How did you feel?

We were camped at the hospital while DGD was being born so were able to see her at a couple of hours old. She was tiny (preemie, which was the reason for us being there) and in a NICU incubator and her face was mostly hidden behind tubing.

My heart just melted, as did DH's ... he has been her slave ever since although he is actually a step-grandad.

Currently awaiting DGC number 2 and hoping for a less stressful arrival!

Annsixty I don't think that your feelings are at all unnatural, given the circumstances of your first GC's birth. None of us can avoid our 'self-preservation' instinct. Given what happened, maybe you've held a bit of 'you' back, just in case something went wrong again. I'm only guessing.

My GC hasn't taken over my life either but I am still elated at how strong my feelings were when I did meet him. Then again, my situation wasn't surrounded by the fraught circumstances which you had. If it was, I'd possibly feel the same as you do.

You obviously love your GC and that is to be treasured in whatever form it comes.

Annsixty All three of my DGC were born by c-section after long awful labour. I was talking about this thread with my DDs and they both remarked that when I came to see them after the births, I went straight to my DDs for a big cuddle and tears and did not look at the new baby until DDs urged me to do so. I had forgotten that - but they both remember it clearly as significant that I was their concerned and proud Mum first and a very happy Granny thereafter.

Apparently my first words to newborn Grandson were - So here's the big boy that caused all the trouble! - which I got into trouble for from his besotted new Mum. Our emotions are what they are and outwith our conscious control particularly in times of high drama.

My Grandaughter was 20 minutes old when we met for the first time. I fell instantly in love, and I still feel the same.
We had boys, I always wanted a girl, and she more than makes up for not having a girl. I feel very lucky.

I too felt incredible love for my first grandchild and then again for the second one as soon as I met them. I am absolutely besotted with them and feel so very fortunate to be able to watch them grow and develop into little people and to share this wonderful experience with my daughters.

Please will someone else tell me that I am not unnatural and they feel like I do. I have 6 GC and I love them all but the overwhelming feeling you are all talking about seemed to have passed me by. My first GC's birth was very difficult, a 40 odd hour labour was ended with a very rushed section and the baby was born with a horrendous cleft lip and palate as another poster has said up thread but this had not been picked up by scan. Quite frankly we were all shell shocked by the difficult labour and the baby's problems. A second was due four months later and was beset with worry so when he was born all we all felt was relief. I am closer to the fist than to the others, and love them all but they have not taken over my life, I feel I have something missing in my emotional make up.

The joy that grandparenthood has brought to my life has been ssuch a wonderful gift.

I had 4 Step-grandchildren when my DGS was born - we lived in Middlesex (Surrey) & DD was in Devon - phone call from her OH to tell us that she needed an Emergency CS (knew she was in Labour & were planning to go following day). Immediate panic -case finished packing & sandwiches made, in car & off. By the time we arrived we knew everything was over & DD in bed with new DGS - I'm not a "baby person" but he was & still is very special (love them when they walk & talk). Now going to be Nanny again in May next year - can't wait.

Enjoy being a Gran - it's very special

Each of my DD's first babies were born about 200 miles away, but we left when I had finished work in the afternoon, and were there for evening visiting, both times. We didn't get home until the early hours, but I sat down and transferred my camera pictures to the computer, then printed them so that I could show them off at work the next day. On both occasions, I could hardly bear to leave them, knowing that I wouldn't see them again for a few weeks. Tears were shed! I do realise, however, that I am luckier than some grandparents, who, due to distance, can't see their DGC very often. Now, 3 out of 5 of them live a ten minute drive away. Had eldest DGS for tea tonight, and have just returned him home, and was overwhelmed with hugs from the other two. Made my day! Adore all five.

My first grandbaby was born in January this year, so he'll be one soon.I didn't see him in the hospital as my son and DIL wanted a short time to themselves after the birth. I saw him when he was just over one day old. My son and DIL were exhausted as they had been awake for two nights, with a long labour, and then when they took baby home, he wouldn't settle after feeding. They came over to my place,and when I saw my precious grandson, I felt totally ecstatic! It was a physical feeling, too, somewhere inside me. He spent three hours, that night,in my arms after my DIL had fed him, whilst she and my son got some much-needed sleep.It was utterly magical. I talked to him and sang to him and he stared right into my eyes, and was so peaceful. We bonded then and I have been in love ever since. Nothing can describe how being a grandma feels. It is something that has to be experienced first-hand.

My first grandbaby was born in January this year, so he'll be one soon.I didn't see him in the hospital as my son and DIL wanted a short time to themselves after the birth. I saw him when he was just over one day old. My son and DIL were exhausted as they had been awake for two nights, with a long labour, and then when they took baby home, he wouldn't settle after feeding. They came over to my place,and when I saw my precious grandson, I felt totally ecstatic! It was a physical feeling, too, somewhere inside me. He spent three hours, that night,in my arms after my DIL had fed him, whilst she and my son got some much-needed sleep.It was utterly magical. I talked to him and sang to him and he stared right into my eyes, and was so peaceful. We bonded then and I have been in love ever since. Nothing can describe how being a grandma feels. It is something that has to be experienced first-hand.

My first grandbaby was born in January this year, so he'll be one soon.I didn't see him in the hospital as my son and DIL wanted a short time to themselves after the birth. I saw him when he was just over one day old. My son and DIL were exhausted as they had been awake for two nights, with a long labour, and then when they took baby home, he wouldn't settle after feeding. They came over to my place,and when I saw my precious grandson, I felt totally ecstatic! It was a physical feeling, too, somewhere inside me. He spent three hours, that night,in my arms after my DIL had fed him, whilst she and my son got some much-needed sleep.It was utterly magical. I talked to him and sang to him and he stared right into my eyes, and was so peaceful. We bonded then and I have been in love ever since. Nothing can describe how being a grandma feels. It is something that has to be experienced first-hand.

