One // Leigh-Anne Pinnock

Chapter Nineteen

In the couple hours Chloe-Marie had been alive, Leigh-Anne learned a lot. She learned how to breastfeed, how to properly change a newborn's diaper, etc. She also learned that her daughter didn't appreciate being passed around from person to person. She grew irritable and began to fuss.

Jesy, who was currently holding the eight hour old baby, passed her back to Leigh. She craddled her baby until she was calm. As her little eyes began to droop, Leigh put her head to her chest and rock her back and forth. The nurse told her that hearing their mother's heartbeat helps babies to fall asleep. It actually worked.

"You're a natural." Perrie commented.

"Thanks." Leigh yawned.

She had had a nap earlier but, inbetween getting up to feed Chloe-Marie and entertaining visitors, she was still tired.

"Well we're gonna go. Talk later." Jade said.

"Yeah bye." They left.

Leigh gently played with Chole-Marie's mop of curls until her eyelids became heavy. She gave into the need for sleep and closed her eyes.

...

It couldn't have been more than half an hour when she felt someone trying to pry her baby out of her arms. Her maternal instincts kicked in and her grip tightened. Her eyes shot open.

"It's just me babe." Andre said. Leigh sighed and relaxed.

"What were you doing?" Leigh yawned.

"I was just putting her in the cot so you could sleep properly."

"Thanks but I'm fine and she's fine."

"While you were sleeping I was reading a couple pamphlets and they said that babies who sleep with their parents are at increased risk for SIDS. And that they should sleep on their backs not their stomachs."

Leigh raised an eyebrow.

"You can read it for yourself." Leigh sighed.

"Put her in the cot please."

Careful not to wake the sleeping baby, he gently took her from Leigh's arms. She stirred but didn't wake up. He laid her on her back in the cot then slid in the bed next to Leigh. He handed the pamphlets to her and she cuddled into him and began to read them.

...

It had been a month since Chloe-Marie was born. Debbie helped out and showed Leigh all the little hacks. Leigh had gotten the hang of everything so she decided it was time for her mother to go back home.

After she left it was then Leigh realized it wasn't a bed of roses. It was hard juggling taking care of a baby and doing other chores. Many days Leigh would just order fast food. Between washing clothes with cleaning up spit up and trying to put her down for a nap and trying to maintain a relatively clean house, she had no time for anything else. Not to mention she was beyond exhausted. Andre pitched in occasionally and Leigh was more than greatful for all the help she could get. Chloe-Marie wasn't a naughty baby. She was relavtively calm - during the day.

During the night from 10:45pm straight til 1am in the morning she'd scream her lungs out for absolutley no reason! Leigh tried feeding, her thinking she was hungry. She wouldn't feed. She tried changing her. The diaper was clean. She tried cuddling and singing to her she won't stop crying. It was driving her crazy. Tonight was no different.

"Pumpkin please." She begged. She sat in the rocking chair by the window slowly rocking back and forth. She was getting really agitated because she had no clue what to do. She racked her brain for something else but nothing came to mind.