We are Sarah and James. Sarah works from home for a Facilities Maintenance firm and James is a Telecoms engineer, we are parents to baby Barnaby and a very naughty Samoyed Dog, Mishkey. We took the Happy Parents Happy Baby antenatal classes in Upminster.
I had a very uneventful pregnancy…until late in the third trimester. We had our 20 week scan and were told we were expecting a baby girl! We celebrated with a gender reveal (we even dyed our dog’s tail pink). Delighted, we bought dresses, decorated our nursery in pink and bought all kinds of personalised items for the arrival of baby Beatrice. At 37 weeks I had a growth scan, and was told Beatrice was a He!
We had 3 weeks to scramble and change our nursery and swap out the whole wardrobe!
Queens Hospital, Labour Ward – this wasn’t what I had pictured but I’m so thankful for the quick action of the medical team that delivered my baby safely.
Baby Barnaby came into the world in dramatic fashion at 40+4 weeks. After having a sweep, my waters broke that evening with meconium in them. After being referred to triage I had to have an emergency C-section after concerns for the baby’s heart rate. I was so deeply worried for my baby, hearing him cry for the first time was such a relief. My birth wasn’t at all what I had planned. I pictured a water birth with minimal intervention, but I was able to use the hypnobirthing breathing techniques to keep calm before I went into theatre whilst I was having contractions.
Breathing techniques for trying to keep calm before my C-section and breathe through contractions starting 2/5.
Spinal block for the C-section, no pain at all and limited sensation, I thought it would be distressing feeling pressure/sensation of the procedure, but I was pleasantly surprised how little I was aware of 5/5.
I was just glad he was ok after everything that had happened, it was also a very surreal feeling, that I couldn’t quite believe that was MY baby.
The first few days with my baby I was recovering on a ward in hospital, I found breast feeding a real challenge and opted to bottle feed. Luckily Barnaby slept very well for the first 3 nights I was in hospital, he lulled us into a false sense of security thinking we had an ‘easy’ baby as when we got home this went straight out of the window. We used the swaddling techniques and safe sleeping we learnt from the HPHB course, as well as the information on bottle feeding and how to prepare this safely. Becoming a mum is challenging, but rewarding, you bond and learn a little more about your baby each day. I’ve also found it’s brought myself and my husband closer as we have become a really great team caring for Barnaby, I’m so thankful he is sharing this experience with me.
Keeping calm in the face of all of the challenges the birth has thrown at me and bringing baby Barnaby earthside safely.
Mentally adjusting to expecting a baby girl for 5 months then having 3 weeks to get my head around having a boy (of course now he is here, I can’t imagine anything else).
Seeing my husband step up for both myself and Barnaby and caring for us with patience and compassion in this really vulnerable time.
A baby boy!!
My only regret is not agreeing to a sweep earlier when offered at 39+5 weeks, maybe there wouldn’t have been meconium in my waters and maybe my birthing experience would have gone differently.
The girls from HPHB have been incredible. They were amazing at helping me emotionally deal with the shock of finding out my baby was misgendered. We can all laugh about it now!
We all regularly meet up for lunch and share our 2am woes in the group chat when our babies won’t sleep!
Disposable underwear, loose fitting pyjamas and a hand held fan as the labour ward is HOT.
Milky Way crispy rolls and that first shower after being discharged from hospital.
Muslins. You can never have enough!!
No matter how well you prepare, life will throw you a curve ball. Breathe, be adaptable, everything will work out.
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