BABIES ‘Evie’s arrival was a day I never thought I’d get to see’

Baby’s name: Evie Lily Beard. Date and place of birth: December 24 at 4.27pm at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. Weight: 8lb 2oz. Parents: Mum Johanna Marie Mullins, 25, and dad Lee Alexander Beard, 25, a support worker, from Fairwater, Cardiff. Mum’s story: “I suffered from morning sickness until about 12 weeks and then I was fine. “I didn’t have any cravings at all. “I was really anxious about the birth as I had gestational diabetes.

“I have cystic fibrosis also so was really hoping for a natural birth but had to be induced at 38 weeks.

“It was a natural birth after all that stress.

“We knew we were expecting a girl – we had a private scan at 16 weeks.

“Me and my partner liked one name each and we decided to wait until we saw her and decide then.

“When she was placed on my chest the midwife asked her name and my partner said her name is Evie, which was my choice.

“It really fitted as well seeing as she was born Christmas Eve.

“I was induced on December 22 and had contractions that evening and I gave birth to her on the December 24 at 4.27pm.

“We were in hospital till the next day – we went home at 2pm.

“It felt amazing to take her home. I was nervous but it was exciting as it’s a day I never thought I’d get to see because of my cystic fibrosis.

“She sleeps really well – she sleeps all through the night now. She slept through since she was 10 weeks old.

“She’s really happy. She’s always smiling and chatty, her whole face lights up, and she loves playing and she never cries unless she wants something.

“She looks more like her dad but sometimes she looks like me – it depends what face she’s pulling.

“She is the first grandchild on both sides – they absolutely adore her.

“It feels amazing to have her in my life – we couldn’t be happier.

“Like I said, it’s a day I never thought I’d see and after having such a hard pregnancy as well.

“She is perfect and life is so much better with her in it.

“Life has changed a lot in lots of different ways but it’s all for the better and I don’t remember my life before Evie.

“Some days we are tired or up to our eyes in washing and dishes and we can’t enjoy a hot meal in peace.

“But we wouldn’t have it any other way.”