Sue's pregnancy diary for Baby 3

A little bit of history

After finding out on Christmas day (2004) that I was pregnant, decided that I would not inform anyone,not even the husband plus we had company over for the holiday. This would be my 6th pregnancy with only 2 live children to show for it so thought best to cope with on my own until I knew what I was dealing with.

Problems started early, morning sickness was dreadful and having to hide it from your partner who kept saying "if you feel that sick, go to doctors", was hard. My decision initially was to have the 6 week scan at the EPU unit and then inform husband of the situation. Events over took this and because I had the in-laws over for dinner one day, decided to let husband know what was going on as this was not something you could hide.

We told the would be grandparents of the pregnancy and the date for the scan, being the following week. First scan at 6 weeks showed a embryo and heart beating. what joy. Booked appointment for two weeks time. Called would be Grandmother who was over joyed.

Following Sunday in bed had intense pain in the abdomen, but put it down to wind!

Day of scan arrived, full bladder, scan starts. Ah. Door gets locked. Things seem to not be quite right, had to have internal scan, Embryo had died six days ago, the sunday night with the wind......

My 4th D and C was booked.

Confirmation day

Two cycles have passed and we can try for another baby. LPD 29/03/05

W/C 25/04/05. by Wednesday no sign so decide to take a test first thing in the morning, it's positive, wot to do now, tell hubby, tell doctor, tell anyone? Decide to tell hubby as kept it from him last time and when I finally told him he was quite upset. So into bedroom, was this a good idea? he's never very coherant in the mornings. Oh well here goes into bedroom wand in hand.
"Morning hunnie" big kiss,
hubby "uummmhhmm yer morning"
"take a look at this"
hubby "err wots thats, can't see a thing"
"we're er pregnant"
Hubby grants "we're wot, show me, ahh babe that's great" Big Hug and kiss.
Wow ok that went well.
We decide that we won't organise a early pregnancy scan, don't want the situation again of seeing a heartbeat at one scan and then have it gone at another, so decide if we reach 8wks then we will book a scan

Here we go again

Starts as good day, both myself and husband taken a day off together so we can spend sometime alone and take in a film.

After dropping the kids off I head off home to join hubby back in bed until it time to get up and go watch "Hitch Hikers Guide".

Around 10 O'clock start to get niggling stomach ache and feeling sick, "on no not bad morning sickness again"

Have some toast and head off to the tram to get to Croydon for the film. Still feeling a bit yucky but hey not often go to piccies so decide to go ahead and buy pick n mix.

Getting more intense pain during film but hold out 'til the end. On way back on the tram can no longer take the pain so make an emergency appointment at the doctors. Get to Dr's 20 mins later, she checks my abdomen extremely painful asks me to do a sample, all clear, can't seem to a reason for it just tells me to go home, take paracetmol and rest but if it gets worse go to hospital.

Not what I wanted to hear...........

Trip to A&E

Wk 5

Its now 18.30 and pain is to much to take. Hubby packs me and the youngest in the car and drives to hospital. Eldest child stays at home to look after the animals. I'm seen by the triage nurse within 10min's and admitted to A&E dept to be seen by a doctor. Ok wont go into the grim details of the internal scan just to say glad I'm not he's partner. As the pain has not subsided they organise to keep me in overnight for ops and decide to IV some fluids and give intravenus morphine. Blood test required.

Not good with blood test

Not good with needles full stop

Blood test taken, not to bad, but intravienous drip for morphine and IV line another matter, this doctors believes get it in the skin then go hunting for a vein. Line in, heads swims
"hey doc going to pass out" which I did as well as a little botty burp and just for good measure throw up all over the place, not sure if I hit the doctor but do hope so.

On coming to, they had arranged the bed for the night and set up the IV line and given a dose of morphine, hubby had left the cubicle at the time of them trying to insert the IV as he did like to see me in so much pain, on coming back in after I had come round he was left to clean up my vomit covered face, nice erh!

Said goodnight to little 'un and hubby and was taken up to the ward, own room with en-suite, not that I could utilise it, stuck with IV and for some reason my legs wouldn't work. Believe they must of given me some sleeping tablets as can't remember anything until the next morning.

Was woken up at 0700, hadn't moved an inch in the night, nurse did some ops and then waited for the porter to take me to the EPU unit. Got there before 0800 with full bladder. Scan went well, Tracy had remembered me from January, little sack seen but to early to say, so made arrangements to go back next week. Tracy did advise that I should start taking low dose aspirin one tablet a day until at least 12wks, if I get that far.....

Taken back to ward and told I was free to go home and rest. Made arrangements for hubby to pick me up at 11 O'Clock. Was given breakfast, no toast *sulk*, at 10.20 was asked to vacant room as needed for another patient, so had to sit in the day room and wait. Given magazine and cuppa and waited for hubby.

It was only wind!

Now with all the pain and sickness as described in the above passage you would think that my husband would be bending over backwards to look after me.

NO

He's outstanding memory of the whole episode was the small, and I do mean small, botty burp that emitted from my nether regions just before passing out. Yes, can you believe it. Now he's convinced and tells anyone thats around that I was admitted to Hospital and put on morphine for wind...

6 Wks

Pains are still here and morning sickness has set in, can anyone remind me why we do this?

Back to Hospital for another scan to see how we're doing. I can tell you that the pains haven't gone and having a full bladder is agony. We sit there waiting. There's another lady there on an A&E Dept wheel chair waiting for a scan,my thoughts go back to the week before and how I was feeling. She goes in. I sit with my fingers crossed, feeling extremely uncomfortable. Hubby sits concerned holding my hand and trying to make small talk.

The room is aprox 9ft wide by 15ft long with a desk for the nurses a water dispenser, (full bladder always required) 8 chairs and magazine table. Picture board on the wall with the growth chart of baby and message board full of Thank you notes from new parents. Not sure I'm to happy seeing growth chart or Thank You cards as four months ago sat in same spot and during my exam the door was locked. I start feeling really sick, stomach pains are really bad but no chance of going to the loo. Lady in wheel chair goes in, five minutes later she's out, no door lock and she looks fine ready to go back to ward. Tracey calls out my name. This is it.

Tracey asks how I've been, I explain that I'm still getting really bad pains. Cold jelly put on stomach. I look at Hubby, he's holding my hand. Can't look at the monitor.
"Oh lovely full bladder Sue that makes life easier"
"hello little one" Hubby's smiling
"Can you see that fluttering" I look at the monitor. The sac's larger and yes there's a little movement.

Tracey starts to make measurements and confirms its the right size for a 6wk. She measures my uterus, it's larger than it should be so. It seems I may have an infection from the previous pregnancy and D&C which could be the cause of all the pain.

Scan complete and I'm told I can go to the toilet. Thank god no locked door this time. The toilet is situated opposite the scan room, so you walk back out into the waiting room. I sit down on the loo and burst out crying. The relief is unimagineable. Must stop sobbing as the waiting patients will hear and it will cause them some discomfort.

Tidy myself up and wash my face. Go back into scan room, Tracey's not in there she's making up the report for the GP, hubby gives me a huge cuddle, starts me off again, but at least it's a good cry this time. But have been here before and.......

Tracey comes back with my notes and we book another scan for 8wks.

8 Wk Scan

This is the worst scan, we didn't get this far last time as the baby had died between scans.

Again nice full bladder so really uncomfortable and morning, yeh if only, sickness is the bain of my life along with the stomach cramps. We sit and wait.

A lady and her, I assume, mum go in. Two minutes later the door gets locked.

Oh god that's all I need and Oh god that's all she needs. I'm now extremely nervous which heightens the sickness and I feel quite faint. Hubby squeezes my hands and suggest we go for a walk. Nice thought but safest place to be is sitting down near to a toilet. I cross as many fingers as possible. Hubby states that it won't have any effect, but need to do something. Hold my stomach praying all is ok, a small chant is zooming round my head.

The lady and her mum come and out go out into the corridor where we can all hear here sobbing and questioning why?

It's our turn, we enter the room. Hop on the bed, fingers crossed.
"hello baby"

I look on the screen and there in the middle is a blob looking like a jelly baby.
"thank god" hubby squeezes my hand and we discuss the size and Tracey points out what will become the head and limbs. We make another appointment for two weeks time.

10 Wk Scan

We're back again, nerves are awful, when will the worrying stop? Pains haven't been as bad but that in itself adds to the worry.

Hop on the bed, skirt down, gel on, fingers crossed. Ah there it is, right size, moving, heart beat ok.

Tracey decides that as we are due for our 12wk book in at the ante natal clinic in two weeks time, that we can be signed off from the EPU and have the next scan with them.

I get back to work and telephone the ante natal clinic, they offer me a date of 12th July which would of made me over 15wks. I explain that this is my 7th pregnancy and have only two live children and no way on this earth am I able to wait that long for a booking in appointment and another scan.

The lady asked me to call back the next day and by then she would of spoken to one of the mid wives to see about an earlier appointment.

I call back the next day to be told that I can go in on the 20th June and see the mid wife and have scan, but the booking process would have to be booked seperately. Ok with this, really not that fussed with the booking in process, really just want to make sure baby is ok.

Find a couple of web sites today Net Mums and Emma's Diary Which both have loads of info and a chat forum for expectant mums, mums already and a section for the dads. Read through some of the forums and create myself a couple of accounta, think these web sites are gonna be handy.

People at work are starting to ask questions, two other ladies are pregnant and as they say "come in three's" Only told Lilian and she can keep a secret and do need someone to talk to as we decided not to tell anyone for ages, not even the grandparents.

I hate denying my pregnancy and apologise to baby everytime, but it's my pregnancy and people will know only when we decide to tell them.

12 Wk Scan

Day of the 12 wk scan, phone up in the morning to make sure that they are aware that they are doing a scan. Receptionist says all's fine just turn up on time.

Feel more relaxed. Have my lunch, drink lots of water and make sure I don't pee. Make it to the hospital early, but it's empty so don't expect to have to wait to long. Get called in to the mid wife. Sit down have a chat takes my blood pressure, and then it happens...
"What you mean you can't scan me today?"

