It was the day of my baby shower, and I was about to get a very special delivery. By Melissa Shirley, 29
As I broke my news, my dad’s eyes widened, and he said: ‘Again?’
‘I know,’ I said, ‘but it wasn’t planned.’
I was pregnant with my third baby, and it was a surprise to say the least.
I already had two little girls. After my oldest Sophia was born, my husband David and I had struggled to have another, so we’d turned to fertility treatment and had Phoebe.
We thought I probably wouldn’t fall pregnant again, so I’d stopped using contraception. But now, with Phoebe just seven months old, I was expecting for a third time.
It was a shock, but I said: ‘David and I are pleased.’
‘Then so am I,’ Dad said.
And it turned out my pregnancy wasn’t the only one in the family. My stepmum’s daughter was pregnant too.
Sian lived in Australia, so we’d never met, but we’d spoken on social media.
‘That’s lovely news,’ I said. ‘I’ll send her my congratulations.’
‘You’ll be able to say it to her face,’ my stepmum said. ‘She’s moving back to the UK.’
That gave me an idea.
I’d always wanted a baby shower, so I decided I’d throw a joint one for me and Sian.
She thought it was a great idea and, over the next few months, we kept in touch. This was Sian’s first pregnancy, so I was able to give her advice.
Her baby was due two weeks before mine, so I arranged the shower for three weeks before her due date.
‘Better to do it early,’ I told her. ‘My first came three weeks early.’
I booked the community centre, in my hometown of Port Talbot, and sent invitations out on Facebook.
‘The theme is afternoon tea,’ I told everyone.
I bought pretty cups, saucers and teapots, and tiered stands for the sandwiches and cakes. And I planned to decorate the room with balloons and bunting on the morning of the shower.
Instead of hiring a caterer,
I decide to make everything myself, and a couple of friends offered to help too.
‘That’s a lot of work,’ David said.
‘I’ll be fine,’ I said. ‘I love baking.’
A week before the shower, Sian arrived in the UK and I went round to Dad’s house to meet her.
‘Finally,’ she beamed, hugging me. ‘I can’t believe this is the first time we’ve met.’
‘I feel like I already know you,’ I said.
I filled her in with the arrangements for the shower.
‘No going into labour early,’
I said. ‘I’ve put a lot of effort into this!’
‘I’ll keep my legs crossed at all times,’ she joked.
The day before the shower, I started baking cakes in the afternoon. But there was a lot to do and I was still piping icing at 2am when David marched me to bed.
As soon as my head touched the pillow, I drifted off, but I woke again a few hours later, needing the loo.
'You better be back in time'
I got out of bed, but as I walked to the bathroom I heard a pop. Then a gush of liquid rushed down between my legs.
Surely, that can’t be my waters breaking? I thought.
I was only 35 weeks gone.
I’d felt no pain, but David suggested we go to the hospital just in case.
We called David’s parents and they came over to babysit.
‘You better be back in time for the shower,’ his mum said.
‘Tell me about it!’ I replied. ‘I was up until 2am making cakes.’
But at the hospital, my hopes crashed.
‘Your waters have gone,’ the midwife said. ‘We’ll have to induce you.’
I started to cry.
‘What’s wrong?’ she asked.
‘It’s my baby shower today,’ I said. ‘I put so much effort into it.’
I phoned my stepmum and explained.
‘Of all the days,’ she said. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll sort it all out.’
As most of the people coming were my friends, it made more sense to call it off. I tapped out a message on Facebook.
Apologies for anyone coming to the baby shower today. My baby has decided to crash it.
Then David made a point.
‘What about all those cakes sitting in our kitchen?’ he said.
I thought about it and had a brainwave.
I called my mum and asked her to bring all the cakes to the hospital for the staff.
Then, before there was time to induce me, my contractions started and I gave birth to a little girl. We name her Kiya. She was tiny and weighed just 5lb 8oz, but she was healthy.
‘Since you’re so perfect,’ I told her, ‘you’re forgiven for ruining my baby shower.’
Two weeks later, Sian had her baby boy, Jacob.
We never did get our baby shower, but we don’t mind. We’re looking forward to lots more special moments to come.