Mumsnet Talk

I don't do brevity. I warned you about this during the last birth announcement. And not only does this predilection for the epic include talking about gingerbread, waffling on about birth trauma from years ago etc, it apparently also includes giving birth to dc2.

Not many people have escaped from my tales of dd's birth 4 years ago and I swore I'd never, ever do it again. But being a liar and a bit greedy where squishy small people are concerned, I did.

Raphael was born on Saturday, 38hrs post waters rupturing spectacularly all over my best sheet, a mildly miffed dh and a crocodile. An Ikea crocodile no less. I can't fit babies through my pelvis, though not for lack of blooming trying, so the nice lady with the sparkly glasses (everything was sparkling at that point to be completely frank) gave me some drugs and kindly removed the boy from me. He's smashing. Looks a bit like a lizard but squeaks like a warthog. I forsee great entertainment.

His name means 'God shall heal' apparently. Which is fairly fitting. Because I thought should I end up with another emcs I'd be utterly fractured by it. But it turns out that I now know I can't do it. I can't blow up balloons or play chess either. And while nobody wants to do those things for me, there are nice people at the hospital who are trained to assist with my crap pelvis and stuck babies. And thank goodness for that. Because it's only a process by which my lizard babies crash into existence. And the very fact that they exist rather transcends the small details of how I got them here.

He's a clever little boy. Taught me a lot already. Not least that there are feelings after giving birth that are just universal to becoming a parent and nothing to do with any perceived failure or regret. I particularly like the realisation that having any baby, in whatever way, feels just like somebody's handed you a wet octopus you've never seen before in your life and said 'here dress, feed and love this thing'. And your brain screams 'I really do think you've got the wrong person for the job'. But then at some point, possibly in the wee small hours when everybody else is asleep and it's just you and the octopus, you look down at his squished nose and puckered little duck lips and realise that you belong together. I'm tired. I think what I'm grasping unerringly at is that it always feels like rather a shock to the system but it turns out it's not so scary after all. He's just my wee boy. And I quite simply love him.

He's got a very proud family, especially his big sister who occasionally lets me hold him.

I did it. I had another baby. Just in case anybody fancied reading about something other than trolls or riots or whatever else is happening round these here parts.

NB: the Ikea croc was a rather cunning sleep aid even if it is meant to be a toy. I thoroughly recommend it.

Massive congratulations SOH. Raphael is a gorgeous name

Oh what a lovely post to randomly spot on a Monday afternoon. You've made me well up a bit.

Many, many congratulations to you, your DH, and elephant-up-a-tree girl. And be very proud of yourself. Really proud. Love to you and octopus-boy.

Oh, congratulations, SOH. Beautiful name and so sorry about the Ikea croc. I have one of you need a replacement.

Congratulations, and that's a beautifully-written birth story. I hope you get lots of rest and recover speedily.

I can't blow up balloons - it's surprising how often attention is drawn to that particular failure of mine - nice to know I'm not alone.

Ah congratulations! What a lovely post. Welcome Raphael

Congratulations on your boy! Lovely name and a touching story.

you finally came out then?

I've been sitting on my hands every time i saw you in case i accidentally gave it away

gorgeous name.
I will expect to see photos!

I can't blow up balloons either - i've got a fantastic balloon pump that works wonders.

Congratulations SOH - What a fantastic name and a great birth story.

I think I love you show !!!! congratulations on Raphael's safe arrival and I love your birth story, healing is good

I've just "liked" all your FB photos!
lizard my arse - he's gorgeous!

<Wipes away a tear>

Congratulations soh and family.

I had no idea you were expecting!

should you change your name to ShowofMucousPlug?

Congratulations SOH - lovely name.

No nickel because that's disgusting. And stop liking everything, you've caused my fb to have a seizure... DH agrees btw. Not a lizard, more a Ninja turtle.

Yes I've come out. Clearly there were a few very kind and special people who endured the pregnancy with me when I couldn't talk about it out loud. I've never been so gripped by terror or so pleasantly surprised by how terrible it wasn't iyswim.

Congratulations! You kept that quiet! And yes that description of becoming a mother sounds spot on to me and rather beautiful. I happen to have a body that is so far built for natural child-birth but no big rush of love happened. Just bewilderment and then the realisation three days later that he is yours and you are his and you will love him.

Welcome Raphael

Is it very wrong of me, while admiring the beautiful pics of Raphael, to be wondering (given that I'm 35 weeks' pregnant and have a smelly cat) if you'd also share the secret of how you managed to shampoo yours ??

Frisky, it's a similar process to dressing, feeding and loving an octopus. You have to find your own way and tell yourself it's worth it in the end.

Ahh what a beautiful birth story. I too found a tear in my eye
Enjoy your new small squishy person. And I think you should change your name to Show of Tentacles

at wet octopus.

Better than a dry octopus I imagine.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!

Cool and froody. I am ridiculously pleased for someone I've never even met Congratulations to you all and welcome to the world, Raphael.

And get some pics on 'ere - some of us security conscious neo Luddite types don't do FB.

Congrats SoH - what a beautifully written post! Welcome to the world Raphael

<Weeps into laptop.> Congratulations, enjoy stroking those tiny suckers and mopping up all that ink. Lovely news .

Congratulations