Praise the Lord...

One of our antenatal buddies has not only given birth to a beautiful baby boy but come out the other side of an extremely serious (and usually fatal) complication during birth. Needless to say, this has put the wind up everybody who knows and loves her. What her poor hubbie has been through in the last three days, I cannot imagine.

Her experience has also served as a reminder to me that this birthing business is not always straightforward. There remain real risks, despite all the amazing things obstetricians can do these days.

In the midst of a flurry of texts on Saturday with updates on our friend's condition, N and I visited the delivery suite at the hospital where - hopefully - we will meet our new baby. It was not the happiest of times to undertake the visit but all the staff we met were lovely and it felt good to see where the deed will take place.

I have to admit to a certain amount of grumpiness when we looked round the hospital's new birthing suite (as opposed to the delightfully named 'high-risk suite' where I will be taken... No soft lights and aromatherapy candles for me!) The rooms were really relaxed and had their own bathrooms and we were surrounded by misty-eyed first timers asking about bringing in their own music and cushions. Hindsight can be a wonderful thing, but not necessarily in this situation!

But we did feel reassured that even the rooms where we will be can be adapted as much as possible to feel a little less clinical. The good old monitor will be my constant companion and I'll have to have a drip thing inserted into my hand on arrival just in case. But other than that we should be able to make it home from home... My main concern now is, bizarrely, what to wear!!

On a non-birthing note (I hope you're not fed up of it all by now. I am...), this is my first proper non-working day with Oliver at nursery. Something of a treat. I got up at 9.30 and can't remember the last time that happened. And I'm going to watch a film this afternoon whilst polishing off the rest of the Quality Street. Hurrah.