Women I'm talking to is unaware of the whole situation of my problems with this pregnancy and with previous. I make it crystal clear that the only reason I agreed to attend this appointment and accept a later booking in appointment was to make sure the baby was ok. Receptionist had guaranteed me a scan today and that was what I wanted and needed. Asked to be taken to the scan unit but was informed that it was not open.

"aarrhhhh" bloody people do they not understand the fragile state of mum's like me. Seriously not impressed and then they have the nerve to tell me that my booking in appointment for the 12th had been cancelled and I would have to book again. They offer me all dates I can't do and then have the nerve to tell me I'm refusing appointments!. God forbid I have other things booked. Finally agree on 18th July 16wks. Leave upset, distressed and bloody livid.

Well is the baby ok?

Decide I cannot wait another week for the nucal scan at Kings so call GP and tell them that I'm seriously unhappy with my treatment at the clinic and want to be transferred to another. I also decide that I will call Tracy at the EPU and make an appointment with her for this week.

Early next morning I get a call from the Doctor who informs me that a scan has been booked for me for Thusday, two days time. I thank her and tell her she has no idea what this means to me.

Thursday and I get call from the clinic at 9.40am asking me to come in asap as they will scan me earlier and then have a chat. Had started to drink water but as they called me 2 hours early had to really get the water going. Get to the hospital within 40 minutes and still drinking water. Lady before me so had a bit more time to get more water on board. Get called in, panic sets in. Pull down clothes and get on bed, feel completely sick, cross fingers, I know Philip it doesnt actually do anything but helps me. The midwife has obviously spoken to the scan lady as she is aware of the situation and is really nice. I can't look. "There's baby, come on love have a look at your baby"

I turn my head to the screen and there it is kicking and waving, hugh wave of relief and I burst out crying. She does some measurements and tells me everything looks fine and prints me off some pictures

So we're at 12 wks and things looks like they've settled down, can we dare hope....

13 Wk scan Kings Scan

Drop the kids off at school and childminder, they still don't know. Not sure when we'll telling them, perhaps if this scan goes well.

Head off for the train.

Now I'm not good on public transport at the best of times but with morning sickness not something I'm looking forward to.

Unfortunately Philip is suffering from a really bad wisdom tooth so he's in a lot of pain, so hanging about waiting for trains then sitting in hospital waiting rooms is not he's idea of fun, but at least it gives me something other than myself to worry about. Luckily train journey was uneventful and we arrive at the hospital in good time. As it's been over four years since last time there trying to find the Harris Birthright centre was a bit hit and miss and going round in circles for a bit we eventually get to the centre. A lot different to what i remember when Katiya was scanned. They actually have a reception area now, not just a cupboard as before.

They have a telly on but unfortunantely it was showing Trisha when we first arived, not our cup of tea but that ended and "This Morning" came on, a little better. Philip's feels like crap and is really having a rough time, luckily they have water on tap so he can soothe the pain a little. We waited approx an hour and half before being called in. Scan takes nearly 30min's and during this time Philip's feels really bad and has to leave to get more water. Baby not cooperating and the guy seems to be "learning", has to really push down hard on my stomach which hurts. He takes lots of measurements and pictures, then calls a lady who takes some more measurements. Scan Finished. They put all the measurements into the computer and discuss the results with us. To put it into layman terms I have gone from 1:81 chance to 1:556 chance, the same risk as a 31 year old of the baby having Downs Syndrome and have gone from 1:151 to 1:969 of baby having Patau Syndrome (Patau Syndrome web site) and Edwards Syndrome (Edwards Syndrome web site).

So thats great news.

We finish up at the scan unit and decide that we would go and see if we can get Philip seen by one of the hospitals dentists in their walk in centre. This turned out to be the rest of the day taken up. Procedure within the dental apartment consisted of registering, waiting, being called to another waiting room, handing in your registration then waiting. Being called by a dentist who asks whats the problem and looks in mouth and orders xray. This means going to another section and waiting room. Waiting for the xray. Having xray done. Taking the xray to the second waiting area, handing them in and told to wait in another waiting area (this being the third waiting area, have you kept up?). Waiting. Called by dentist who is not necessarily the dentist you saw in the first place. Told yes there is a problem but nothing can be done today you will have to book a proper appointment. This means a ride in the lift to the fourth floor to wait in line for a appointment. Dentist did give him a injection to help the pain, actually gave him to large doses as first one made no difference and some strong antibiotics. Get to desk to be told that the system is down and making notes of names and giving out telephone number to call at the end of the week hopefully to be given an appointment. Lucky for Philip dentist had put on he's form that it was top priority so he was advised to call back next day. This whole procedure took over four hours!!

Philip called the next day and was given an appoint for the following day to have he's wisdom tooth out. Which went well established that the root went right upto he's sinus cavity so he had to have nine stitches in he's mouth and needed to return a week later to have the stitches removed. All better now.

15 Wk Fetal heart monitor

Because of the poor service earlier on in the pregnancy by the clinic I have been given an appointment for a fetal heart monitor to tide me over.

Didn't go to well, took midwife nearly 10 minutes to get a heart beat, god was I getting really stressed. But eventually found one. Phew.

I told her I was still getting pains on the right hand side where my appendix should be, had them out years ago. But no where near as bad as at 5 wks. We discussed my diet which apparently is good and the amount of fluids. Was told to drink at least 2Ltrs of water a day and not so much of the other fluids, water is what is required, so thats what I shall do.

Midwife decided that I should have a cervical scan to make sure that all looks good. Never had one before but hey will get to see baby again so I'm all for it. They can't seem to do enough for me at the moment, amazing what a moan can achieve.

Went away feeling alot happier than at other visits.

16 Wk Booking In and Cervical scan

Before anyone says anything, yes I know your meant to have a booking in appointment at 12wks, but as stated previously this was not possible and this was the earliest appointment available!!.

Have the cervical scan first. Pull down clothes, get on bed, scan......

"You haven't got enough water in your bladder, go away and drink some more and come back in 40 min's"

Not enough water, this guy's have a laugh, been drinking most of the morning.

So outside to drinks fountain fill up my already depleted water bottle and sit and read my book. 30 minutes later I'm feeling all heady, bloody water logged now. Fingers feel all funny. He better call me in soon or I'm going to pop like a water filled balloon.

At last he calls me in. Scans the cervix, all's well, has a quick look at baby and prints out some photo's.

Loo,as in toilet, need I say anymore

See midwife for booking in, go through medical history. Surely they could pick this up from the last pregnancy and just get upto date stuff, but no have to go back to the beginning of time..

Blood test, arrrhhh, not good on public transport, not good at blood tests.

Warn her I have really bad veins and she suggests that maybe I should go to the centre across the car park as thats where the blood takers are and apparently they have smaller needles to her.

Really can't be bothered to go sit in a queue with a numbered ticket waiting my turn as I still need the loo. We decide she will have a go and if no good I will have to go over. Go to loo first, come back and she's ready to go, and she's done. Yep didn't feel a thing. Amazing best ever A star to Midwife Wolfenden.

So now everything seems fine, so no appointments now until the growth scan at about 23wks, well here's hoping...

18 Wks +1

Is that baby I'm feeling? Just some faint bubbly sensations but maybe...Hubby thinks it's wind again, now this is just becoming annoying and no longer funny. He's gonna have to stop or I'll give him wind

Wk 19 +4

Hang on, being sick, thought I'd gotten over morning sickness, this isn't meant to be happening, plus haven't been toilet properly, if you get my drift, for a number of days.

Saturday night woke up feeling odd went to loo and promptly say rehi to my lunch and tea.

This not pleasant and I really hate being sick, and hubby would sleep through a Tsunami!, not that he could do a lot, bless him. Go down stairs and have a cuppa and watch a bit of telly.

Sunday not feeling all that great, slouch around all day, go to bed early.

Wake quite early and promptly need the bucket,make it to the loo, god I've got work and fill awful. Oh well only 5am go back to bed and try a sleep a bit.

Alarm goes off and we sleep thro, Katiya comes into the bedroom and tells us "It's morning".Yep she right it's nearly 08.30. Jump out of bed and call boss and let him know that not been to good, but only being sick so am jumping in shower and will be in

Get in car to drop hubby off and take Katiya off at childminders. Realise that I'm getting bad pains on my right hand side and shooting pains when I move my leg.

Drop Katiya and start feeling really yukky. Drive on into work and park car, have to cross main road and then climb up four flight of stairs, it didn't go to well. .

Got in to Reception and need to sit down, pain in my side really hurts and everytime I move my right leg that hurts bad. One of the girls offers me a cup of water, which I accept.

BAD IDEA

Have to rush to loo and start throwing up again but nothing left so just left gagging.

Finally emerge from the cubicle where another female member of staff is to help out. God Bless people who can cope with sicky people. She mops my brow and chats, after about 10min's still feeling desperately ill so she goes off to call my mum, who happens to just live down the road, to come and collect me.

Get to my mums who sets me up in the garden underneath a sun shade and get me flannel with ice in as apparently I was really hot. Best idea yet, managed to suck on the ice cubes and keep the liquid down.

Now if we'd been thinking, my mum could of taken me home and waited with me for Hubby to turn up, me give him car keys, mum and he go off, him to collect the car and her to go home then hubby come home

Yeh that was a plan but not the one that transpired. So here goes. Text hubby and told him been poorly and ended up at mums and needed picking up and taking home. That sounds easy enough except hubby works two tram journeys from our house and my mums a bus ride and very long walk or two buses and a shorter walk or a 25 minute car journey. Em car journey, well I have the car keys but the cars at work, spare keys at home. So here goes.... Hubby gets trams home, picks home spare keys. Gets bus to work, locates the car then drives to my mums to pick me up.

So have a couple of hours wait at my mums, call doctor's and get appointment for the afternoon. Start getting cold so go and lie down and fall asleep for a it

Hubby turns up and takes me home, we have half an hour before the doctors appointment so go to bathroom and brush teeth and generally tidy up. Off to Doctors. Ok so diagnosis, pregnancy induced constipation and the pain was an inflamed slightly twisted bowel because of the constipation, sickness was only way out.....

