A Story I've Never Really Told


My little boy is about to turn two.

Two whole years.

And just like every mama says — I still can’t wrap my head around how fast the years go. How something can feel like yesterday and yet be a whole lifetime ago.


Two years ago, I was heavily pregnant, waddling into a routine check-up, completely unaware that everything was about to change.

Being my second pregnancy, I went alone. My husband stayed at work — we both figured there was no need for him to come. Everything had been going smoothly. Until it wasn’t.


"My heart raced. My thoughts spiralled"


The sonographer scanned quietly, then paused. She smiled and said, “Everything is okay… however…”

Let me tell you — the moment you hear ‘everything is ok, however’, your brain FLIPS. Suddenly nothing feels ok. My heart raced. My thoughts spiralled.


What do you mean the amniotic fluid is low?

How low is low?

What does this mean? Is he ok?

Should I have brought my husband??


Those pink and blue ribbons.

'I Checked Into The Maternity Ward'


She left and returned with her manager. I must’ve looked calm on the outside — “I’m good,” I replied when she asked how I was doing. But I wasn’t. Not really. Not at all. Not even a little bit. They confirmed the fluid was low but reassured me it wasn’t urgent. They wanted me to go to the hospital for monitoring, just to be safe. So off I went. Still alone. Still trying to wrap my head around what was happening, I called my husband and gave him the update. I assured him not to worry about coming even though he insisted.


I checked into the maternity ward. I hadn’t eaten — but adrenaline was doing a fine job of keeping me going. I was eventually called in and strapped up for monitoring, watching the pink and blue belts rise and fall with baby’s movements.


"Something Just Wasn't Right"


Then came this feeling — hard to describe, but undeniable. Something just wasn’t right.

I called my husband and told him to come. I asked him to arrange for his step-mum to pick up our daughter from daycare. It wasn’t urgent yet — it was only 1pm and we usually get her around 3:30 — but I couldn’t shake the sense that I needed to be prepared.


Just as I hung up the phone, the doctor walked in.



And sat down. Like, casually sat down on the end of my bed. Crossed legs. Calm voice. YOU KNOW it’s a serious chat when they get comfortable on the end of the bed. Any other chat, they will happily stand around and let you know.


He explained everything in simple terms and turns out:

It was safest to have our baby within seven days.


My daughter and I in bed. Her foot wrapped around me and her baby brother

WAIT A MINUTE...

WHAT?

A WEEK?!

WHAT THE ACTUAL F***?!


My head was spinning.

A week? What, like I just pick a date off a menu?

How was this happening?


I hadn't even finished packing my hospital bag yet and I was just on 37 weeks pregnant. Talk about the mental load! There was a knock on the door — my husband had arrived. Just in time.

The doctor gave us some space to talk it over. My only hope was to try for a VBAC and see how things went. As long as me and baby were ok, I just wanted what would be safest for us.


My husband and I sat there together, going through the options, trying to make sense of it all. And eventually, we picked a date because we thought; sooner the better.


Thursday 15th June

Two days away. That’s when we’d meet our baby boy.


It was after 5pm now and I was absolutely starving. The adrenaline had worn off and reality was setting in. The hospital discharged me and off we went—still in a bit of a blur.

Since our daughter was in safe hands, we decided to do something we hadn’t done in a while… we went out for dinner. Just the two of us. Because honestly—who knew when we’d get that chance again?

We found a spot and ordered some greasy burgers, and my god, I was hungry. It hit the spot in the best way.


Then we picked up our daughter and came home.

That night, I snuggled her in bed, like I always did. But this time, oh my heart! I held her a little tighter… a little longer. Her whole world was going to change within 48 hours.


In a couple of days there would be four of us snuggled in bed.


To be continued…