I hold her in my arms and rock her and speak to her and will her to sleep, depserately needing to separate myself from her so I can become human again - take a shower, or a nap, maybe eat a hot meal for a change. And then as soon as she's lying in her pushchair or her crib, I miss her terribly, find myself looking for her if she's not in the room, need to feel her warm head pressed into my neck, or feel her tiny stomach push against mine with each breath as she nurses.

I never knew it was possible to miss someone while they are sleeping at the foot of your bed.