Well was given Lactolose, two large bottles, as sennacot hadn't touch it and was told to go home and rest but if no action within four days to go back and more drastic action will need to be applied. No way

Finally manage to "release" after three days dosage of lactolose, but as you can well imagine not pleasant. Extremely exhausting. Had annnual leave for the last two days of the week which we where going to use to take kids out while Kyle was off to school but not well enough to do that, mores the pity.

Did decide to go ahead and purchase Doppler, which is purchased on Ebay and was delivered by first post the next day, very impressed.

Finally hubby can have something tangible to represent the baby, other than my moods swings, big belly oh yes and the "wind". Plus makes more real to Kyle and Katiya, Katiya loves being Doctor to "check out baby in your womb mummy" Average heartbeat seems to run to 145 bpm, can't make out if it's a horse sound or train sound.(old wives tale, horse girl train boy) Hubby raises he's eyes heavenwards and inhales deeply.

23 Wk Growth Scan Sex Prediction

OK to find out or not find out that is the question.

Well the whole family where supposed to come but Kyle (14yr old son "kevin") decided at last minute he'd rather go home and watch telly. So was just hubby, me and Katiya.

Collected Katiya from Childminders, called hubby to let him know to make he's way to hospital. Parked up and met hubby from the bus, luckily has mind like a sieve and he had no idea where to go. Walked through ante-natal dept and into scan unit, was just eyeing up which chair to take when heard senographer "suzanne come straight through plse"

Same lady who did my 12wk+ scan so she knows my fears. Get hubby and Katiya seated so they can see the monitor and lie down, splatt gel squirted everywhere, and there's baby. Ask her opinion on fetal dopplers and there home use, it's not something she has heard of before but if not using constantly she cannot see any harm in the occasional monitor to keep my mind at ease. We ask if she can let us know the sex, get the usual spill about will try but cannot confirm 100%.but it's harder to tell if girl, yeh tell me about it they couldn't say with Katiya 10 minutes before the c-section.

Now thats got me in a dilemma, if she can't tell I'm gonna think it's a girl when in fact it could still be a boy Arrhh.

Well baby not behaving as usual, and being breech doesn't help with her need to scan all the vital organs and bone structure. Plus looks like I haven't drunk enough, so scan quite painful. Anyway she scanning all over taking measurements all looking well size ok.

Knock on door, receptionist walks and asks if another lady can be fitted in, but while doing so leaves the door wide open for all and sundry to see my nether regions, this annoys the senographer who promptly apologies to me and takes the women outside.

"if she can't tell I'm gonna think it's a girl" whine from me to hubby, not that I'm to bother about sex having gone through what I've been through but got it in my head for some reason that it's a boy.

"It's a boy" instantly comes back from hubby.

How does he know, didn't think she'd been down there?? Well apparently she had and hubby had seen what he thought looked liked male genitalia. Mind you he's got a better position to see the monitor than I have flat on my back.

She comes back in and apologieses for the interruption, she try's looking for the heart chambers but is having problems and suggests that I go back again in two weeks with more water on board and when baby will be bigger. I don't mind more piccie's. Right off she goes for the sex. She went down to nethers regions......

She points out a "W" looking outline and says "if it was a bet I would say it was a boy, but....we'll have another look when you come back in two weeks"

So that confirms hubbies statement, sort of, and he may be looking at having to spend out on boys clothes and coming to terms with changing a boys nappy. Bet he gets weed on. hehehe

Roll on next scan

25 Wk Scan

Well day started off ok, My Formal Grievance against my manager and HR dept was upheld, so hopefully they will not treat me or other staff members as poorly again, and realise that there are procedures to follow they cannot and should not bypassed or there are consequences to pay. Annoyed that it had to go this far as gave them every opportunity to listen to me but hey some people cannot be helped. Also was supposed to be told that I had not got a job I applied for (that's me saying it as believe their just paying me lip service, as they have already told me that an external candidate they interviewed for a completely different job would be perfect for it). Was supposed to be told before lunch but leaving for hospital at 14.30, got to 1400 and still not told so went up to manager and asked to be told the inevitable but was told had to have a member of HR present before they could discuss. So should learn tomorrow or Monday, wot do I mean learn, told I don't have the job. tomorrow or Monday.

Right have been taking my water all morning and really need to pee, so she better not say I haven't drunk enough this time.

Pick the kids up, Kyle's decided he will come this time, and hubby on the way and get to hospital. No one else waiting so didn't have long to wait. All piled onto the room.

Katiya not that interested this time, just wants my water and something to eat. Kyle confused as to what is what but senographer brilliant with him and took the time to take him through all the bits and pieces, even got to see babies lips, nostrils and eyes. Think Kyle was impressed as he was asking lots of questions. Apparently it takes two years to train to be a senographer, now there's a career path possibility.

As normal baby not behaving, is not in breech position but head right down on the pelvis, so heart chambers again in akward position to scan. Have to roll over, away from screen. She's got it and all chambers are working ok and the blood flow is going in the right directions. As on my side didn't get to see the pretty colours of the blood flow, but Kyle impressed.

Now for the sex. There's the bum, there's the..............nothing??!!

Tries again, this time she comes up from the ankles, which are crossed, there's the bum and there's the..................nothing. Ok so we prod and jiggle, still nothing. I jump around on the bed and move positions a number of time and ...........still nothing. Arrhhhh

So now we've got a dilemma is it a boy or is it a girl, your guess is as good as mine so unless we have another scan, or go privately which are still not 100% we are left to find out once little one arrives, so now we have to look more closely again at girls names.

Leave the hospital with scan photo and all measurements being within range, so we have that to be grateful for.

Wk 26

Well back's been killing me all weekend and getting shooting pains down my righthand side and bum, oh the joys of pregnancy. Finding it difficult to walk without limping.

Work are due to tell me I haven't got the job, no no sorry are meant to be discussing the interview today, just feel great for all that BS.

Well get to work and discover that an order placed on my behalf has been messed up and have to sort that out before the meeting. Something I could of done without. So to the meeting.

Well surprise surprise I didn't get the job. Told them I didn't expect to as they where just paying me lip service, which obviously they deny, they wanted to go through notes taken at interview but whats the point, didn't stand a chance in the first place, so their just there for show to try and justify their decision. Not alot I can do as they have seemingly followed procedures. At least the charade is over and done with, all that needs sorting out now is my job role within the dept and what they decide to do about it.

Back pain not subsiding, need to get some pain killers......oh and order was not as messed up as first thought, so sorted out within an hour.

Wk 26+1

Woke at 4am this morning and feeling really sick and have pains in my abdomen, feeling weird. Stay up for an hour and go back to bed. Do actually fall back to sleep, but fitful.

Wake up with the alarm, feeling really rough, hubby not happy that I'm going into work, but have some work that has to be done and I've been working on it for a month and don't want anyone to complete, just in case they muck up. Agreed with hubby will do the work that needs to be done and then come home.

Get to work and can hardly walk, the pain is intense. Bit concerned as I went into premature labour with Kyle at 28wks, luckily they where able to stop it, but really don't want to go through all that again.

Do what I needed to at work, finally got through to Dr's to make an appointment for 11 O'Clock and come home. Decided would be good idea if I did a sample to take along. Baby is having somersault lessons inside me, has never moved so much. Feel extremely sick and unwell.

Get to the Dr's and have to wait 45min past my appointed time to see her. Blood pressure fine, temp fine, even though I feel hot. Abdomen extremely tender, babies heartbeat seems to be ok. Sample tested ok, but she may want to send a sample off to the lab. Decides to treat as a stomach bug and prescribes antibiotics and pain killers. She tells me if the spasm and pains get worse I should get myself up to the labour ward. (urk).

Leave the surgery and collapse into the car and shut my eyes "knock,knock"

"you alright, do you want me to get a Dr"

opps lady knocking on my window concerned, had to explain had already been in and was just taking a breather before driving home and going to bed.

Manage a couple of hours sleep, go get antibiotics and pain killers. Hopefully won't be to long before they kick in.

Kids come back from school and minder, hubby starts to make them some tea. Not feeling up to it, haven't actually been able to take on board clear fluids as suggested by the doctor. So get a class of water and go to bed.

Katiya comes up after her tea, around 19.30 to give me a cuddle and "make me feel better". We decide she can stay up with me, so she get's her jammies and we settle down under the duvet. Remember why we have children now, she gives me a wonderful cuddle that I'm sure if you could bottle would be priceless.

Still not feeling very good next day, still not able to eat and keep forgetting to take clear fluids. Hubby being good and taking on the care and transport of the kids. Poor things (joke). Pains still bad and baby not liking it to much, still moving heaven and earth inside me.

Not able to sleep through the night

Not feeling to good still

Taking rest of week off.

Wk 28

Feeling really tired first thing in the mornings, but generally sleeping through the night.

Had a bad start to the week. Had to have my 19year old cat, Bootsie, put to sleep. He'd been getting old age symptoms for some years now but has always seemed to bounce back. But he's back legs haven't been good for months now and he's front leg's have started to give way for nearly a month. He's breathing had become very grunty over the last two weeks and he had started to lose he's footing on the stairs and fall down them. He as still getting around and managing to even jump up onto the bed. But on Sunday I fed the cats, went to bedroom to change to take the dogs for a walk only to come out of the bedroom to find him choking and wetting the floor. Couldn't find anything in he's throat but pick him up as he collapsed and stroked he's neck and blew air down he's throat. He seemeed to be completely out of it, thought he was going to go......After about 5minutes he seemed to regain he's strength but was still unable to carry he's own weight.

I had always told me husband that I didn't want him to suffer, as he'd been saying over the last three years that he was going to be gone in a few months, and when I thought that he had had enough I would take him to the vets. Left him to rest and took the dogs for a walk. Discussed with Kyle that Bootsie would have to go to the vets and possibly not come back, he agreed as he didn't want him to suffer either.

Got back from walk and tried to feed Bootsie some water, he wasn't interested. But he did manage to get himself on the bed. So decided to make him comfortable and let him sleep. To be honest I was hoping that he would go peacefully while he slept.

