People keep congratulating me on not having
delivered earlier. I suppose they are
just trying to say something nice. But it is odd. I mean, I presume no one who gives birth at
31 weeks actually wants to and itÂ’s really just the luck of the draw. I
suppose, if anyone deserves credit, it’s my loving husband who has done
the lion’s share of the childminding (tiring, back breaking work) for
the latter stages of this pregnancy.
People keep congratulating Mr. Waffle on his
virility as well as though having twins is an indication of superior
sperm. Odd. I mean, if anyone deserves credit here, it’s my genes and my eggs.
Conversation with spouse this morning.
Me: How will I keep my knees warm when the
twins are born?
Him: Eh?
Me: Well now my stomach keeps them nice and
toasty when I sit down.
Him:
Twin on each knee?
And finally, the
physio described giving birth to twins. Apparently baby 1 is
delivered as normal. Baby 2 tends to move around with all that
extra room. So the body often comes out first and, this is the
fun bit, it’s important that none of the medical team touches the baby
because that would trigger its startle reflex and it is not easy to
deliver a baby with its arms stretched out. So they all take a
step back and often put their hands behind their backs. I’m glad
I knew that in advance.
on 24 September 2005 at 14:18
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on 24 September 2005 at 17:31
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on 25 September 2005 at 02:07
As we’re stuck solidly in breech, I’ll have to have a caesarian (Oct 3), so we don’t get all the fun of waiting and wondering – which I really do think looks like fun.
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on 25 September 2005 at 07:06
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on 25 September 2005 at 14:25
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on 25 September 2005 at 16:51
JD, yes, I can see that.
Amerly, I suppose it’s not exactly a precise science, so maybe.
KE, am seeing doc tomorrow so I may have a better idea then. Fear she may make me wait another week.
Minks, HJB, still here.
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https://www.belgianwaffle.net/2005/09/410/
One of the many excellent things about giving
birth in the kingdom of the Belgians is that it is standard practice to go to a
physiotherapist for ante and post natal classes and the physiotherapist attends
the birth.
Yesterday I attended a class. Usually I go to a French speaking class,
partly because I think that the physio is clearer in French but mostly because
it panders to my notions about myself. Anyhow,
at the French speaking class itÂ’s a mixture of people who have had children
before and first timers but, for whatever reason, at the English speaking
class, they were all first timers. Oh
how superior I felt.
Here are some reasons why. Irish woman, due on the day of the class “is
there a birthing pool in the hospital?”
Frankly, lady, if you want to go down this route, do you really think
that itÂ’s a good idea to ask about it for the first time on your due date? In fact, I happen to know that the only
birthing pool in Belgium is in Ostend (please do not ask how I came by
this arcane knowledge), so it was really far, far too late for this. Meanwhile the physio had understood “birthing
pillow” and responded that there were dozens.
Mild confusion.
Slightly smug American lady asked the physio
“do you believe in the epidural?”. Given
that 96% of births in Belgium are with epidurals, IÂ’m betting
that she does. Seeing is believing.
Physio explained that she would come to the
hospital after the birth to do exercises and then, after a couple of weeks at
home, we should start coming back to classes.
Finnish woman asks “why don’t we go back to classes immediately after
coming out of hospital?”. Physio says
tactfully that this can be a tiring time.
“But” persists the Finnish woman “we can do them at home?” “Yes, you can do them at home”. “But” I’m thinking “you may prefer to use
that time to shower”.
Yes, I was irredeemably smug. Boy, am I riding for a fall.
on 23 September 2005 at 16:06
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kristin
on 23 September 2005 at 17:26
Dear Mrs. Waffle, i am in awe of your fortitude, still going to prenatal classes. I am putting up my feet in hopes you will follow my lead.
xo
on 23 September 2005 at 19:43
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on 23 September 2005 at 23:06
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on 24 September 2005 at 12:53
Norah, please write a blog entry on this! I’d enjoy that and I need to be humoured.
Kristen, FT is an American also, so he is entitled to be a bit sarky. Most of the Americans I know are not smug at all, no for a nation of smug souls, you need the Dutch.
