Second birthday... or sorts

As the NCT crew all gave birth around the same time, the mums all decided it was best to have one joint birthday than a load of lttle ones - this just meant that we could do what we wanted for the individual birthdays and not worry about leaving people out.

We all met up today at Godstone Farm, just off the M25. Before we went I imagined some hick adventure where they just had a field of animals you could look at while the farm hands went about their business. The reality was quite different. It's truly a place for the whole family, with areas you can pet various animals, tea rooms, and a "Play Barn" for children older than Emily and her cronies. There were a fair few people walking around with presents as well as you can have kids parties here.

The weather yesterday was the icing on the cake. Warm and sunny made walking around looking at and petting animals all that more enjoyable. I'm looking forward to going back so I can take a tractor ride!

NCT reunion

Today we had our NCT ante-natal class reunion. Last time we all met up, the women were pregnant, the weather was morose and the days were short.

Today, there were babies everywhere of various sizes, the sun was shining and everyone was sporting their summery finest.

It was interesting over beers and nibbles to swap stories, see the other babies and find out who's the biggest, who's the smallest, who sleeps the longest, what schemes are working best for parents, etc.

The mothers in the group are continuing to meet up with babies in tow, taking turns to visit each other's neighbourhoods. This can only be a good thing, especially for a couple like us who work in London and knew no one locally, pre-Emily.

It's definitely true what they say about babies, they're good friend makers... for the parents!

Birth weight and other stories

The health visitor came round today and weighed wee little Emily. She's now 10 lb 2 oz. Anyone who's been following this will know she was born at 9 lb 15 oz and promptly shed 7 oz almost over night.

It's nice to see the little tike's relentless feeding frenzy is resulting in some of it staying inside her (and not all ending up in the nappy).

This arvo Sue met up with a couple of the NCT mums and unknown to me, the dads were there too (as they still have paternity leave, etc.) Sounds like they had a wonderful afternoon eating nachos and apple cake, basking in the spring time sun and listening to the choir of infant cries.

I woke up at 4am this morn when Em grizzled for a feed. As I enjoyed a couple of bevvies last night, I found it rather impossible to get back to sleep. I have to say, I just keep going from tired to even more tired.

Does it end?

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Now playing: Public Image Ltd - Death Disco (12" Mix)
via FoxyTunes

C-section

We're ready to go on the c-section. Sue's had the epidural top up, and I'm in my scrubs.

She's going to be in hospital for about 3 days so I'll be making a few trips back here.

Regardless, looking like a 15 march birthdate. One of our NCT friends texted this morn to say they had a baby at 5.34 this morn. Sharing birthdays! Cool.

Last class and new friends

Had our last ante-natal class last night. It was a bit bitter-sweet as we grew to looking forward to the Thursday evening meetings the last five or six weeks.

Having said that, as we're (us and the other couples at ante-natal) all moving into a new phase of life, we've all agreed to meet up again next Friday.

The women are doing lunch, the men are doing tapas in Purley. Hopefully, with the girls all on maternity leave, they can meet up regularly as a motherly force. Life can be lonely in a big city, and having common interests like being a first-time parent is a good way to make friends.

Here's to making new friends that aren't based on work, music or football. I imagine there'll be more to come.

Breastfeeding session

Went to the breastfeeding class last night.

Wasn't really sure what to expect when we got there. Unlike the other ante-natal classes, this one took place in the home of one of the breastfeeding counsellors.

It was quite a laid back, almost question / answer session, where the pros and cons were laid out in front of us.

Having said that, apart from feeding every 2-3 hours (the look of Sue's face at the mention of that was priceless), there really seemed to be no downside to breastfeeding. The baby gets contact with mum, immunities and antibodies are passed down through the milk, baby needs less feed and less winding (as there's not much air in the breastmilk delivery method), there's less need to sterilise bottles, etc. and the most important thing - I don't have to feed baby.

It looks like we'll try it for about three months, and then see how much sleep Sue's actually getting.

I've been wearing an NCT bracelet that says "Breastfeeding makes a difference" for months, mainly because I paid admission to the NCT nearly new sale and received it in my admission pack. What I was wearing as an almost defiant joke I now actually believe. Funny that.

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Real Life babies!

At the ante-natal class tonight, we had real life parents come in with their newborns.

Good grief are they small! They literally are sleeping, pooping, eating machines at that age. It was incredible.

