'Summer's first bath was made from sterilised bottled water!....'

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Two days after delivering Summer, I'd had enough of laying horizontal in a hospital bed eating luke warm lumpy hospital food surrounded by people who felt sorry for me. I sneaked down the ward and into the bathroom. To say I was desperate to shower was an understatement. On the way back through the ward I ditched the unsexy hospital gown in the wash bin they provided for towels and dressed myself like an outpatient. Paul was my look out when we made our way down to NICU and we went to see our baby.

We walked into nursery 2, met by our gorgeous baby all snuggly in her incubator. She lived in nappies for four days after birth, even though we took in blankets and just short of a million outfits for her and also the soft teddy rattles she loved. Wondering if we'd ever dress her in these newborn outfits.

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On day there of Summer's life I discharged myself from UCLH, although it absolutely killed me leaving her in hospital while I came home broken hearted I knew I had to come home to recharge my batteries to give her a hundred and ten percent of my energy and by staying in hospital that wouldn't have happened. I say we came home, Paul and I left the hospital around 1am and were back around 7am.

At around 6am on day four of Summer's life Paul & I were up early ready and waiting for our taxi to take us to University College London Hospital. We'd always grab a coffee before going in to see Summer as it helped us put on our brave faces ready for any news from the night nurse.

After our coffee we made our way to The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing on the side of the hospital where we came for scans, birth and aftercare - this building consisted of 99% of our journey. It specialises in womens health and wellbeing.

In we walked, putting away our belongings in locker 29. Before you got anywhere near the corridor of the nurseries you had to wash your hands thoroughly and sanitise. Nursery 2 bed 7, Summer's main nurse had her day off so we were met by another nurse named Jo. She filled us in and told us Summer had had a fantastic night with no problems, she also excitedly told us that today was the day we were going to bath our baby for the first time.

Summer's first bath was made from sterilised bottled water! It had to be boiled to the perfect temperature before we could pop her in. Bath and towel ready, in she went.. And absolutely HATED it.

We had to put a blue rubber glove over her tiny cannula in her right hand so it didn't get wet. It took three of us to hold and bath her, me holding her, Paul holding her tubes and gently splashing her and the nurse holding the towel ready to wrap her up warm. The Best day ever so far! We were then allowed to dress her. Such a magical moment and finally I felt like her mum.

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Since Summer's first bath we were keen to get her to love being in the water. When we were transferred to Great Ormond Street on the second day of admission in the High Dependency Unit we asked the nurses if we could bath her. This time she loved it. We were quickly getting used to this and loving it.

We continued bathing her three times per week at home and dressing her everyday, sometimes three outfits a day just so she could wear every item of newborn clothing we had for her - something so small most people take for granted. 

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In August we felt we had mastered Summer's care. We were all desperate for a holiday but still a little anxious about flying with her so we agreed to take a long drive to Cornwall. We packed up the car and off we went. We stayed with family in Bude but managed two nights away just us in a Manor House further south in Falmouth. While we were there we plucked up the courage to take Summer swimming, we bought her a baby float to sit in and a flamingo frilly swimsuit (obviously).. she absolutely loved it. Gently kicked her legs and curiously touched the water with her hands. It made our holiday. Tiny milestones, huge happy memories.

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A month after our trip to Cornwall we wanted to take Summer swimming again but wasn't sure when or where to take her. We didn't want to go somewhere busy where other kids would splash her or where the pool was cold. Both my mum & Paul's mum recommended The Aspire in Stanmore - it is run by disabled charities and they have a hydrotherapy pool which is heaven. Back in her baby float she was really enjoying it and so were we. 

 

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Its safe to say we have a water baby on our hands! Great practise for our abroad holiday next year.

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Thanks for reading Water Baby,

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Jessica x

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