Morning, tried to get Bootsie to eat some mashed up cat food, he took a lick and ended up coughing, he couldn't even manage some water on a spoon.

Decision was made, I was not going to let him suffer and a visit to the vets was the only fair thing to do for him.

Vet was impressed with he's age but agreed that he had had enough and that we could try to sustain he's life but would cost loads and possibly would mean him suffering and anything she did may not help. It was established that the lump I thought I felt a couple of weeks before, which hubby couldn't feel, was in fact a very enlarged thyroid, he had lost nerve sensation in he's back legs along with arthritis in back and now getting in front. Vet tells me the kindest thing to do was to let him sleep.

I talk to Kyle and we agree this is the best thing to do for Boostie, so I fill in the consent form and vet gets the injection and nurse. They cover him in a towel and shave a small area on he's front paws and put the injection in. I stroke he's head, I expect he's eyes to close but they don't, but can tell by he's eyes that's he fallen asleep, the vet listens to he's heart beat and after about only something like 20 seconds she tells us that he has gone. We're left alone with him to say proper goodbyes.

It's a real shame as he was a beatiful cat and has seen me through some really rough times and 19 years is a long time. Both myself and Kyle weep at our lose. He will be missed.

Wk 28+2

Blood test week. Decided that I would try to have done after school run in the afternoon, as been into the blood centre early on a morning only to find that the queue for the tests where out the door with all seats taken. No way going to join queue like that.

Get to centre at 1600, it raining cats and dogs. Take no 70 with the last number being called being no 69.

Sit waiting for about 5 minutes and my number gets called. Feeling quite good, even though I hate needles, the fact I hadn't had to wait to long and stew must be a factor. Sit down in the chair and a very nice cheerful guy checks my notes and birth date. He puts the tourniquet on my arm and starts trying to feel for a vein, ok this is where I tell him I don't have good veins. He tells me I'm not kidding. He swaps arms, still not happy. Tells me he's quite new at this and doesn't want to do me and I will have to wait for another technician to be free for them to have a look

Don't have to wait to long, sit down, confirm my birth date. Another tourniquet goes on, pump my hand like mad. This time lady confident she has a vein so gives it a go. Bullseye. She's hit gold, well vein anyway, so pleased. Refuse the offer of a plaster, cry baby at having them taken off. So just take the cotton wool, gonna be a bit tricky carrying umbrella and holding cotton wool in place, but just so happy it went smoothly.

All in all only taken 40 min's. Can't be bad.

Wk 29

Not much to tell this week about the pregnancy except had pregnancy brain later in the week. Got a pressure washer to help Kyle wash down the dog run, so on my return home for lunch break had to help Kyle set up and work out how to use it. Well foolishly put my keys in my cardigan pocket instead of the key cupboard, well they didn't stay there long.

Finished off washing the dog run and got Kyle to take the dogs for a walk. OK so now back to work. Ok so where'e the keys........

Hunted high and low and no sign, found the spare care keyns and made sure Kyle had his house keys on him so he could get back in and had to dash off to work. Called hubby and told him of the situation really stressed. Now problem is house and car keys on same key ring and if I left them in the door we're knackered as not only is the house at risk but the car as well. I had to go out that night with hubby dropping me off and picking me up so not alot of time for locks to be changed. Luckily Homebase was open and hubby was able to buy a replacement dead bolt and fix it in the hour and half he had. Still didn't know what to do about the car.....

Well woke up this morning a luckily the car was still there, I'm convinced I didn't leave them in the door but everyone has looked around the house and not found them so can't take the risk. Decide to go to Halfords and buy a lock. Got a handbrake to gear stick lock, easier to store than the wheel locks and must say cheaper.

So house now safe as well as the car.

But feeling really stressed that got into this situation so taking it out on everyone, don't mean to but can't help it. Blaming it on the pregnancy. Now got really annoyed that the clothes on the clothes horse had not been taken off and folded up but left as normal for me to do, been on it since beginning of the week. Took off all the t-shirts and put in ironing "heap", now for the multitude of hubbies and sons socks. And yes you guessed it, there hanging on the corner was the car and house keys, aaarrhhhhhh, least I'm not losing my marbles, but could of done without the cost of replacing lock and buying lock for car but done now.

Wk 30 Midwife appointment

Get to the Dr's, couldn't deliver much of a sample, couldn't get my hand round enough to collect in the sample tube. Hospital gives you a pot to pee in first then put into the sample bottle. Not the Dr's. Oh well with have to do, they don't need to much to check for protein.

Go in to see the midwife and there's two. One lady only been working a year and a more experienced one. Blood pressure ok. but sample got some protein in it, so need to do another sample in a week.

Right up onto the table for measure, lady with just a years experience only makes me 28wks, that can't be right. OK position of baby, she still thinks head down!!. Takes heart beat but doesn't tell me the rate. I explain about the horse and train and ask her what she thinks. She states she has no idea.

More experienced midwife takes over, measures my tummy and make same dates as me, knew these measurements where a waste of time. She takes the doppler and listens to heartbeat. Everything looks fine.

I ask her what sex she thinks the baby is and she reckons girl. It's going to be a Katiya scenerio all over again and their not even going to be able to tell us with the scan 10 minutes before the section.

Ok made my mind up gonna book a private health check and get myself and the baby checked over fully and get a 4D Scan in the process. Maybe this will answer the question of the gender.

Wk 31 3D/4D scan

OK so we're off, myself, Katiya, my mum (nanny), mother-inlaw (grandma), on our way to pick hubby up, as he was unable to get the whole day off *sulk*. Decide I would ask the grandparents what sex they thought the baby was. Grandma reckons a girl, Katiya wants a sister (this being an issue since the midwives comment, as she was fine if it was going to be a boy before then, nanny not sure and got Katiya's gender wrong, she thought all along that she was going to be a boy, even knitted a blue cardigan, bless, lucky she had some embroidered flowers she sewed on. I loved the blue, wasn't to boyish and I didn't really realise until she told me. So hubby still thinks a boy and we sort of have two girls and two I have no ideas (nanny and myself).

Hubby and myself had driven to the clinic at the weekend and discovered that the car park did not seem to have any spaces for the clinic but did have for all the other companies in the building. So I had called the day before and checked that we where actually able to park on there, which they said was ok and had never had a parking problem, so that seemed ok.

So we get to the car park and find there's no entry system to let them know we're here, I clamber out of the car and go ring the door bell. No answer, luckily had made a note of the telephone number and called them. We're in and parked.

Taken into waiting room, had to fill out a form and sit and wait. Appointment was booked for 11.30 but had to wait around. Eventually get called just before 12. I go in first on my own to talk to the Professor about my history and how this pregnancy has gone. He asked if I would like to find out the sex of the baby, I confirm I do as was initially told boy but then it was retracted, then last week mid wife reckoned girl. Professor laughs and says no problem.

Hop up onto the couch and get settled for the scan. The nurse goes off and get the others. Gel squeezed on, nicely warmed. Everyone ready, Scan starts.

MY GOD how amazing is that.There in full yellow hue is baby. Grandparents gasp. I've seen loads of these films on the web but to actually see your own is just something else. The Professor can switch the view from 2D (scan the normal scans we all have) to 3D (the more advanced scans but just static pictures) to 4D (moving scans) with a push of a button.

So Professor starts off doing the measurements, shows us different parts of the brain, Shows the heart chambers and measures them, was a bit concerned as previous senographer had problems getting a good view, but all present and correct and doing what their meant to be doing. Scans the abdomen, seems to measure on the small on the normal range so he has advised that we should have another scan nearer term. He did advise that nothing to worry about. Measured the Femur that was also small, but I have never had large babies, Kyle was 6lbs 3 ounces and Katiya was 6lb 4 ounces.

Discover that baby is head down, which explains why the kicks and pushes feel different this time and I believe more painful. Right now for the gender..................

Chorus of "it's a boy" resounds around the consulting room.

I'm not convinced, want the Professot to tell me, he says "Ah come on, don't tell me you've never seen one of these before"

"well yes 14 odd years ago"

"Yes it's a boy"

"Oh my Archer William"

Turn to hubby and squeeze he's hand. He smiles smugly, he's said from the 23wk scan he was convinced he saw boy bits before the senographer so has never doubted it.

Archer is still fast asleep so need to move onto side for some more measuring, Professor asks Katiya to tell Archer to move around a bit, which she does by speaking into my belly. Must say that the Professor's manner has made this scan very special, plus the fact that the grand mums are there also.

Final measurements are made and we say "see you soon" to Archer. Professor hands us a sheet of photo's which just seem to go on and on. Clean off my belly while the Professor makes up the report for my GP and a copy for myself. Grandma and Katiya go off to get some juice and nanny goes and waits in the waiting room. Professor goes through the report with hubby and me.

Apparently Archer's abdomen is on the low size of normal compared to the rest of him and as things stand at the moment he's birth weight is only going to be 5lb +, Professor has advised that I need to be scanned again just to keep an eye on him.

Go and met the others in the waiting room. Find out that Katiya got a bit upset when she heard that baby was a boy, she'd been fine about having a brother up until midwife said she thought it was a girl. Apparently "don't want brother their boring all they do is play x box and playstation and don't play schools" Ahh Bless her.

Pay my money and pick up the precious DVD, head off home for the champagne.

Hello to Archer William Tanner

Wk 32+3

Had GP appointment today, dropped off the medical report from the scan last week so expecting to have a date for a rescan to see how Archer is growing.

Well true to form appt time was a best estimate and didn't actually go in until 50mins after the alloted time. Ok so I look awful, she picks up on that but been suffering with bad pains in the nether regions but more of the inner groin area on the left hand side, feels really bruised and it seems to be dragging me down, plus I've had a couple of bad headaches over the last week.

She test's my sample, trace of glucose, again. Takes my blood pressure, she's not happy. She reads through the report from the Professor, no one has booked another scan as yet. Glad I made the effort to get it to them!.

