We are Maddy and Alex. Maddy is a Psychology teacher and Alex is a business owner and we are parents to our two lovely dogs (Fern & Nelly) and now also our firstborn, Barnaby. We took the Happy Parents Happy Baby antenatal classes in Haywards Heath.
I had a pretty smooth pregnancy overall – apart from trying to keep hydrated and comfortable when pregnant in a heatwave, which was a challenge this summer! HPHB really helped us understand what to expect from birth and recovery, especially since we were opting for an elective C-section. It made me feel confident in our decision, calm, and prepared going in.
Hospital, it was not as ‘clinical’ or daunting as you may think and the atmosphere in theatre was lovely, we had a playlist ready and all the clinical staff were amazing.
We chose an elective C-section, which felt right for us. Thanks to HPHB, we went in knowing what to expect – from the process itself to recovery tips that genuinely helped in those first few days. Our little boy, Barnaby, needed a bit of NICU support for his breathing and antibiotics, which was hard to watch, but we knew he was in the best hands. We ended up not being the only ones in our group having a C-section so hearing how other mums were recovering was really helpful.
Keeping on top of regular pain relief eg. Paracetamol particularly for after the surgery was really helpful!
Completely overwhelmed in the best possible way. Equal parts joy, disbelief (he cried straight away which we didn’t expect!), and instant love. Also a bit of relief!
Those early days were a blur of feeding, cuddles, and very little sleep! The first aid part of the course was such a comfort though. It made us feel so much more confident when little things cropped up. Cluster feeding was tough, but we got through it. Introducing Barnaby to our dogs was such a special moment too – all the prep we did during pregnancy to make it a positive experience really paid off; they love him already.
Getting through those long, sleepless nights together as a team, as well as getting out and about back to taking the dogs on gentle walks with Barnaby in a carrier.
The sleep deprivation and cluster feeding marathons…nothing quite prepares you for it! But I’ve learnt to let go a bit and accept that if I don’t do anything that day apart from feed him, that’s an achievement in itself. Barnaby also has reflux so learning what works for him to keep him comfortable took some time.
Introducing Barnaby to our families. Such a special moment.
Just how quickly you fall completely, head-over-heels in love. Oh, and the strange noises they make overnight..!
Not really. Maybe that we didn’t stock up on even more snacks for the night feeds.
It’s been so lovely having people who get it. The shared support, advice and ideas for things to do with our babies has been great.
A hand-held electric fan.
Pick and mix! We ordered a bag online of all our favourite things as a treat, which was really fun.
Cooked meals from friends and family! Those early days are a blur and sometimes it’s easy to forget that you need feeding too.
Baby carrier, we love taking him out and about or even wearing it in the house while making dinner or scrapbooking.
Trust your instincts, accept help, and never underestimate the power of a hot shower and homemade food.
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