Information. We Want Information....

I cannot get over how many bits of paper I have been given in the last few months. Everyone I see seems to have something else to give. Its a bit annoying (and slightly worrying) that a lot of the stuff seems to be sponsored by one company or another. I am also amazed at the number of information giving websites (again, usually produced by a company wanting to sell me something).

Another source of information has been the books that have been lent to me. Let me just say if you have any inclination to buy Myleene Klass’ My Bump and Me book – don’t – unless you want to feel really depressed about the life of a C list celebrity going to her obviously private appointments. "You don’t get that on the NHS" you’ll be shouting..….and another thing you don’t get on the NHS are free maternity clothes from M&S. Blame the hormones if you like but reading the book made me seriously hate her!!

I suppose the best source of information must be friends and family who have been through pregnancy and child birth themselves. Although I have already found a lot of them to be contradictory - 'Your hair will fall out', 'Your hair will be glossy'. 'You'll get spots', 'You'll have a glowing complexion'. I have already heard both sides of the Cesarean argument - it seems those who suffered an emergency C.Section are against, whereas those who had an elected one are certainly for. And I can see where they are coming from.

Too much information was received at the weekend (though the donation of maternity clothes was very much appreciated) when I finally made it to see Sophie. I knew that her mum had been in hospital for a week after the birth and I know there was a blood transfusion (or two) but hearing the details made me slightly queasy. Apparently she suffered a rare complaint where the placenta attaches itself to the inside of the womb and then does not come away when it should!! Stories of emergency bells being pushed and haemoraging blood everywhere and the tea and toast (which you get after the birth) going cold!!