Your birth day!

Dear Sophie,

Your birth date was booked in many many months before your arrival. Due to having caesarians, my doctor was able to book me in when I was only a few months pregnant.

Before he told me the date, I was hoping for the 4th. It just seemed like a lovely date. I asked him for a date and he said the 4th of December. Perfect. That was when we would meet our baby girl. The countdown was on!

The day before your birth date, I made sure I was ready - bags all packed, boys staying at Grandma's, Daddy off work, nap in the afternoon. The night before your birth though I couldn't sleep very well. I was nervous and excited and also found it hard to sleep in late pregnancy!

We were told to be at the hospital by 7am, so our alarms were set for 5:30am. The time came and I got out of bed to make sure everything was ready... and to make sure your Dad was awake!

We hopped in the car at 6:30am and were off. We arrived to the hospital to admissions and then we waited... and waited... and waited! We were finally called in at 8:30am. Time to change into hospital gowns and talk to the anethesist.

Once we were all ready and waiting in a bed, it all came to me how excited / nervous I was and I started to cry. I just wanted to meet you so badly and wanted you to make a safe arrival. We took my last pregnancy photo and made a few jokes to lighten the mood.

I was taken into the theatre to have the spinal block inserted and Daddy had to wait outside until I was all ready. It was overwhelming and I was crying more. The nurse and obstetrician both held my hands to comfort me. First it was just the nurse holding my hand while the needle went into my back. I was crying due to nerves and the needle was hurting! The obs was making some jokes and then realised I was crying and held my other hand saying "oh! I didn't realise you were struggling. sorry." Daddy was let in and I was relieved :) My body started to go numb and it was time. Time to start the surgery to meet our girl.

After a little time, I told the obstetrician that I was ready. He told me that he was almost finished!! haha. A couple more minutes of pulling and then I saw your face for the first time. You were the most beautiful little girl I'd ever seen. Just perfect. And you were crying! Loud! I looked at your perfect face and double checked that you were a girl. Yep, our longed for daughter was here! Daddy took some photos and the doctor passed you over so that I could give you a first kiss. You were all warm and fresh and smelled wonderful. and covered in white stuff and quite sticky!

The nurse checked you over while Daddy watched and then you were placed on my chest, skin to skin. It was such a great feeling to have you out and to have you on my chest. At first, you looked so similar to Luke at birth, but as the days went on, you changed to be more like Jack. You definitely looked like the boys and us, but your own little version. You stayed on my chest like that for a little while and then we went to recovery.

With the boys, I went to recovery by myself, but you came with me on my chest. It was cold in recovery, so the hospital gave you a cute little knitted hat. Daddy chose it and he chose a lovely colourful one. We stayed in recovery for around an hour while I got the feeling back in my body. I was keen to get out of there and get back to our room, but we had to wait to make sure I was ok.

Then we went back to our hospital room (room  number 10) where you were weighed (3870 grams or 8 pound 5 ounces) and for more snuggling with Daddy and Mummy. We phoned Grandma and texted everyone to let them know that you had arrived!!