January 2009

January 21st, 2009

We’re home



Wow – thank you all so so much for all your messages! We’ve loved reading them – Kevin brought them all in to hospital for me to read on his phone. It’ wonderful to have such an amazing support network :)

It’s so good to be home again. We went pretty much straight back to hospital on Friday after we came home. The contractions had started to rain down and we knew the baby wasn’t far away at all. Polly drove us the three minutes to the Royal Free and when we arrived I felt very weird – I told Kevin I felt like I was on drugs and couldn’t feel the contractions much any more. I could even walk through them pretty much – and I knew that couldn’t be right. I was thinking to myself this is how mum felt just before she died.

When we arrived we were very surprised that what I’d been told an hour or so earlier by the midwife who sent us home was a show – was actually more blood than there should be and that the baby’s heart rate was a bit low and I needed to be hooked up to the trace.

The obstetrician was about to go and do another section and said he’d be back in an hour. I was now 4cm. All of a sudden everyone was pushing me onto my side saying I had to stay on my side and I was wheeled right away into theatre. They had the mask on my face ready to start a general anasthetic but at the very last second they said I could have a spinal instead – which meant I could be awake for the operation. And that Kevin could be there. Which was a good thing.

The actual operation was really weird. I know we arrived in the theatre at 10.30pm and Edith was born at 10.53pm. It took another 40 odd minutes to sew me back up – and that was the weird bit. All I could think of is they’re really rummaging around in there aren’t they and I felt very squeamish about the whole thing. I had to breathe my way through that. All the while craning my neck back to see Edith, who Kevin was holding next to me. Little thing. She was perfect.

The obstetrician talked through all of this. And the anaesthetist was right with me the whole time – they were really, really lovely and brilliant all the way through. The obstetrician said my uterus was full of blood – an abrupted placenta (we don’t know why though) – meaning the placenta had come away from the uterus, which can be very very dangerous for mum and baby – and I’d lost a lot of blood.

We were so lucky we went back to hospital when we did. And we’ve been told that by so many doctors and midwives over the past few days. We really are. It could have been a lot worse. We caught this thing so early none of the signs had even really had a chance to show themselves.

Alone in hospital after such a big operation with a newborn made for one very long night indeed, and that is a whole other story. I would have completely fallen apart if it had been my first. And Melissa – your Kia Kaha worked wonders for me that night (I saw that message just before we went back).

Anyway, I’ll write the birth story up properly – I just wanted to say hello, we’re home, we’re well. Edith is great, happy, demanding, feeding, pooing, looking around, lifting her head up, crying, sleeping – she seems much happier at home too now.

Edith is my late grandmother’s middle name. Rose was almost Astrid’s middle name – so we’ve had her name ready for a few months – just waiting for her to arrive.

She certainly made sure she was born on her due date as well didn’t she.

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January 18th, 2009

Edith Rose



(kevin here)

After weeks and months of waiting, and us mistakenly thinking she’d be early, Edith arrived on her due date of 16th January, at 10.53pm, with a hiss and a roar.

A seemingly straightforward labour started at about 1pm and things progressed normally during the afternoon. After taking advice from a friend (whose husband had to deliver their second baby in the bathroom) we decided to walk up to the hospital (about 5 minutes away) to see how far along we were and be there in case things moved on quickly.

After a couple of hours of waiting and tests (they were very busy – we had phoned earlier to be told there were no beds) we were sent home as Charlotte was only 2cm. We got home and things progressed very quickly and we found ourselves back in hospital less than an hour after we left – luckily Polly was on hand to drive us this time.

To cut a long story short, the obstetrician had a look and decided to move things on as he had some concerns. Very quickly Charlotte was whisked into theatre to be prepped for a Caesarian. I was left holding the bags in the corridor wondering what to do next.

I’m gowned up and taken in to sit by Charlotte while there is a flurry of activity going on around us and within a few minutes Edith was with us, pink, eyes open and looking around in wonderment. Cleaned up and wrapped up warm I hold her while the surgeons finish off. She is remarkably calm and quiet.

Charlotte is staying in hospital for a few days to recover (if it had been a normal labour she would have been sent home  6 hours after giving birth) I’m sure she’ll write a much fuller account of events when she feels up to it.

All that remains for me to do is to thank everyone for their kind words and thoughts while all this has been going on and to welcome Edith Rose into the world.

Hello babychops 2!

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January 16th, 2009

Due date

…and I appear to be having half decent contractions. We’ve been for a walk and now it’s bed and a hottie. Hopefully we’ll have a baby by the end of tomorrow today.



I’ve also created two Blurb books – the family albums for 2007 and 2008 – a job that’s been languishing for some time now. Tick!

Baking a cake – still nah.

update: just phoned the birth centre to tell them we might be coming in tonight / tomorrow and they’re full and so is the labour ward – but not to worry they’ll find me a bed. Ha ha. On our tour the other week they said it’s never ever full. I’m glad I find this funny.  

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January 14th, 2009

Come on baby come on come on



39 weeks, 5 days


Might bake that cake today. And we’ll walk to England’s Lane later on for toulouse sausages. Last night I put together the blurb family album for 2008 – it’s brilliant – can’t stop looking at it.

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January 12th, 2009

Time for a cup of tea

… and a sit down (and a scone).



I’ve finished the sewing binge. Babychops ii clothes are all freshly washed and re-packed. I made scones. I’m thinking about a cake. Maybe. Nah.

Now all I feel like doing is sitting down and doing nothing. And possibly knitting.

