Okay…okay…everything is going to be okay. I just need to get to Dan. I tried to keep myself calm and not panic too much; I knew I wouldn’t be helping my baby if I began to. Taking a few deep breaths I headed towards the door but a pain rushed through me like I’d never experienced before. I grabbed onto the side to steady myself, bending over so I was grasping onto the sides of the sink for support. Breathing through my first contraction was horrible and it only got worse as it progressed, I couldn’t help but scream out in pain.

As it subsided I got my breath back and the toilet door opened. Quickly looking in the direction it was Luke’s mum.

“Oh my god,” she gasped running towards me, “Liv what’s going on?”

“My waters just broke.” I cried. “I’m five weeks early.”

“Okay , calm down and breathe. Everything is going to be fine. Have you had any contractions yet?”

“Yes, but only one.”

“ come with me, we need to get you to the hospital. They need to check you over.”

Grasping onto Sharon, she held onto me tight as we walked out the toilets. My eyes scanned the room looking for Dan and I found him laughing by the pool table with some of the lads. His eyes clocked me and his smile soon turned to panic as he took in my panicked expression and my body position, clutching my stomach. Sharon sat me down on the nearest chair as Dan rushed over to me, followed by Evie.

“Baby what’s wrong?” Dan asked grasping my hand.

“My waters broke…Dan the baby is coming now.”

“Shit…baby everything is going to be okay. We’ve got everything ready so don’t panic. Just try staying calm and concentrating on your breathing and the contractions okay.” He replied trying to show me how calm he was and making everything okay but I could see he was just as scared as I was. I nodded gripping his hand for support.

“You had any contractions?” Evie asked me

“Just one big one. But I think I’ve had small ones all day, I’ve had twinges.”

“We’ll get you to the hospital now , don’t worry.”

“Sorry about ruining the christening.”

“ don’t even say that.” She replied and I nodded.

I stood up with the help of Dan and got into our car. “Do you think we’ve got time to go home and grab a few things first?” he asked me and I shrugged not knowing when my next contraction would be.

“Dan just get her to the bloody hospital.” Evie shouted at him, “I’ll call round at yours later and pick up some things for Liv and the baby.”

“You sure?” I gasp feeling another contraction come along.

“Yes now go.”

Forty minutes later we arrived at the hospital, my contractions were about ten, fifteen, apart but each one was getting more intense.

We got checked in before I got taken through to get checked out by the midwife. Dan helped me get changed into the gown and helping me onto the bed.

“You’re going to do great baby.” Dan smiled kissing my head gently

“Stay with me.”

“You wouldn’t catch me going anywhere.”

Just then the door opened and my midwife Jayne comes in. “Hey…how you doing?”

“So far so good.” I smiled gripping onto Dan’s hand tightly.

“Good, well I’ve just started my shift so hopefully I’ll be with you for your full labour.”

“I hope so” I smiled

“Me too. Now, I just need you to relax…I’m going to check how far along you are okay.” She replied and I nodded. She popped her hand up my gown, feeling my cervix.

“You’re only about two centimetres gone so far, so right at the beginning. We don’t say you’re in established labour till you’re at four centimetres and that may take a while.”

“Oh right…what does this mean?”

“Well you can stay here if you wish or you can go home and rest. Come back in once your contractions are about five minutes apart and lasting between thirty and sixty seconds.”

“Erm Dan?” I ask him nervously.

“Baby I’m going where ever you are…what do you want to do?”

“I’d rather we stayed here please. It takes us about half an hour to get home so I don’t want to risk not getting back here in time. I don’t want my baby born in the front seat of a car.”

Jayne laughed at me “Well, I can sort out a relaxing bath for you, this can help quicken on the labour process.”

“Yes please.” I smile. I loved bubble baths, though I highly doubted this bath would be what I was used to.

Two hours later I was on all fours panting quickly as I rode out another horrible contraction. Who ever said these pains are like ones you experience during periods was fucking lying.

“Okay …you’re almost out of it…yea that’s it…well done.” Dan says soothingly, rubbing my back.

