Hi. We are Klaudia and Liam. Klaudia works in media and Liam for a charity. We are parents to baby Cassie and 2 cats, Misty and Fudge. We took the Happy Parents Happy Baby antenatal classes in Epsom.
Pregnancy was quite tough. I had really bad morning sickness for 17 weeks, and then spent all of the summer very pregnant and uncomfortable. I really missed sleeping on my front, and struggled sleeping on my side! I developed really sore back pain, and felt like I had lost my body a little bit.
However, the excitement really kicked in when I felt the first flutter of kicks. That was when it all started to become very real and could start bonding with the little potato properly.
Cassie was born 6 weeks prematurely. As such, I only managed to attend one HPHB class, which was about going into labour which was very useful!
I wasn’t 100% sure that my waters had broken, so we went to the hospital. There they confirmed they had broken, and was advised they would keep me in and monitor me for the rest of my pregnancy. The baby was breach, meaning I would have to have an emergency C- section. The little one had other plans, and I started getting contractions within an hour. Due to her prematurity, we had to move to a different hospital before I started dilating. As I stood to get into the ambulance bed, my waters fully broke, like they do in the movies. Giant gush, and they rushed me to St Helier.
When we arrived I was told they would continue to monitor me, and I was given steroids to help the babies lungs and gas and air to help keep comfortable. However, my contractions started getting stronger and I started to dilate. They were worried the umbilical cord would come first which was dangerous for the baby, so we got ready to have a Caesarean section and my husband was told to scrub up. I had a spinal tap and went numb very quickly. The rest was a blur, but I remember being told how much she weighed and looking at the clock to see what time it was. I got a cuddle before she was taken to be checked by the neonatal doctors.
It was surreal. I couldn’t believe I had become a mum, and the love I had for her was immense. The first time I saw her in the NICU was so emotional- I just cried seeing her in the incubator, connected to lots of tubes.
Cassie spent 3 weeks in the NICU, so the first few days post birth were spent waddling down the corridor to see her in the unit whenever we could. C-section recovery was tough, but I had a great team at the hospital helping me.
Coming to terms with becoming a mum earlier than expected, and watching the little one grow and flourish.
Post partum depression hit hard, especially with the NICU experience. I put on a brave face but spending hours surrounded by machines beeping, sick and premature babies and terrified parents really takes its toll on you. The nurses were amazing but that experience was harrowing.
The first time Cassie giggled- I felt so much love and pride for how far she’d come.
A baby 6 weeks early!
They have been amazing. The late night chats and walks have helped, especially when you realise you’re all going through the same things.
It was hard being the first to have a baby, as the next baby wasn’t born until the end of December. But I had a great support network nevertheless.
Dry shampoo! Post C-section it’s hard to wash your hair so I lived on dry shampoo for a couple of days.
A salmon and cream cheese bagel.
Nappies – you don’t realise how many you go through.
Portable white noise machine – we take it everywhere.
Everything is a phase. Remember you weren’t born yesterday, but they were! So things you find easy, babies don’t. Be patient and try putting yourself in their tiny shoes.
Free downloadable resources and weekly guides for your pregnancy.
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