Pregnant? Me?

I couldn't cope with the pain and the shock at the same time, so I was given an epidural. I felt better after it began to work - until they told me the baby was distressed.

The next thing I knew, my legs were in stirrups and they were scratching the baby's head to see how much oxygen it was getting. My mam said that it was only when I was lying on my back that she could see I had a bump.

I can just about remember them trying to break my waters, which they couldn't as I didn't have any. Later, my mam asked the doctor why I didn't have a visible bump, and she said it was because I had so little amniotic fluid.

Small but perfectly formed

At six in the evening the midwife asked for a Caesarean section as she was losing the baby's heartbeat. I was taken into theatre, and my daughter was born at 6.15pm.

The first thing I noticed was blood running down her cheek. The doctor told me they had cut her when they opened me, as there was no amniotic fluid to protect her. She was checked over and weighed, and we were told she was perfect and a healthy 5lb 7oz.

We then went onto the ward where I started getting used to the idea of being a mother. My sister-in-law rushed out shopping to buy the things I needed for hospital.

I decided to name my daughter Kelsie Marie-Alice. It was very strange having someone else depend on me - I kept waking up thinking I was dreaming and it had happened to someone else.

I eventually started to bond with and love my daughter, although it did take about a month to admit to myself that she was mine.

Family support

I have been very lucky with help. People I hardly knew bought clothes and presents for Kelsie. A friend gave me her cot and another provided a pram. My family have been brilliant: they baby-sit once a week so I can go out.

My mam even gave up her job to become my childminder. I work down a mine, and was able to return when Kelsie was ten weeks old.

I wouldn't be without my little girl now -although I would have preferred some warning about her arrival.