“Say hello to the sun…” the music blared across the hall and my husband smirked at me and urged me to join in. I smiled. Normally on a Tuesday I’d be prepping for a Soccer Special but here I was with our little boy beside me pretending I knew the gestures to the baby song. Life has changed a lot since 23rd October 2019!
In fact Zac barely let me finish work, I walked out of the Liberty Stadium at 10pm on 22nd October and 6.5 hours later my waters broke spectacularly. I wasn’t meant to be on maternity for another 5 days with a couple more games and interviews to go. He was 4 weeks early but after a difficult pregnancy, especially the first half, I should have known there would be more twists. He was coming out feet first too which they only found out when I was 9cm dilated, what followed was a very dramatic emergency c-section! Although as he was leading with his feet this clearly means he will love football… Being premature we spent a week in hospital as he was jaundice, coming home to Poppy our cat and Barney our dog was just incredible.
Zac was most likely premature because I had Hyperemesis although no one warned us that may happen! The pregnancy is something I am getting my head around and hoping to raise some much needed awareness for the condition of Hyperemesis, I get a lot of messages about it and have written about my experience on the Pregnancy Sickness Support website. The first 19 weeks of pregnancy I was hospital and bed bound, it was a complete shock and incredibly difficult. Since Zac has been here I’ve felt very lucky, if a little tired! Everyone tells you it’s a love like no other and they’re not wrong. For the first time in forever I’ve not known all the football scores or who is making waves in the championship. In the last few weeks that newborn fog has started lifting and I intend to be back doing a few games before the end of the season as part of my “Keeping in touch” maternity days. Zac’s colic we think is improving so we can try and take in more of the football without wondering what the commentators are saying while he screams, and soon enough I will leave him with his Dad on a Saturday. I’m nervous but also excited to get back to it, after all it is a big part of my identity and I adore my job. Soccer Saturday have been fantastic and I’ve had a chat about returning. They were wonderful when I was pregnant too, accommodating for my rather sizeable bump not being able to negotiate all the gantries.
We’ve already taken Zac to his first game, Bristol City beating Luton 3.0 in December. It made me miss it, and although I’ve not wanted to be anywhere else but with Zac I think I will be ready to get the headphones back on and also start my writing and podcast again. Naturally my number one priority is to be Zac’s Mum, but alongside that I hope I can make him proud working again. I’m so full of admiration for parents, working Mums and Dads and single parents I am in absolute awe of you. It’s hard work this parenting lark, much harder work than sitting on a cold gantry reporting the football! Now excuse me while I work out if he wants some milk, a cuddle or if there’s a big outgoing transfer to deal with…