We are Amy and Mike. Amy works for a children’s charity and Mike works in education. We are parents to baby Saoirse (2 months) and have a loopy greyhound called Lucky. We took the Happy Parents Happy Baby antenatal classes in Harrogate.
I kept quiet about it at the time, but I honestly had a dream pregnancy! Other than some nosebleeds and heartburn, I didn’t have any difficult symptoms. I was able to go to the gym throughout, felt strong and excited about what my body was doing, and couldn’t wait to meet our baby!
We had our baby in Harrogate hospital and had a great experience with the midwives there. We felt so grateful for the care we received.
I hoped to have a home birth and I ended up being the textbook example of why you should have preferences rather than plans! We had an iffy growth scan, and induction was recommended to us at 39 weeks. HPHB helped me to feel knowledgeable about what was involved and we used the BRAIN acronym to help our decision making. I was induced using a pessary and was amazed that it actually worked, my waters broke and I went into active labour! I made it to fully dilated and pushed for two hours, but unfortunately the baby girl was back to back and got stuck. I ended up having an episiotomy and forceps delivery, which I found very hard. Still, I would do it all again to meet Saoirse!
Tens machine 5/5, fantastic distraction and helped me get to 6cm without medication.
Gas and air 5/5, helped me manage my breathing.
Epidural 1/5, I didn’t like being stuck on the bed and it didn’t give full pain relief.
Like my heart had cracked open! Love like I’d never felt before!
I loved becoming Saoirse’s mum and was absolutely besotted with her – it was genuinely a joy to care for her, but there were still some really difficult bits! We had a tricky start to our breastfeeding journey and I had to hand express and cup feed her for the first week. That was tough, but HPHB prepared me with knowledge about how to hand express! It took longer than I expected to recover from the episiotomy and I struggled with the discomfort. In hindsight I should have made more use of pain relief in the aftermath, there are no prizes for suffering!
Breastfeeding! I’m so pleased I persevered even when it felt impossible – it’s been one of the most beautiful parts of parenthood so far.
Worrying that I’m doing the right thing! Each stage brings new challenges, and I’m learning not to compare our journey to other people, and to stay in the present since no phase lasts for long!
When the health visitor told me I must be doing something right since she had gained so much weight! It felt so validating after a rocky start to feeding.
How difficult I would find recovery from the episiotomy! It didn’t last long, but at the time it felt like things would never go back to normal.
Not listening more about recovery from instrumental delivery, as I assumed it wouldn’t happen to me.
They were a lifeline in the final weeks of pregnancy and I loved meeting up with the babies in the early days. I’ve ended up moving away but I’m still in regular contact with the group – I’ve found it so helpful to share experiences and ask how others have managed things! Just this week I got some great tips about what to do during longer wake windows.
Tens machine and snacks!
The first shower and a delicious Indian takeaway the night we left the hospital!
A giant water tumbler with a straw – it’s been a godsend when the breastfeeding thirst strikes.
Muslins – we go through several a day.
Take each day as it comes, count the wins (however tiny) and kiss those little cheeks all you can!
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