Hello. We are Sarah and Tom. Sarah works in fundraising and Tom works in events. We are parents to Josephina conceived via IVF. We took the Happy Parents Happy Baby antenatal classes in Caversham.
My pregnancy was actually pretty straightforward after a long journey to conceive including a round of IVF. I was absolutely fine in the first and second trimester with no sickness. The third was a little more challenging including insomnia, carpal tunnel syndrome and heartburn. I was most excited about seeing Tom becoming a Dad and our dream of being parents coming true. That being said, I grappled with the idea that our relationship would inevitably change after 15 years together and that I was giving myself over completely to another human being.
JR hospital Oxford. The setting was good, I didn’t expect the theatre to be so big, but it was fine as soon as we got going.
Josie was born via elective C-section in Oxford. I loved my section and found the experience really wonderful. The only issue I had was feeling quite nauseous afterwards with a little sickness in recovery. The cord was also wrapped around Josie’s neck which was scary to hear and also meant I couldn’t see her being pulled out and there was no delayed chord clamping. I do wish we’d had some music playing, even just the radio and I also wish we’d taken some more photos or asked someone else to.
I did some breathing techniques for the spinal and just made sure I communicated how I was feeling.
I felt a huge sense of relief and was completely overwhelmed with love and emotion.
It was quite overwhelming but so helpful that we had both taken the course. Feeding was quite challenging but we applied what we had been taught.
Successfully combi feeding and expressing milk for the first three months.
Solo parenting and navigating motherhood and a loss of identity.
Making Josie smile for the first time.
How many strangers stop and talk to you when you have a baby.
Perhaps not trying a little harder with breastfeeding but ultimately it wasn’t for me.
I have made one particularly good friend who I hope will always be in my life. She has picked me up many times when I’ve been feeling low or scared and I really feel like she doesn’t judge me and always makes me feel so much better.
Disposable underwear is so good and stretchy over the C-section scar. Oh and a big fan for the hospital during a heatwave.
Percy pigs.
Bounce chair.
Be kind to yourself and enjoy every moment. Step away from the books that tell you what should be happening. Don’t compare yourself to others, everyone is different. The days are long but the years are short.
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