Hi. We are Bethan and Adam. Adam runs his own marketing agency and Bethan works in Theatre. We are parents to baby Jesse and took the Happy Parents Happy Baby antenatal classes in West Norwood.
I had sickness and exhaustion in the first trimester which wasn’t easy, but felt pretty good for the second half of the pregnancy. In the last couple of weeks, I had pelvic girdle pain, but going to the osteopath helped a lot. I developed pre-eclampsia at 34 weeks which meant a lot of monitoring and back and forth to maternity triage. HPHB empowered me to not be afraid to ask questions at every stage so I could understand what was going on.
I’d wanted to have a home birth and the midwife team were wonderful throughout my pregnancy and I was so grateful for the continuity of care. Due to being high risk I wasn’t able to have my home birth in the end and I was nervous about birth on the labour ward and induction. My midwife and the blood pressure clinic took lots of time answering our million questions and I felt reassured this was the best thing for me and my baby. I ended up having the pessary inserted and then baby Jesse arrived 13 hours later after a fast labour and 2 pushes, absolutely wild! I then had a retained placenta and had to go to the theatre. An unexpected curveball but the theatre team took really good care of me and I felt informed and safe the whole time. Even though it wasn’t the birth I originally wanted I was grateful to have learned about all kinds of birth with HPHB so could be prepared for all eventualities.
Breathing techniques 4/5 helped keep me calm and know when the contraction would be ending.
Tens Machine 3.5/5 worth having for sure, at the start of labour was a good distraction and made me feel like I was doing something.
Gas and air 5/5 combined with the breathing it helped loads! Took the edge off and made me feel less connected to the pain. Would recommend.
Relief, shock as it was so fast, grateful she was here safely.
Jesse then was diagnosed with jaundice in her first 24 hours and the doctors were worried about her blood sugar and temperature. She spent 30 hours in the NICU which was really hard but I knew the team were taking incredible care of her and now she’s thriving!
We were totally obsessed with Jesse and I still found the first few weeks brutal and a massive learning curve, don’t know what we would have done without knowing the baby care basics we learned in class. Talking in the sessions about emotions, baby blues and how it can affect your relationship was helpful.
Being able to breastfeed her, as we didn’t get so much golden hour time, I didn’t have time to harvest colostrum and she spent time in the NICU I worried it would be hard to bond and breastfeed and she took to it like a champ. I’m proud of how we coped with all the uncertainties at the end of my pregnancy and having to get everything ready so quickly.
Cluster feeding marathons! So mentally and physically draining!
Surviving and staying mostly sane with the newborn craziness and sleep deprivation.
To enjoy nappy changes! It’s a sweet bonding time and she smiles and chats to us.
They are a lovely group! We give each other advice, support and memes! Me and the other mums have been going for regular walks with the babies too.
I over packed massively and used none of the stuff I brought to make hospital more homey! I would say an eye mask and ear plugs are really essential.
I lost my appetite so not sure really!
Meals! Someone to hold the baby while we napped!
Pilates ball is baby soothing magic, snot sucker, disgusting but essential.
Take and ask for as much help as you can. It gets easier!
Your babies smile is the best thing you’ll ever see.
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