2 Birds & A Baby: Recent Episodes
Emma Goswell
A very personal LGBT parenting adventure. I’m Emma Goswell and I’ve wanted to be a mum for a very long time. I finally got to be one aged 50 when my partner Siobhan gave birth to our daughter Niamh. This is a weekly audio diary of our parenting journey. In March 2022, 44 years after the worlds’ first IVF baby in the world was born at Oldham Royal – our baby became the latest. She was born with down’s syndrome and a heart condition that meant she had open heart surgery twice and spent the first 5 weeks in Alder Hey hospital. From a bumpy start she is now thriving and we couldn’t be prouder of her. Expect laugher, tears and lots and lots of references to dirty nappies!
We celebrate as our little one turns one! Cakes are baked, Prosecco is drank and happy tears are spilled. Niamh marks the occasion by smashing her fist into the icing!
Niamh crys a LOT while growing her first two teeth. Plus we return to Manchester Children’s hospital and have another visit from grandma and grandpa.
Our one year old has her first haircut – and celebrates world downs syndrome day by making her first TV appearance!
Niamh eats chocolate for the first time, gets discharged from the dietician and we prepare for the birthday of the century!
I reflect on how my understanding of Downs syndrome has completely changed since getting to know baby Niamh and all her amazing friends with Downs.
Siobhan goes back to work and I settle in to life as a ‘Stay At Home Mum’. I also start talking to myself a lot!
I reflect on Niamh getting mis gendered constantly and have a rant about societies obsession with the gender binary.
Niamh falls in love with an American primary school teacher on YouTube and spends far too much time with her!
A very special episode which is simply the brilliant song written by and performed by the talented Claire Mooney at Niamh's naming ceremony. I cry happy tears every time I hear this! Follow her on twitter via @MooneyInfo
Baby Niamh charms Santa in Radcliffe and has her own Christmas photo shoot. Plus Siobhan’s maternity comes to an end and I reflect on the highs and lows of 2022 as it draws to a close.
We finally get away on our mini break to Harrogate and Niamh dons her Sunday best for a trip to Betty's tea room! Plus we head to Jolly Josh in Rochdale for Niamhs first swimming lesson and signing lesson.
Friends and family gather from Ireland, Wales and across England for the official naming of Niamh Abigail Frida Goswell. There’s cake, Prosecco and a very special song written by singer song writer Claire Mooney. And there are lots and lots of happy tears.
Baby Niamh creates a beautiful image of a peach by having a bottom print of her cute backside AND Dolly Parton sends her a Peter rabbit book!
We commemorate 2 years since my sister Abigails death and there’s a big move for the family as we leave Didsbury and move into our new home in North Manchester.
Baby Niamh gets more shouty, starts ‘chatting’ and perfects the art of the raspberry. Plus we make the most of Halloween and dress the door child up as a witch , a cat or a pumpkin every day for a week!
Episode 19: Baby Niamh is now 6 months old and we hit the road again for a two week jaunt to visit Niamhs grandparents in Fishguard, Wales and then her granny in Dublin, Ireland. Oh and baby Niamh goes to Didsbury pride and attends her first ever drag queen story time!
Episode 20: Baby Nimah launches her career as a super model! Matalan release their Christmas pyjama range to raise money for Alder Hey and we finally get to see the promotional photos staring baby Niamh and her two mums. Oh and baby Niamh tries to master the art of eating solid food!
Episode 17: Baby Niamh gets a dunking in Stockport baths and we attend our first event hosted by the South Manchester group for babies with Down’s syndrome.
Episode 18: Baby Niamh misses Manchester Pride but does get to visit gay mecca Brighton on a special trip to visit two of her guncles.
Episode 16: Baby Niamh ditches clothes again and lives in just a nappy to cope with another Manchester heatwave. We take her to a variety of restaurants to enjoy their air con and even brave Manchester Arndale shopping centre in an effort to cool down.
Episode 14: I discover the joys of unconditional love and realise that staring at baby Niamh is pure zen. And less Zen; we attend Stockport Pride and I get spooked by a Poonami!
Episode 13: Baby Niamh survives her first heatwave (Manchester hits a record breaking 38 degrees Celsius!!) AND attends her first ever festival as we attend the last ever L-Fest in Llandudno!
Episode 15: We return to Alder Hey for the first time as baby Niamh starts her modelling career! The three of us have a photo shoot for the Matalan Christmas pyjama campaign that raises money for the charitable part of the hospital.
Episode 11: We take Baby Niamh on holiday to North Wales – meaning she’s been in 3 countries in 3 months. She settles into caravan life well; even bathing in the sink!
Episode 10: Baby Niamh sees a dietician and is prescribed a special high calorie milk to help her gain weight. Trigger warning – there is mention of poo and poonamis!
Episode 9 : Find out how the wonders of science mixed with a big dose of luck and love helped us create our beautiful baby Niamh.
Episode 12: Baby Niamh drinks ALL the milk and is now a whopping 7 pounds! Plus we attempt to take part in Manchesters baby week to limited success.
Baby Niamh has her first taste of fame as the Liverpool Echo run a story about her life saving operations at Alder Hey hospital.
We confuse everyone by appearing in public not looking like complete messes who haven’t slept. I risk everything by boasting that Niamh is an ‘easy baby’ who sleeps really well.
Breast is best is the mantra – but boy is it hard work for mum AND baba. I’m in awe of both of them!
We brave the ‘special assistance’ queue at Manchester airport and baby Niamh takes her first flight – to Ireland! Siobhan and I attend a mass and drink lots of Guinness while Niamh is adored by her large Irish family.
After a mere 51 year wait my parents finally get to meet a grandchild! Plus an exciting trip to Chadderton town hall sees baby Niamh officially registered as a Goswell!
After 5 weeks in the care of Alder hey hospital Siobhan and I finally bring baby Niamh home to Rochdale!
Recorded at Alder Hey hospital – find out how the amazing staff saved baby Niamh by performing open heart surgery twice in two days!
A quick round up of what’s happened in my life since 1971 that lead me to becoming a parent at 50.