Hello to all first time grans, please join us here

No chrissied it certainly doesn't wear off!!. When I had my first grandchild seven years ago, it dawned on me that you "love" your children, but you are "in love" with your grand children. I have recently been presented with my fourth grandchild and I still feel the same. It's an amazing feeling isn't it? x

Hi all! Another first time gran here! My lovely Lilly-Grace was born on 5th Oct. I was honoured to spend the whole labour with my daughter and her partner. What a day! DD was brilliant, no fuss, just got on with it! She needed help in the end, Ventouse did the trick and then we had our Lil weighing in at 7lb 6oz. I love her so much I could burst

my lovely unplanned grandson arrived in March. throughout the pregnancy I was totally underwhelmed by it, and started to think I was some kind of freak for not being excited. however I was invited to the later scans by my sons partner, and as she got closer to the date accompanied her to her ante natal checks (her own parents are deceased and she has no relatives nearby)
she had a really difficult birth and baby was in special care for 2 1/2 weeks, which was a worrying and exhausting time for us all, but also an opportunity to get to know each other better. fast forward 8 months to an absolutely ecstatic grandma of a beautiful, healthy cheeky boy. I simply cant get enough of him, I'm overwhelmed by the love I have for him, its like a drug. Does it wear off?

Welcome SalJB. Can't wait to hear what your views are about all the issues we have been debating on here

Good for you - what a great attitude. My son-in-law's mother seems quite anxious that I will get more time with my new granddaughter than she will. It's not a competition! There's room for everyone and ultimately it's up to the couple themselves.

Welcome SalJB. It sounds as if you were just waiting for Mia's arrival so you could immediately join GN! Congratulations - and hoping you'll spend many happy times both with baby and with GN too.

I'm a first time grannie. My daughter gave birth to Mia on Sunday 16th Oct 2011 (5 days ago). I've seen her in hospital and am going to have my first cuddle on Sunday - so exciting! Feel a bit nervous though, as the last time I held a new baby was 33 years ago!

hi

congratulations to all the new grandparents and grandparents to be.

out little one is growing fast, smiling and gurgling away, he is adorable.

first christmas this year and wont that be special.

the question is what to buy for the first christmas present

sj

My first grandchild has arrived exactly on the day my daughter predicted. She is absolutely beautiful and sleeps for long periods. I saw her for the first time when she was just a few hours old and couldn't stop looking at her in wonderment - just like I did with my own.

Because I don't live near my daughter they were very generous with the time I had with my grand-daughter and I got the anxiety feelings I had with my own babies in that, she slept so soundly that I had to put my hand on her stomoch to ensure she was still breathing. Really scarey and took me right back to when I would watch my daughter sleeping and make sure her tummy was going up and down.

I'm back home now and instead of wanting to see her all the time I now have a lovely contented feeling. I know I will be seeing her again shortly and hopefully at Christmas and as long as I see her periodically through the year, which I am sure I will, I will be content. I know my son in law's parents will be seeing her much more than I because they live within an hour's drive but that's a matter of geography and up to now I don't feel any resentment - I hope very much that feeling doesn't change.

Our first grandchild arrived 2nd April 2010...... we cannot believe how much love we feel for her! Over the last seventeen months we have been very involved in her care as her mummy ( our daughter ) went back to work after a year. Other grandparents share the childcare and Poppy goes into nursery on her Dad's worksite two days a week so she can learn to socialise

Second grandchild arriving early October....... he will be from our son and daughter in law and looking forward to being involved with him!

Third grandchild arriving early November and will be a brother for Poppy!!

Think the autumn is going to be very busy for us

goose1964 get ready for your house to be turned upsidedown by this little person and get ready to enjoy enjoy enjoy,it's wonderful.

I'm due to have a grandson in January - daughter and partner are moving in with us in October until he is born & then they will look for a flat. She's only 19 but my family do tend to have them young - I was comparitively old at 24.

Hello! This is my first post. Became a Granny for the first time last month to a gorgeous little girl. I can't believe how it has made me (and Grandpa) feel. I have never been a small baby person but find myself staring into the pram in wonderment at her!

So glad to read Gracesmum's comments as I too have been worrying about how I am handling little one, even though I have had two of my own. Mind you, it doesn't help when dear son keeps telling me how to do things - grandmother and eggs come to mind - bless him!

First time I've been on this thread. Lovely to share the excitement of pregnancies announced and new grandchildren arriving. I do so hope that my lovely daughter will marry again (she always wanted two or three babies). I loved being at the birth and the bond between us is much stronger because of it.

It is certainly a bowling over experience, geraldine! Congratulations! I think I was more excited to find out that my daughter was pregnant than I was to find out I was pregnant!

I am a first time Gran . I have been helping out my daughter for a week--- just being there going on first outings to the clinic, John Lewis etc making lunch putting out the washing. Tomorrow I return to work and I am going to find it hard not 'being there' I suppose I didn't expect to feel so bowled over by it all.

gracesmum just wait till you take them in the car for he first time! There is something about being a Granny that just makes you feel scared of having that much responsibility, and I never felt like that with my children. But having said that, they are such a joy, and I'm not sure I felt that all the time with my own children!

Gracesmum, I thought it was just me! I was just the same.

Never thought to worry about looking after my own kids, but the grandkids - oh! So different!

Its not so bad now they are older - 6 and nearly 10 - but when they were babies I dreaded being on my own with them. Kept telling myself it was stupid. No harm came to mine so why should it to them. But still....

I think, looking back, I missed out a lot through not being able to relax.

Little grandson (15 months) has just been collected by his mummy and daddy after 2 nights with us (third overnight visit since he was born) and what I am feeling is that while I adore him while he is with us I just worry so much, especially in the wee small hours - did I wash his hands sufficiently after our trip to the park and swings before lunch (bugs from dog) did I give him too much Calpol at bedtime (5 ml, so no) worry worry worry!!!!! I would love to be a serene granny, taking it all in my stride and I do have all the patience in the world for him, but I could not live with myself if anything happened to him while in my care. Do other grannies feel like me? Will it wear off when number 2 arrives in November?
I have absolutely no memory of worrying about our 3 daughters as they grew up, so am not a fussy mum - just a neurotic gran!!

Warmest welcome to the new GNers,you will have a ball,you have just missed our first trip away in the camper and our first party night,but
you can be sure that there will be many more in the future

jangly if you are desperate for a grandaughter my Abigail is up for rent
for the school holiday's she is a right stroppy Abigail at the moment,
give me her five brother's any day.(She's a doll really)

I have nine GC 9yrs to 19yrs.Two of kids(42 & 40)getting wed soon to younger lasses so watch this space? mind you i dont think it will be long before it could be GT GD bunic !!

Thanks Baggy and nannym - I'll bear that in mind (assuming I will be able to prise her/him away from my daughter! this has been some time in coming).

If it's an option then give her some 'me time'. Just offering to keep and eye on baby while she has a long bath, relaxes with a book or has a much needed sleep is probably the best gift!

Most loved and most useful thing to give to new mums is love and support and no criticism. Keep telling her she's fantastic. What my daughter most appreciated when she came to stay with six week old GS was cups of tea while she was feeding him. I always had to make my own, so I knew.