My Demanding Baby

Since becoming a mummy one of my biggest annoyances is competitive parents and parenting.  Having a baby is a special and magical thing but at the same time it is extremely hard.  I have a friend who, when I talk to her about Alfie likes to tell me that her baby has slept through 10 hours for her.  She brags that he is fully weaned at only four months [she never breastfeed, personal choice] and she competes with other friends for whose baby will be the first to sit up unaided etc…  Why is there this need to compete?  Why are some mums so keen on telling other mums how they get their little one to sleep through the night?  Alfie doesn’t sleep through so automatically I’m doing something wrong or I should be doing something else?  When will people realise that babies are people and therefore they are all different. 

 

I hate hearing friends tell me I should “feed him up” before bed or drop the breastfeeding completely [we currently mix feed] because when they did, their baby slept through the night.  I am constantly told, I will “spoil” Alfie if I cuddle him every time he cries.  I completely and utterly disagree with controlled crying or crying it out techniques – this in my eyes is cruel.  I’m told I spoil him by co-sleeping.  I spoil him by taking his lead on pretty much everything.  How is it possible to spoil a baby with love?  What a load of rubbish.  Have these people not realised that each baby is different and that their “techniques” may not work for all babies?  I’m pleased that you’re getting your 8 hours sleep at night because your little one sleeps through but I’m more pleased that I’m only getting a few hours broken sleep because Alfie wakes up because it means I get to look at him and cuddle him more.

My friend has moved her four month old baby into his own room, already.  It is recommended that babies sleep in the same room as you until they are 6 months old.  Why would she want that separation from her baby sooner than is recommended?  I know that eventually Alfie will be in his own room but not until he is ready be it at 6 months or 12.  She doesn’t understand the concept of co-sleeping and often mocks me for doing it saying that I’ll never get my bed back.  I haven’t always co-slept although I wish I had had the confidence to from the start.  The midwives in the hospital didn’t let me sleep with Alfie on my chest and took him off me to put him in the crib whilst we both slept.  I was told not to pick him up to cuddle him if he was asleep.  I wish I hadn’t listened but that’s another blog post.  Everything I do, I do for Alfie.  I have found that co-sleeping means he is much easier to settle when he wakes up because he is close to me.  How is that bad?

The mothers who compete against each other for their child’s first steps, the first time they sleep in their own room, sleep through the night or use the potty are missing the point of those all important milestones.  It isn’t about how early your baby can do it, it’s the fact that they CAN do it – late or early it doesn’t matter.  Why would you want to compete against another parent for whose child will walk first?  If your child doesn’t walk first will you be disappointed?  Some parents are so set on their baby growing up they wish their lives away.  Why are they so interested in what other babies can do, isn’t their own baby enough to interest them?  I was elated that Alfie could sit up on his own for a few seconds at only 3 months but my first reaction wasn’t to text everyone to let them know – it was to take a photograph and make a mental note to put it in his baby book.

Alfie is and always has been a demanding baby – even throughout pregnancy he liked to keep me on my toes.  He doesn’t sleep through – waking at least twice a night on rare occasions but closer to the 3-4 times.  He won’t go to sleep unaided – he likes to be cuddled, rocked, nursed etc. to sleep.  He hates his car seat and travelling in the car and screams blue murder when we put him in – so much so I have been relegated to the back seat with him until he feels more comfortable with it.  Some days he hates his pram – other days he hates being carried.  He is constantly sick due to reflux and feeding times can be a nightmare despite the medication.  Sometimes, he is inconsolable unless you pick him up and cuddle him but you must be stood up or he cries.  Alfie is a demanding baby but he is my baby and I wouldn’t have him any other way. 

Sometimes he has days where he is a grumpy baby and other days he is all smiles.  He cries but he also laughs and smiles.  He doesn’t sleep through the night but he gets the right amount of sleep he does need and that’s what’s important.  He’s a demanding feeder but he gets what he needs to keep him healthy.  He hates car rides but he doesn’t mind so much if I’m there with him.  Sometimes it can be really difficult to settle him with cuddles, dummies, rocking or singing but once he is settled it is really easy to make him smile.  Some days Alfie is demanding and hard work but every day he is a pleasure to have and he makes every day so special.  I’m not interested that your child can sleep through the night or is already fully weaned or is sleeping in their own room…I follow the lead of my son and always will.  It’s about unconditional love and nurturing not competing and rushing.

