Welcoming a new life – we speak to the parents

A new BBC documentary called Help! We’re Having A Baby, will offer an intimate snapshot into what it’s like to bring up a baby in 21st century Wales. Here, four couples featured in the series share their expert advice and experiences of looking after a ne

New BBC series ‘Help! We’re Having a Baby’ will document the lives of new parents. Pictured are Tristan and Katie with their twin babies me. I poked her on Facebook eight years ago and the rest is history.

She’s the love of my life – not just fiancé and best friend – and I’m the luckiest man alive to have started a family with her.

We have Ayla, our four-year-old daughter, and now our son Aiyan whose journey into the world was documented by Help! We’re Having a Baby.

Becoming a parent is a rollercoaster ride and has really hammered home what my mother did to raise three boys on her own, but it’s a moment of magic and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Bringing a second child into the family can be hard though and if you like your sleep, you’re in for a shock. You become a zombie.

Once the newborn has arrived, my best advice is to acknowledge the sibling and involve them in everything as jealousy can arise.

When you change the baby, include them. When you bath the baby, include them and all the time explain to them that this is what you did for them when they were born so they understand what you’re doing and why the newborn needs so much attention.

For new dads, I can give you a book of tips but one simple thing can make

a world of difference and that’s put the kettle on.

When you come home, make mum a cup of tea and relieve her of the baby to give her time to herself.

Looking after the baby all day, especially if they’re breastfeeding, is incredibly draining and you’d be surprised at what a difference a cuppa can make.

Finally, and I know this is common among my friends who are dads, but don’t worry about the initial shock.

A baby isn’t a piece of flat pack furniture or a car; there’s no instruction booklet or manual but when you leave that hospital, your instincts kick in and you adapt. To say the past year has been a whirlwind for Rob and I would be an understatement.

After getting married last year, we soon found out we had conceived while on our honeymoon to Italy.

Not long after that, we discovered it was triplets. It was a bit of a shock to the system for us both but luckily I was lying down having the scan when they told me.

We had three little surprises as we

didn’t find out the sexes, and Flora, Alice and Ella are now seven months old.

Going from a house of two to a family of five can be a daunting prospect but if you’re expecting triplets, don’t worry.

The best thing you can do before they arrive is prepare yourself for that shock and to set up, and stick to, a good routine.

It may be hard but persevering with a routine pays off.

Also, to save yourself running up and down the stairs all day, have everything you need on both floors and you’ll thank me later.

Having a changing station upstairs and down will not only save you time and energy, but you won’t have to worry about leaving your babies when you have to fetch something.

Lastly, be brave and don’t be scared to go outside. Cabin fever will soon take hold but taking them outside alone can be scary as you’re instantly outnumbered, but get out and it will get easier. Our story started with a scooter, well a fair few of them, as we met at a scooter rally in Exmouth, Devon.

After that initial introduction, a long distance relationship soon blossomed.

After five years of travelling between Devon and Cardiff, we moved in together in Cardiff.

Over the years to follow, we settled down, got married and then welcomed our twins Louis and Roxanne.

Having twins was absolutely bonkers but unbelievably brilliant. I had been on maternity leave for four weeks before I had a C-section, but no amount of time can prepare you fully for those first few months after they arrive.

Their personalities and quirks soon shine through and you completely fall in love.

Our biggest piece of advice – other than to get as much sleep as you possible can before the birth – is to just enjoy and cherish every moment because trust us, it goes by fast.

It’s full-on, 24/7 all the time and some days are really testing, but it’s not a chore because they make us smile so much.

There are good times and there are bad times but the good days stay with you forever and the bad days are quickly forgotten.

Your lives completely change but for the better, so adapt to the change and appreciate every second.

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