Bibs, Burps, Breastmilk and Diapers

 Wow…. what a couple of weeks it has been

It’s so surreal how our lives have been upended… in a good way, of course.

So, nothing ever beats being prepared for such a life-changing event. We had read all the books, browsed all the articles, downloaded all the apps, and listened to other people’s experiences, but nothing hits quite like the real thing.

Again, I’m just happy and grateful for the abundance of preparatory material and the wealth of information about the whole process. We’ve also been blessed to have Chioma’s mum come over for Omugwo duties, and she’s been an invaluable help as well.

Zoe is a healthy child with a set of blockbuster lungs which she’s not shy to use at any point in the day and oboy.. My babe no send anybody!!

We were warned about the periods from weeks 3 to 6 when her crying would be really intense and oboy.. were they intense or what!! Thank goodness for the tag team efforts from everyone involved, else it would have been a really trying time for us. In any case, the storm’s passed, and she’s settled quite nicely into the beautiful, peaceful princess that she is.

Another blessing has been the luxury of working for a company that has a very generous paternity leave policy. Perk was so good as to give me a twelve-week, fully paid leave from work, and it has been an unquantifiable blessing. There’s so much to do, sort out and get used to that I dont think the complication of work would have helped in any way. Also, just for the record, looking after a newborn for any period of time is most certainly NOT a one-person job in any way.

 It’s been an intense lesson of putting theory into practice and to be honest, I’ve loved every single minute of the madness and stress.

Learning all her cues and mannerisms, identifying her different cries, and figuring out what to do, knowing the different feeding bottle types, learning about expressing and storing breastmilk, learning different sleeping methods, how to soothe Madam and get her to sleep, and yes, getting used to and understanding poo types and diaper changes. It’s all part of loving the process.

Meanwhile, shout-out to a couple of items I never thought much of but have turned out to be invaluable: nursing pillows (absolutely necessary), pacifiers, a certain gas-relieving medicine known as Infacol, a diaper rash wonder-working ointment called Sudocreme, and food warmers. All real MVPs of this period. lol. Also shoutout to the wonderful apps from Flo to BabyCenter and Huckleberry... true lifesavers

Here’s to many more years of growing, learning, working and loving this new phase of life.

Two nights in Serenity

 Hi guys, I’ve been reflecting a lot ever since Zoe’s birth, and by the way, here’s a heads up to expect a lot of Zoe-related posts going forward. (As it should be).

Thinking about the entire birth process, I can’t help but be grateful for the environment we’ve found ourselves in. I mean, there’s always been complaints and chatter about how the NHS has been failing a lot of people, and especially expectant mothers. Not to diminish the claims or doubt them, I’m just very grateful to say that there was nothing of the sort with our experience.

The Midland Metropolitan Hospital, where we elected to give birth, is a gigantic complex properly staffed and run professionally. So we had earlier taken a mini tour of their maternity facilities and to be honest, we were blown away with what we saw. There’s nothing like having peace of mind knowing that that aspect of the birth process has been covered quite nicely.

We were shown their low-risk birth wards…. appropriately named “Serenity” wards. They were a series of spacious, well-equipped and very comfortable rooms which in truth, looked more like a spa room than a labour ward. This was where we were checked into as soon as Chioma’s labour had progressed to the active stage.

Dimmed, tranquil, mood-focused lighting designed to induce a sense of calmness, acoustic music playing ethereal notes from speakers everywhere, a very spacious pool-like bathtub, available as a water birth option, monitoring equipment beeping softly everywhere and being monitored by two wonderful midwives stationed permanently in the room. All in all, a very well-equipped, modern version of where you’d want to bring life forth.

Of course, the first night went by in a blur of labour pains, gas and air consumption, cuddles and constant reassuring support on my part, and even though it all eventually culminated in us being moved to another labour room, once the progress was not moving swiftly enough, it all ended in praise.