Migraines & Breastfeeding

Before I got pregnant with Alfie, I suffered with migraines on a regular basis [at least 3 a month] and had done for a long, long time.  Just before I met my hubby, I was advised by a doctor to stop using oral contraception because the risk of stroke is higher in women who suffer with migraines and take oral contraceptives.  I had previously been on the Depo Provera injection contraceptive but it’s only advised to be on that a couple of years as it can increase risk of brittle bone disease if taken continuously for longer [you can have a break and then start back on it].  My migraines were often debilitating to the point of forcing me into our darkened bedroom, in bed often in tears.  I remember one day I had a migraine that started at work, I persevered through the day but by the time I got home the whole left hand side of my face and upper body felt numb and the pain was unbearable.  I went straight to bed and ended up staying there for 3 days.  Once a migraine has worn off, I am extremely exhausted and as one is starting, I feel very ill.  I wouldn’t wish migraines on anyone.

Migraines can either become worse or disappear during pregnancy and I was extremely lucky in that mine had disappeared pretty much straight away.  I’m glad they did because with everything else I went through during pregnancy, I don’t know if I’d have coped with migraines too!  Pretty much the day after I gave birth, I had a migraine.  I put this down to tiredness and the huge stress I had just put my body through.  I’ve had a couple of minor migraines since then, bad enough to stop me what I’m doing but not enough to force me to bed, thankfully.  Saturday I woke up with migraine and I felt sick and weak, I put it down to being so tired [I’d had a bad night with Alfie and hubby was on the day shift so I had to get up with Alfie].  After giving Alfie his morning feed, I put him down for a nap and I joined him.  I woke up from my nap feeling no better, I drank plenty and made sure I had food – I know only too well how dehydration and lack of food can make migraines worse.  Our day pretty much consisted of: feed – play – sleep, all day until Alfie’s bath and bed time.

Hubby came home from his double shift and we ordered a pizza.  Something I had promised myself we wouldn’t do this month but my migraine had me sofa ridden and with hubby working the double shift, it hardly seemed fair to ask him to cook.  We ate and were in bed for before 10pm.  I took some painkillers and I still struggled to get to sleep even with a hot water bottle and cold cloth for the pain [alternating heat/cold can help ease migraines].  Obviously it was dark because it was night time but even the landing light was hurting my eyes so hubby closed the bedroom door further [not completely shut, I’m not a fan of the dark you see…].  Alfie woke for feeding and it was my turn to sort him out first, I cuddled and fed him but the whole time my migraine was killing me.  Alfie went straight back to sleep and I was hoping I could too but it wasn’t meant to be.  I tossed and turned for what seemed like hours, my migraine was stopping me from sleeping.  Alfie woke again early hours in the morning and hubby took his “turn”.  I got us both a drink and me some more painkillers tried to fall back to sleep but I was still awake when hubby had finished feeding Alfie.  I eventually fell to sleep at some point and when Alfie woke up at 6, hubby got up with him and took him downstairs to let me get some much needed rest.  I woke at 8am feeling exhausted and sick. 

By 9am although I still didn’t feel fantastic, the migraine was on its way out at last!  It had lasted a whole day and made me feel like shit for the privilege.  Sunday meant I was too exhausted to do anything other than play with Alfie and watch T.V.  the housework suffered dramatically at the weekend so I’m behind this week which is stressing me out.  I’m booking an appointment with the doctor because I don’t want to get to the point where I have regular migraines lasting more than a day.  The only problem with this is, the medication prescribed to help prevent migraines or the painkillers to ease migraines aren’t safe to use during breastfeeding to what I know of.  I’m in a catch 22 situation: I don’t take the medication and my quality of life suffers on the days I have migraine and consequently so does Alfie’s.  I take the medication and I have to completely stop breastfeeding and stick to formula feeding [we mix feed at the moment].  These are concerns I’ll discuss with the doctor but until then, I’ll cope with the migraines on paracetamol and lots of fluid.

