Homeopathy or hospital?

Another exciting trip to the hosp, this time because the rash on her tummy is *very* raw. My big sister, ie a person who Knows Everything and has a fast internet connection, says it might be PUPPP syndrome - yessiree, a syndrome, no less. PP herself thinks it might be a reaction to drinking raspberry leaf tea, the only obvious change to her diet.

To cure the rash, the midwives recommended Piriton tablets, or calamine lotion, both of which PP refused on the grounds that she only takes homeopathic medicines, my favourite subject.

Yes, PP has been pill-popping various chalk tablets with fancy names, some of them recent additions to the intake. Even the raspberry leaf tea label has the most amazing twaddle on it.

As we approach drop day, I suspect all of this will vanish when it's a choice between stinging like buggery or gas & air...

Pic from http://www.nutrasanus.com/ - which I completely misread.

Bit of a do

Bit of a do - in the sense of a commotion, rather than cucumber sandwiches and milky tea.

PP is itching, and itchy palms and feet mean cholestasis - which is Bad. The midwife took blood for a test, which also turned out Bad. This morning was an exciting visit to the hospital, with a second blood test, and this time it turned out to be Good.

Incidentally, cholestasis is another fine example of English usage: we name something as if the naming means we understand it. Like Alzheimer's, Crone's and a host of syndromes, conditions and diseases, the name somehow makes it acceptable, knowable. Cholestasis means "gall bladder blocked," which turns out to be a description of the condition simply in hilarious faux Latin. Or is that reproba latin?

Almost an armful

Midwife again this morning, a very competent woman called Sarah, her second visit to us. She gave the baby a right old poking about, saying it has long limbs. How on earth can she tell? I can hardly tell its bonce from its bum - mind you, the same applies to me, more or less.

Curiously, she asked if PP has had itchy feet or palms, and the answer is Yes. In fact, I even wondered if PP had athlete's foot she was scratching so much! Something to do with liver function, which, even more odderer, PP had been speaking about. This prompted a vial of blood to be drawn. Almost an armful.

Itchy & Scratchy

The underside of PP's bump is itching itching itching. Aaaaaaagh! I want to scratch it now, BOY is it ANNOYING, so BY CRIKEY it must irritate her! (Should I write the letters for Readers' Digest?)

Fat fingers

Continuing the theme of puffed hands and swollen things, the wedding rings have had to go!

The GP mentioned at the off that he frequently has to cut rings off pregnant womens' fingers. So her engagement and wedding rings are off - and it took a fair bit of wiggling, even now, with ten weeks to go.

The pic is from http://www.hsamuel.co.uk/ as if she should be so lucky