The new parents regaled us with tales of birth giving and gave us hints on how to survive what could be 12 hours or what could be 3 days of labour.

The rest of the class we discussed what we'll actually do with baby and what different poos looked like. One apparently looks and smells like pesto. Bring that one on! "More garlic in the breastmilk, please mummy!"

Twas another good evening and I was kind of saddened to realise that we only have one more week left. However, we've got a bumper week as Monday is breastfeeding class and then there's the usual Thursday.

We're still no clearer on when our baby might come. One of the new parents was 10 days late, the other was pretty much on time.

Hospital tour

We did the tour of the hospital today.

Saw the labour ward and the post-natal ward. It's not as grim as I was imagining and nowhere near as posh as shows like Scrubs make it out to be.

The waiting room was a disaster. They had filled it with ripped banquets that seem to have been salvaged from the local tip. The mid-wife then added "we ask family and friends to stay at home to await the news" as if anyone could survive more than a mere glance of the waiting room.

We saw the room with the bath in it and all the PatientLine phone/TV combos. Of special note there, I own shares in that collapsing company so was intrigued to see my ill advised investment at work (bought shares at £1.30 each, currently trading around 4p).

One of Sue's books has advised to pack the hospital bag now! and the NCT class advises us to bring cleaning supplies, which Sue asked the mid-wife at the hospital about.

I was really hoping she'd say "yeah, we're so filthy our patients double as cleaners", but she gave the usual line that an MRSA-denier would "No, we're clean. That [your info] is wrong."

So now we know where to go when the waters break.

NCT Ante-Natal, take 2

Had our second NCT ante-natal class tonight. Sue and I both missed the Tuesday NHS one, with work commitments. Hoping to go next week!

At NCT we talked about the drugs you'd use during labour, what labour meant to the blokes and what the women would go through.

At one point we talked about administering Vitamin K (helps with blood clotting) to the new born, as the child will be born with rather low levels. This got me worried (oh HERE we go!) about haemophilia in the baby. Of course, the administering of the vitamin CAN lead to childhood leukaemia, so there's another concern.

We're having a good time in the small class, but I think Sue's becoming a bit put off as there's lots of exercises to get you thinking about things. I quite enjoy having to think about what exactly labour might feel like or the pros and cons of an epidural. If we were just told, there's always the possibility you'd tune out or doze off.

Looking forward to next week!

NCT AnteNatal classes

Did our first ante-natal class tonight and it went quite well.

As the topic was on labour, all my worries and fears about money and whether we'll give birth to a drug dealing chav were replaced by all sorts of labour-related worries.

We discussed the pros and cons of home birth over hospital birth, got to know some other new parents to be (and realised we're the only ones in the class not going to Mayday hospital in Croydon), shared some tea and biscuits and basically figured out that come labour time, there's going to be no rest for the wicked or the parents to be.

First time labour can last up to 24 hours, so I'm gearing up for quite an emotional day or two come early March.

Not sure what we're discussing next week, but I'm looking forward to it.

Anti Natal

Now that we're back from Oz and feeling healthy, it's all guns a blazin', babywise.

Last week our NCT ante-natal classes started. We were on a plane so obviously didn't go.

This morning, our first NHS class kicked off. I didn't go.

Sue's decided to suss out the NHS one to see if I really need to take the next eight or so Tuesday mornings off. She's a tad worried about looking like Betty no-father-for-baby but a phone call from or to her this arvo should figure that one out.

Apart from the classes to teach us how to breathe and such, we now have to begin the crusade to get the flat baby-friendly. This is going to be an immense uphill battle as we're both kinda wishing we could move instead of dealing with a flat was too small for two.

Getting Healthy

Having endured a week of health hell, Sue is very slowly getting back to normal. Although she still has the voice of a 30-smokes a day smoker, she reports that her head is clear and she's actually been able to get into work and not need the naps in the afternoon.

In an effort to eradicate a repeat of any illnesses in the next few months - especially with winter approaching - Sue's turned to the Pregnacare tablets. Basically, they're multivitamins for the expectant.

Reading the pamphlet last night (I'm a guy, that's what I do), it says you can use them well into breastfeeding as well and that they should give the mother to be all the nutrients and vitamins necessary, but still eat a healthy diet.

Also of note was the NCT, plastered all over the box. The more I read about them, the more I think we need to join.