August 25, 2008 at 8:36 pm | In Family, Musings | 6 Comments
Tags: next grandchild
When writing up my diary I forgot all about my next Grandchild, Tinkerbell. How terrible is that? All that I can offer in a defense is that it is very different when it is a daughter-in law who is pregnant, or it is for me, as my involvement as been far less. Yes we do have the check-ups and the worried phone calls but I feel that I have to keep more of a distance, not ‘interfere’ as much. DIL is 32 weeks now and her bump has really expanded, she is still petite but now it looks as if she has a football hidden under her T-shirt. She is at that stage where most pregnant womem are still feeling quite well. She is just starting to have problems sleeping, and is finding that she has less room for large meals but her plan is to carr on working until she oes into labour! I have been assuming that I am not invited to be at the birth, I haven’t asked as I don’t want them to feel pressurised, I feet sad but it is their time, I’m just anticipating driving the staff on labour ward mad by constantly checking on how things are going. Today though they asked me if I was going to bury the placenta in my garden. I was surprised, especially as it came out of the blue, but I answered that if they didn’t want to keep it then I would if it was okay with them but that they would have to remember to save it for me. Their response has me in a quandary, they said they wouldn’t have to remember about it as I could just take it with me. Does this mean that I will be in the room when the placenta is delivered, this would imply that I were there at the birth, or does it suggest that they expect me to come in as soon as baby is born? I dare not ask, it could be putting them in an awkward position. Oh well, another 8 weeks or so and I should know.
A Midwife's Muse
You could always try the ‘do you want me around because I want to make plans for that day if not…’
Comment by Vic @ glowstars — August 26, 2008 #
Your lucky DIL! I’m only 29 weeks pregnant and I have had trouble sleeping since practically the first day. It was the palpitations that were keeping me awake that partly led me to do the test. Sadly things have only got worse, sleeping-wise, from that point.
(I agree with the comment above, btw)
Comment by Anne — August 26, 2008 #
well you are in the same boat as me, my next grandchild is due around the same time Nik is 31 weeks and a daughter-in-law. I was at the last birth but like you unsure as to what is happening this time – poor Nik feels the pressure of two homebirths and she is just not that sort of person. I have said that it was not an expectation of mine and I will just go with the flow – her GP has told her that she can not hang out the washing, she can not raise her arms above her chest! very interesting!
Comment by Pauline — August 26, 2008 #
Vic – We don’t know when Tinkerbell will decide to put in an appearance though. I could say that I need to arrange back-ups for work/babycare.
Comment by midwifemuse — August 26, 2008 #
Anne – You poor thing. You have my sympathies as I am a restless leg sufferer, not sleeping is horrid!
Comment by midwifemuse — August 26, 2008 #
Pauline – Feel sort of stuck in a limbo, clutching at straws. DIL is not really under any pressure as one daughter had planned homebirth, transfer in for decels 1st time and homebirth 2nd time whereas other daughter had failed IOL, Em LSCS 1st time and El LSCS with MC/DA twins 2nd time, pattern would suggest it’s time for a ventouse!
What planet is her GP from? Old wives tale is that raising arms above head causes the cord to strangle baby! You would think that the GP would have a better understanding of anatomy.
Comment by midwifemuse — August 26, 2008 #