A Walk in the Park

.....well, it was about half a walk in the park.

Clair is starting to find everyday tasks incredibly difficult now. Even the shortest of walks are proving to be a real challenge - which is no surprise with 14 pounds worth of baby up front!

We try to get out every day - even if it is just a walk round the block. Here's a few pics from our walk today - all five of us.

Absolutely positively 100% ready (....we think)

A few additional tasks completed today!

We've washed all the baby clothes we're going to take to the hospital and re-packed the bag. We've also washed the baby bedding and put it onto the cots and moses baskets.

Whoever at Mamas and Papas decided that their bedding wasn't suitable for the tumble dryer ought to be shot!

Ante-Natal Week 7

This week was all about looking after baby (or babies in our case) after the birth. ie. when you get home and you're let loose into the big wide world!

We talked about different approaches to looking after baby including the Brazelton approach and the Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale. We also spent quite a bit of time discussing the programme that was on Channel 4 the other night, Bringing Up Baby.

So, this was our final NCT class prior to the birth. There are three more sessions planned for December when we all get back together with our babies. I cannot imagine how manic those classes are going to be in a small room with 8 couples and 9 babies...

36 Weeks Picture Added

Blimey! This has got to be the biggest week of growth we've had yet!

Slideshow on the right, or here....

Consultant Visit - 36 Weeks

We saw our consultant again this afternoon. He's more than happy with progress and now wants to see us weekly - although I don't think there are going to be many more weekly appointments!

The Final Scan Pics - 36 Weeks

Here's your last look at the twins before they're born. Today we had what should be our final scan before they're journey into the outside world!

Have a look at twin 2 here (incorrectly labelled as the first twin) - you can see their hand in front of their face!

Apparently they already weigh almost 7 pounds each! (that made Clair wince a bit!) Let's hope they don't have another growth spurt and we end up competing with these.

T minus 1 month!

If you glance over at the counter on the right hand side, you will see that it has just tipped over to 29 days!

Whilst this Wednesday will be classed as 4 weeks to go, there's no harm in celebrating T - 1 month as well is there?

If we ever have anything like this in our house, feel free to shoot me

We saw this in Mothercare the other day. It gave me a headache just looking at all the things it did. Can you imagine two of these flying round the house..

Do you think it also has wifi and bluetooth? :-)

Ante-Natal Week 6

Penultimate session this week and the focus was on breast feeding.

We had a demonstration of how a baby attaches itself to the breast - no, not a real life demonstration but with a puppet (which looked like it was straight out of Sesame Street) and what can only be described as a breast made of wool, complete with knitted nipple.

We also discussed some of the complications in breast feeding such as mastitis and engorgement.

We then watched a video on breastfeeding. Did you know that a new born baby, if left alone will eventually find it's way to the mother's breast and start feeding? I don't think we're talking about a 10 metre crawl across the room or anything - I think it has to be fairly close to the breast in the first place... Still, amazing stuff.

Final week next week!

Babies 1st Halloween

Assuming the babies are born before the end of October (if they're not I can't imagine the state my body will be in), then they will of course need outfits for trick or treating!

Mamas and Papas do a whole range!

35 Weeks Picture Added

Oh how we laugh when we look back at the tiny bump in the first picture of the slideshow!

New pic over on the right. Or click here for the full screen slideshow.

Hot Cold Hot Cold Hot

Now, usually I'm the one that's always hot, always turning the thermostat down, always opening windows etc. - even in the middle of winter!

It's been a little bit cooler the last couple of days, but this time it's Clair that's the hot one and I'm the one contemplating turning the heating on! Being the tight wad that I am, that usually doesn't happen until we open the first window on the advent calendar..

Oh, the irony of pregnancy...

Check!

Nursery ready - check!
Nappies bought - check!
Clothing bought - check!
Moses baskets bought - check!
Hospital bag packed - check!
Buggy bought - check!
Car seats bought - check!

Anything else we're missing?

Ante-Natal Week 5

Oh yes, the birth video this week.

I certainly don't intend on being that close to the business end - and definitely not with a video camera....

Have you ever seen those films on TV where they show a calf being born? It wasn't entirely dissimilar - apart from the mooing and the lack of a vet to pull the baby out. Seriously though, it was really useful to see and I'm glad we got there early to experience it.

We also started talking about breast feeding this week but the main session on that will be next Wednesday.

Only two more ante-natal sessions to go before we're let loose into the wild!

God help the twins....

34 Weeks Picture Added

New pic on the right or click here for the full screen slideshow.

The Bi-Weekly Consultant Trip

Another trip to see the consultant today.

He's more than happy with the way things are going - both heads are pointing down and it's unlikely that they're going to change positions anymore now. They're running out of room at a serious rate!

Instead of punches and kicks, they're now just pushing and stretching against Clair's belly - another sign that things are getting tight in there.

In preparation, we've posted directions to the hospital on the right hand side of the home page, just underneath our picture. In case anyone wants to visit us when they do eventually arrive.

A Trial Run

We did a trial run to the hospital today (talk about being prepared!)

As the hospital is in central London, we won't want to have a car with us so Clair's mum will be taking us when the time comes.

Ante-Natal Week 4

It's funny seeing these women get bigger in the space of just one week. They were all coming in to the class this week rubbing their bellies - all too hot and bothered to be interested in taking part in the group tasks.

This week we discussed more about pain relief (we seem to be doing this every week!) and the pros and cons of each option including the effects each has on the baby. We also talked about having a birth plan which details all your preferences when it comes to giving birth.

Next week we move on to post-birth including breastfeeding. Before that though, we have 'the video'. We've been told that if you don't want to see it, come along ten minutes later as she'll be running it at the start of the class. Can't understand why you wouldn't - forewarned is forearmed and all that....

33 Weeks Picture Added

The bump goes up, the bump goes down, the bump goes up......

New pic on the right, or click here for the full screen slideshow.

Fascinating Fact

Apparently, in the Huichol tribe of Mexico, the presence of the baby's father [during labour] may be required so that a string can be tied round his testicles on which the woman can pull as each contraction mounts to a peak of pain. (from 'Rediscovering Birth' by Sheila Kitzinger).

...I presume they're referring to silly string you get from a party shop?

Clair, The Poptastic Radio Star

We were listening to James O'Brien on LBC on our way to see the Consultant last Friday. The traffic around Hammersmith was horrendous so we thought it would be fun to phone up and join the 'quiz of the week'.

It's one of those quizzes where you have to say the answer to the previous question instead of the one you're being asked.

Have a listen below. We didn't last very long...