Baby Wearing - Victoria The Sling Lady Review

Friday morning, Alfie’s new sling arrived in the post.  I had, had the wraps made by Victoria The Sling Lady recommended to me by a friend on Twitter.  I “liked” Victoria’s page on Facebook and began reading all the wonderful comments and seeing all the beautiful photographs of women AND men wearing their baby.  Before coming across Victoria’s website, I had actually never heard of the term “baby wearing” – I had always called it carrying.  When Alfie was born, we bought a sturdy carrier from Babies R Us (I love my bear sling) which is cute but not very comfortable for myself or for Alfie for a long period of time.  Also, with Alfie being quite a big baby he barely fits in the carrier now!  He’s a very nosey baby so sometimes, being in the pushchair simply won’t do!  We went for a long walk around Ladybower lake in the Peak District a few weeks ago and he cried the whole way around in his pram and was only happy when he was being carried (in arms, not the carrier we didn’t have it with us).  He is also a very fussy baby and likes to be near me lots which I love but sometimes it’s a little difficult carrying him everywhere!

I talked to Alan about buying the sling and he was all for it – he’s a hands on daddy and loves the idea of baby wearing.  After much consideration, I decided to go for a panel wrap – the panel wraps are different funky materials / designs in the centre of the wrap.  The other option is plain or patterned material.  So next was do we go for a sturdy or stretchy sling material?  We decided sturdy because of Alfie’s size and weight, he would fit fine in a stretchy sling but it probably wouldn’t last us as long and we’d need to buy a sturdy one.  My decision was made and I placed my order late Monday night: sturdy turquoise wrap with “dino dudes” panel.  I couldn’t wait for the wrap to arrive and I spent the rest of the week reading up on baby wearing, watching the instruction videos on Victoria’s website and looking at which wrap I could buy next!

So, as I said the sling arrived Friday morning and as soon as it came, I tried it on!  Luckily Alfie was awake so once I had mastered it with the doll, I proceeded to put Alfie in the sling in the “frog leg” position.  I couldn’t believe I had managed not only to tie the sling properly and securely first time but I had managed to put Alfie in it with no problems at all!  Alan had been on the night shift so he was in bed but due to wake up so we decided to give him a helping hand in waking up and went to show off our sling!  He loved it! 

Saturday saw us really test out the sling; I took Alfie to town in it!  Alan dropped us off in town and away we went.  I tied the sling at home and so when it came to getting out of the car, I just popped Alfie in and off we went on our shopping trip!  I visited Alan’s mum and nan on their cake stall and they were impressed at how funky the sling was!  I met my mum for a cuppa and a natter wearing Alfie and did a little shopping too!  It was so easy and carrying him in the sling meant I had two hands free to carry shopping, drink a cuppa, answer my phone and the best bit of all cuddle my gorgeous boy lots!  I had the pram with us for back up, just in case a full day in the sling wasn’t for Alfie but the only time I used the pram was when we got on the bus home and that’s because it saved me folding it up and carrying it on (which I could have done but was too lazy to!). 

Victoria’s slings are not only beautiful but they are practical too!  I’ve had Alfie in mine this morning as I pegged the washing out and did the dusting and vacuuming.  For women (and men) with other children as well as babies the slings are ideal because you can cuddle your baby AND still have your hands free for your other children.  I was slightly worried before I bought my sling that I wouldn’t tie it properly or tight enough to hold Alfie.  I had no need to be concerned, Victoria’s “how to” videos are great!  She shows you how to tie the wrap and how to put baby into the different positions, including a great position for breastfeeding mummies!  I tied the sling with ease after watching her videos and now I have the hang of it and just do it on auto pilot!  I have tried to “frog leg” position and the “foetal feet” position with Alfie and he is comfortable in both.  I thought his weight may be an issue for me as I’m quite petite and carrying his 16lb 11oz (or probably more now) body around all day may be stressful for my body but the weight is distributed perfectly.  Victoria explains the wider you wear the shoulder “straps” the more comfortable it is for you and I can confirm this really does work!  I could literally carry Alfie around all day which is great for days out because we don’t have to lug a pram around with us meaning we’re free to go more places (like with lots of steps or places that don’t allow prams which lots of museums don’t)

My verdict: 5***** - 10/10 - Fantastic! 

I would recommend Victoria’s slings to ANY mummy or daddy.  Tying them is easy, putting baby in them is easy and baby wearing is simply divine!  The designs are suitable for girls and boys should you go for a panel OR a plain sling.  My only wish?  That I’d known about Victoria before Alfie was born so I could have tried baby wearing from the start!  Now to decide which sling I’m buying next…

Check out Victoria The Sling Lady's website here
Like Victoria The Sling Lady on facebook here

Alfie and I ready for anything! 

I don't know how I coped without my sling!

