A number of people asked me whether I had a “natural birth” with the boys. Did I have a caesarian section? No. On the other hand, does the picture below look natural to you?
My epidural arrived before my first contraction – the doctor was summoned from his bed at 6 in the morning, and proper order too. Labour was painless and took place between 9.00 and 3.00. It made me vomit though and vomitting as you lie on your back being wheeled along hospital corridors towards the delivery room is suboptimal. Daniel was born at 3.15 a strapping 3.03 kilos and, in what I fear may well be a pattern for life, nobody worried about him. Michael was delighted with the extra space available and turned sideways. Two burly midwives grabbed his little person and from the outside manoeuvered him into head down position while I looked on in horror and my doctor grabbed for his head (she had a lovely time in Croatia, thanks for asking).
She told me later that she thought that she’d have to an emergency caesarian and she had asked the nurses to call the anaesthetist without mentioning his name – in case I gathered that that was why he was being called. I am touched by her faith in my intelligence and powers of concentration. Anyhow, Michael was born at 15.39 and though on the light side at 2.2 kilos, he was absolutely fine. The potential caesarian, also explains why the anaesthetist turned up immediately after Michael was born and chatted away to myself and Mr. Waffle for no reason we could understand at the time. As I threw up into my little kidney bowl, I did wonder vaguely whether it was some kind of revenge for getting him up at 6 in the morning. He’s Lebanese and we were talking about the situation in the Middle East between vomits, and it was a little challenging. “Syria is not good” was about all I could summon to mind at that precise moment and even I knew that to be inadequate. I wouldn’t mind but I’d struggled through a long article in the LRB only recently not to mention having read “Pity the Nation” by Robert Fisk when I was in college.
To summarise, the stay in hospital was for a full week and despite constant interruptions (meals, nurses, obstetrician, paediatrician, physio, woman to throw out dead flowers, cleaner, tea lady morning and afternoon, water delivering lady, the odd visitor etc.), I felt pretty well. I think this was partly because, as a bad mother, I roomed out and mixed breast and bottle. Doubtless I will be chucked out of the Brussels Childbirth Trust.
It is very nice to be home though. Delighted with kind bloggers’ reactions, also flowers, cards, presents, emails and a beautiful new watch from my loving husband. Also lovely to see a bit more of my little girl (not too much more, mind, she’s still going to the creche every day). My mother has, alas, decamped to Cork where she deemed that my father’s need was greater than ours. I suppose she knows – she’s been married to him a while; in fact the boys were born on my parents’ 38th wedding anniversary.
on 06 October 2005 at 15:33
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on 06 October 2005 at 16:42
Glad all is well – good to see you’re back blogging a week later – jolly good show.
Am I reading the clocks right in that the 2nd wee lad decided to join us a full 12 hours later? Poor you. All’s well…etc, though.
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on 06 October 2005 at 22:48
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I’m glad you’re back! I can’t believe you have twins now!
on 07 October 2005 at 07:15
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on 07 October 2005 at 13:38
Well done Mrs Waffle ….
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on 07 October 2005 at 16:24
Your new boys are so handsome, congratulations to all the Waffles.
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on 07 October 2005 at 16:36
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on 07 October 2005 at 23:38
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on 10 October 2005 at 08:56
Star, indeed you should not! Thanks for congrats.
Loc, no, no, second joined about half an hour after the first – clearly my mastery of the 24 hour clock isn’t all it could be.
SJ, that would make two of us.
Well, Minks, somewhat guiltily, I am mixing breast and bottle, cos I just can’t manage to breastfeed them both at the same time and doing them sequentially would mean that I would have to spend all my time under a baby…
Pog, I know, but great stuff the old epidural all the same.
Beso, many thanks, and thanks for the sweeties also.
Roach, thank you.
Beth, thank you – am impressed that you are taking time out to check on other blogs!
Negrito – for good or for the weekend?
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on 10 October 2005 at 21:45
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on 11 October 2005 at 16:46
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on 12 October 2005 at 09:48
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One of the great things about having babies is the presents (not the
ONLY great thing). All of our guests at the weekend came
pre-equipped with presents not just for the boys but for her Highness
as well. Is this not wonderful? And the doorbell keeps
ringing as the postman arrives with parcels. This morning we got
DHLed from Scotland a range of cashmere gear from the best dressed
diplomat. The excitement.
on 10 October 2005 at 13:01
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on 10 October 2005 at 15:25
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kristin
on 10 October 2005 at 17:18
xo
on 10 October 2005 at 17:18
hope the princess and the 2 princes are all okay!!
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on 11 October 2005 at 08:55
Pog, I know, the indulgence of it all and for me and spouse and Princess.