Star, Jojo, thank you very much.
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https://www.belgianwaffle.net/2005/09/409/
Today is my due date
Is there any news? There is not. Well, I bought a new teapot, does that count? I thought that my ticker ruler might do something exciting to celebrate but it’s just sitting there stolidly saying “0 days left” so I’m going to remove it in a huff.
on 23 September 2005 at 10:53
They’re obviously comfy in there. Or waiting for ‘their’ new car to turn up.on 23 September 2005 at 11:00
Whoo! Congratulations on your new teapot!on 23 September 2005 at 12:05
one sugar and a chocolate digestive please!Angela
(Homepage)
on 23 September 2005 at 13:20
A new teapot is ALMOST as exciting as twins, right?I’ll be thinking about you. Best wishes to the family of five!
on 23 September 2005 at 13:41
going past due date with twins, is almost unheard of, they must be way to comfy in there, go for a bumpy car ride, and a really hot curry.on 23 September 2005 at 15:34
Well not tooo fast now newshoes because the doctor isn’t back until tomorrow night.Pog, it’s here, drove around in it today. Bloody enormous.
Norah, I knew you’d be pleased for me and two sweeties. Ta very much.
Jojo, all sweet things are banned – you must suffer with me.
Angela, even more exciting from some angles, I guess.
Amerly, well maybe I should enjoy this time…
on 23 September 2005 at 15:38
In that case, I expect they’ll be making an appearance shortly, ay?on 23 September 2005 at 15:43
Come out little ‘uns!on 23 September 2005 at 23:04
In that case, raspberry leaf – straight, with a side of ryvita (how on earth do you spell that?)on 24 September 2005 at 12:50
Presume so, pog…But it’s kind of quiet without them Chintzy.
Jojo, wish I’d seen this sage advice before I went shopping this morning.
on 26 September 2005 at 16:26
That’s a shame – I was looking forward to some sort of spangly, explosive finale from your ticker as well. How disappointing. Oh well. I suppose the eventual arrival of the twins will be exciting itself. Well, a bit.😉
“The file on H”
by Ismail Kadare. This is my second outing into the works of Mr.
Kadare, so I’m not a complete novice on matters Albanian. In fact
I once went on a day trip to Albania. Really, you’d rather not
know. But yet, Albania remains a distant and weird place to
me. Last night, Mr. Waffle and I gathered together the facts we
know about Albania:
King Zog
Prime Minister Fatos Nana
Great Roman remains
One of the dialects spoken in southern Italy is essentially Albanian
Battles with the Turks
Brought to its financial knees by the collapse of a pyramid selling scheme (I am not making this up)
Capital Tirana (other cities, if they exist unknown to us)
Enver Hoxha (dictator, unpopular with Russia)
Big believers in blood feuds
I think that Albania may be the weirdest country in the Balkans and that’s some accolade.
What ads do you think my blog will deem appropriate to go with this entry?
on 22 September 2005 at 16:08
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on 22 September 2005 at 16:09
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on 22 September 2005 at 16:14
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on 22 September 2005 at 16:16
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on 22 September 2005 at 16:46
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on 23 September 2005 at 10:28
Cookie, well, remember that this is our pooled knowledge.
Norah, yes I think you’re right about the goats.
FFE, yeah, I knew that really, just forgot to put it down. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Sweetie(s) given
Star80
on 27 September 2005 at 00:18
http://www.albanian.com/information/history/index.html
Stela
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https://www.belgianwaffle.net/2005/09/406/
I superglued myself to a cot this morning while attempting to carry out minor repairs. Quite painful.
Lots of people are telephoning me to wish me luck which is very nice but a little alarming.
We are now a two car family until we flog the Focus. It’s a pain being a two car family when you only have one garage.
I have done my tax return. Round of applause please.
It seems that everything is READY. Except of course for my doctor, she’s still in Croatia.
on 21 September 2005 at 13:44
Are you sure you’re trying hard enough Waffly? I’m not convinced you’re taking this entirely seriously.
