h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Ginger,

Just popping along to see how you, Doug and the baby in the tum are getting along.

How are you all today?

Hey Peta - I am fine. Had a bit of a crying fit yesterday and having been bathing in clary sage oil in the hope that starts something off. Every evening I get contractions but then they always stop. My real hope is to go into labout first thing in the morning after a good night's rest - some chance! How are you doing?

Yes, fine here!

If you keep getting contractions that are quite strong try walking up and down? It seemed to keep it going for me. Everytime I eventually gave up and settled down on the sofa they stopped, but whilst I keep on the move They seemed to keep going.

Sorry to hear about your earlier pregnancy problems BTW. I had a miscarriage a few years back, not good.

This little one is a chap is he not? Do you have names lined up for him? Do you think its possible you'll change the name if he doesn't look like you expect him too or is it fixed, whatever?

The problems were a bummer - not something I would ever wish on anyone. We only like the one boys name which is Harrison (my maiden name). It will obviously get shortened to Harry which is popular at the moment but at least Harrison is more unusual. The middle name will be Peter which is the name of both Grandad's. We just couldn't find any other boys names at all. How did you come up with the names for your two?

Harrison's a great name, lovely choice! Unusual, but not ultra fash, in a 'trying to be different' kind of way.

Peter's quite unusual nowadays too, which is weird as its such a traditional name, there don't seem to be many at schools nowadays. And of course, I know deep down that his middle name is really Peta, after me.

I spent ages picking my son Alexander's name. I had a list but none of them seemed to suit him, so I dithered for ages after he was born. Middle name was going to be Douglas, but his gran protested because it was grandad's name and she didn't much like him, so I didn't - but regretted not doing it later.

My daughter is Mollie. That was entirely the other way round. I had a long list of girls names that I liked, to pick from when she was born. Then when she actually came I saw her - I just *knew* she was Mollie - even though it wasn't even on the list.

Weirdly it wasn't that Mollie suddenly came to me as a nice name (it's her Grandma's name, so it had been around in the family for years) it was just that I recognised her. She *was* Mollie - and any other name would just have been wrong. Weird! She still is the Mollie-est Mollie you ever saw!

Well I had quite a late scan and I think Harry will suit this baby. It won't get changed as we don't like any other boys names. Can I just say "OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW" btw? I had about 3 hours of false contractions last night and they have pushed the babies head right up against the cervix. Walking and sitting are very uncomfortable. I look like John Wayne!

Owwww!

It's obviously moving in the right direction though!

I remember the feeling. I felt like I wanted a hammock strung between my legs, just to keep it 'up'.

Ow! Can't be too much longer then. Have you had a 'show'? Apparently not all people do, but most do. If you have you're down to days, I think it's supposed to be two or three at most.

They may be real contractions anyway now, you're so close. You may already be dilating a bit, just inching towards it.

I'm waiting for you to disappear off line for a few days now, and then Doug to reappear with the good news.

I think I'll put money on next Monday. Shall we set up a sweepstake?

Monday might be a good bet but if it hits next Monday it will be the first deadline I have ever hit bang on! I haven't had a show yet and there is no sign of my waters breaking. All I get are the contractions - last night's were definite contractions - I could actually feel things happening inside. Sorry, too much information! Lol!!

One of my friends from work came to see me with her little boy today and it was lovely. She put my mind at rest over lots of things and it was just so nice to feel that I hadn't been forgotten. She also bought lots of nice goodies.