...to have a little (?!) rant about Gina Ford?

No, Anagram, I didn't feel a thing when the head was forcing itself through! And the stitching didn't bother me much either. I was just pleased with the baby who, disconcertingly, looked exactly like my father, before he went bald.

Yikes, Annobel!

I don't know if it's meant to happen this way, but second time round my episiotomy from no1 neatly unzipped itself without tearing, although it didn't zip up again.

merlotgran that doesn't surprise me. Think yourself lucky the doctor didn't have a fag in his mouth at the same time! 37 years ago, my consultant would have his cigarette hovering over my large bump, ready to drop his fag-ash on me - the sister would stand there with a cupped hand, ready to intervene!

Those of a nervous disposition better look away now. I had an episiotomy 38 yrs ago and three weeks after my daughter was born I couldn't understand why I was still in such discomfort so we called the GP - yes, they came out in those days. He discovered one of the stitches hadn't dissolved so prepared to deal with it. My husband had to kneel at the side of the bed clutching the bedside lamp as close as he could so the doc could see what he was snipping. They crouched together, heads almost touching, when it was decided that things would be a lot simpler if they removed the lampshade!

I had an epistiotomy 44 years ago. Could hardly sit down for a while.

I haven't read the book but advising women to have sex with husband within weeks EVEN IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT?? Ah I see, the title 'Contented Little Baby' refers to one's husband/partner

episiotomy? the doctor stitched me twice - the first time he said to my husband, 'oh, you'll never be able to have sex' and took the stitches out and started again. that was around 9am, and at 10 30 same doc called in to see me and i thought 'you look nice, come here...' hehehe. didn't tell him though. even though it was a private room. hehehe.

I suddenly realised I'm on the Gina Ford thread, sorry I digressed! My daughter ended up throwing her book in the bin.

jeni the answer to number 2 must surely be "Carry On Cruising".
I sympathise with you about the weight, I am starting and stopping on that one, and it is frustrating. But I do believe the Monday weigh in helps, and I htink you are on WW like me, so eat all your points, Boring , I know, but I think it works.

Merlotgran DITTO!! My two are the same age for 2 weeks of the year!!!

crimson years ago there used to be talk of repairing episiotomies a little tighter than necessary for the husbands benefit!!

jeni - I am never bored in my retirement and I don't believe you would be either. I am lucky in being fit enough to take very long walks and to live amongst wonderful scenery - this killed two birds with one stone - pure pleasure and almost two stone lost in a year. No cost, either.
You might find a rich, elderly man on a cruise - but you would have to make the primary investment! You have to speculate to accumulate.

I fear that the episiotomy I had when giving birth to my first child was instrumental in the failure of my marriage, albeit many years later. A combination of a young woman being embarrassed to discuss it with health professionals [although a young doctor who did my first smear test talked to me about it, unfortunately saying that perhaps I needed it re doing, which I couldn't face at the time!] and a husband who was totally lacking in understanding and very grumpy due to his lack of marital relations. Don't know how I would have felt if someone like GF had told me to just get on with it [which I did, but continued to look on it as a chore rather than an enjoyment]. Oh, the thought of helping with Riding for the Disabled; if I could reduce my working hours I'd love to do that.

dammit jeni. that is so not fair. that puts volunteering at the cats protection league off the list as well.

Horses give me asthma, as do cats

jeni - go help at a local riding club/school [or Riding for the Disabled] and learn to ride as part of the package - your weight will certainly drop off, you will be surrounded by all sorts of people and certainly the wealthy, with blokes only too happy to show off and show you how to. I can hear you say maybe yuk but you will be surprised how lovely it can be communing with the horses! Plus of course everyone looks good in the clothes ......

I indulged in rumpy pumpy within weeks of having my first baby and got pregnant again. There's only 11 months between my first two. DON'T DO IT!!

nanaban
Can you please tell me ,
1 how to lose weight?
2 how to find an elderly man with lots of money and a bad heart?
3 how to not get bored to tears if I give up work?
4 how to do all of the above at no cost?

All they are good for?

Gina Ford and Alice Beer's book - 'Contented Little Baby' - fabulous for propping one end of the cot up!!!

I find it incredibly easy to give all sorts of advice on things I have no personal experience of - I am in fact at my most expert should any of you need anything. I am sure that is how this wonderful book got started. Still, if you need to know how to surf, snowboard, fly to the moon, paint a masterpiece - I'm your woman!

harrigran I know what you mean about epesiotomies, my DD is 29 and I have had years of discomfort from mine UNTIL .... just recently whilst trying to manage a prolapse, the consultant has prescribed me HRT cream. I have had a lot of relief on the epesiotomy scar, I wish I had used it before. But then I suppose I just put up with the pain and had not complained to my GP.

Gina Ford is barking by the way, no woman should do anything they do not feel like.

Tempting to invite her to undergo a voluntary episiotomy and then try sex...
Spawn of the devil.
My mate was babysitting her GD while mother worked one day a week. Strict instructions about not picking up baby because picking up or cuddles only allowed at appointed hours. My comment was seeing as she was not getting paid...what the eyes didn't see the heart would not grieve over.

If they rendered you unfit for rumpy-pumpy harrigran, I'm surprised you were up to running.

I have had two episiotomies and if anyone had suggested rumpy-pumpy I think I would have run for the hills. My eldest DC is 43 and I still get discomfort where they made the incision, I could barely walk the first six weeks. Gina Ford should not be writing on subjects she really does not understand.