40's + Mums and Mums to Be.

[johnworf]

Hello, good evening, and welcome. Our ovaries are tired and withered but we've still managed it despite what the Daily Mail says!

Come on in for a gossip, cake, parenting tips and the nonstop drivel interesting chat.

Newbies welcome :-)

no cant see it jw

DH just found it online. Not in the Independent, in the Observer on Sunday...stand by for link...

THE FAMOUS ARTICLE!!

I bought the Indie instead of the Observer especially for your thing JW! But DH has decided he likes it better, so every cloud...

JJ going out is so grown up, hurray for your babysitting DP.

I was in and out of the maternity assessment unit within an hour. My BP fine, baby's HR perfect, urine and temperature fine blah blah. Another lovely MW gave me a horrific sweep (3rd in 5 days - ouch) plus a sample bottle containing lavender oil in a massage base - anything's worth a go to get these contractions started. I have to go in tomorrow to discuss a 'plan' since I'm holding off induction until absolutely necessary. Must go and inhale some oil now.

thanks tee mr tee

oh ermintrude that sounds vile, three sweeps now I hope baby gets a move on for you.

jj another gadabout hurrah!

we've had no rain here at all.

I found it here. No pics online (phew) but will go and buy a copy now and see if they deemed me attractive enough to put it in....obviously didn't online ..haha!

Sorry for confusion ladies but I was told The Independent. Bah!

hi does anyone hate it when their LOs cry? it is just so heart wrenching!

Pics of me and K in hard copy of The Observer today

heron baby's cries are designed to irritate you...so you do something and not ignore them!

jw - Not seen the hard copy I'm afraid but read it online (have only 2 dresses that fit & they're in the wash so wont be braving the walk to the shop in a badly tied sarong! -sorry)

jj - The Food Fair sounds good (beats staying in and cooking in this heat!) you'll have to let us know how it went (in Nigella stylie, obviously )

mrsb - blimey - no hormones! you are so lucky! DD is as bad as me and we've even been known to feel one another's periods (she had the worst time ever apparently when I was induced with DS1 )

heron - you sound like you're in a good place with the transition from bf now - and, as you said, much nicer this way than LO getting upset because you can't continue. Happy weaning!!!

ermintrude - how many sweeps????!! You poor thing . Really pleased for you that everything else is tippety top for the HB though. DD's just left to go back ooop north so I'm going to fill the boys' paddling pool so I can have a wallow with them later - will be thinking of you

I'm really not enjoying this heat by the way - normally I'd be outside for hours cankles are swelling nicely too Hope the scorchio week we've got to come gets cancelled - I'd much rather rain instead! Pool beckons

No worries iris. You have enough on your plate what with no clothes, fat ankles and sweating like the winner of the Grand National. My son suggests that I scan it and put it on FB - this is just so he won't have to go and buy a copy. Cheapskate.

We've just got back from the Bury show. Far too hot and DH complaining that the animals smell. Well of course they f**king smell. It's 85 degrees outside and they're crapping down their legs. Jeez. Anyway, K had had enough so we came home.

ermintrude are you there yet? are you there yet? are you there yet....?

mrsb you are diametrically opposed to me then on the hormone front. I'm a banshee/harridan/bitch for a whole week of every month. Ask my DH. He looks forward to it Mind you if you did ask him he'd probably argue that it's for 4 weeks of every month

Btw meant to ask....what did you think of my little piece? It's not naming or shaming anyone ...too much.

jw - I thought your piece was really good. It came across to me as well considered rather than accusatory, especially as there are clear deficiencies in the way hospitals "manage" parents. I hope your comments result in clearer directives iro hospital/parent communication rather than just give them some food for thought though.

afternoon all. Gosh it is sticky here. Went for a bike ride the morning and didn't feel too bad given I was woken a 2 and 5 am, if Os teeth don't come through soon I will go crazy with this pants sleep.

JW good article it was well balanced and you came over fine. Our village shop has shut so I probably won't get to the shops to see the photo so I hope it was OK.

Tee (((hugs))) the 1st 6 weeks are particularly hard, but it does get better (ignore all of my comments about sleep above ).

Erm good luck at the hospital.

Our night out was nice we had a chinese (crispy duck yummmmm) and stayed out 'til 10 O'clock (what monkeys wwere are). No adult talk I'm afraid JW just talked mostly about the kids, DHs job my job etc. I have never had a thought about not working before but I'm really not looking forward to going back to work this time.

hedgepig crispy duck, lovely.

In a way I am glad that I have no choice but to work.

jw I have got the Observer - good job I read on here that it wasn't the Indy as I would have been scouring the wrong paper. Lovely picture of you both and a good balanced piece.

Did anyone see tht that 60 whatever yr old mum has gone back to work as a managing Director after 4 weeks! AND she had a c/s and worked almost right up until the birth. Blimey. The nanny must be doing the night feeds!

iris my sympathies for you and the other heavily pg ladies in the heat. I remember is not fondly from this time last year.

duchesse thank you for predicting i will pop early - it's a nightmare in all this heat- I hope I do but not too early!
Re- horses -in the wild the stallions get the crap kicked out of them- here we do risk management so we time it dead on ovulation when the mares will stand properly and the boys have their fun without having their balls taken off by an unreceptive mare. Hope that explains it!

neddie, iris and ermintrude, I really don't envy you heavily pregnant ladies in this heat. It's like having a mini radiator on your tummy all the time as I remember.

neddie you might go early but then again you might not. I think it's not surprising if you do with twins.

mrsb thanks for your comments. Very much appreciated. Funny that they used the photo that I thought wasn't the best of the bunch but hey ho. When I get the rest emailed I'll stick them up.