My contractions were every couple of minutes now and fucking painful. I refused to have an epidural because I knew how drowsy it made you and I wanted to remember the birth. So I stuck with gas and air instead…best thing ever invented I swear. I was fixed up to monitors with a strap across my stomach, one to register and follow the baby’s heartbeat and another to monitor my contractions.

Jayne not long later came back to check on me letting me know that I was now at six centimetres and slowly getting there. Two hours and four centimetres…I was hoping I would carry on this way, following Evie in having a quick first labour.

Another two hours had passed and in that time Evie had popped in with a bag full of stuff for me and some baby clothes ready for our new arrival. Jayne came back in to check on me saying I was nine centimetres so it shouldn’t be long till I was taken through to delivery.

“You are doing so well Tink.” Dan smiled kissing my head. I was all sweaty and minging. I’d pushed my hair back off my face with a headband not really caring about my appearance. Soon enough another contraction hit me as Jayne and Dan helped me through it.

“I want to push again.” I shout

“No, it’s not time yet.” Jayne replies “Breathe through it, short pants with me now.”

Luckily half an hour later I was ready to go down to delivery. “Mr Sutton would you like to go and get scrubbed up; we’re taking Liv through very soon.” Jayne smiled at us

“Sure.” Dan smiled at me and kissed me on the lips. “I’ll be right back baby.”

He was so excited for this. I however was shitting it. It was easy for him though, he didn’t have to any of the hard work. A couple of minutes later I was pushed out of the room by Jayne and two other midwives and down the corridor to the delivery room.

“Where’s Dan?” I panic not seeing him around me. I wasn’t doing this without him.

“I’m right here baby.” I could hear him but not see him. I’m so glad he was here.

As we got into the room I reached my hand out and I felt him grab it before standing next to me. “You ready for this baby?” he grinned kissing me

“As I’ll ever be.” I smiled just before another huge contraction hit me.

***

“Okay Liv I can see the head…so on your next contraction I need you to push long and hard for me okay.” Jayne smiles up at me

“Okay.” I sigh, you don’t realise how exhausting labour is until you’re in it yourself.

“Mr Sutton would you like you see the head?” Jayne asks

“Yea okay…” he smiles “Is that okay ?” he turns asking me

“Yea sure.” I smile,

“As long as it doesn’t put you off” I laugh as does he, and the other nurses in the room.

“Never” he winked at me before moving down to the bottom of the bed.

“Oh wow, there’s a lot of hair.” He laughs before coming back up to my head.

“Jet black I bet,” I laugh and he nods as I begin to squeeze his hand as I feel the contraction start.

Bringing up the gas and air pipe to my lips I took in a deep breath.

“Okay Liv long and hard push remember.”

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.” I screamed pushing for as long as I could before stopping as my contraction ended.

“Well done, okay the next one will be in a couple of…” she began but I started screaming again as the next contraction hit me.

“Keep pushing, yes….well done . The head is nearly out.”

“You’re doing brilliant Tink.” Dan smiles down at me as I suck in some more gas and air.

“I need you to pant hard and push now.” Jayne says as my contraction hits me again

“We’ve got the head…pant through this Liv you can do it.”

“Come one nearly there.” Dan says encouraging me

“One more long push for me now.”

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH” I scream again and then it was over.

“It’s a girl.” Jayne smiles putting her straight onto my stomach. Even though she was covered in blood and some other white stuff, I didn’t care. She was perfect. Crying quietly as I stroked her head as Jayne clamped and cut her cord before lifting her off me and passing her to another nurse.

“Where you taking her?” I ask watching her like a hawk.

“They’re cleaning her up baby. Well done, I’m so proud of you.” Dan grins kissing my lips passionately “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.” I smile

“Jayne is everything okay?” I ask after a few seconds.

“She’s just getting checked over because she’s a little early. Nothing to worry about.” she smiled and I nodded nervously as she cleaned me up.

Covering me with the blanket, we waited for what seemed like forever to bring her back over. “Here you go mummy.” Jayne smiles placing my baby girl on my chest. She was so small and wrapped tightly up in a pink blanket.