Alfie Paul Lewis born 30.05.2011 at 02:37am weighing 8lb 8oz

This is my second attempt at my labour and birth blog considering I lost my first one! This time, I’m being smart and writing it on word first. I do hope I remember all the details I wrote in the first one, after all it was a month ago…though somehow I don’t think I will ever forget it. Not even the smallest of details. It was the best day of my life by far (closely followed by our wedding day…) so, sit back and relax with a brew because I have a feeling it’s going to be a long one!

Saturday 28th May:
A week after I was due and still no sign of baby Lewis…or rather there were plenty of “signs” including regular contractions but things just weren’t getting anywhere. I was scheduled for my second sweep, the midwife on duty called to check I hadn’t had my baby before she arranged to come round. She came at lunch time and did the sweep. She gave me a “good going over” – her words, not mine! She said I was favourable to go into labour because my cervix was soft and 1-2cm dilated. I’d heard this before so I had to ignore it for fear of getting my hopes up, though I must admit I got them up a little. If the sweep didn’t work, I was to be induced the following Thursday. Induction wasn’t what Alan or I wanted but if needs must, we’d go through with it. The whole of Saturday every twinge I felt, I was hoping it was labour…it wasn’t.

Sunday 29th May 2011:
I got up and felt a little “wet” down below (sorry TMI) I went to the toilet and it appeard I’d lost my plug. This is normal after a sweep and doesn’t mean labour is on it’s way so I just put a pad on and let it go to the back of my mind. Kind of. It was a typical Sunday for Alan and I, we went out for a late lunch to the Bluebell, Manvers as we usually did on a Sunday because neither of us could be bothered to cook – especially me at 41 weeks pregnant. I had my usual, chicken dinner with all the trimmings. We talked a lot about baby Lewis and how we couldn’t wait for him to be here. I was uncomfortable the whole morning and at lunch I was uncomfortable still – nothing new to me though and at 41 weeks pregnant it’s to be expected. I must admit, I felt different. I’m not sure how, but I did.

On the drive home, we were at the roundabout just coming out of the pub when I said to Alan, “I think I’m going to have this baby today or at least soon.” He shrugged my comment off, I’d said this before from being 28 weeks and he was right, I’d felt this before so it was probably a false alarm like all the other times. The contractions weren’t regular enough to call the hospital and they weren’t painful just uncomfortable. We got home and decided we’d watch a film from Sky Box Office and order a take away, being induced on Thursday this would be our last chance for a while. The take away come, I had a Toscana pizza. We chilled out and put the film on; you’ll have to excuse me though because I can’t for the life of me remember the name of the film. It was set in Glasgow and that’s all I know.

At 21:36pm I felt and heard a big POP then I was wet through. The weirdest sensation I have ever felt in my entire life. “Oh FUCK,” I said to Alan. He looked at me funny and asked what was wrong. I told him my waters had gone to which he replied “Oh. Shall I get dressed then?” Numpty!!! I went upstairs to change my underwear and trousers and text/messaged all the people I wanted to know. Keira and Jayne were the first two people to find out apart from Alan, obviously. I called the hospital and they asked me to wait at least 30 mins before going in because they were busy!!! I was warned the contractions could start coming more regular and stronger. I waited 10 before deciding to go up. The contractions were starting to hurt.

By the time we got to hospital, I was puffing and panting and in a fair whack of pain. As it was after 10pm that we arrived at hospital, we had to go through A&E. The nurse who let us through asked if I needed a wheel chair – I said I’d be fine walking. In hindsight I wish I’d accepted the wheelchair. We got up to the ward and there was already a couple waiting to be let in. We waited almost 20 mins or what felt like a lifetime to me before we were let in. We were shown to a room and left. When a midwife eventually came to see us, she checked me over. I was 1cm dilated – not in labour and my waters HADN’T gone, it was my hind waters (waters behind baby)…my actual waters were intact. Gutted was not the word. I had two choices: stay at hospital to see how things progressed and go home if no change after 2hours or go home. The midwife recommended I stay. There was no way I was going home, even if they sent me – I’d have chained myself to the bed.

We were shown to an empty 6 bed room on the ward so that Alan could stay with me. I was laid on the bed in sheer agony and begged for some pain killers. The midwife came back with paracetamol and codeine. I could have cried. No way was that going to even tickle the pain I was in. Fuck me did it hurt. I was puffing and panting and telling Alan I wasn’t sure I could do this. I wasn’t quite up to One Born Every Minute standard though. All of a sudden…POP! GUSH! SPLASH! Yes, in that order. My waters went and not only flooded my trousers and the bed but the floor as well. I rang for the midwife. A healthcare assistant came and I half talked half cried when I told her my waters had gone and I NEEDED more pain relief. She went and got the midwife.