I saw the 60 odd year old woman had gone back to work. I think she's riding for a fall personally. I think that a woman half her age would be pushing it going back so soon.

hedgepig it sounds like you had a very enjoyable night out last night. Very envious and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll manage a night or at least a couple of hours the coming weekend.

(Look away now as this is a sale alert) ASOS have children's clothes in the sale. I have put them in the basket at least 4 times and taken them out. She doesn't even need them. I've got stuff up in her room still with the labels on that will see hardly any wear. I have to stop looking Anyway, might be useful to some of you ladies.

K's been a real crank today. I think it's tea, bath and bed...asap.

Evening All!

Just woke up from a lovely nap. Had the in laws around and my first ever Roast! Leg of Lamb, roast veg and boiled potatoes. I have never made a leg of lamb. It was lovely.

JW I thought what you said in the article was excellent. I do think that at times the lack of communication with patients and carers is horrendous.

erm hope things start happening soon and all those sweeps weren't for nothing.

hedgepig crispy duck. And thanks for the hug. I'm actually not feeling too bad, despite the interrupted nights.

mrsb honestly, if she didn't want to raise her baby, why did she have it?

people say that about all working mums tee but I guess she is trying to prove she can be all things to all men. Foolish, though, especially after a c/s.

mrsb I think it is more relevant in this case. Her argument for conceiving so late was how desperately she wanted a baby. So she can go back to work at 4 weeks?

Evening all!

jw the FAME! Not managed to get a copy - we didn't get back from the foodie festival until 5.30pm - all hot and bothered!!!!

I read it though and I thought it was very fair, concise and to the point. It highlighted how easy it is to actually leave out the parents in the whole equation. If this happens and the dreadful decision does need to be made, what happens then ? Is there a complete shift of focus onto the parents??? No - I think you put across very well; while the child is technically the patient - it's the parents who are at the forefront of the anguish and need to be informed all-the-way. Knowledge can be scary but ultimate it does empower. Well, that's my thoughts anyway!!

tee thrilled you experienced my fave-ever-ever-ever roast!! God I bet it was good!

hedgepig good on you for doing the bike ride and on such little sleep. I doff my cap to you

Iris I hope the cankles have calmed down!

erm THREE sweeps OMG poor you Any rumblings?

Food festival was lovely but WAY too hot and no shade anywhere. They'd stupidly not put out any empty marquees, tents....nothing...and it was relentless. Saw Annabel Karmel - gosh she's tiny. And listen to a debate hosted by Shelia Dillion (radio 4) and with Greta Scachi - who looks damm fine in the flesh!

Need something to eat - still not had dinner Off to boil some pasta and placate Verity who is wailing - I may be some time!

Totally agree with your comments JJ which is the angle I went for. I expect there are doctors sticking pins in voodoo dolls in some hospitals around the greater manchester area as we speak I'm sure there must have been a couple that read it and muttered 'oh god, not that bitch again' under their breath!

Your day out sounds like ours. We gave up around midday as it was too hot and no shade. Even the sheep were panting. Your girls must be made of sterner stuff than K. She didn't like being hot and bothered. She's still up now being hot and bothered despite best efforts of the fan in her room.

Everyone has had nice meals today (have they?) and I've not done a roast as it's too hot to eat one. I've just had 3 Magnums and now I want just one cornetto Resistance is futile........

PC is playing up ..then crashed. Ghost in the machine told me it was too hot. Never had that one before. Wonder how it'll cope with the predicted 32 degrees for the coming week?

JW I think that you put your point across incredibly well (sorry didnt get hard copy...only got back from Blackpool Champ Show with over exhausted, over heated dog and child at 3 pm and had to put dinner on immediately or starve the family)

Erm SOooooo sorry you have had to endure 3 sweeps...and sorry for you and all the other pg ladies in this heat (I was incredibly lucky , the Summer of '07 was rubbish but brilliant for the heavily pg) I do hope the lo decides to make a move... tonight if not sooner.

Teemy fave roast too ...mmmmm.....Having only just caught up all your dreadful turmoil during Adams first week feels like it was just yesterday...I'm so glad everything is ok and he is home and you are being looked after by your Mum (mine really came into her own when Alex was born too)

Hedgepig hats off to you from me too for doing that bike ride.

...off to spend a few quality moments with Dh before he bu**ers off to Sth Africa for 2 weeks holiday work...wouldn't mind so much if he hadn't freudian slipped in referring to it as a holiday....yes such hard work that happens to include a weekend scrambling on his mates motor bike, needing a new suit to attend the Durban July racing meet (the SA version of Ascot) and an extra weekend to attend his mates 30th birthday party

floria you deserve a knighthood - or the female equivalent, for letting your DH have such a great time ......on his own! I looked for you today at the Bury Show as they had the Rossendale dog team there but obviously, you were elsewhere I can't do Tuesday this week. Just looked on my calendar and we're at the eye hospital at 1pm with K We have MMR weds and thursday could go either way with her jabs. What about Friday? There is DEF nothing on the calendar for then

floria I second jw you're a total saint for being so nice about him going away! My DP would pay for it for the rest of his life

jw no nice food here - it was pasta thrown together for the girls before they passed out! Verity took a while to go to sleep too....just so hot. I can't seem to find any nighties....I need something loser, less clingy for sleep for the girls.

Busy week ahead - can't believe it's going to be so hot. Must drum up some energy....MMMmmm