Her arrival was both quick and unexpected and totally serene and perfect at the same time. I woke up at 4am with a deep feeling of calm and excitement, which felt odd as I was two days past my due date, huge and uncomfortable. I went to the loo and noticed a small amount of blood, so called Craig to come home from work and my mother in law to sit the boys who were both sound asleep, blissfully unaware in a matter of hours they were to become big brothers!
Off to the hospital, on the monitors and I notice the bottom number creeping up and up along with a few pains I believed to be just more Braxton hicks as I'd been tormented by them for the last month or so. After I was examined I was told I was actually not experiencing Braxton hicks, but in labour and currently at 6cm! I had a short walk to the loo and it suddenly hit me. Down to the dolphin suite for my water birth, and on the gas and air whilst waiting for the pool to fill.
The relief the water offers is instant. I immediately relaxed and totally focused on my contractions and breathing, knowing that each one was bringing me closer and closer to meeting my daughter. I remember, between the hazy mist of the gas and air telling Craig she would be born before 9am. He carried on rubbing my shoulder and giving me water just nodding and agreeing with any rubbish I was saying! But I was right!! At 8:54 I lifted her from the water and Evelyn took her first breath and we became parents of three! Her tiny hands grabbing for me and her legs thrashing about. Her little hair covered head wearing the most ridiculously awful hospital hat,whilst I caught my breath and the midwives bustled about around us.
We were only in the hospital for a few hours. I secretly enjoy the hospital stay. There's something really lovely about being in a private little room, just me Craig and our new little baby girl. Feeling like the only real link to the outside world is our buzzing phones with messages of congratulations and joy. I rang the boys at school, and told them their baby sister had arrived, the excitement in their little voices is something I won't forget.
The last nine days have had so many firsts. Even though she is my third baby!! First school run, buggy ride, first successful attempt at using the moby wrap, photo shoot and just now her first bath! She is the happiest, most content little baby. She loves cuddles but will happily settle in her moses basket and next to me crib at night. She's feeding like a champ and she sleeps! Danny was the hardest, clingiest baby ever. Connor was a bit easier, but with a 14 month old running about too life was pretty chaotic.
The boys have been great too. Danny loves her and is always wanting to help and cuddle her, Connor took a few days to come round to the idea but he gives her kisses and was so upset when I had her in the moby wrap and he thought she had gone back in my tummy! He cried! So he loves her really!
Life is crazy and hectic, I've sent Danny to school with his trousers on back to front and routine and organisation has become uber important. I've forgotten how much stuff babies need to be carried about with them and every time I step out of the door I have a huge tick list to mentally complete first. Nappies? Spare clothes? How long roughly till her next feed? Buggy or wrap? How accessible are my boobs in what I'm wearing ha!! But, it's finally full, and our crazy little family is complete. It's been a long and at times soul crushing journey to get to this point but this beautiful blue eyed girl I'm holding in my arms now was worth every second, and I'm so excited for the future.
Thanks for visiting! XxxX