Stomach exam, Archer very deep in my pelvis and I'm quite tender as well. She takes the tape measurement and it comes up 29/30wks.

She reads through the notes and Professors report and decides that I have to have a glucose blood test that I must do first thing in the morning and I have to have a growth scan asap, she will organise and call me. Retakes my blood pressure and the levels are a bit better.

She advises taking neurofen for pain in my groin and shows me the charts for growth, even though is appears that Archers stomach is on the low side compared to other bits it's still within the acceptable limits.

Right so off to hospital first thing in the morning.

WK 33

Hospital appointment for growth scan. Couldn't get an appointment for the local hospital for nearly a week so doctor called the main hospital and got me booked in. Got an appointment to see the consultant for Wednesday Wk 33+2.

Get to hospital and the car park is jammed packed, had to park outside and walk back, god that was an effort but luckily know the area.

But as I've now entered the hospital by the back door have no idea how to get to the main reception to ask where the scanning unit is. Managed to find a porter who kindly informs me the right way to go and best lifts to use, was going in completely the wrong direction....

Get to reception and find the route to scanning unit, get there with a couple of minutes to spare. Phew.

Get called in and asked why this scan has been requested, I explain about the private scan and again for some reason get questioned on why I wanted to have one, what is it with the NHS, they can't offer "complete care" but get huffy when you go private for it, aarrhhhh. Scanographer a bit snooty and really doesn't want a conversation, so try engaging her in more and more, finally she gets the hint that I'm only human and won't bite and she seems to settle down a bit. Works out she's quite new at this and will need a more senior person to come and check her findings. She confirms that Archer is still on the small side but within normal limits but the abdomen does seem like it has improved.

The senior senographer comes in and has does the scan again to check out the results, he asks about the reason for the scan, I explain and the same question. Tell him where I had it done and that it is a clinic attached to Harley Street, he checks the report and asks me to confirm that it was Prof Stuart Campbell that carried out the scan, this I confirm and he tells me that he was one of the pioneering people to establish 3/4D scans in this country. *woot*

He confirms the findings and I'm given the print out to take to the Consultant on Wednesday, but on the way out he says "well that will be your last scan for this pregnancy".

Well I'm thinking, not if I'm not happy about things its not, but will put my views to Consultant and we can discuss but I'm the client here and if I need further reassurance I will get it.

Wk 33+2 Consultant Appointment

Well I say Consultant Appt, it's not going to be a Consultant meeting if it happen's to be the same Consultant I had 14 years ago with Kyle, as I refused to see him with Katiya and I'm going to refuse to see him with Archer. No names but let's say he failed in he's care for myself and Kyle during my labour and put Kyle at unwarranted danger with me ending up having an emergency section to save Kyle's life. Enough said.

Hubby coming with me just in case I forget to ask anything and we're meant to finding out date of scetion. We get parked and walk over. Book in and take our seats. I check the board to see who is working, and yes you've guessed it Consultant is the same one but Registrar is gentleman I saw earlier on in the pregnancy.

Get called to have my sample tested and blood pressure taken, tell midwife that I will not see the Consultant but will see the registrar, she does not appear to put out and says fine. Sample still has glucose trace in it but blood result from last week come back with normal, theres that word again, range.

Told to go back into waiting room and wait to be called. So rejoin hubby, who is now bored out of he's mind. I watch to see where my file is put on the heap and notice that it has a pink post it note on it, it goes with a set of others with pink post its on. Got about 3 women in front of me and we're already 20mins pass our appointed time.

The Consultant comes out, I sit there nervously thinking I hope they remembered to make sure I wasn't on he's list, blood boiling as I believe he should of been retired by now. Fool. Anyway he picks up a file with a pink post it on he was just about to call out the ladies name they seems to take more note of the post it and puts it down, he moves along to another file in a different heap that does not have the pink post it on and calls out the ladies name. Phew. Must mean pink post it means "no consultant".

We've now been waiting over an hour pass our original appointment time, so hubby not happy and neither am I, finally get called.

Now I havent told you that I'ved taken the weights from the private scan and the main hospital scan and calculated babies assumed birth weight from the increase in the two weeks between the two scans and from my calculation babies only gonna weigh 4lb 6oz. We discuss the fact that baby should actually put more weight on each week so using the assumption of the last two weeks was not giving an accurate total. Well at least I got him to confirm that Archer should be putting on more weight on each week, so he agrees to get another scan done to check and prove he's point. Also to check the restriction of flow from the umbilical cord and baby.

Hop up on bed for check and heart monitor, babies heart beat fine but still measuring nearly two weeks smaller than "normal".

We discuss the tunal ligation and he confirms that clips will not be used but tubes wlll be cut then stitched, forgot to ask how this will affect me periods, will have to remember for next appointment.

Tried to discuss possible delivery date but as babies weight is in doubt he now saying nearer the 39wk than the 38 which would mean boxing day, not having that so will have to discuss on next visit.

Make appointments for scan and revisit for registrar (booked for 07/12/05).

Wk 34+1 Gloucose Tolerance Test

Well as advised nothing to eat, just a couple of sips of water. Drop kids of at school and minders and head off to the hospital. Arrive 10 minutes before appointment time, 0900, and the queue for having blood taken is already out the door. Luckily I just walk through and let them know I'm here. Get given a pot to pee in. This is tested before the bloods are taken. Apparently if it comes back to high, the same as the first blood test they can't give you the glucose drink.

She takes a test from my right arm.

Mine come back ok so have the glucose drink, not as nasty as expected, just tastes of lactoluse, mind you you have to swallow a beaker full in under a minute. Asked to go and sit down somewhere near for an hour.

Manage to find a seat near the testing room and settle down for a read.

One hour later, go and stand at the door leaving my coat on the chair as the place is still full and do not want to have to go stand or sit outside, and wait to be called. This times she takes the blood from the left arm, better than the first test, never thought that they would have to use both arms.

Another lady comes in, who is diabetic and meant to be having the same test as me but tells the nurses that she had eaten a grape while in the shops and hoped that wouldn't be a problem. Well apparently it would and she was told they couldn't do the test that day and she would have to rebook. Rebook for one lousy grape and by all accounts it wasn't a very big one. So you have been warned if you ever need to have one of these test when they say do not eat anything they mean absolutely nothing.

Back to sitting and waiting for another hour. Arms aching a bit and a bit stingy.

Another hour and the last test, she can't use the same arm again, so has to use the right one. Goes well. Told not to carry anything heavy for the next couple of hours, and that was that. Results will only be given if come back abnormal or I will get them at the next midwife appointment.

Wk34+4

Wake up feeling a bit odd, coughing everywhere. Great, childminder, her son and Katiya have had a really bad cough for the last week, hope I'm not getting it as only have another 4 working days left before maternity leave starts and have lots planned for myself and Katiya before baby is born.

Drop everyone off and get to work, have to make a cuppa and organise my "how to's" to show new girl how to do my job properly as so far the information she has been given is just the basic's and she hasn't bothered to ask me how to do it properly, hence the "how to" folder.

Phone rings, pick it up and croak, my voice has gone!. Over the next hour or so voice gets worse and coughing starts. PC motherboard blows up so can't actually access many of my files, decide to do some updates on the network, that area not working either, arrhhh. Decide that I will take a late lunch and leave at four. Engineer booked to replace motherboard for next day so should be able to get more done.

Pick kids up, go home have some Beechams, (are you allowed this?, to late). Phone Dr's Go to bed.

Wk34+5

Right to work and set up training session and train new girl. Voice just a whisper and cough quite bad, but no sore throat.

Ok so there not happy I'm there, don't want me infecting everyone else, so told to go home and come back next week. I explain that I need to train the new girl but they say their quite capable of showing her the basic's today and I can pick up next week. Ok do feel awful so agree to go home.

Go to bed and have a good sleep.

Wk35

Well still feel like cr*p, voice has practically gone, manage to call work and leave message that I won't be in and will let them know what's happening after Dr's appointment tomorrow. Email them as well as not to sure as to how the voice message went.

Wk35+1 Dr's Appointment

Get to Doctors with Katiya, even though just booked for me gonna be cheeky and see if she'll look at her as well as she's still got her cough.

Ok blood pressure not good, temperature not good, she's says I look exhausted, at least sample is clear of protein and glucose. Babies heartbeat good but he's moved out of my pelvis, that explains the pain gone from my nether regions and into my back.

Checks my chest, ok the diagnoses. I've got bronchitis. Great. She prescribes antibiotics and tells me to come back at the end of the week to check that they are working, to check my blood pressure and to prove to her that I've actually been resting.

Now for Katiya. Yep she's got a bad cough but over the worse so no point in antibiotics just keep up the Tixylix and Calpol.

Pick up my presciption, get home and email work that I have bronchitus so won't be in again until after the baby is born, but am on the end of an email if they need anything as I'm aware that the training I wanted to give was not given, and I had ask the new girl to look at the "How to" file on two seperate occasions to see if they where understandable but as of last week as far as I'm aware she hadn't looked. Oh well you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink, and with all the software changes going on at the moment and the procedures seemingly changing fortnightly the temp will have to train me when I go back.

After a number of emails back and forth to work seems like my offer of email support will not be needed. Oh well, not alot I can do about that.

Wk 35+3 Growth Scan

Not the same senographer as before which is a shame as she knew my past history.

Get my leggings down and expose the bump ready for the gel. She wants to know why I've had so many scans, go through the whole history of itbeingg the 7th pregnancy with only 2 livebirthss, problems at the beginning, the private scan issues and the fact that GP and Registrar want the umbilical cord restriction measured to make sure that baby is getting enough goodness or if the cord has degenerated.

There's my Archer, bless he's cotton socks still in head down position but he's moved from the left handside to the right hand side, spine being on my right.