But before I do, a few notes on this pregnancy. Physically it’s been so much better than Astrid’s. This time I’ve been able to walk. I’ve steered well clear of yoga this time around, and the symphysis pubis disorder that was threatening to show itself again has entirely cleared up. I’ve not carried my rather weighty camera and lens around a flower show all day at 35 weeks – meaning I haven’t put my back out, very badly, for three weeks. The baby hasn’t gone breech so we’ve saved a lot of acupuncture and moxa effort as well.

Being in London, this pregnancy has seen miles and miles and miles of walking. Here there and every-a-where. We have walked. I was trying on clothes yesterday at Whistles and noticed my waist from behind. As in, I can see it – there is one. You see I’ve not had a midwife telling me I need to eat as much as I possibly can for the last six weeks of pregnancy. And if I did I’d now know to ignore them. I’ve not even been so much as weighed or measured this time.

Having a child however whilst pregnant is Very Hard Work. As is being sick, as we have, for the past few months. But I’ve also been very lucky having childcare three days a week (the plan was for me to work up until Christmas – which is another story), and Kevin’s at home these past few weeks and a couple more. On that front I know I am very, very lucky indeed.

As I write this the baby seems to be knocking on my upper abdomen. Hello. Come out please! We think you’ll come on Friday. Wednesday isn’t so good. We can’t wait to meet you and give you your name. We can’t wait to meet you and bring you home!

- – -

Also an interview avec moi on Yvestown Lifestyle Blog for anyone wanting to know, amongst other things, what my favourite flower is, how messy my room was as a child, and why I always wear shoes in the kitchen.

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January 9th, 2009

happiness*



pyjama pants : top liberty dante in green, bottom linnet cotton floral.
pattern from robe rouge

This morning I woke up and all these amazing things came flooding into my mind. How everything I’d ever dreamed of for myself had all actually come true after all. And while I’d always thought I’d never achieved so many of my ambitions, I have, only mostly on a smaller scale than I was expecting.

So as I happily work my way through my stash, discovering what it’s like to be well again, but now realising I’m allergic to the cats and probably have been for the past few months, wondering when the contractions will start; the days get longer.. and the birds begin to sing again.

39 weeks today. Things starting to move. Feeling slightly nervous.

* a favourite piece of music : : superpitcher – michael mayer mix

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January 6th, 2009

Another winter outfit

Seeing as we’ll be having two winters in a row – albeit one more like the corresponding summer – and because if Astrid’s trousers are both in the wash we have no trousers I thought it only prudent to make another winter outfit. Now of course. Because it’s so jolly cold. Astrid’s duvet cover froze on the line outside this afternoon. That’s how cold it is.



navy wool from global fabrics auckland
pattern e-3 from this book



grey wool from global fabrics auckland
trouser pattern from this book (and yes they do need an iron)

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January 6th, 2009

babychops ii blanket



pale grey cotton flannel and purple rosebud print both from linnet
cotton batting from quiltdirect

Well, it’s a quilt isn’t it. But it’s not a patchwork quilt. Wasn’t ready for that. The next one however I am ready for. And it will be patchwork. And it will be linen. And I will not use bloody polycotton bias tape. Which I really do not like. But I’m too lazy to be patient enough to follow the instructions on making my own. And I’ve been waiting for Superbuzzy to get the organic stuff back in stock for five weeks now. And truth be known I really can’t afford anything else right now. So I’m just going to have to wash the living daylights out of it and then I’ll send it to Sydney for a bit to have the sun beat the buggery out of it. And if that all fails I can cut it off and re-bind it.

Yep, there’s always that. But the rest of it’s marvellous. So who cares about the binding. At least it’s a good colour.

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January 6th, 2009

Nesting and the new sewing machine



using up scraps + nature baby ribbon

God it‘s good. My new Elna 5100. Really good. I can sew while Astrid is asleep even. And in the next room even. My sketchbook is full of ideas, full of projects being ticked off. More batting has been ordered. Blankets are being made. It’s cold outside. And inside my stash is rapidly being got through.

We think I might be allergic to the cats. Or have sinusitis. But things are looking up. It was a bleak old Christmas. A bleak old Chops birthday. Now I can count my blessings again. Life is happy. The cough has stopped. Life is good. Life’s lessons are here for learning. And while things may not be perfect I am surrounded by and filled with beauty, peace and contentment.

My hospital bag is packed. Babychops ii’s hospital bag is packed. Each bag packed with smaller bags of categorised items. Receiving blanket, first outfit, second outfit, nappies, maternity pads, labour outfit, bed outfit, socks, taxi money, floral water, arnica.

38 and a half weeks – baby now engaged…


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January 3rd, 2009

Notes from a small island

Thirty eight weeks yesterday. And we’re on the mend.



Today I redeemed my New Sewing Machine For Christmas voucher at John Lewis. Today I didn’t spend twenty quid on a cab. Today the bus driver let me on free when my card failed. Today I sat next to a lovely lady on the bus who was a psychic counsellor with arthritis and dyslexia. Astrid played peek a boo and smiled at her down her long eyelashes. The psychic counsellor with arthritis and dyslexia wanted to give Astrid a cuddle and take her home.

Today as we walked across the Heath back home, new sewing machine in hand, the sun shone. Kevin noted the Heath looked different. I mused it must be they’ve cut the grass back. Kevin wondered whether it wasn’t the light. I suggested a brisk walk might even warm one up with that sun. Today. We couldn’t be sure though.

Tomorrow I’ll cut voile. Tomorrow I’ll cut double gauze.
Tomorrow I’m letting myself loose on a quilt adventure.

Yesterday flights to Auckland were booked. A way off yet. A bit of time before that next adventure.

ps. Yvonne‘s just told me that my rss feed has vanished off bloglines – so if you have lost me try this link – and you’ll get photos too.

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