27th January 2023

Nine months of anticipation came to a joyful end on Thursday, 26th January at 12:25 a.m., just 25 minutes past the expected due date. Archie Ian Price arrived weighing a healthy 7lb 4oz, already boasting a fine crop of auburn hair.

Sarah began feeling the first contractions on the morning of the 25th, but they remained infrequent enough to delay a hospital visit until late that evening. Thankfully, despite being a back-to-back birth, Archie made a swift and decisive entrance on the fourth push, a stark contrast to Alice’s arrival two years ago, which only came after Sarah was thoroughly worn out by a much longer labour.

To keep things simple and organised ahead of the birth, Alice and Mia had been safely delivered to Lee’s parents in Cotgrave, where they would remain for as long as needed. As it turned out, Archie’s timely appearance and the NHS’s pressing need for maternity beds meant that both he and his proud parents were discharged and back home by late afternoon.

After a fairly restless night, the new family set off the following morning to collect Alice and Mia from Cotgrave, returning to Newbold Verdon in time for Sue and me to visit in the afternoon and welcome the newest member of the clan. A little later, the midwifery team arrived for the first of many support visits scheduled over the coming weeks. Taking that as our cue, we left the now-expanded family to enjoy some well-earned peace and quiet, or at least, as much as one can hope for with a newborn in the house.