She's scanning away taking measurements of the head, abdomen, thigh bone etc and all seems ok. She starts to take the doppler test and flow test but seems to be having problems. She explains that the flow test is not working and that the machine was under maintenance last week and it seems it hadn't been completed. Now this is the test that the GP and Registrars want, what to do. She asks why there needed so I explain about the weight gain, or possible lack of gain and she leaves me gobsmacked by saying that the weight of the baby is fine at 6lb 7oz's!!. Surely that's wrong as two weeks previously he was only 3lb odd. He could not of put on nearly 3lb in two weeks. It was also mean that he's going to be alot heavier than both Kyle (6lb3ozs) and Katiya (6lb4oz), will have to send back all the small under 7lb baby stuff at this rate

Leave feeling really confused but fed up with it all. Oh well just another 4 days and will get my delivery date.

Wk 36+2 Registrar visit and delivery date

Decide not to turn up early but just turn up at appointment time after last time having to wait over an hour. But makes no difference as their running behind by an hour and a half. Luckily told Kyle to make he's own way home earlier on in the day.

Blood pressure and sample all fine, hurray at long last a sample without protein in it. They make no comment on the glucose test so having to assume all ok. Settle down for a long wait and boy is it hot, thermostat stuck and they can't turn it off, so will just have to put up with it.

Ok now it's an hour since my appointed time, call Emma one of the midwives and get's her to check how much longer. She tells me another two in front but can't give time limit as all depends. I only want a delivery date, aarrhhhh.

Finally get called. Noo it the Consultant, they've forgotten to put the "not Consultant" on my folder. So fed up with having to be seen an hour and 1/2 are my allotted time that can't be bothered to argue, it's not as if he could possibly mess up ringing the hospital and booking me in. Or could he.

Right down to business, checks bump out, listens to heart beat. Reads notes and realises just need to book in. I explain that I want Fri 16th even though it's 37wks +4 but have looked into it and it causes no ill affect and had already discussed with my GP who agreed. He starts to say that they try to hold off now until nearer the 39th wk. I explain that would be Boxing day and not prepared to go that far pass the 38wks and if the can't do Fri I will take the Monday 19th which would be 38wks and nothing later or I shall be writing a letter of complaint, because if this had been booked at the previous visit I would of got the 16th and I am not prepared to risk going into natural labour.

He calls the hospital, surprise no go on the 16th but manages to get the 19th with a bit of "I'm the consultant and it needs to be done then and no later".

He puts the phone down, we discuss the fact that no longer go in the night before but early morning of surgery but I will have to go back and see midwife for exact time and medication that needs to be taken on the night before and the morning of the surgery.

I ask him how my periods will be after the tubal ligation, he seems a bit confused. Ah so he hadn't read the notes properly and hadn't bothered to inform the hospital of thepossibilityy of performing this after baby has been delivered safely.

So yes he can muck up a booking in time. Will have to sort out when I get to the hospital on the Monday not chancing him loosing my booking now.

Wk 37

Still suffering from the bronchitis, and Archer's decided he wants to cause as much discomfort as possible and has moved as far up my body as possible. So now suffering reflux and getting acid in my throat and getting awful headaches, wot joy. Have an appointment with the Dr on Wednesday, 38wk+2, but hubby not happy with the amount of paracetmol I'm taking and the fact that I've had a couple of doses of Gaviston and not sure if you can, so he calls the surgery.

Dr Kaye not in today but receptionist will check out the gaviston question with another doctor and call me back. 1/2 later she calls back, It's ok to take paracetmol and the gaviston. She tells me that Dr Kaye will be back in tomorrow if I want to call up first thing in the morning for an emergency appointment or wait to Wednesday's appointment. I'll shall see how I go today as really need this gone before next Monday and the reflux and acid is just awful.

Wk 37 +1

Well spent yesterday in bed and felt a bit better, must say gaviston is disgusting but seemed to help. Feeling a bit better and Archer has moved down a bit, but think he's trying to get back into my pelvis so keeping my legs crossed, not getting that pain again.

It's a shame I've been so poorly and Katiya still has her sniffles as had so much planned for us. Can't even go visting 'cos believe it or not driving completely exhaust me. Bored now and seen all the baby programmes on Sky at least twice.

Wk 37 +2 Final Mid Wife appointment before birth

Firstly go see Dr Kaye to get her to check me over, not having the mid wife telling me I'm still to ill to have section.

Blood pressure ok, bump still measuring a bit small but has grown so she's not to concerned anymore (put that down to the chocolate milk shake), heartbeat good. My Chest and lungs are clear just sinus blocked so lots of inhalation of Olbas oil is the call of the day. I confirm with her that in her opinion I am fit enough to have Archer on Monday. So roll on.

Nows off to the hospital. Sample clear, all other tests are good.

Mid wife seems to be having a bad day, wot joy, she's not to pleasent to a young girl and her cousin before me, which is odd because on all other occassions she's been to happy and helpful. Decide I won't let it affect me and will ignore anysnippyy comments made.

Have heartbeat tested then get told to make sure I have everything for the hospital as they don't provide much anymore, costs to much.

"Ok so can you give me a list"

"You've had a baby before"

"Yeh, that was like 4 1/2 years ago, forgot and as you say all different now"

"It's in your book you got at booking in appointment"

"Oh ok will have to see if I can find it, now whats this about medicating myself?"

See very helpful, not.

Now 4 1/2 years ago I had to go into hospital the night before the section, got given the drugs and sleeping tablet and left to sleep, I say sleep, doze, not used to sleeping away from hubby and thoughts racing through my mind. Also was sharing a room with another lady who was being induced and her other half had stayed and they where having a wonderful time eating take away, me Nil by Mouth, and chatting away excitedly.

This time am expected to call early on Monday morning after medicating myself Sunday night with 2 tablets and then again on the Monday morning, no sleeping tablets provided, to see if they still have a bed available. Not impressed with that and will be calling Sunday night just to make sure.

Now really have to start thinking about getting a bag together for the two of us.

Night before

Well expecting to be going in tomorrow morning. Have to ring sometime tonight to make sure they've still got a bed for me.

Hope to be out Wed/Thus depending on time of the section.

Hubby panicking as he's really screamish, at least me making sure he's alright will take my mind off what's happening.

Forgotten all the necessaries as to what to take,even though I only had Katiya 4 1/2 yrs ago, but luckily hosp is right next to Sainsbury's so if I have forgotten anything their have it.

Here's hoping everything goes ok.

Archer's Birthday

Well got in at 8am, got booking in done and dusted and discussed the pain relief, agreed to have combined (spinal block with epidural) as expecting to have a tie as well.

On speaking to the surgeon he's now given another set of differing odds on the success rate of tie during section as less that 1 in 200, so that's three choices now, 1 in 500 from the Registrar, 1 in 300 from the Consultant. So sign the consent form and ready to go.

Just before 9am nurse comes in requesting if any patients where ready. Up shoots my hand along with another lady. Other lady hasn't been shaved so she not exactly ready. So it's me.....................................

No such luck it's discovered that the local hospital on booking my section date should of organised a blood test, no recent blood test (within the last 10 days) no op. So by this time other lady ready and she's off to theatre. I'm left there waiting for my bloods to be taken.

1/2 wait and bloods taken, should be back within the hour.

Hear from midwives talking,approx 9.30, that the 3rd lady booked in hadn't turned up so they had to make sure her bed was not given to anyone else until they knew what was happening. Ok so now me and hubby are just sitting there twiddling our thumbs until we get called.

They do have a telly unit with phone attached that's called PatientLine, you buy time to view TV and make phone calls.

Get some really sexy (not) pressure stockings that have to go on now and only be taken off for showering and washing for the next two weeks!

11am still not heard anything, except other lady had now turned up, but the first lady was still not back.

OK to cut a very long day short, emergency section had to be performed before the second elected lady could go in, yes you've guessed it for some reason, me tuning up at requested time of 8am bore no consideration as to the rota for the surgeries as the lady that turned up at 10'ish got to go before me. aaarrrhhh!

12'ish first lady back, baby girl.

3pm, me and hubby's tether had long gone, remember we've both been up since 6am, having to ring hospital to make sure bed available and me to self medicate.

Fluid drip put up as getting headache due todehydrationn (not allowed to eat or drink since 10pm previous night).

3.30pm, not long now as they are just cleaning the theatre for me to go in.

5.30 (!)Time to go.

Get to theatre, have my asthmaa pumps. Nurse confirms that if baby is ok I'm still to have the tie.

NO.

We've not had alot to do all day and have been talking about the varying information of the success rate and have decided if the proffssional's cannot agree on the results we can only rely on the lower margin and less than 1 in 200 just seemed to low.

Ok so hubby off to gown up and me to have combined spinal. Tell the nurses to make sure that hubby is in position before they start procedure and not to hand baby straight to him as he's not good in these situations but I would like to see baby as soon as he comes out. Loads of local anethestic, forgotten how hard it is to arch and push your back back while pregnant, what didn't help was the surgeon coming in requiring an explaination as to why I was no longer having the tie, this when I'm not supposed to move.

Told him that because of the odds he gave us we where not comfortable and have decided the better option would be for hubby to be done. He went of in a huff, apparently went and spoke to hubby while he was gowning up.

OK local done, spinal done epidural in, couple more minutes and we're off.

Lay me back on the bed and slightly tilt it to the left, apparently this is done to take the baby off spine. They test the area of numbness by spraying you with really cold spray and they assess the numbness by the effect the spray has, so I keep telling them that I can still feel it as quite cold as want as much numbness as poss. right think I've had more than enough and agree that I cannot feel the spray. They put these blow up things, like the blood pressure band, on my legs that will pump up and down every two minutes to help the blood flow.

Hubby comes in sits down, I'm getting the effects of the pain block, shaking all over and feeling slightly light headed.

Take hubbies hand and give the ok to procede.

General chit chat between myself, hubby and anaesthetist, lots of pushing and prodding.

Lots of "aah" "emmms" "oh dear" coming from the surgeon, not really filling me with a lot of confidence, then he stops doing the surgery and starts talking to another member of staff about another patient in another theatre.

Back to me, more pulling and pushing, the blood pressure band is tightening on my aem every 2 mins and boy is it set to high. Hubby looking a bit pale and breathing through he's mouth, bless him but really glads he's being there for me.

Then suddenly a baby appears from around the sheet, 18.28 hr, all bluey skinned and angry face, not a word had been said about him being delivered but here he is filling he's lungs, forceps dangling between he's legs. Amazing.