Another life time seemed to pass by before the midwife arrived at my bedside and I was told to get changed into a nighty and get on the bed ready for inspection. Getting undressed and dressed was difficult and very undignified. Alan had to help me with everything. Puffing and panting and telling Alan yet again I couldn’t do it, I got on the bed. It was sheer agony. I spread my legs before the midwife even had chance to tell me to – I was that eager for her to check my cervix. I was 4-5cm dilated. The midwife looked at me and smiled. “Bloody hell, that was quick! We better get you to labour suite because your baby is on his way” THANK FUCK FOR THAT. The end was near, right?

I was made to WALK to the labour ward, I think I stopped about 50 times when a contraction came to puff and pant like a prostitute. I think I may have groaned a few times too. Being female, you can’t have any dignity. Guess how long it took me to get to the room I was assigned to give birth in? You guessed it…A LIFE TIME!!! I asked for an epidural. The midwife told us that the doctors were in theatre delivering a baby so I’d have to wait but assured me they wouldn’t be long. I got on the bed and was checked over. My blood pressure was sky high so both baby and I had to be monitored continuously. Baby was fine. I wasn’t so fine. I kept asking how long the doctors would be. Let me assure you, labour is fucking HARD work. Women deserve a hell of a lot more credit than they get for this! I was crying and panting and puffing and telling Alan I couldn’t do it – this time I was getting close to the One Born Every Minute standards…OK I wasn’t but I could certainly sympathise with the women on it now.

I was really struggling with the pain. I couldn’t talk to Alan who was by my side holding my hand and reassuring me without actually saying or doing anything. We talked in dribs and drabs when I could. God it was hard work. Then…FUCK!!! I could feel my body needing to push. It was intense and hard to work through. “Alan, press the buzzer I need to push,” I panted. I’ve never seen my husband move so fast. A midwife came sauntering in. It wasn’t Kate, the midwife who was looking after me. I told her I felt ready to push. She checked me over then went to get Kate. They must not have communicated because when Kate arrived in my room I had to tell her I needed to push.

“No, you don’t need to push it’s too soon. I’ll check you anyway so we can see how far dilated you are and how long you have to go. The doctors are still in theatre I’m afraid,” Kate said to me. Once again my legs were wide open before she even had to say the words. I reckon I was quicker than a prostitute on a million dollar job. I will never in my life forget Kate the midwifes face when she checked me over. I was indeed 10cm dilated and ready to push. She was shocked. It had happened quickly. There was no time for an epidural or any other pain relief. I was given gas and air and was allowed to use it for 5 mins but then I was told I couldn’t use it because it’d make me too sleepy to push. Friggin’ great stuff. It felt like torture. To be fair though, I only just had the energy to push never mind suck on a pipe full of laughing gas. And I was in no mood for laughing.

Monday 30th May (early hours):
I remembered when Ellie had William and she was pushing for 20 minutes and he was here. I could cope with 20 minutes I thought…JUST. I began to watch the clock while I was pushing. Kate was offering words of encouragement. “Come one”…”Another push”…”Keep going”…”You’re doing great”…are just a few. Every time I had a contraction, Alan grabbed my hand and I squeezed hard. I’m surprised I didn’t shout any abuse at him. You know, something along the lines of “You bastard! This is your fault! Keep your fucking penis away from me from now on! I hate you.” Not only did I not have the energy to shout abuse at him, I didn’t have the urge to. Yes it was agony but I was happy, although I wouldn’t have admitted it at the time.

Pushing laid on my back wasn’t working. Time to try a new position. I was directed by Kate to kneel up with my arms over the head of the bed sort of on all fours if you like. This just wasn’t pretty although it was much more comfortable. Baby was laid back to back so laying on MY back would put more pressure on it and it would hurt more. I pushed and pushed as much as my body would let me. I had been pushing for over an hour. The midwife called the doctor and they told me it was time to intervene. My blood pressure was still sky high and they didn’t want baby to get into distress or me get too exhausted to continue. They were going to use the suction cup.