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on 21 September 2005 at 13:46
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Friar Tuck
on 21 September 2005 at 16:07
on 22 September 2005 at 10:38
Norah, guilty as charged.
Jojo, I hope so.
FT, ha, ha, very funny.
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on 22 September 2005 at 14:17
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on 22 September 2005 at 15:37
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on 23 September 2005 at 09:44
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on 23 September 2005 at 10:28
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on 23 September 2005 at 12:06
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on 23 September 2005 at 15:32
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on 23 September 2005 at 23:05
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on 24 September 2005 at 12:50
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https://www.belgianwaffle.net/2005/09/405/
Not Far to Go
Other news from the weekend, my loving husband was saintly and took herself off swimming and to the park while I reclined on the couch recruiting my energies. Car free Sunday passed without a sign of a contraction. We took the tram into town and it was absolutely jam packed. I stood towards the back and the man sitting beside me looked resolutely out the window. I felt a bit sorry for him because, he may well have had some dreadful leg ailment which prevented him from standing and offering up his seat, but the woman squashed beside me was determined to make him suffer. She asked me when I was due and I said Friday. “My goodness” she said pointedly “you really should be SITTING DOWN”. I said I was fine , which was perhaps not entirely true. She explained to me that her first child had been born at home because she didn’t get to the hospital in time and that I really should be SITTING DOWN. I think both myself and the sitting man were quite glad to get off the tram. Car free day included lots of excitements like a farm in the city and bouncy castles and the obligatory wide range of food available at any Belgian organised fun. All moderately pleasant except for the moment when Mr. Waffle had to run around looking for a toilet with a little girl in his arms saying with increasing urgency “I want to do a WEE”.
The Affables dropped round on Sunday and I was once again struck by how very nice they are and, dammit, even their 18 month old is the picture of politeness (needless to say, the Princess mortified us by refusing to let said 18 month old touch any of her toys). I am also somewhat in awe of their stamina. They both have very demanding jobs. They collect their little girl from the creche on alternate evenings but quite frequently the parent responsible will bring her home, give her dinner, put her to bed, welcome the babysitter and head back to the office until midnight. And then they’re out partying regularly at the weekend (when not working). And no, they’re not even significantly younger than us. When they left, I said to my loving spouse that we should try to get out more. “Absolutely” said he.& “Will we try to go out to dinner before the twins are born?” Pause. “Next week?” he asked; “I suppose” I said. “But I’m really tired” he said. “Yeah me too, let’s not bother”. Pathetic.
on 19 September 2005 at 11:47
(
Comment Modified)
‘waf: This has to be said– I am absolutely in awe of you and Mr W. and the coolness of your planing & preparation. And whatever the next few weeks bring in terms of tired and stretched to shredding point, there will be one Believer out here. Knowing you can do it.
And there’s always your late-fifties for going out… 😉
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on 19 September 2005 at 11:59
Going out is overrated. The kids going out- now thats where its at! x
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kristin
on 19 September 2005 at 18:33
Dear Mrs. Waffle, you are not allowed to feel that you should do more than you already do. The Affables may be affable, but they must also be closet Speed Freaks. The thought of you, days away from bringing twins into the world, actually going into town on a tram to enjoy no-car day instead of staying home with your feet up is quite enough.xo
Sarcastic Journalist
(Homepage)
on 20 September 2005 at 05:54
I hope you mentioned loudly that you were expecting TWINS on FRIDAY.on 20 September 2005 at 09:45
My sister now has a nanny and a cleaner so that she can have some semblance of a normal life with her twins…. do the Affables have domestic servants?!Good luck.
1Sweetie(s) given
on 21 September 2005 at 13:12
KE, very romantic.Thanks Jack, that’s sweet.
Minks, you are very wise.
Oh, Kristin, I like it, closet speed freaks, but I fear it’s just not true.
SJ, well yeah, but it’s just less impressive…
Lauren, I feel we may take a leaf out of your sister’s book. Thank you very much for the sweetie.
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