Hubby tries to take a photo, don't get a chance for a cuddle as midwife takes him off to be cleaned and wrapped.

Midwife, Emma, comes back and hands Archer over to hubby, his Apgar scale was extremely good, 9 after a minute and 10 after five and he did not need any oxygen.

Emma asked how far gone I was, I tell her 38wks, she explains that the placenta was quite small and that Archer was ready to be born.

We check out he's finger nails as Katiya's where very red and she looked liked she was wearing nail varnish. He's are red but not as much as Katiya's. Archer also has dark black hair and eyes so dark that they could almost be black.

I tip my head back to look at the clock and it's now nearly 18.40 and the surgeons are still putting me back together. I ask the midwife what weight he was, she explains this hasn't been done yet as it's done in the recovery room. I tell her and hubby that they might as well go and get Archer weighed and dressed while I'm being finished up.

They go off to the recovery room, so I pull down the barrier sheet a bit to talk to the surgeon. He's nearly fininshed stitching but explains to me that my uterus wall is extremely thin and he would not advise getting pregnany again as he could not guarantee it staying intact throughout the pregnancy. Well that's now not a option as we have had hours to discuss contraception waiting for this section and came to the conclusion that the safest and best result would be a vasetomy for hubby. Surgeon finishes stitching and cleans off andomen and then puts a pressure bandage inplace to help to avoid infection. This turns out to be a large pad taped on.

I'm unhooked from all the machines and transferred to hospital bed and then moved to recovery room to be reunited with my husband and new born son.

Archer weighs 5lb 11 1/2oz's (2590grms), length 50cm's, head circumference 33 1/2cm's.

Archer William Tanner

Blood pressure gets taken again and I'm given Archer to feed, he takes 10ml, given his Vitamin K injection. We stay in recovery for about 40mins and then are wheeled back to the ward.

Unfortunanetly because of late hour we decide that the the grandparents will have to wait until the next day to met their grandson.

We phone the grandparents and let them know that all is well, hubby settles me in for the night and makes he's way home exhausted.

Get a morphine injection in my leg at 2200 hrs, feels like a bee sting.

There's four babies in the ward I'm in and all seem to cry alot in the night for feeding except Archer who only wakes 3 times for a little moan and settles back to sleep. He is his fathers son, rather sleep than eat.

Midwife comes round at midnight and takes Archer off for a feed, apparently he takes another 10ml at this time, on returning him to he's crib she decides to change he's nappy, mistake, he's filled he's nappy with Meconium and then decides while being changed that he wants to show what a clever boy he is and empties the rest of he's bowels, unfortunantley she wasn't ready for this and ends up with it all over her hands, luckily even at this time of night she has a sense of humour.

I'm hooked up to fluids and a Oxytocin drip so it's impossible for me to actually get to Archer if he does start crying, so will have to call the midwifes with my little buzzer.

Get given an heparin injection in my stomach, 5cms from belly button, which helps thin the blood so needed to prevent blood clots and will have to have one everyday that I'm in the hospital. Inje ction not bad but it stings for a while afterwards. (still have a bruise from the second injection on day 11!)

I get woken up at 0500 hrs for obs and a wash (!) Don't ask me why this could not wait until a more reasonable hour. She listens to my abdomen for bowel sounds and informs me that all seems ok and that I will be able to have a drink and some food when the breakfast trolley comes round.

Day One

Breakfast trolley comes round at an unearthly 0700 hrs, no toast, apparently they can no longer offer toast as it's in the lease clause. Previously when toast was made a lot of fire alarms where set off so the trust insisted that it is no longer offered, so get a bowl of cereal, bread and jam and a cup of tea.

Hubby and children turn up just before 1100 hrs to met their new baby brother, see Archers web page for some photo's.

Have agreed that the grandparents will come in at the evening visiting time as need to get on the move and will take the afternoon as my time to get the catheter removed and get mobile.

Lunch is served at noon, hubby and kids go off to get something to eat while I eat mine, must say not to bad. On returning from their lunch run, Katiya has a cuddle with Archer but get a bit miffed when Kyle wants a turn. She informs him that he is doing it all wrong and that he must hold the neck to make Archer feel safe. Bless her she's such a mummy but then she has had practice with her childminders son from he's birth.

Kyle more confident than I gave him credit for and surprisingly he looks quite impressed with he's little brother.

Ok time for them to leave, oh dear Katiya gets all upsets and doesn't want to leave me on my own and wants to stay to help. Upsettingly have to get her to go quite upset and crying but get her to promise to make sure that daddy does some housework to make the house nice for when me and Archer come home.

Get the midwife to agree to let me out of bed as have to be up and about before they will take the cathetar out. She does and says she will back back in 10 mins.

Ok so gear myself up as know this is going to be akward, especially as the pressure bandage is taped to my abdomen as well as the top of my thighs meaning I'm not going to be able to straighten up fully.

An hour and half later midwife turns up to help me out of bed, she informs me to take my time and to slide to edge of bed and then sort of roll up to a sitting position before attempting to stand up. Now don't know about you but i was expecting possibly two people, one on either side to help me up, or that at the least one person would give me a hand. Wrong. Am told to take my time and be careful. Apparently I have to do this on my own. Bare in mind that I haven't managed to pick my baby up from the cot beside my bed to feed him without assistance, plus I have been sleeping upright as can't even move up and down the bed, this seems a little harsh.

Ok so here goes, eventually get to the edge of the bed, agony, force myself into sitting position and get stuck there for near on 10 minutes, making one attempt and failing leaving me with tears streaming down my face. Midwife just tells me to take my time. I'm sure a shot of morphine before this may have helped.

Ok know I have to get up and over to the chair and the quicker I do this the better. So decide that "sorry can't help you" attitude of the mid wife is not ok with me to decide that I'm going to grab her arm on my next attempt up and see what happens, not as if she's going to pull her arm away, is it?

Count to five in my head and go......., grab her arm and I'm up, fantastic. Now she tells me I have to take the drip sheet with me over to the chair. Now a more sensible thing to of done was to have a new one waiting for me but no, I have to try and grab the sheet from between my legs and try and get that over as well as my bum onto the chair, with the bloody bandages which I remind you are attached to my abdomen as well as the top of my legs.

Make a decision that will have to do this in one and breathe through any pain. So shuffle my body round so am in right position just to sit down on the chair, which just so happens to be quite low and the back is not upright but leans back. Should of put some cushions there first. And down we go...

What a relief the pain disappears almost immediately, it's so much more comfy than the bed. Midwife sorts the pillows out and I breathe a sigh of relief. Can actually reach Archer now, my first real view of my baby. Must tell you about the great cot he had. Looks almost the same as the one's I had for Kyle and Katiya but initially thought it was broken. One side was removeable, apparently this type is designed specifically for babies born via section, but best of all it's has a remote control to raise and lower the cot to enable the perfect height for mother to get baby in and out of the cot in line with how high or low she has set her bed to be. How good is that..

So there I am enjoying being able to see Archer properly, believing that catheter out in 1/2 hour and then there will be no stopping me...

Well 2 hours later still waiting, finally get so bored ring the alarm. 10mins later midwife turns up.

"was told over two hours ago that I was going to have the catheter removed in 20mins and I'm still waiting, any chance you can get this out as I want to be up and about for when my visitors come in tonight"

"No problem just let me get some gloves"

She comes back all gloved up, done, no probs didn't feel a thing.

So now catheter out they want to take me to the shower to remove the dressing, not likely will wait till hubby comes in and he can take me, I can shout at him if he hurts me :)

Decide that I want the drip out of my arm as well, get some scissors off of one of the attendants and spend the next 20mins cutting round the plaster, think she must of used a whole roll on me and it's all stuck to the hairs, arrhhh. Pull the drip out and decide to get the remaining plaster off in the shower later.

Have my tea, so nice to be able to eat it sitting upright. Have been getting up and down from the chair just to try and get myself as upright as possible before the walk to the bathroom and the removal of the dressing. Was told many years ago that the pain and discomfort goes quicker the sooner you get upright and not walk hunched over, and it does.

Mother inlaw, my mum, hubby, kyle and katiya turn up. I'm still in quite a bit of pain but thats mainly due to the wind.

I grab hubby and it's off to the showers to get this bloody pressure bandage off. Rememeber to soak really well. God knows what he's mum thinks as we always seem to be going off to the shower together, hehehe.

Hubby looks worried, bless him he really does hate this type of thing but has always been there to help. He helps me remove stockings and nightie as cannot bend over to well, hubby has sorted the temperture of the shower out for me, have my first pee, no problems there, so waddle over to the shower and step inside. Bit apprehensive, it's just over 24hours ago that they cut me open and here we are removing the dressing by soaking the thing with water as much as possible.

It goes really well, plaster comes off fairly easierly, main sticky point was it hanging onto my pubic hair, well the hair that hubby managed to leave behind, but just continued to soak with water and finally get it all off. Wash the scar area, no blood so must be ok.

Feel much better now, hubby dries me off, decide to use loo paper for the scar area as don't want to get towell fluff in it. Will use hair dryer to dry it when I get home, trick I was told about after Kyle's birth. Change my nightie, put stockingq back on and go back to the ward.

Nanny and Grandma seem satisfied with their new grandson but no one can say who he looks like, Kyle and Katiya, myself and hubby where all born blondes so Archer being a brunnette has thrown everyone. Hubbies mum thinks he looks a bit like my mum so we will have to wait and see.

Visiting time over and I settle down for the night.

Well after last night was a bit surprised that Archer now seems to know the time and wakes every three hours for a feed. And now I'm mobile I have to do everything myself but least it gives me a chance to properly bond with him. Decide cant be bother to get him in and out of the cot constantly so let him sleep on my chest, sneaky cuddle time, bliss.

Day 2

For some reason todays breakfast doesn't come until 08.30, but before that get told that I'm being chucked out today, they need the beds apparently, if my bloods come back ok. Midwife attempts to take the blood, tries just the once with no joy then see's on my notes that I previous bloods was taken by a doctor, on asking why and me telling her that I have really poor veins she decides she won't try the other arm but will leave it to the doctor to do.