I had read about ventouse (suction cup/kiwi) deliveries in magazines, on blogs and in forums. No one had a pleasant thing to say about them. Everyone had, had a bad experience. Needless to say I was terrified. There were now two doctors and two midwifes. My legs were put into stirrups – this was painfully painful and painfully undignified but I didn’t care. I was given the gas and air whilst the doctor cut me *down there* (it’s called an episiotomy) but it was soon taken off of me once I had been cut and injected with anaesthetic. None of this made a blind bit of difference to the pain I was in. I was now telling the doctors, midwifes and Alan I couldn’t do this. The suction cup was inserted and I was surprised and pleased that it didn’t hurt. It probably would under normal circumstances but the contractions were controlling me completely.

The doctor explained the suction was attached to my baby’s head and I had to do all the work but when I pushed they would pull. They also explained my baby’s head could come out slightly misshapen from the suction. I already knew this. I’d been reading about labour and birth for weeks and I covered all circumstances. So the pushing commenced again. “Push push push push” and “Come one, one more” and “1…2….3…” were all I heard. I was saying I couldn’t do it. They were all saying I could. I gathered all my energy. I wanted to meet my baby. I wanted to cuddle and kiss him and tell him how much I loved him. I pushed like they told me to, on cue and everything. Eventually, I heard “we have a head,” and I was relieved. Then I was told to hang on and not to push until directed because the cord was around my baby’s neck. You can imagine the things that went through my mind – you hear horror stories about these things. My heart sank and I was about to cry when the doctor told me not to worry baby was now untangled and I could push with the next contraction. Relieved was not the half of it.

I pushed and pushed then POP! SPLASH! And all of a sudden there was a baby on my chest. My boy was here! The doctor said no wonder I was struggling to get him out, there was MORE water blocking him from coming out. The water came out with my baby and drenched the doctor. I was slightly pleased at this after all, the bastard made me do all the work without pain relief. My baby didn’t cry but he was awake and alert and appeared healthy. When Alan and I discussed this moment from when we found out I was pregnant we both agreed we wanted baby cleaning completely before he was handed to me because I’m quite squeamish. All that went out of the window and I didn’t even notice the blood and guts covering my son. He looked just perfect to me. He was wrapped up and passed to Alan, or “daddy” as the midwife called him. Wow that was strange to hear. It was even stranger when they said “…while we stitch mummy up.” OH. MY. GOD. I’m a mummy!

Now I was given the gas and air whilst the doctor stitched me up. Bloody typical or what! I was exhausted so I didn’t notice the pain much but I sucked the gas and air anyway. I felt I was owed at least SOME pain relief even if it was too late for the worst part. It felt like forever and a day when they were stitching me up. I just wanted to cuddle my baby. I was finally finished and the midwife asked how I wanted to feed baby. Breast obviously, it’s been drilled into society for chuff knows how long that “breast is best” (there will be another blog about this, shortly). Baby was placed on my chest and he latched on instantly. It wasn’t painful or weird. It felt right and natural. The midwife said, “That’s perfect. You two were made for each other.” I welled up at hearing this. I was the proudest mummy on earth.

After his feed, the midwife asked what we were going to call him so she could sort out a tag for him. Alan and I looked at each other and both said, Alfie was the right name. We did have others we liked and agreed on but couldn’t decide on. When we looked at him we just knew he was Alfie. Kate weighed him and gave him his vitamin K injection. She then went to get his tag and then dressed him for us. A bath was run for me and Alfie was given to Alan whilst I got myself sorted.
I was in the bath and felt faint so rang for the midwife. She got Alan to help her help get me out of the bath safely. I remember asking where Alfie was. He was in the crib, in my labour room. I got out and the bath was filled with blood. Alan helped me to get dressed. The midwife came back and at this point I passed out. Alan later told me a wheelchair got me to my bed and I was put on a drip whilst I slept. They put it down to exhaustion. It wasn’t until the next day on the ward that I was told I’d lost a lot of blood and needed a blood transfusion. That’s why I passed out. Alfie and I stayed in hospital for 3 days whilst I was treated. He was perfect. Just perfect.

So, there you have it: my labour of love.
Alfie Paul Lewis born 30.05.2011 at 02:37am weighing 8lb 8oz.
Perfect.

So, here’s to a life time of happiness with my new little family as a mummy and a wife. I couldn’t be happier. The blog posts that follow this will be all about my life as a mummy and a wife. I’m much more than that but they are the most important things I am and I’m proud of it.