Mama Jodes here, physically absolutely shattered, but emotionally so loved up with my beautiful new little daughter, I have a Sophia addiction you wouldn't believe! I can't stop looking at her, holding her, cuddling her, smelling her, kissing her, inhaling her, having her near me at all times. She sleeps on my chest for a few hours at a time, and it gives me a happiness so complete, I can't even begin to describe it. It feels as though my arms were made specifically to hold and cradle and cuddle her, we fit each other so well.

It's not easy caring for a new born, their needs are frequent and sometimes feel relentless, but so far I wouldn't change a thing as we get to know each other. It's all part of our experience together as a family and I know a bad hour or two now can be followed by a joyous moment or interaction several hours later. She makes the cutest little snuffle when she's coming towards the end of a feed and I know she's then shortly going to fall asleep and slip off the breast with her precious rosebud lips pursed and covered with milk droplets. At night time she has no interest in being in her bassinet or stroller, and will make her case strongly and loudly until I pick her up, at which point she looks at me, now quietened, as if to say 'that's all I wanted, to be near you and Daddy', and into bed she comes with us. We have put ourselves into the 'Sophia Time Zone', as she adjusts to life outside the womb and we adjust to our new roles as Mum and Dad. We observe, respond, fail, try again, perservere, try something new, have a good cry (sometimes Mum and baby together!), laugh, smile, delight in each other. This is a journey like no other I have been on, and it is magnificent. We feel like explorers in a new territory coming across wonders and challenges like never before.

There has been a lot of interest from people about the fact I delivered Sophs in water, and this is the room (click here) where we actually birthed her. I was very lucky it was free when we arrived at the Birth Centre, as there is only one pool available. I will save my birth story for another time, but will just say for now that when I reached down into the water to bring my daughter to the surface and onto my chest it was the the most incredible moment of my life to date. I had no pain relief apart from gas/air, the comforting warmth of the water in the pool, and my amazing husband encouraging and caring for me, and I would do it the same way all again!

One last thing before I go and sleep (when Sophia sleeps, I try to sleep), I lost about a litre of blood post-delivery (they aren't quite sure, as I'd birthed in the water it was difficult to tell). As I brought Sophia to the surface her cord snapped, there was no way of anyone knowing that it was a short cord, and a lot of blood came out. I fainted several times about 20 minutes after delivering her and apparently triggered a SWAT team-esque response of medical staff, to which I was oblivious. Last thing I knew I was cradling and marvelling at my daughter, then the sounds around me faded like someone turned the volume down before the whole world faded to black. I experienced a series of vivid brightly cloured scenes and images which I cannot for the life of me fully recall, and then I woke up in the recovery position having needles shoved into me and people in my face trying to get me to talk and answer questions and respond. All I remember thinking is 'what happened' and 'where is Sophia, is she ok' and trying to look around the room to find her. They replaced the blood with something (there were three drips in). I cannot begin to imagine how frightening this must have been for Stu to see. Apparently they needed 5 people to haul my unconscious form out of the pool and onto the bed (which explains the various bruises along my legs and back!). We are all recovering really well, but the downside is my iron levels are half what they should be, and I am even more shattered than would be normal post-birth. So, please excuse me for not responding to emails/voice mails/texts as quickly as I normally would. I know everyone is very curious about our little one, and I will be back soon!