A Year of Firsts

Sadie Ramm - 23 Jan 16

When was the last time I did something for the first time? Well, for the last year, I feel like life has been one big list of firsts.

I found out I was pregnant on New Years Eve of 2014. What a way to start 2015! Within a week, my stomach had leapfrogged into an unstable, gurgling mess. And there it stayed for approximately the next 15 weeks.  As my bump grew, so did the first time experiences. From those unforgettable ones – hearing the heartbeat, seeing the wriggly little baby-blob on the ultrasound scan, being amazed at the way my body could stretch; to those I’d rather forget – morning sickness, barely being able to walk 10 minutes without my pelvis going into meltdown, turning into a hermit due to extreme fatigue…(oh, the bone-crushing tiredness!!) and then some fun ones thrown in for good measure – going to hen parties and weddings without a glass of bubbly in hand, getting a seat on the train/bus whenever I wanted, all the nostalgic, sympathetic glances from strangers in the street.

But all of these firsts pale into insignificance at what September 1st brought. My first baby. First time mum.

Life after September 1st has been a giant whirlwind of firsts, a huge journey of learning experiences, and not just for me. Seeing my husband in his new role as a dad and my parents as grandparents has been unbelievably special. I’ve felt a spectrum of all the emotions I ever knew existed (sometimes all in once day!) and then some more. I’ve laughed at nappy explosions, cheered at successful breastfeeding, cried at painful nether regions and a whole host of other things. My life currently is still measured in firsts. Strange things like the first time wearing a swimming cossie since I became pregnant. How to soothe a baby who’s getting her first tooth. First time negotiating an airport and flight with a baby in tow. First full night’s sleep in however many months (that was a welcome one!).

I’ve started to wonder at what ‘real life’ will be like, when the crazy days of maternity leave are over, how I will feel about my first day back at work, how I will balance what I want for myself, for my daughter and for our little family. Other parents seem to take all this in their stride, like the shift from Life Before Being a Mum to Suddenly Being a Mum is completely normal. But on the inside, are they also reeling from all the firsts?

I know that I’m destined for plenty of new experiences in the future. I hadn’t thought much about that before Frieda came along. So in 2016 I’ll be embracing all the firsts life has to offer, however overwhelming they may be.

Sadie Ramm

Hello, I'm Sadie. 5 years ago I left my job as a Brand Manager and moved to Norway. Since then, my CV became a bit more varied! I've been a freelance writer, volunteer, dog walker, school receptionist and for the last 3 years, working in Communications. Mum to Frieda, currently on maternity leave.

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