.........and yet more photos

.......and more photos

More photo's.....

The last two days

We were set to leave hospital on Thursday 18th. Terry and Sue O'Neill popped in early evening for a visit whilst Leslie and Pancake were awaiting release. Leslie and I were discussing the release title of the current production and eventually decided on Stella Lucia(loo-chee-ah). Stella really named herself. As of this time her eyes only come out at night. Her middle name is in honour of Leslie's dear mother Lucille whom was actually named named Lucia. There is an interesting back story as to why her name became anglicised.

We eventually got home via the grocery store at about midnight. Stella then proceeded to keep us up the rest of the night although now she seems to be settling. She is feeding regularly and well from the bottle. I'm a little sad that she will not just stay as she is, small, perfectly formed and beautiful, I'm so in love. Soon Stella will be to large to hold in one arm

Many visitors have been and gone. On behalf of Leslie and I thank you all for the kind gifts, remarks and reassurance that you have all given.

"The flying pancake" preparing for the winter olymipics

No sooner out of the womb than what the pundits are calling the "flying pancake" is mentally rehearsing her slide in the luge event at a future winter Olympics

the breastmilk nazi

Got in this morning and Leslie had no sleep at all last night and has partially admited defeat in the nursing stakes. Now I'm all for mother's nursing their children and I understand how an award from the WHO for promoting nursing is indeed a prostigious acolade for a maternity department of a hospital. This does not however excuse one certain midife whom shall be known from herein as "the breastmilk nazi"(for our British viewers this is a refeence to a famous episode of Sienfeld) from making Leslie feel bad.about the situation. A little blip on an otherwise unimpeachable birth. One thing I have learnt from holding my daughter is an overwhelming sense of peace I just know that the small stuff ain't worth worrying about. The opinion of one "breastmilk nazi" just doesn't amount to much, no matter how well intentioned. Leslie and pancake should be coming home today, so I'm pretty excited! I apologise for the dearth of new photo's and video lately on the blog, I intend to appease all you Pancake hungry fiends soon! All for now.....

She's still so gorgeous....

Daddy had a go at changing today,....and needs some practice..
Today Leslie and Pancake had a couple of welcome visitors, Auntie Melisa and auntie Nimisha


Leslie is trying to nurse our little star. Little Pancake is a fussy eater (just like her mom), she latches on and loses interest after a few gulps. The midwives all say it's just a matter of patience so Leslie is valiantly going to keep trying. In the intervening time the midwives are helping the process with a procedure called "expressing." This involves Leslie, a syringe and the baby. This is what is occuring in the picture with the midwife.

some more photo's

Here are some more photo's of the star..

Could she be.....the most beautiful girl in the world?

I might be biased but i think so!

Who's your daddy!?

This is so unbelievable it hasn't sunk in yet!.....
...and then there was three.
Well I reckon that's just about enough from me I know you have been bored stiff of the support band......... well here's the headline act..............


More pictures and videos tommorow when i'm back at the hospital.......

the stork has landed.....

And brought Leslie and I a beautiful 6lbs 9oz baby girl. Little "Pancake" was born at 7:30pm by assisted delivery using forceps. Mother and daughter are both fine although father is already thinking about the shotgun license he has to apply for to protect his little girl from all those boys in the forthcoming years.

She is perfect. Leslie says that she has her nose and my mouth. I surely hope not as a mouth like mine will surely mean a lifetime of trouble ;-)

I'd like to pay tribute to all the maternity team in the maternity unit at city general hospital in Newcastle under Lyme. Great job guys!

That's all for now loads off pictures and video to follow later when I get to a computer.

getting on a bit of a trot now.....

I think the stork is getting nearer.....Leslie has been doing really well practicing but can't feel the need to push. They took a little blood from the scalp of Pancake to test which came back all good. Miss O'Mahoney is letting Leslie relax for another 20 minutes or so whilst the epideural is eased down so she feels the need to push. It looks more that likely that Pancake is taking the traditional route rather than "the sunroof".....there may be the need for an assisted birth although this is yet to be decided.....

things have moved on again.....

OK things have moved on again somewhat now. Miss O'Mahoney has been in again to check, in her own words:
"Let's see what's goin' on with this bloomin' child and see if it's comin' out the door or through the sunroof!"(Sppken in irish brogue) Leslie is fully dilated and Miss O'Mahoney is happy to let nature to take its course for the time being. Leslie and the baby are under constant monitoring Leslie has been in some discomfort but anasthesiologist has come and sorted it out......Wait what's that I see away in the wild blue yonder. I haven't got my binoculars but I could swear it's a stork and it looks like it has a bundle in it's beak!....can't be too long now surely?.....

more of the same

Miss O'Mahoney came by again to check on Leslie and Pancake. Leslie is now officially in labour as of about 45 minutes ago, 5cm dilated and she has been allowed food. Pancake's electro cardiogram (ECG) remains steady....

and so it continues.....

