Expectations of Motherhood: To spend the next twenty years or so to bringing up my children to be confident, upright, responsible, socially minded, happy, independent individuals who are not afraid to be themselves. I don’t expect to “get my life back” for a while, perhaps years, but I work better when I’m busy anyway. If the last year is anything to go by motherhood will always come first from now on but as long as there’s still space to be myself I don’t mind.

Taking your child/children home for the first time: I wanted a home birth but had to go to hospital at the last minute. it was a big part of my birth plan to spend the first night in my own bed at home, the three of us all together, so rather resented it when they forced me into staying overnight by taking hours and hours to bring me my discharge papers. Next morning Matt and my mum came to pick me up early and I sat in the kitchen when we got back feeling rather odd emotionally and physically. All four grandparents arrived for dinner and we had champagne which, coupled with everything else, made the evening quite surreal. I remember I needed to feed her but felt too self conscious to do it in front of everyone so absented myself (rather gratefully) from the celebrations to try and get her latched on, which proved difficult. Once my mum had got her on for me and positioned us with a million cushions and pillows we took a photo so as to try and remember what proper positioning looked like. Now I can’t believe looking at it how tiny and curled up she was in my arms.

Reality of Motherhood: I never realised how totally all-consuming it is. I don’t know where I thought she’d be when I continued about my normal life, but as she’s one of those children that wants to be held all the time and always wants to see and try out whatever you’re doing it’s rather limiting. For example I can’t do any sewing (I previously ran a business making wedding dresses) when she’s around as she wants to be involved and it’s too dangerous. On the other hand I’ve found out how much fun simple things can be – sitting playing, watching the birds and planes, doing some gardening – and how much you can achieve in the two hours of sleep she manages a day. There’s so much to teach her and I’m so proud of all the things she’s learning. I’ve also found it quite lonely at times. When you give up work you give up the everyday social life with it, and I’ve realised how out of practice I am at making new friends with those I’m not forced into daily contact with!

The best/worst advice: My granny kept phoning up when Eleanor was little telling me to put her on the bottle, which made me really angry as I was having some problems feeding her anyway and feeling inadequate because of that. In hindsight I know she’s from a generation with a totally different parenting style, so I should have known to take her advice with a pinch of salt, but at the time it was really hard not to doubt myself.