Hello. We are Jess and Alex. We are parents to 9 week old Tilly. We took the Happy Parents Happy Baby antenatal classes in Southampton.
The first trimester was tough – I was really nauseous, sick and couldn’t get out of bed. I had to take off most of January sick but luckily work was very accommodating and I felt better again after 13 weeks, though very weak as I’d lost a lot of weight. I was 26 weeks pregnant when we started the course. The most scary thing is knowing the birth is coming, but HPHB helps you be able to make informed choices.
Southampton Princess Anne.
I had planned for a water birth but my birth did not go to plan. At 10:30pm my waters broke whilst I was sitting on the toilet. From the HPHB course I knew that labour would likely start within the next 24 to 48 hours so I was calm and called the hospital and they told me to go back to sleep. I woke to go to the loo through the night but then at 2am I went to the loo and found I was bleeding. I called again and they told me to come in immediately. I found it really hard to get off the loo as it seemed a very comfortable position whereas standing wasn’t good. I ended up being sick and also having diarrhoea, I suppose my body preparing itself for labour. I took a couple paracetamol and then we headed to hospital which was a 20 minute journey. We arrived at 3am, I was immediately 10cm dilated.
Tilly was born at 4:20am so things progressed very very quickly for me. Unfortunately this meant all I could have was gas and air even though I had wanted an epidural. Unfortunately there was meconium in my waters so to speed things up they gave me an episiotomy and I also had second degree tears. HPHB gave me the tools to make informed decisions and know what options were available, which in my case was not many options but it kept me calmer knowing what could be offered.
I had Paracetamol which I took before leaving home and then only Gas and Air due to all other options being off the table due to how quickly I gave birth.
I had my eyes shut through the birth, then when I opened them they put this warm, wet wriggling baby on me. Alex immediately cried but it took me longer for the amazing reality to sink in. In those first moments it was mostly shock for me. Shock and relief labour was over.
Just know it will pass and you will get used to sleeping infrequently. It will get better.
From the course I knew how to look after and feed baby. It is quite intimidating to look after a baby alone especially as your partner goes home from hospital overnight as they can’t stay. The course gave me confidence that I would be ok on my own.
Tilly had jaundice to begin with, however she took a month to regain her birth weight.
Seeing Tilly flourish and start to smile and hold her head up when swimming.
I wish I took more selfies with Tilly as Alex isn’t great at remembering to take photos.
The other parents in the HPHB group have been the best thing about the course. The mums have a lively WhatsApp group and we try to meet up weekly. They are always available for advice, support, a shoulder to cry on and as a bonus I get to see all their cute babies growing bigger.
My birth was so quick I didn’t use anything pre-birth. After birth however where you stay in the hospital I recommend an eye mask and earphones.
Tea and toast is the best!
I also loved the hospital meals, I felt like I was staying in a hotel but catered to my bed.
Silver Cross tide pram. The carrycot is sleep safe and we use it downstairs during the day for her naps.
Red lights for clipping onto books keeps baby sleeping through the night.
The first month is tough but it will go so quickly and soon they will start smiling and playing.
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