My first grandbaby was born in January this year, so he'll be one soon.I didn't see him in the hospital as my son and DIL wanted a short time to themselves after the birth. I saw him when he was just over one day old. My son and DIL were exhausted as they had been awake for two nights, with a long labour, and then when they took baby home, he wouldn't settle after feeding. They came over to my place,and when I saw my precious grandson, I felt totally ecstatic! It was a physical feeling, too, somewhere inside me. He spent three hours, that night,in my arms after my DIL had fed him, whilst she and my son got some much-needed sleep.It was utterly magical. I talked to him and sang to him and he stared right into my eyes, and was so peaceful. We bonded then and I have been in love ever since. Nothing can describe how being a grandma feels. It is something that has to be experienced first-hand.

My first grandbaby was born in January this year, so he'll be one soon.I didn't see him in the hospital as my son and DIL wanted a short time to themselves after the birth. I saw him when he was just over one day old. My son and DIL were exhausted as they had been awake for two nights, with a long labour, and then when they took baby home, he wouldn't settle after feeding. They came over to my place,and when I saw my precious grandson, I felt totally ecstatic! It was a physical feeling, too, somewhere inside me. He spent three hours, that night,in my arms after my DIL had fed him, whilst she and my son got some much-needed sleep.It was utterly magical. I talked to him and sang to him and he stared right into my eyes, and was so peaceful. We bonded then and I have been in love ever since. Nothing can describe how being a grandma feels. It is something that has to be experienced first-hand.

Don't give up hope lindylou57' l spent 6yrs , many infertility treatments and 3 miscarriages but eventually had my daughter. Fast forward 30yrs and I had to watch her struggle with conception and miscarriages in the same way, BUT just over a year ago I met the second great love of my life- my grandson. So. please please don't lose hope

Congratulations on the arrival of tiny . Each grand child's arrival is special we have number5due early next year and I am as excited as I was with first . ???

I heard about my first Grandchild's successful delivery around midday. By 7pm I was on a plane heading north. A friend took me to the airport, I as so excited I was unsafe to drive. So unsafe in fact that I tripped on a kerb on a very steep hill as I was getting into said friend's car. I rolled down the hill hitting the kerb with my hip and my head as I went.

I arrived at the airport muddy and wet, with an ankle so swollen I couldn't take my boot off. On the plane I accidentally opened a bottle of fizzy water that had been shaken around, soaking the lady next to me and myself. The air hostess asked if I was ok and I told her " I've just become a Grandma ! " I found a scrap of paper in my bag and wrote a letter to my new Granddaughter telling her of my adventures coming to see her for the first time.

My Son IL picked me up at the airport and drove me to the hospital where I was told it wasn't Grandparents visiting so I couldn't go onto the ward ! My daughter raised merry hell and brought the cot to the ward door so I could see my Granddaughter. She was beautiful and I loved her at first sight. She was, however, very still and quiet. My daughter took her home shortly after I left.

I stayed that night with my son in law's father. He gave me a brandy and some painkillers and I went off into a sound sleep. At about 1am my mobile rang and my daughter told me that the baby was blue. My head was so fuzzy I couldn't understand her, but woke Rob up and we drove like mad things to the house. A paramedic was working on my Granddaughter.

Long story short... she would have been a cot death if my daughter hadn't spotted her blue mouth. She spent a week in special care having a great number of fits. She came home only to go back in again as an emergency twice more. She is now ten years old. There are still seizures, but she is generally a very healthy normal little girl. My feelings for her would be hard to describe. They run so very deep

Such lovely stories. I feel so sad that it may not happen for me. Dont get me wrong I have 2 lovely step grandchildren of whom I am very fond but I met them when they were 5 and 8 and its just not the same. My darling daughter has to go down the IVF route and as money is limited there can be only 2 or 3 goes at it and no guarantees. I never show it to her or to my DH but it makes me so sad. I am supportive to her and her husband and say all the right things (at least I hope I do) and we've both shed a few tears. But heres hoping.

My grandson was just a matter of hours old when I first held him. I was quite overcome with the feeling of immediate overwhelming love for this tiny bundle. 5 years later he is still my only grandchild and it gives me a wonderful warm feeling every time I see him. He is an absolute joy to me.

I tell everyone that I always thought that the love I felt for my children was the most love I could ever feel for another human being.

But then my grand-daughter was born and I was completely bowled over by the new, all encompassing, overwhelming surge of love I never thought was possible.

I experienced the same with my second grandchild.

It is like no other love I have ever known.

Congratulations Wheniwasyourage on your new arrival.

Like a few others have mentioned, it was so moving to see my Son with his new child. There were times when I thought that perhaps being a Gran wouldn't happen in my lifetime. You're so right - being a Gran has changed my whole perspective on the future. I find the whole experience astonishing.

My dd had a difficult delivery and had an emergency cs.And I was so worried for them both.
I never felt the rush of love or whatever when my dd was born(she's an only child) but when I first saw my dgs I was overwhelmed with the love I felt for him. It's never gone away!
I was completely unprepared for this and am so lucky to have the experience...

Congratulations, Juney64 ! I think having DGC gives you a different view of the future; perhaps you now feel you have more of a stake in it or something like that. Ours are all wonderful (of course!), and we're looking forward to meeting the latest arrival next week.

I felt wonderful and so lucky. 14 ears later DGS 1 is still so precious to me and now I'm feeling it all over again with DGS 2 , 10 months (different Mums)

I was also there when my granddaughter was born, she's nearly three now, I see her every week and absolutely adore her. Love being 'gaggy' and do all the granny things my gran did with me, I still miss her so it's great to be able to remember her through my granddaughter, who is named for her