The omniscient, omnipitent consultant, Miss O'Mahoney who shoots so straight that she'd take Harold's eye out given a bow and arrow (even though not temporally possible I bet she could still do it) checked Leslie some time ago at the behest of the midwife. Miss O'Mahoney wasn't too concerned, infact she said the baby like getting his/hers neck stroked,....and so it continues,......

confidence

What can I say about the consultant obstetritian/gaenocologyst to say that she inspires confidence is to understate the case, infact only saying that I understate the case in to understate the understatement. If this woman said that she'd lead me to the promised land; I'd follow, and I'm talkin about the old fashioned way!!! The contractions are getting a little closer together and more regular, it shouldn't be long until she is officially in "labour"(labor for our american friends). Better get back in...........

getting along a little now....

The hormone that was administered to Leslie earlier this morning is getting her along a little although the contractions are still a little disordely. The doctor checked her and the baby (by way of the trace produced by the monitoring) and said that she would give it a little more time before making a decision about a Cesarian section. The babys blood oxygen levels are to be checked as a further precaution. Other than that nothing much to blog about. Leslie is still saying the epideural is the bomb and all the staff are being really attentive and nice. Watch this. Space I guess,......

Back on the unit

Got back and the duty midwife filled me in on what was going on. Although we weren't expecting any developments until tomorrow it appears that mother nature (and Pancake) have other ideas. As a result they have now removed from Leslie the initial hormone treatment, broke her waters, administered an epideural on drip (which Leslie is happy about) and started the hormone treatment that will start the contractions. I must say for me this is reminiscent of my old proffession, a lot of hurry up and wait! Still the medical staff were impressed by how quickly I got to the hospital. Oh! By the way for my american friends who were confused about the latest working title,...today is shrove tuesday,...commonly known as pancake day in old Blighty! All for now.....

who needs sleeps?

it's just gone five in the morning and i've just been called to the hospital......So much for being that fresh?!?!?
Who needs sleep?
Should have thought about that 38 weeks ago ?!?!?

a little bit closer, but not much...

So the midwife said that I could return home for the night and i will get a phone if anything happens. This I have done and will return tomorrow fresh and ready to rock! The hormone that they gave this afternoon Leslie is slowly working it's magic, although to quote Blackadder:

"Since then, we've made as much ground as an asthmatic ant with a heavy load of shopping."

No matter later today will be the day! I cautiously suggested that Leslie might trim her nails today as to ameliorate the pain inflicted upon myself when she has hold of my hands tomorrow. She however declined,.....This is why I love my wife, she never thinks of herself, such a sharing girl!

I thought I'd post a couple of pictures from the delivery room, and one of the 20 week scan in which Leslie says that the baby looks like me. I'm not so sure....We opted to not know the sex of the baby until the birth. The speculation has been fun... Leslie thinks boy, I think girl.

Also posted is a video of the monitoring of the baby's heartbeat.

The midwife says all the signs are good.

Finally thanks for all the comments there will be more comment arriving as things progress. Pictures and videos will probably wait until we all return home as i can't do that from the phone.

Everyone is welcome to speculate about the gender of "Pancake" (The new working title of this production) however I respectfully request that all mention of hair colour is withheld(this means you C.Top). All for now..........

excursion

Just took a walk with Leslie over to the hospital shop where we purchased a paper and then to the resteraunt. Despite the artificial nature of the building the food is reasonable and they have "real" coffee. Leslie treated herself to macaroni and cheese and I to a medium americano, nothing doing yet, I know what you must be thinking....this is tedious...I can't help thinking so myself....makes me think about the film Zulu, can't think of the actors name but the character was a scared young man who in a lull in the battle said "why me colours!"(meaning color sergeant to our american friends) only to be met with the reply "coz you're 'ere lad." mmmmmmm, is it more than a little coincidental that the ward sister bears a striking resemlence to said non-commisioned officer?

start of the induction

The midwife administered the hormone that starts the whole process off about 30 minutes ago. It'll be at least 24 Hours before the medical staff check to she how far along she is....the baby is being monitored at the moment but the midwife said that Leslie will be able to get up and move around once they take the monitoring kit off....like I said, a long wait... And so it continues.........

settling in

Leslie and I are now in the hospital the midwife and doctor have seen her, the ward sister has gently chided me for useing the phone in the delivery room. The phone has terrible reception within the new maternity unit so if everybody is patient the news will be communicated as hastily as I can, ward sisters withstanding....

About to go into hospital

A couple of pictures of the bump. Leslie says that she will miss being pregnant

Just about to set off to go into hospital. It seems more than a little strange that when we return it wont be just us two. Hope to keep all posted by way of the blog.