New Prince

'If it's a boy, they're naming it Rodney. After Dave.'

(Why is it I can remember hour upon hour of that sort of thing but nothing I actually need to know?)

Names ...what about Rodney Delltrig Jubbly Alfred? (Jubbly being of Norman origin; see Oxford Book of Norman Names, 6th ed. vol. IX, 'f. O. Norm. "Juble" or "Jouble," orig. meaning "object which has fallen from wheeled vehicle near the shrub (or bush) of the shepherd."')

Or Eric Ernest Ronald Ronald Pike?

I'm imagining everyone in on the Royal Delivery singing 'Push push push push push push push' at a screaming Kate now ...

Thank you for that Iam64 I really appreciate your reassurance, however the maternity unit at our local hospital has been closed for quite a few months (following a serious review) it has recently reopened on the understanding that it can accommodate “straight forward births only” . My worry is, who knows if a birth is going to be straight forward ? Any (even slight) complications mean an emergency transfer to a hospital miles away . My DD is 33 years old. She was told she would never have children and this baby is more precious to her than I can say.

Sadly no massive team waiting around for my DD and our little baby, just (hopefully) a very fast ambulance .

They could choose Rhodri (not quite Rodney)

If they're Archers fans they could call him Ruairi. Wrongly pronounced Rewry or Roooooaaaaaari.

My bet's on ReHodry

There was a King Rhodri, wasn't there, Jalima? Or am I in a muddle as usual?

It would be a treat to see and hear television presenters trying to get to grips with Ruairi, merlot! Thank heaven the Archers are still with us, though I rather miss Mrs. Dale.

Anniebach, I'm so sorry about your daughter, and am hoping for the best for yours, gilly. That really is grim about the 'straightforward births' as you're quite right - that's not something that can be known in advance.

and best wishes to you both.

'If it's a boy, they're naming it (him!) Rodney. After Dave.

Haporthrosie; please show some royal respect!

Rodney (or Dave!) was also described as "You Plonker" by DelBoy.

Do you really wish for the new Prince to be called "Prince Plonker"?
Think what his school chums would do with that in the playground.!

Hope she's called Cassandra. I liked her; she was nice.
'
Good Health

Apologies if this has already been mentioned.

If not what about the theory Kate's babies were carried by a surrogate. It may sound ridiculous but would explain why she really never looked pregnant in the first place plus comes out of hospital looking exactly the same as she went in. I know she has the hairdresser, make up artist etc. at her disposal but I don't know anyone who looked that refreshed 5 hours after giving birth. Generally you're trying to catch up on sleep. No mention on how long the labour was either. Ten minutes I'm guessing to look that radiant.

No way overthehill that is one conspiracy theory too far !

I think she was induced at home and dosed with pain killers (several hours before hand) to fit in with their plans and St George's day. (apparently Diana was induced to fit in with an important Polo match that Charles was taking part in). Then she was taken to her private wing at the last minute and gave birth quite soon afterwards. Soon after the birth she was attended to, by her personal stylist in order to look her best for her adoring public when leaving hospital, she might've been dying inside.

In all this she has done for normal new mothers just what photo shopped supermodels do for young girls with low self esteem. Zilch !

My Number Three arrived in 20 minutes gillybob (no pain relief either apart from a bit of gas and air).

So did my grandson Jalima ! DDiL was mucking out horses well into labour and only just got to hospital in time. (smelling of horse sh*t, I hasten to add) DGS was very nearly born in a stable !

she really never looked pregnant in the first place plus comes out of hospital looking exactly the same as she went in
She definitely did look pregnant and had that 'mummy tummy' when she came out which is more than can be said for some of the celebs who appear with absolutely flat tummies after about a day.

Actually, my mother said that her tummy went flat again immediately after her first two babies. I don't take after her!

Mine went flat after both of mine too Jalima but as I mentioned previously I suffer from late onset mummy tummy. (sadly there is no cure ).

36 years of pulling in my tummy muscles has made not a jot of difference gillybob and I have reached the age where I don't care any more!

My third was born on a trolley just inside the hospital door, gilly. I woke up in labour and crossed my legs on the 15 minute dash to hospital. I should just have stayed in bed really, or delivered him on the bathroom floor, as my friend did her third.

Oh crikey Maggie that would have been very scary, wondering if you were going to make it inside the doors in time.

I stopped at 2 thankfully. Funnily enough my DD (due any day now really) has been asking how she will know when she's in labour. We have a plan (of sorts) that she will ring me and either me or DH will pick her up and bring her to mine (depending on her partners shifts). She wants to say at mine for as long as possible before going to hospital.

I can't remember what it felt like at first (I had my son without really even knowing I was pregnant ) and my DD was 5 weeks early so can't remember what it felt like as my waters broke suddenly.

Our first daughter arrived in forty minutes , Gas and air machine broken so not even an asprin, came home in Jeans, but was in for ten days. Second daughter arrived in fifty minutes, came home in nightie by ambulance, was in for 36 hours

When elder daughter was born she was a nearly a month early , I was in maternity just for the night , my husband had to go into work because there was a warning a reservoir was going to be blown up,GP didn't want me to be alone in the flat so went in just for the night, no one knew I was giving birth not even my husband , he was told over the car radio from HQ, so was every car and station in the force ? She was suppose to be a boy born 1st March and named David. she arrived 4th Feb, something special about her birth , middle of night , just her and me , took her father over an hour to get back ,for that hour she was all mine

My third baby was delivered within 4 hours of contractions starting. No problems at all, other than not being sure I'd get onto the delivery trolley in time.

Kate definitely did look pregnant and the photo call to show the new baby to the world, showed Kate with her post delivery bump. Why would anyone consider she'd been dosed with pain killers at home, then induced so the baby arrives on St George's day? I can believe Diana was induced to fit in with Charles and Polo - those were the days when she was still reeling with shock and before she got angry. Kate is older, wiser, better educated and more secure than Diana ever was.

Gillybob I think your suggestion ridiculous. I have only had two babies but, if a stylist had been at hand, I could have replicated The Duchess of Cambridge's exit from hospital only an hour after DD's birth and probably walked the two miles home.

I had a short labour with twinges rather than contractions. My midwife told me I was the most confident and laid back mother she had dealt with. I told her it was because I still thought I was in the early stages of labour and wasn't expecting anything serious to happen for at least another six or eight hours.

My third was born on a trolley just inside the hospital door, gilly
That would have been scary"

I had a pre-natal appointment the day before and was ordered into hospital the same day but hung around until the next day anyway.

I will never forget the birth of my first I was 20 years old thousands of miles away from home in HK with a husband who was very disinterested in the female act of giving birth
I had no siblings so no knowledge of childbirth or babies It was found my baby was breech, I was taken into hospital measured by photographing me with a ruler between my legs to see if my pelvis was going to be wide enough to accommodate a breech birth I was then induced and went into a long and very painful labour all alone, i was stiched up and after a couple of days went home with a rubber ring to sit on I was barely able to walk, my husband carried on at work and I started my lonely life as a mum, I don’t regret a moment and I m not jealous of Kate but life is very easy for some isn’t it ?

BlueBell, that must have been so frightening for you and having to cope alone when you left hospital, my husband took two weeks holiday when I came home with our first daughter , I would have freaked out if I had been left alone with a new baby.

That must have been frightening, BlueBelle.

There used to be an excellent hospital in HK, not sure if it is still there, the QEH, - my friend had to spend several weeks there resting when she was expecting twins, and she also had an 'amah' to help with the other children. I'm sorry your experience was not so good.

Let’s say you grow up fast Annie