Archers thread #203: It's Affair Cop! Discuss The Archers here.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

All views on The Archers welcome here! New blood welcomed, and of course we are always delighted to welcome back former or occasional listeners/posters. We don't all agree on all points, although we do mostly try to be civil about it. Most of us are posting tongue in cheek a lot of the time, so don't worry about revealing that you would love to attend Pip's wedding with Natasha and the starry twins, or other unusual views.

Spoilers: not on this thread, please! We don't wait for the omnibus to discuss the weeknight episodes, but we do try our best to avoid cross-contamination from https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/4636789-the-archers-spoilers-thread-12-cant-wait-for-702pm-join-us-here, where spoilers are positively welcomed!

For newer listeners, lurkers or those who just have no idea what we're talking about, @DadDadDad has created this useful thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3557323-For-Archers-fans-a-guide-to-acronyms-on-the-long-running-discussion-threads-and-any-other-meta-thread-questions-you-may-have - BOOP point for him! (See thread for explanation.)

Starting the new thread a bit early as I'm not sure I'll have much internet access for the next few days. Fill up the old one first. And then - over to you!

(Credit for the thread title goes to @TripleSulko.)

I don't think it needs to be about expecting a perfect birth necessarily - there aren't really words to prepare you for such a raw, visceral experience or for how wounded and vulnerable you feel afterwards. Granted that isn't everyone's experience, but it is for many. I think it's made worse by the received wisdom that "all that matters is a healthy baby", as if the women who just went through a massive physical trauma is irrelevant.

*Edited for typo.

If she doesn't bond with the baby, Susan should be even more understanding, because she had great difficulty with Chris. His cleft palate was part of the issue, but there was more than that.

Has anyone mentioned drinking a teaspoonful of bicarb in warm water every three hours or thereabouts so that for the first several days until the stitches are taken out (or dissolve, whichever it will be) Amber won't be pouring acid over an open wound every time she has a pee? Best advice the hospital midwife gave me, shortly after I gave birth to my first. ("When you get home....")

The second and third, home births, I didn't tear and didn't need stitches. But the second and third I was taking my own time and not being hurried along by a busy team, and I'd already done this once (twice) and wasn't so tense.

Listening to poor Amber’s experience made me feel very fortunate to have given birth in France where you positively have to opt out of having an epidural and then it is administered so expertly you maintain just enough sensation to push. After the birth you can stay in hospital, in your own room for up to five days while you adjust to the new reality with every comfort and expert on hand so that by the time you get home you can hit the ground running.

I thought George was going to lose it with the baby. It wasn't even crying much.

Same.
It doesn't bode too well.

Adam is such a shit using Alexander to punish Brian, especially as Xander has been asking about him.
I hope Brian goes to court if Adam continues to stop him seeing his grandson. He'd be able to prove there was previously a good relationship.

Ian is so obviously uncomfortable with having to keep Brian away from Xander I wonder if the relationship with Adam may fracture. He's not even Adam's son.

I thought Ian was the one whose sperm was not viable enough to father a child, and Xander is Adam's biological offspring.

(The phrase "Adam is such a shit" doesn't need the rest of the sentence, as far as I am concerned.)

exactly. The terminology defines it anyway. You spread jam and dollop cream. Ergo scone, jam, cream.

The phrase "Adam is such a shit" doesn't need the rest of the sentence, as far as I am concerned.

Yep!

Deprive Xander of his mother and his grandfather.

Brian was being manipulative.

I’m very much team Adam.

But he’s not his grandfather. Hasn’t Brian declared that Adam is no son of his?

Ok he's his step grandfather but has acted just like a grandfather. Xander has no other man in his life who has that role, we never hear anything about Ian's father.

It sickens me that whatever the issues between Brian and Adam, Adam has chosen to use Xander as a pawn by depriving Brian of seeing him. Surely that's not beneficial to Xander in any way.

But this whole row stems from Brian saying to Adam: “You’re not even my son”. It was pretty unforgivable - Brian at his absolute worst. He has treated Adam appallingly. Now he’s trying to buy his way back in through Xander and yes it was an amazing present, but Adam has a point - he’s just trying to protect his son.

I'm with Adam on this one. Brine doesn't get to pick and choose his relations. Well he does, but there are consequences.

So if not Joe…

BRAD?

(Please let it be Bartleby…. )

I think Amber and George are very lucky to have so much support, but no so much that they live in a crowded house with a baby. It will get worse when baby starts crawling and stuff has to be put out of the way in case of accidents. That's when the trouble will start.
Im team Adam too. I dont know if Brian would have a leg to stand on if he takes Adam to court because he can't see Zander. His not been mistreated or neglected so Brian as a step Grandparent would not stand a chance.
Brian was very sneaky and I think Ian should go round and tell him not to go behind Adams back again.
Brian made it clear Adam is not his biological son so he can eff off.
Never could understand the love for Brain , he was a rake and a womaniser but was always forgiven.

Sometimes I am so relieved I could not have children.

Clarence, after Clarrie?

Or on an Amber theme, neighbours had a grandson called Onyx. A more agricultural variant might be Agate...

Wasn’t Clarrie’s father Jethro?

Unusual enough to appeal to Amber.

Jethro Joseph Grundy.

If I were an unmarried mother, the baby would be having my surname.

Why does the NHS turf mums and newborns out so quickly?

Cost I imagine. I stayed in hospital for 12 days in 1980. 10 days was normal and 2 more because my baby was under UV lights.

From what I hear these days I am not sure that a lengthy stay in hospital would be all that great, unless you had a room of your own.

I see lots of comments about other patients playing loud stuff on their mobile phones at all hours so you cannot rest.

A lot of things were different then. It was normal to stay 10 days for a first baby but there were loads of student nurses and midwives so we could chat with them and it was easy to talk about concerns. I was in a bay of 6 beds and we all talked to each other comparing notes and supporting each other. Visiting times were limited so no men hanging about all night (I've only read about that on MN and would have hated it). No mobile phones then so that wasn't a problem.

Of course, I couldn't wait to get home though.