Can Anybody Help Me? (26 page)

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Authors: Sinéad Crowley

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Claire frowned. The message might as well have been written in Ancient Greek.

SofaBound

Hello. Sorry I don't have a clue what you are talking about. What is ECS? VBAC?

Momof2

*laughs* Sorry, you're new aren't you! ECS = emergency section. Vbac something you hopefully won't have to worry about! Honestly the main thing to do is relax. If they've signed you off work then that's the main thing. Just watch some daytime TV and take it easy. You'll be busy long enough.

LondonMum

+1 to Momof2. I had high BP too, was induced too and narrowly avoided the dreaded ECS! I agree you should take it easy. I didn't take my own advice – we moved from London to Dublin in the middle of the pregnancy and I was up to my eyes getting the house ready etc with DH working 24/7. So it wasn't surprising I ended up sick. So if I was you I'd take it as a warning, sit back and relax! Honestly, it's a cliché but the last few weeks fly. It'll be over before you know it. And then you'll be longing for that sofa!

SofaBound

Thank you. Wish it were last few weeks. Am only 26 weeks gone. Not sure I can take 3 months of daytime tv. But will try! Thanks again

LondonMum

Well we're always here if you need a natter! Are you stuck to the bed or just taking it easy?

SofaBound

Not on total bed rest no. Have been told if things stabilise
I can do a small bit, meet people for coffee maybe. But absolutely no work

Jeepers. Typing the sad face icon actually worked. Sitting at the end of her message was a cute, weeping smiley. Claire tried again.
Now the smiley had a big grin on his face. She deleted her draft message and checked the thread again.

LondonMum

Work schmurk
. Take care of yourself for a few weeks and hopefully things will work out. Looking forward to chatting to you

‘Me too,' Claire typed and then looked at the screen in disbelief. Good God, she almost meant it. Turning off her browser, she opened her contacts book. She would ring Flynn and have a chat about something real.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

ANYONE HEARD FROM MAMMYNO1?

RedWineMine

She's been on my mind constantly since that last thread. Anyone heard from her?

MeredithGrey

Yeah, me too. I was hoping she'd be back on.

MyBabba

Actually girls, I've been PMing her. She's okay. She has taken the kids to stay with a relative for a while. Don't want to say too much as she was afraid her DH, sorry H was reading her posts here.

MrsDrac

Jesus sounds terrible. I hope she's okay.

LondonMum

+1 tell her we are thinking of her please MyBabba

MyBabba

Will do. She really appreciates the support from you girls x

PLAY DATE NEXT SUNDAY?

Lollipop

Yipee, first week in work done and dusted! Can't wait for the weekend now to spend some time with DD
I heard something on the radio the other day about a big day out in Stephens Green for parents and babies – anyone else hear about it?

IrishMammyinTraining

Yeah, I go every year, brilliant now the girls are older. I'd highly recommend it!

Cerys

Yeah, I was thinking of bringing DS as well. Maybe I'll see you there!

LimerickLass

Oh, I'd love to go but it's too far for me to travel *pouts*. We should organise some sort of meet up though ladies, give those of us down in the sticks some time to prepare?

CaraMia

I'm down the country too but willing to travel … DH is working all weekend so I'm looking for something to do with the munchkins. I'd be on for a meet up if others are!!

Lollipop

Sounds cool! How will we know each other though?

TAKETHATFAN

I'D BE ON FOR IT

Lollipop

Well how about we meet near the entrance around 2pm? I've got a Red Bugaboo, DD is 8 months old.

TAKETHATFAN

I'LL HAVE 2 DS AND DD WITH ME. GREY MCLAREN BUGGY. SEE YOU THERE!

MyBabba

I can't go girls … so sorry. Have a brill time and I'll be dying to hear all about it!

MeredithGrey

Oh I'd love to!!! Does anyone else feel a little bit funny about it though *blushes*. I feel like I know you girls now and ye know far too much about me
Would be kinda mad to see you all in person!!

RedWineMine

Sorry, no. I love chatting to you girls online but can't imagine taking it to the next level. You'd probably hate me anyway. I'm a complete cow in Real Life *whistles*

MeredithGrey

Ah RWM don't be like that *kisses*. I'd love to meet you hun! Maybe you'll change your mind.

Cerys

Oh, I'm glad I logged in today now! I feel like I know you all already, it would be nice to put a few faces to the names J Will definitely be there. Fingers xd for good weather!!

CarrotCake

Sounds like we will have a good crowd too *jumps up and down with excitement* see you all there!

LondonMum

I'd love to.

Deleted

Please count me in

Deleted

Sounds like fun

Deleted

‘How are you feelin' now, love?'

‘Good!' Aware of how flat her voice sounded, Yvonne lifted her head and forced a smile. ‘Yeah, really good!'

‘I bet a night's sleep helped.'

‘Yeah. Definitely.'

Yvonne busied herself strapping Róisín into the car seat so that Gerry wouldn't see the expression on her face. She'd had eight hours uninterrupted slumber the night before. All Gerry's idea. And Veronica's. And Hannah's. Everyone, in fact,
had agreed that it was exactly what she needed. Except for Yvonne herself. But no one had been listening to her.

Veronica had called round at dinnertime the evening before, or teatime as she insisted on calling it. Sod's law that Gerry had been there. The one bloody day of the week he had decided to take a few hours off and come home. Yvonne had been so pleased to see him. He could give her an hour, he told her, and only an hour. But oh, what she was going to do with that hour! A bath. With the door closed and locked on the rest of the world. Bubbles. And a new razor to shave her legs for the first time in weeks. She could almost feel the warmth of the water as she flopped down into it, almost smell the bubbles from the expensive foam Rebecca had sent her for Christmas which had been replaced on the shelf by baby shampoo. She would open her new body lotion too and take her time smoothing it over her freshly shaved and washed skin. Maybe she'd even paint her toenails … and then, just as she'd switched on the immersion and was giving Róisín a quick top-up feed, the doorbell had rung. And the navy silhouette on the other side of the glass had caused the longed-for scented bath bubbles to evaporate into the air.

‘You never told me things were that bad!'

‘They aren't …'

But Gerry wouldn't listen to her. The nurse was only doing her job. That's what she told them, over and over again. With her head to one side and that bloody black bob falling just so over her left eye. It was her job to notice if Mum was having problems and she was fairly sure this was the case here.

‘There's no shame in it, you know! You just need a little extra help, and isn't that what I'm here for?'

She'd given a little titter then, and Yvonne had attempted a smile, but Gerry got there before her and beamed his agreement.

‘You do need a break, pet. Sure, it's my fault, I'm working twenty-four-seven. I've neglected you. Veronica here' – he'd smiled at the nurse then, who'd blushed scarlet and buried herself in her handbag until she regained her composure – ‘Veronica here has shown me the error of my ways.'

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