Minks, went to bed at 8.00 last night dizzy with exhaustion.
Kristin, it’s only because of necessity – I have a two year old to entertain, otherwise I wouldn’t have left the house either!
Amerly, very welcome, all as well as can be expected.
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http://www.belgianwaffle.net/2005/10/422/
Me: Will we go home and see Daddy and the boys?
Princess: HeÂ’s my Daddy not the boysÂ’ Daddy.
Me: Yes, heÂ’s certainly your Daddy.
Princess: And NOT the boysÂ’ Daddy.
Me to Daniel: Come here to your Mummy.
Outraged Princess: YouÂ’re MY Mummy.
By the way,
I thought you might like to know that we tried to think of nicknames for the
boys for the blog but we got stuck.
Prince Michael Waffle? You see
our difficulty. Suggestions welcome.
on 11 October 2005 at 10:35
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on 11 October 2005 at 16:40
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on 11 October 2005 at 16:49
Sly and Arnie?
Tom and Jerry?
BBB1 and BBB2? (baby blogging boy)
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Friar Tuck
on 12 October 2005 at 04:06
on 12 October 2005 at 09:50
Norah, superb!
FFE – 75 days is a long time.
Loc, Kristin, I dunno, I’m half inclined to go with FT’s pancake and flapjack.
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on 12 October 2005 at 10:30
Pick 2 from the list.
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on 12 October 2005 at 16:09
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on 12 October 2005 at 17:37
[runs away]
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on 12 October 2005 at 21:21
Marks and Spencer?
Pease and Pudding?
Eggs and bacon?
I could go on……….
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on 13 October 2005 at 14:06
JD, that goes for you too.
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ladyjane
on 14 October 2005 at 23:03
on 14 October 2005 at 23:29
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on 15 October 2005 at 13:34
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http://www.belgianwaffle.net/2005/10/423/
Madam has now departed to the creche and the boys are sleeping the
sleep of the just. I have therefore used this opportunity to
order a dust buster using my supermarket points. You have no idea
how pleased I am by this. Yes, I realise this makes me a very sad
person. Go away.
on 12 October 2005 at 12:19
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on 12 October 2005 at 16:11
Minks, am so glad I am not alone. Delivery is scheduled for 10 days time. I’m on the edge of my seat here.
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on 12 October 2005 at 17:56
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on 13 October 2005 at 14:05
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on 13 October 2005 at 22:28
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http://www.belgianwaffle.net/2005/10/424/
Dialogue I
Me (fawningly): What a beautiful little girl you are. Look you have beautiful big blue eyes, a
perfect little nose, lovely lips, interesting teeth and gorgeous blonde hair.
Madam:
DonÂ’t forget my cheeks.
Dialogue II
Me to baby Michael: Hello, little man.
Princess (deep sigh): Mummy, why are you talking to him, you know babies can’t talk.
Oh, and also, Mr. Waffle suggested that I insert this link
to show that the future Belgian queen and her little brother are just
as delighted with their new sibling as the Princess is with her little
brothers.
on 13 October 2005 at 14:06
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http://www.belgianwaffle.net/2005/10/425/
As you will recall, due to my pregnancy
complications, I now weigh less than when I started off on this adventure. However, my stomach remains. But my bottom has disappeared. I look a bit like these lads who were skinny
in their 20s and then ran to seed in their 30s – still skinny but with a pot
belly. On the plus side, my ankles have
returned to their usual dimensions. I
keep looking at them wondering how these slender stalks can possibly support
me.
So I still have this enormous bump and it is
very distressing. I have no recollection
of this happening last time. And itÂ’s very
noticeable. I was in mothercare the
other day spending all our money on whiskey and beer (um no actually on
breastpumps, bottles, cot sheets and maternity bras, if you must know) and the
lady behind the counter asked when my baby was due. “The week before last” I said sourly. Which just goes to show, as Mr. Waffle
observed, that you should never, never ask, if someone is pregnant. A woman with a visible bump is buying lots of
baby gear – you might think it would be safe to assume that she is pregnant –
wrong, wrong, wrong.
on 13 October 2005 at 17:17
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on 13 October 2005 at 17:24
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on 14 October 2005 at 09:52
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on 14 October 2005 at 11:41
JD, yes.
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on 14 October 2005 at 13:27
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on 14 October 2005 at 14:03
For teh next few weeks, you won’t have to ask does me bum look big in this? all you have to do is look down… 😐
And now I think I’d best be away. Sharpish. [runs]
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on 15 October 2005 at 13:33
Locotes, if they’re anything like their sister, they won’t crawl for another 10 months, I can’t stay like this until then…I want to go out and not have people ask me about my due date.
JD, there is something in what you say, of course, but if I were you, I would pick up speed!
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