“Oh wow she’s tiny.” I smile but feel tears fall down my cheeks

“She’s perfect baby, perfect.” Dan beams stroking her head gently before bending down and kissing her then me

“Thank you.” He grins “For giving me the most precious gift.”

“I can say the same about you.” I smile back up at him and he’s got tears in his eyes.

“Your little girl is slightly smaller than we expected but she’s healthy and nothing seems to be wrong or missing.” Jayne laughs as do we.

It's true what they say, labour is the most painful experience you can ever go through. But once your baby is born you forget all about your pain, you have a baby.

An hour later we were back on the ward, Dan was sat on the bed with me as he held our daughter. We'd sent messages to everyone we could think of informing them that our daughter had arrived into the world safe and sound, even though she was early. We would arrange times with everyone in the morning as to when they could come and visit. Jayne had been through as well to pass on her congratulations and to put on my name tag to match my baby girl.

“I can’t stop staring at her.” He smiles glancing at me.

“I know, she’s gorgeous. The complete spit of you Dan.”

“Maybe...but she’s got all your beauty.” He smiled leaning down to kiss me.

"I love you"

"Love you more baby."

"We still agree on the name?" I looked up at him and he smiled nodding at me.

"Sophia Anne Sutton."

"Perfect...it suits her."

Leaning my head on Dan's shoulder I felt exhaustion take over my body and Dan wrap his arm around me.

"Baby I'm going to have to go home." Dan sighs not long later and I raise my head of him yawning.

"I really don't want you to." I reply feeling very emotional

"Me neither but Jayne said that dads aren't allowed to stay the night."

"Then I want to come home"

"No baby, you're tired and sore still, I don't want you moving yet. So just stay put okay. You go to sleep now and I'll be here when you wake up in the morning I promise."

"I hate sleeping without you though."

"Me too baby but it's only tonight." he replied slowly getting off the bed and gently placing our sleeping daughter in her cot.

Placing a kiss on her head, I watched as he gently stroked her head before glancing up at me smiling.

"I hate sleeping without you." I sighed watching as he walked over to me.

"Me too baby, but it's only tonight. I'll be back first thing in the morning. So get some sleep okay."

"I'll try. Love you."

"Love you more Tink." he replied before capturing my lips in a kiss that sent sparks throughout my body.

Pulling away he held my face gently in his hands smiling at me then pressed a kiss against my forehead. "Night baby."

"Night."

I hated the fact that he wasn't allowed to stay with me. I slowly got out of bed, wincing slightly from the after birth pains. But I needed to see my little girl before I went to sleep. Pulling her cot nearer to my bed, I watched her tiny chest rise and fall quickly as she slept. It was unbelievable how much I loved her already, every inch of her. Her skin was slightly lighter than Dan’s but she had inherited his dark hair. At the moment we couldn't tell if it would turn to curls or stay straight, guess only time would tell. She had dark blue eyes as most babies do when they're born, I was secretly hoping they'd go green like mine.

I lay down and I was surprised how fast I fell asleep. It only felt like I had been asleep for five minutes when I heard Sophia crying for her bottle.

Blinking I turned on my bed lamp, sitting up in bed. Karen, one of the other midwives opened my curtain smiling. "Do you want to breast feed her tonight or give her a bottle?"

"I want to breast feed her but I've not done it yet." I say slightly worried

"Well we can make her bottles for tonight and help you with the breast feeding tomorrow morning if you want?"

"Please." I smile

"Sure." she replied before leaving my cubical

I slipped out of bed picking Sophia up and slowly getting back into bed soothing her. A couple of minutes later Karen returned with a warm bottle of baby milk and helped show me how to feed her. Burping Sophia afterwards she soon fell back to sleep, so popping her back in her cot I got into bed and fell straight back to sleep knowing I'd have to be awake again in a couple of hours.

It had been such an exhausting but amazing day, I couldn’t believe me and Dan finally had our baby girl. I woke up again three times in the night with Sophia for her feeds, and every time my body would awake up just as she was about to cry. Mothers instinct Karen kept telling me.

