A Year Of Firsts

The last 12 months of my life have been full of firsts, ranging from the small insignificant things like cooking a pork chop to the major life changing things like having a baby.

In November 2010 I gave birth to my little girl and the feeling I had when they placed the little warm bundle in my arms was indescribable. Becoming a Mum has obviously changed my life but it has also changed me into a much more confident, happier and nicer person (not that I was horrible before!).

I wasn’t however able to use the phrase ‘I love being a Mum’ until Iyla was about a month old, the love I felt for her was and is so strong and powerful that sometimes it reduces me to tears but I found the re-adjustment period quite difficult. After a 46 hour fairly traumatic labour and the effect it had on my body I really could have done with a week of bed rest but instead less than 24 hours later I found myself at home with not really the first clue what I was doing. Luckily my OH was beyond amazing, both with looking after her and helping me as I could barely walk. It was the middle of winter and I was fine in the day but if he wasn’t here when it got dark then I can remember sitting there crying until he got home, obviously now I know it was the baby blues mixed with exhaustion but at the time it felt like such extreme sadness and fear.

Anyway that was the lowest point and by the time Iyla was a month old I was feeling more like myself and life was easier again – until the intrusive thoughts started but that’s for another post. I was also able to relive my birth story without being reduced to tears! I look back now and almost miss the excitement of it, amazing how we forget!

So that is an introduction into me and my arrival into the world of motherhood, hopefully by next year I will be able to add that Iyla has slept through the night for the FIRST time!!

Iyla Cherry – 2 Weeks Old