Stories from our customers - The fulfillment of a baby dream and preparation for the first moments

In the summer of 2014, my husband and I got married, and our dream was to become parents right away. As lovers of children, we thought that we could have several kids. Even though a child didn't start to arrive, we didn't let life revolve solely around that. We focused on each other and all the wonderful things life brought along.

The dream of having a child, however, stayed with me all these years, and lo and behold, the child announced its arrival in May 2023. Impatiently, I immediately shared the happy news with close ones and decided to fully enjoy the pregnancy, even though the fear of loss was present after nine years of waiting.

I excitedly started buying clothes for the baby even before the anatomy scan. I had been watching Gugguu's story for a long time, and my dream was to someday fill my own little wardrobe with them. I started with neutral colors, but since I had a strong feeling about the gender, I also dared to buy light blue. I bought three pieces of clothing for each size. It was especially wonderful to get to fondle the small pieces of clothing and smooth them out in advance.

I had been planning the contents of the birth bag all autumn. I had bought myself two new pajamas, both with light blue, so they would suit the mother of a baby boy. The matching slippers had also come along during Christmas shopping. At the beginning of December, I listened to Christmas songs and happily packed the birth bag, a small suitcase, more than a month before the due date.

The baby's clothes didn't take up much space in the birth bag, and I couldn't quite decide which outfit would be the nicest, so I took four outfits: 3 bodysuits, a knitted sweater and knitted pants, plus wool socks, mittens, and a beanie as well as a few muslin cloths. It is often very cold in January, so Gugguu's thermal bag was already ready in the car seat. For myself, in addition to pajamas and slippers, I had underwear, socks, earplugs, a heating pad, a water bottle, a phone charger, a toothbrush, and other hygiene products, as well as chewing gum and dark chocolate. 

Although we knew the baby could be born before the due date, which was 12.1.2024, we had decided to spend Christmas at my husband's childhood home over 300 kilometers away. In addition to all the luggage and Christmas presents, the birth bag and the car seat would also be coming along for the trip at Christmas. My husband was amused by carrying the empty safety car seat on the back seat, especially since the car was already almost full to the roof.

We were still on a trip when the baby started signaling that it was time to come into this world. We were sitting in the living room of my in-laws in the early morning of 31.12.2023 when the baby started kicking strongly in my belly. The amniotic fluid started to come, and we wondered if the little one would be born before the end of the year after all. My husband and I were nervous and excited.

I double-checked that everything was in the hospital bag. I had dreamed for a long time about the moment when we would leave the hospital to go home with the new family member. I wanted the baby to wear the sweetest clothes and have the car seat in which the new father would carry him towards his first car ride. 

The contents of the birth bag came in handy immediately because there were only limited indoor slippers at the hospital. I gladly put on my own slippers. Labor had not yet fully started, so I stayed in the women's ward waiting for it to begin. My husband went to wait for the moment at the future baby's grandmother's house and to hold our dog who is afraid of fireworks. Labor really got going only after the turn of the year. The birth was exactly what I expected: the pain was intense and sometimes it felt like my strength was completely gone. My husband's role in the delivery room was huge. The fact that he was there holding my hand and encouraging me gave me tremendous strength to get through the whole labor.

On 1.1.2024 at 9:24 almost 10 years of waiting were over and we got a little boy in our arms. It was wonderful to listen to the soft little breathing of the baby sleeping in my arms and just watch and marvel at him. I was speechlessly grateful that I finally got to experience the miracle of motherhood and feel its power and love.

When it was time to leave the hospital, I got to dress our little one. I chose a cute reindeer-patterned bodysuit. The knit sweater, knit pants, beanie, and mittens I received as a baby gift came in handy immediately, as it was as cold as 28 degrees below zero. I also put wool socks on the feet to keep the little toes warm. Now the important moment had come: the proud father took the car seat in his arms, and together we happily headed towards a wonderful new phase of life.

With love, Patricia 

Photos: Lotta Polviander