Pregnancy was done. Labour? Survived. And just like that, it was me, Dan, and our baby boy, Jude — tucked away in a strange, sacred little bubble of hospital life. From adrenaline-fuelled cuddles to post-birth toast that deserved a Michelin star, those early days were chaotic, emotional, and full of magic. Here’s what really goes down in the hospital and it’s just you, your partner, and a very tiny human.

After months of waiting, waddling, and packing (then repacking) the hospital bag, the big day finally arrived. What followed was a whirlwind of contractions, gas and air, unexpected humour, and raw emotion - ending in the moment I met my baby boy for the very first time. Here’s my honest, messy, magical birth story.

The first trimester nearly broke me - exhaustion, nausea, and anxiety like I’d never known. But somehow, through the sickness and panic, a quiet kind of magic crept in. I was falling in love with someone I hadn’t met yet - and even on the hardest days, that love carried me through.