minor as mine and there are no complications.

Call her Archel!

Just call her Chloe and be done with it.

(I agree with Ailsa though)

My friends John and Jennie had no idea what to call their daughter, and were getting nasty letters from the local council threatening to prosecute them for not registering her birth. Eventually they named her Jaime, after a mutual friend, who was dead chuffed.

I had no idea that councils could actually prosecute you for naming slackness - I suppose I thought that if you didn't come up with one your child just um, didn't exist.

I have no inkling at all what my littl'un will be - apart from an acrobat, judging by the handstands and flips he/she was doing at our 12-week scan.

My husband is super-picky about names so I made a game out of thinking up the worst ones possible and suggesting them. I only did this after we had basically agreed on names, though...

ROFFLE. Oh the *discussions* we had. I finally gave in and we named her Ophelia.

Sadly, the other thing detected at our 20 week scan was a cleft lip (I have one so there was roughly a 1 in 20 chance that baby would have too, although I had no idea of this fact beforehand). We don't know if it's unilateral or bilateral yet, or whether the palate is cleft too, but we're being rescanned by a specialist tomorrow.

Let us know how it goes. I'm sure it'll work out fine. That said, I know how difficult it can be. We had a chance that, if it was a boy, he could be extremely nearsighted (due to my husband's congenital syndrome or however you'd say it in English). I know how nervous I was when we had to check the gender... But now it just means that Ophelia can be a carrier - it never occurs in women - which we will have to let her know once she tries to conceive herself. Not that she'll ever do this, we're locking her up and will never let her meet boys. ;-)

(haha, princess sparkle. now i have to come up with a new name.
xpost)

Princess Sparkle. Now why didn't I think of that when naming Julia? If only I could travel back in time...

i mean..holy shite!

http://www.mybabysface3d.com/images/flash3.jpg

http://www.looklocally.com/media/10198/image-aa-ultrasounddallasdfw.jpg

http://www.ob-ultrasound.net/images/3dface.jpg

ihttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/slightlyfoxed/20weekscans.jpg

(I hope you'll forgive me for passing that on, Archel...)

errr did they think an alien is gonna pop out?

btw archel, you look supercute and happy in that pic where you're beaming at the baby. (and i like the plum colour of your top.)

Congrats Sunny! Go Aquarius babies.

Thanks for the congrats. I still dont believe its real even though ive seen the kid. Whenever I tell someone im pregnant i feel like im totally lying to them.

Whats a borg?

Meg, my kiddo will be a pisces ie a martyr with a christ complex. woo!

Robyn, if its a girl im so calling her princess sparkle. The jury is still out on captain oats for a boy.

Mookie, go packers indeed!

1) http://thehappiestbaby.com/
2) http://www.miracleblanket.com/viewpoint.htm

Dr. Karp's calming method, along with the Miracle Blanket, saved our sanity after our first child was born. It hasn't worked as well with the second child, who's a much lighter sleeper, but it's still taken off some of the edge. Everyone we know who's tried these swears by them. They work!

I want bebes. :(

we just went back to swaddling our three month old at night this week after not doing it for a month, because he does sleep better that way (and by extention, so do we). he barely fits in his miracle blanket now though.

Getting some backache these days and I have a cold but apart from that feeling ok. Baby is head down apparently so we're good to go...

meg, do you know the sex of your babe?

archel, have you come up with a name? also, did you go to birthing classes or are you going to wing it?

As for names, hm I'll get back to you on that one...

Haha my boss just phoned me because she got stuck with how to order stationery.

Ned or Nedwina. Both fine names.

Also, does that mean you're working right up to your due date?!

Have you not read her horsecock poem?

But yeah... writing!

maternity leave - you will find something to do! i would: play guitar/music, write poems/stories too! (have to keep brain in shape even if baby is leeching its power), cook/bake, knit, watch so much tv on dvd omg, do yoga n stuff, keep smile on face, try not to fear. good that the baby's head is down!

The sad thing in the US is that the 6 weeks of unpaid leave is a huge improvement on how things were before the Family Leave and Medical Act that Clinton signed in early 1993.

Enjoy your leave Archel!