I'd planned my perfect big day, but little did I know it was about to be hijacked. By Shelley Sutton, 28
I looked across the table, took a deep breath and just came out with it.
‘I know this is only our first date,’ I said. ‘But you should know that I really want children.’
I braced myself for my date to disappear in a puff of smoke.
But when I looked up he was smiling.
‘OK,’ he said. ‘That’s fine by me.’
I was so relieved.
Even though we’d only managed half a date so far,
I could see a future for me and Kevin. He was my best friend Maddy’s brother. I had known him for years, but it was only recently that sparks had flown.
Kevin already had kids, and I’d been afraid he wouldn’t want more. But luckily, he felt the same way I did, and we became a couple.
Five months later, on a night out, Kevin dropped to one knee in front of me.
‘Shelley,’ he said, holding out a ring. ‘Will you marry me?’
‘Yes!’ I cried.
I’d already been dreaming about our wedding day, so I was buzzing with ideas from the first minute.
I booked a stunning hotel for our reception, and then I went dress-shopping with Maddy and Kevin’s mum Tina.
In the shop, I spotted a bejewelled, slim-fitting gown with a huge train. I tried it on and I was almost lost for words.
‘This is everything I’ve always wanted,’ I said. ‘I’ll take it.’
My wedding planning had got off to a great start, but six months before the big day, I started to feel sick and run down.
‘What if you’re pregnant?’ Kevin said.
I laughed.
‘I doubt it,’ I said.
Ahead of the wedding we’d been trying for a baby, but nothing had happened. I’d gone to the doctor and been sent for tests.
The results showed I had polycystic ovaries, and I’d been told it was unlikely I’d be able to conceive naturally, so Kevin and I had booked an appointment to see a doctor about IVF.
Still he said: ‘Why not take a test? Just in case.’
To keep him happy, I agreed. But I had absolutely no doubt that the test would be negative.
So when I saw the result in the little window, I burst into tears.
‘Is this real?’ Kevin said.
‘I think so,’ I replied. ‘I think we’re having a baby.’
I was so shocked
I didn’t know how to feel.
But when the news sank in, we started to feel excited. And then a thought struck me.
I’m going to be a pregnant bride. A very pregnant bride.
Gone were visions of me floating down the aisle in my slim-fitting frock.
By the time our big day rolled around, I’d be fit to burst.
‘You might have the baby walking down the aisle,’ Maddy said. ‘Or maybe during your vows!’
‘That’s not funny,’ I replied.
With a baby on the way, we had to cut our wedding budget so we cancelled the hotel, losing our deposit, and instead booked a sports centre for the evening do.
‘I’m sorry you can’t have your perfect day,’ Kevin said.
‘I’m having our baby,’ I said. ‘That’s all that matters.’
Our little one was due a month after the wedding, which was perfect timing.
I said: ‘Once the wedding’s out of the way, I’ll have plenty of time to get sorted.’
As the two dates drew nearer, Kevin and I were rushed off our feet buying baby clothes and nappies, while making centre pieces and choosing tablecloths.
Some days I felt overwhelmed, but Kevin kept me going.
Then, five days before the wedding, I woke with stomach pains. At first, I put it down to all the stress I’d been under, but as the morning went on, they grew stronger and stronger.
‘Do you think it’s the baby?’ Kevin said.
I replied: ‘It’s too painful to be labour.’
Kevin took me to hospital, and as we arrived we bumped into my midwife, Laura.
She took one look at me,
and said: ‘This isn’t right.’
I was examined, and then a doctor told me something shocking.
‘We need to get your baby out,’ he said. ‘Now.’
‘What?’ I cried.
‘You need an emergency Caesarean,’ he said. ‘It’s urgent.’
With no time to think about what was happening to me,
I was wheeled into the operating theatre, given anaesthetic and everything went black.
When I woke up, I was in a bed on the maternity ward.
Kevin was sitting there, and he said: ‘Hello, babe. We have a healthy, lovely, perfect baby. Do you want to know what it is?’
I nodded.
‘It’s a little boy,’ he said.
I couldn’t believe I’d gone to sleep pregnant and woken up with a baby. It was hard to get my head around, especially as I wasn’t able to see him.
He only weighed 4lb 8oz, and was receiving care in the neonatal unit, and I was too poorly to be moved.
We named him Harry.
Kevin spent time with him, then showed me pictures and videos.
Next day, when I’d improved a little, I was finally wheeled down to see him.
He was placed in my arms, and I took in his tiny features, saying: ‘I’m your mummy.’
He was worth every minute of the pain I’d gone through.
I was told I’d had a placental abruption, where my placenta had separated from my womb.
Harry’s life had been in danger, and I felt so grateful to the hospital staff for saving him.
He was all I could think about.
Then I remembered something.
‘Kevin!’ I said. ‘We’re meant
to be getting married in four days! What will we do?’
‘I don’t know, love,’ he said. ‘We need to make sure you’re better.’
‘I will be,’ I said.
We’d put so much time, money and effort into our day, there was no way I was cancelling.
But the doctors didn’t agree.
I was still sore and weak from the abruption and the operation, and I was pumped full of drugs. They said I had to stay in hospital.
‘We’ll have to cancel,’ Kevin said. ‘There’s nothing else for it.’
I was devastated.
Then, the day before I’d been due to walk down the aisle, one of the midwives came to see me.
‘We know how much your wedding means to you,’ she said. ‘So we’ve talked the doctors round. They’ll let you out — but just for the day.’
I couldn’t believe it.
‘Thank you so much!’ I gasped.
Luckily, Kevin hadn’t got around to cancelling the church or the reception, so he called our guests and told everyone the wedding was back on.
Next morning, I was up and waiting by the lift in my wheelchair, when my parents arrived to collect me.
I had my hair and make-up done. Then, I slipped into my dress.
It wasn’t the glittering number I’d bought — Harry had made short work of that. But I’d found a flowing white gown on eBay and I felt great in it.
We made our way to the church and the ceremony began.
Kevin and I exchanged vows and became husband and wife. Then we all went on to the reception venue.
As we walked in, I gasped.
While I’d been in hospital, family and friends had decorated the room and put on a disco and a buffet.
‘I can’t believe it,’ I said. ‘It’s perfect!’
Everyone arrived, then my dad and Maddy stood up and gave speeches.
We raised our glasses, and Dad said: ‘Let’s pray for Harry. We’re all thinking of him.’
I wished more than anything he could have been there with us.
As we partied with our guests, I thought about everything that had happened.
I thought about the stunning hotel I’d imagined, and the glamorous dress I was supposed to wear.
Everything had changed. But far from ruining it, Harry had made our day more perfect than I could have imagined.
At 9pm, Kevin and I left our guests at the reception and returned to the hospital to see him.
‘It’s your mummy and daddy’s wedding day,’ I whispered.
It was the most special moment of all.
I was allowed to stay at home with Kevin that night, then next morning, I was back in hospital.
Thankfully, a few days later, I was discharged and, shortly after, Harry followed.
Now, at home in Basingstoke, Hampshire, we’ve just celebrated our first wedding anniversary, and Harry turning one.
Our little fighter is so funny and full of life, and never without a smile. I feel so lucky to be his mum.
I can’t wait until he’s old enough for us to tell him about the day he was born — and crashed his mum and dad’s wedding.