The only sour part of the process was when they were insisting on us leaving for home on the same day, once Zoe and Chioma had been checked and treated. Apparently, the hospital policy dictates a same-day discharge for new mums. This didn’t sit well with me, and I had to insist (a bit forcefully at some point) that we would want to stay overnight and make sure everything was okay before being discharged. They eventually relented, and we had a second night in Serenity, our first together as a 3-member family. It turned out to be a good thing as Chioma later developed some chest pain in the night, which they had to get a Cardiologist to look into.

Thankfully, both of my girls were given the all clear, and we were able to go home the next day to start the rest of this new phase of life.

I’m just honestly grateful for the experience and thankful for being in a position to avail ourselves of this level of care and expertise.

Zoe

 Hey there, people.

First post of the new year. Late as usual. However, it’s bringing awesome tidings.

Drum roll………………..

We have ourselves a beautiful new baby girl!!!!!

It’s amazing how your life can change in an instant. 

Even though we’d been preparing for a while now, as i stood, frozen but functional, behind Chioma as she strained and cried out in the labour room at the Midland Metropolitan hospital, the absolute realisation that things would never be the same for us again hit me like an overhand right from Riddick Bowe.

Bruh…see all those tales of labour room encounters? You’ll never know the half of it till you’re there in the thick of things. IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE.

My darling Chioma was an absolute warrior!! She had been on gas and air for quite a bit to try and manage the pain throughout the night but I could sense she was already getting tired but yet I could see and feel the absolute determination and amazing energy that she summoned up from deep within, which was practically FLOWING from her entire body as she lay there wracked in pain. I could literally see her transform into someone else entirely right before my eyes. God, this woman is something else!

Fortunately for us, the midwives and staff at the hospital were amazing, and I doff my hat to all of them. In the midst of all the drama and me almost losing my cool when things weren’t progressing as much as I thought (insert eye roll), they were professional and very calm…just another regular Sunday for them 

We had been in active labour for about twelve hours from the previous evening, and my nerves were already nearing breaking point. So when things didn't progress as they had planned and we had to leave the initial birthing room allocated to us and move to the general labour ward,(something only done when the risk factor gets increased!!), you can imagine how my tension ratcheted up. 

However, God is always God, and he remains faithful as always. 

Ladies, Gentlemen, good folk, and all our fans, say hello to Miss Zoe Chizara Ibemere, our amazing miracle baby girl, delivered safely by 10.15 am on the 18th January 2026, weighing approximately 2.9 Kg and healthy as a racing horse!!

So, I’ve always wondered when folks talk about Love at first sight and all that jazz…it’s happened to me now. Since our little munchkin popped out and was dropped unceremoniously on Chioma’s chest, I took one look at her little scrunched-up face and fell in love all over again!

Bruh.. your guy has finally become a dad o!!

Once she had finished wailing and admonishing us all for disturbing her with this undignified, un-princess-like experience, Madam Zoe got cleaned up and lay on her mom’s chest, staring very crossly at everyone above her.  There was this awesome sense of achievement flowing through the room. Chioma was looking well pleased with herself, the midwives were all smiling happily and exclaiming about how full Zoe’s head of hair was, and as I was handed the scissors to cut her umbilical cord, the reality of the whole thing struck me again and I started laughing quietly to myself. 

It’s still so surreal. 

I’ve always been an active Uncle in the lives of my nieces and nephews but this is a whole new ball game. There’s this little human being that’s going to be dependent on you for a very long time to come, and you can’t return this one to her parents cause guess what? You are IT and in charge of making sure she stays alive!

O boy!!

All in all, an experience I wouldn't have missed for all the money in the world.

God bless you, my baby, Zoe. As all the nights before you were born, I repeat my declarations for your life.

You shall be a healthy, happy child. You shall break boundaries and be great in your life. You will surely make this family and the world proud of you. You shall live a long, happy life filled with love and prosperity. The stars will have no choice but to always align for good in your favour. 

To all this I say a big AMEEEN!!

Fear nothing in this world, my love. You have parents who will slay dragons and move the earth for you. Go forth and prosper.