M O T H E R S D AY
“PEOPLE ALWAYS TELL YOU THAT IT’S INSTANT LOVE AND JOY BUT, UNTIL YOU’VE EXPERIENCED IT YOURSELF, IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO EXPLAIN.” ASHLEIGH SUDHOLZ
Ashleigh and baby Lakia Ashleigh Sudholz and her partner, Cowboys player Tariq Sims, count themselves lucky that their little girl is a very content and relaxed baby. “She only cries if you’re taking too long to feed her,” Ashleigh says. “Our labour was pretty straightforward too, which is a good thing because she came six weeks early and I never really had a birth plan.” “I was given a lot of advice like ‘have a natural birth’, ‘breast feeding is the only way’ and ‘do/don’t get her vaccinated’. I noticed everyone had their opinion, and usually a strong one, but you know your body and your baby better then anyone else, so my advice is do what you feel is best for both of you and will work with your lifestyle.” While everyone says that seeing your child for the first time is like no other experience, Ashleigh says nothing could have prepared her for that moment. “People always tell you that it’s instant love and joy but, until you’ve experienced it yourself, it’s impossible to explain,” Ashleigh says. “I never understood it until I held Lakia for the first time.” To help her settle into motherhood, Ashleigh’s mum came over for two weeks to be there in case she was needed. “Just to know she was there made it so much easier,” Ashleigh says. “The support of family is what makes the experience so much more enjoyable and precious.” Tariq has proved himself to be an extremely hands-on father as well. “If there were an award for father of the year, he would definitely be a contender,” Ashleigh says. “While I was still pregnant he asked if he could be the one to change Lakia’s first nappy. To say he’s excited to be a father is an understatement. Seeing him with Lakia is one of my favourite things to watch.”
DUO MAGAZINE MAY 2014 duomagazine.com.au 21