My body once again woke me up but I couldn’t hear Sophia crying. Turning over my eyes flickered open slightly to see Dan picking our daughter out of her cot.

“Now hush little lady, we don’t want you waking mummy again do we no. She’s very sleepy so daddy is going to feed you, we can let mummy sleep a bit longer can’t we.”

I watched slightly as Dan sat down on the chair next to my bed cuddling Sophia whilst feeding her a bottle Karen had just passed him. He was a natural. Taking this time for a little nap my eye lids closed as tiredness swept over me. I knew I’d spend the next year tired and probably the rest of my life but for just right now I could nap.

“Morning daddy.” I smiled when I woke up about twenty minutes later to Dan still cuddling Sophia, pulling at faces at her.

“Morning mummy.” Dan grinned gently waving Sophia’s hand in my direction.

I sat up in bed as Dan stood up, leaning over and placing a gentle kiss on my lips. "Morning gorgeous."

"Morning ." I smile "How’s my munchkin this morning?"

"She's great…fed and changed her. Now she's just fallen asleep." Dan replied before placing Sophia in her cot

Dan came and sat on the bed next to me as I leant into him. "When is everyone coming?"

"Visiting hours are two till three then six till seven. But Karen said the doctor wants to check over Sophia this afternoon and if everything is okay she can go home. So maybe some during visiting hours and then the rest when we go home?" he smiles

"Sure. How about Evie, Luke and your family come this afternoon then our friends this evening?"

"Okay I'll ring mum and everyone now." As Dan walked out to ring everyone Karen came into my cubical.

"How you feeling today?"

"Still a bit sore but I'm okay."

"That’s normal. You ready to try breast feeding when Sophia wakes up for her next feed?"

"Yes...won’t be for a couple of hours I don’t think, Dan has not long fed her."

“Okay, when she next wakes up, buzz for me or another nurse and we’ll help you.” She smiles walking off

***

It was now visiting time, and any minute Evie, Luke, Thomas and Dan’s family were coming to visit us. I couldn’t wait to show off Sophia to them, my gorgeous baby girl.

“Let me see my beautiful granddaughter” I heard Siobhan say walking into the room with her arms open.

“Hey mum.” Dan grinned embracing his mum in a warm hug before bringing her round to sit on the chairs. Dan’s dad stood next to her as did Conor and Courtney.

“Congratulations baby.”

“Thank you.” Dan smiled before hugging his family.

“So I would love to introduce to you my gorgeous daughter Sophia Anne Sutton.” Dan announced as I turned Sophia to face everyone. She was lay quietly in my arms staring around at everyone. Dan bent down and scooped her into his arms before passing her to his mum.

“Awww guys she’s perfect.” She beamed holding her first granddaughter.

“We think so too.” I smiled sitting up further in the bed as Dan sat down next to me. A couple of seconds later Evie and Luke came in holding TJ.

The next hour flew by with everyone having a cuddle of Sophia before being handed back to me. The lads were sat on the chairs near the bottom of my bed discussing the football as Dan bounced TJ on his lap, whilst us girls discussed my labour and babies. Before I knew it they had to leave but promised to drop by the house tomorrow if I was home or come visit again.

Luckily my Doctor came round just after we had our tea with the news that Sophia was healthy enough to go home but in the morning. He wanted to know how she dealt with her night time feeding more now that I was breast feeding. I understood but it meant another night away from Dan which I hated. More of our friends came to visit later on in the evening, bringing more gifts and cards with them which was so sweet.

Another night passed with Dan having to once again leave me and go home alone whilst I stayed in hospital with Sophia. Jayne was working the night shift tonight which I was grateful for, with the help of her and Karen I had managed to get Sophia to breast feed easily. Dan was once again by my side before I woke up the next morning giving Sophia her first feed. I was glad she was getting given breast and bottle so that if we were out, we would be able to easily feed her, it also meant that Dan could share the night feeds with me. if I was too tired to breast feed her, we could give her the bottle. The Doctor was pleased with her progression and how fast she had latched on to breast feeding and allowed us to go home. The moment I had been waiting for. I couldn’t wait to get home and start life as a family.