Claire's Baby Diary #9

…On November 26th I gave birth to our beautiful baby girl, Elsie Teresa Ann Sullivan, born at 10.24am and weighing a staggering 7lb 12oz! No-one imagined she’d be that size as I had quite a small bump….I obviously grew her well!

Everything went really well. I had to have a c-section as she was breech and …been since 26 weeks so  I decided not to have her turned and risk her turning back so although I was gutted the section was the only option. So, we booked it in and decided not to tell anyone as we wanted to keep it a surprise…seeing as we’d told everyone we were having a girl and what her name would be.

So, after a sleepless night we called the hospital and was told to come in. We made our way there and within 2 hours I was in theatre…something I’d been dreading having never stayed in hospital or had an operation. I kept crying with nerves and excitement. The songs playing on the radio were Kings of Leon, Sex on Fire which is weird as she used to kick to that in my tummy, and when the surgeons pulled her out and wished her ‘happy birthday’ the song playing was You Got The Love by Florence and the Machine.
I really wanted them to drop the screen as they lifted her out but they didn’t despite me asking. So although we heard a few little cries we didn’t actually see her until what seemed like hours! It was probably minutes but she looked so tiny and cute with her left hand over her eye – which is how she was in the 4d scan that we had!

The maternity staff at the Princess Royal hospital were all fantastic. They were so busy and short staffed but each midwife, nurse and student had time to spend with us, answer questions etc. The staff who looked after us were brilliant. I even had the same midwife who looked after us on the day I gave birth come to visit me, Sarah, who was fantastic. She had 12 women to look after on our first night, you wouldn’t have thought so – she even took Elsie for an hour to give me some rest as I wasn’t sleeping – despite two shots of morphine!!
So, after nearly 3 days in hospital, with no sleep (impossible in the maternity unit, once one baby starts crying they all start or the mum’s are snoring!), my husband, Elsie and I went home! After a slow and painful (for me) journey we got home and didn’t know what to do! We got her out of the car seat and just sat looking at her….as I did all night whilst she slept, well, like a baby! She slept for 8 hours!
We had a midwife visit the following day and she told us to wake her for her feed which we did the following night and now I’m pleased to say she sleeps all night only waking for her feeds. I’m not getting a lot of sleep as i still keep watching her….although I’m getting more sleep than I was getting at first. I just can’t stop watching her, her little moves, the faces she pulls, the little noises she makes…it’s better than watching TV. Apparently she’s a contented little baby which is great news to us.

Two weeks on and we’re doing really well. I’m proud to say I’m back in my normal clothes and I’m driving again. I feel really well which totally surprised me. I was expecting to feel rough and not be able to do anything for at least 4 weeks. however, with a newborn and a new house which is still completely upside down after being there only 5 weeks, there isn’t much chance to rest as everyone tells you to do. I did rest for the first couple of days at home but I can’t sit still, I have to do things and being in a new house with lots of boxes to unpack helps keep me busy. Elsie’s doing well, she lost a few pounds which is normal in the first week but she’s putting it on again.

My parents have been fantastic, coming to help us whenever they can. My husband has been amazing throughout and is sorry to go back to work next week, it’s been lovely having him at home but we’ll have to be on our own at some point so next week is the time to do it. At least it’s only for a week as he’ll have the Christmas holidays to spend with us…and get the bathroom tiling done!
Elsie and I did our first car journey together today. We passed the car seat challenge – they’re not easy to strap in and get out - but she stayed asleep for the short journey.

My baby daughter is a little beauty, I know I’m biased but she is. She’s perfect in every way, we are completely overwhelmed by her and our love for her. It’s a feeling like no other.
She has had three photo shoots by mummy in the past two weeks…here are a couple and I’m sure I’ll be adding more just as soon as I can!!