Ladies come round with the breakfast, their talking about an incident in another part of the hospital where a nurse has been attacked and the ward set on fire, not much damage done as far as they can make out as was bought under control quickly but still worrying all the same.

Will have to wait for doctor to sign me fit to go home. So phone hubby to tell him not to bother coming in until I call as have no idea when I will be seen, could be in an hour or possibly a couple of hours.

Finish my breakfast and go have a quick wash, will have shower before I go home and change into day clothes.

Cheekily get Archer bathed by hospital staff, they don't usually do it for experienced mums, only first time mums, but she didn't mind to much and Archer didn't seem to fazed by it either.

Now just a few words of warning, possibly. A lady in my ward had a section but obviously was being cared for by other members of staff. Now on her day to have her catheter out, the carer decided that she would remove it while the lady was still bed bound, she also decided that she would remove the dressings at the same time. Even though all care is done behind curtains you could hear her pain as the dressing was being removed, obviously not with loads of water as advised to me. On curtains being pulled back you could see the pain etched on her face.

She seemed fine after about 10mins and we chatted about babies and familes. Couple of hours later she comments that she needs to go to the toilet, myself a bit confused said that she would need to be gotten out of bed and had been sitting in her chair for at least 1/2 hour before they would let her off to the toilet. She informs me that the catheter was removed and that she really needs to pee. She pages the midwifes who calmly says "fine, lets get you up and moving then".

Well she makes good time on getting off the bed, much quicker than me, and she's up and holding onto the midwife, yes her midwife did help her. She stands there for about 30 seconds to get her balance and she's off. We joke that she can go off to Sainsburys for midnight munches and she's on her way.

I call the midwife and ask when I'm going home as the women who has a section the same day as me as already left. Well my lucks the same as section day, as the Dr had alreayd been round and signed out two ladies but had not had time to see me before being called away, so I'm again left waiting for the Dr to come back and sign me out.

Suddenly both doors of the ward are flung open and the lady that had gone off to have a wee and wash is being wheeled in via a pushchair obviously having fainted while in the bathroom.

She was helped back into bed by a couple of nurses and her husband. Poor women was in a awful state and was being sick, means she would not be able to get out and about for at least another 1/2 day. So be warned please, make sure, if you have a section, that you take things really slowly initially on getting out of bed to avoid this happening to you.

Lady that had section the morning I had mine is off home with her baby, which was strange as when I told her I'd been told I had to go home today she said she wanted to but no one would say if she would be allowed and there she is going home and I not even seen the Dr yet.

Have my lunch and still waiting for the Dr, ask the midwife when she expects me to be seen and asks why other lady could go home and I'm still sitting here waiting. She then explains that the Dr had been round but had only had chance to see two ladies before being called away, and I again missed out and have to wait.

Finally get seen by the Dr who signs me off as long as the bloods come back ok, how long is that going to take?. Ring hubby and ask him to come in and get me, perhaps with a 4 1/2 year old running around they'll get sick of us being here and tell us to go.

Lady comes to take my blood, she tells me that as soon as she's done that I can go, she doesn't expect anything to be a problem as I would be showing signs by now and all my obs have been fine since I've had Archer. She states if there is a problem they'll call me to come back in.

At last, get showered and change into "normal" clothes. Change Archer into he's coming home outfit, but it's just too big. so have to put him a normal baby grow.

Hubby is going to bring he's coat and car seat in.

Well look at the poor wee man, this coat is meant to be for "Small Babies" I even thought of taking it back and getting the "New born" size. So glad I didn't.

First night home

Well Grandma had made the tea, so me just left to let my elder two to get a closer look at their new brother.

Archer slept for a while so managed to have tea undisturbed.

Eight O'clock came around and Archer wanted feeding, Kyle (14 yr old) piped up "I'll do he's feed, please"

A bit shocked but pleased, he was only 9-10 yrs when Katiya was born and was not as seemingly hands on. Of course it may also be that she was a girl. Well least I know that if needs be can hand over Archer and he feels comfortable enough to handle him.

Feed went well, so decide it's time for bed. Now sleeping arrangements are a bit complicated, Right Katiya is in Kyles room with Grandma in double bed, and Kyles in Katiya's room in her single, reason can't get double bed in Katiya's room, but can get double and single in Kyles and didn't think it fair for Grandma to sleep on "put me up" for a week, plus she's coming back for another week in the New Year to help with taking Katiya to school as I won't be able to drive by then and hubby has to do a week at work. Me and hubby in our own room with Archer in moses basket.

Initial plan for feeds throughout the night was when Archer woke, I would do the nappy and soothing and hubby would go down stairs to get milk for heating up with hot water from a flask.

Well this lasted approx 1 week. Hubby really not good without a decent amount of sleep and just seemed to be pointless the two of us being up, so have decided that I would come downstairs now and heat up in mircowave and go in lounge and watch telly, leaving hubby in bed with just a couple of minutes disturbance. Hubby would then to the morning feeds and I would lie in. This seems to work well for us.

Hubby bought me a lovely furry soft bed throw which myself and Archer cuddle up in on the sofa, he drinks he's milk and I watch some medical, baby home programme on the telly. Must admit often fall asleep until the next feed so sometimes leave my bed around midnight and don't get back in again until 0400hrs.

Beyond

Well things haven't been plain sailing as I had hoped, major infection set into my scar.

We had the midwife round on Christmas Eve and told her of our concerns for my scar as it seemed to be going the same way when I had Katiya. Thought we would shut the stable door before the horse bolted, so to speak.

Midwife agreed it looked and smelt infected so took swab and called the Emdoc to get locom out to prescribe some antibiotics. Well hopefully won't have the same problems as with Katiya having to literally have the scar tissue rotting on me before anyone medical would agree that I needed treatment.

Midwife advised to soak in the bath and then blow dry the scar area on low temp with a hair dryer. Knew this from previous. So will soak in tea tree oil bath twice a day.

Inlaws are over for Christmas so they turn up and we explain that locom will be round sometime today. When I said would be round today, lets change that to will be round sometime before midnight.

Locom arrives around 20:00Hrs He seemed to be a bit put out that he was called on for this and he's opinion it would clear up on it's own and was reluctant to give me any antibiotics until I insisted. He handed over 8 to get me through to boxing day and wrote a prescription. Brilliant this means will be up and about in no time.

Christmas day: It was lovely having everyone around and me able to concentrate on the children. Inlaws and hubby in the kitchen, cooking, and me and the kids just chilling out, this is of course after present unwrapping which took near on two hours, mainly because of the amount of presents Katiya had.

Time for lunch, we having turkey and venison along with all the trimmings. Arrive at my sit and find some cards on my plate, there's one from my hubby and some from the kids, one from Archer with he's hand print, that's it have to leave the room as hormomes have set in and I'm in tears. Hubby finds me and makes matters worse by giving me a cuddle.

After dinner my mum and george turn up to deliver and receive their presents and stay for a couple of hours, couldn't persuade them to stay for tea, perhaps next year.

Anyway great day and tomorrow should be even better as the antibiotics should of started to work.

Doctor's appointment 27/12/05 to discuss contraception as I did not go ahead with the tubal ligation. She gives me pills called Cerazette , we also discuss the possibility of hubby having a vasectomy .

On the 30th Doctor rings me at home and lets me know that the results from the swab have come back and the antibiotics that the locom had prescribed would not clear it up so I have to go and see her today to pick up another prescription.

I go down and get another prescription and some more pain killers. Doctor says he looks quite bad and to try and get as much air to it as possible. Long skirt no knickers is the requirement of the day.

The next couple of days just merge into feeding Archer and sleeping as much as possible and trying to keep Kyle and Katiya amused. Scar still causing problems but have to give the antibiotics time to kick in.

No good have to go back to doctors, Archer has a bad raspy throat and is not feeling at all well and is phelmy. Didn't get to see my usual doctor but the one we saw assured us that it's not a chest infection and thats there is nothing we can give him to help him over it. Poor thing.

We battle for another week, Archer with he's cold and me with the scar and then things start to improve.

Archer's first year

Photograph Gallery (Click thumbnail for a larger image)

19th December 2005
Moments after the birth	Wrapped in swaddling	Resting
Mummy, feeling somewhat the worse for wear	Mummy and I	Daddy got confused & forgot to pick me up
Mummy just can't take photos	Cupid's bow, very apt	Just dropping off
Fast asleep	A tired Mummy	Leave me alone
Movie (without sound, unfortunately) of Mummy and Archer just after birth, focusing on the brown eyes... 7.06Mb
20th December 2005
Katiya and her new doll	Katiya and her new doll	Look at my ears!
Kiss	What a profile!	You lookin' at me?
Movie (with sound, this time, but without thumbnail!) of Kyle holding Archer and Katiya throwing a strop... 17.0Mb
My sister and me	And again ;)	Nanny having a cuddle
	Yet another video with sound, but without a thumbnail. This is a little of a mish-mash of Katiya, Kyle, Mummy, Grandma and Nanny, showing the hotel bed, and the funky telly! (16.1 Mb)
More of Nanny		All wrapped up and ready to go home
I just looked so ridiculous, there had to be another photo!	My big brother	And the facial hair that claims to be my father!
Nice picture of big bro, but not sis	Both of my siblings being gorgeous	My Mummy insisted on a nude image, so here it is
In my bear coat	In car Seat	With my daddy and sister, daddy looking very tired oopps
That's my big brother, Kyle	I've pooped mummy out	Oh and I've pooped daddy out hehe
I actually thought this was my nest but.....	At last Katiya let's me have my nest	I am really asleep here, honest
	Archer giggling with a little help from his mummy
Having a good giggle		Smiling morning to my mummy
My birth teddy from nanny	Are these things mine mummy	Not sure if I like it in here
Feeding myself	This is easy	Has it gone already
Floating in the bath	First shower taken with Daddy and Katiya	My sister's silly
I'm six months old	Me in my bumbo, not impressed	Just so you know :)