Yes the 'piece of piss' quote was an irony!
After a slow start and lots of running up and down stairs, I decided to rock on the birthing ball at around 3.30pm, that's when the contractions really started to kick in! But bearable still. I had a bath and the midwife came at around 4.30pm. She examined me around 5pm and said I was 4cm dilated. I was still coping well and went on the rocking chair, discussing possible names with dh. I was suddenly rocked by a huge contraction and, with the aid of gas and air, I knelt over the birthing ball to help me. This is when the pain really was unbearable. After another couple of huge contractions I felt the urge to push. The m/w said 'no' as she didn't think I'd be fully dilated yet, but when she examined me she found I was. She wanted to wait for the other m/w to arrive but the baby was not for waiting and I was pushing his head out as the other one came through the door! So he was born around 6.33pm.
Very quick in the end, but very intense and very painful. I was in shock afterwards and couldn't stop shaking for a long time. He's a big baby, 8lb 13oz and with a large head! If I wasn't on the birthing ball I doubt I would have got him out! I only tore a little and had 3 stitches, so not bad!
I'm now recovering from all the after effects, you know, piles (big as fists!!!), after-pains, breastfeeding (thousands of little knives in my nipples), stitches, etc. But the recovery is a lot better than the first time. And just after the birth I felt more alert and generally just a hell of a lot better that after dd's birth. I was very glad to have done it without drugs, but not sure I could ever do it again!
He's got dark hair and is a little chubby 'un! We've really no idea what to call him! Might check out the boys names thread. But no to Rubin and Bob I'm afraid!
Thanks for all the congrats! And thanks for the thread Custy! I'll print them all out and add them to his scrapbook! I'm off now to have a few glasses of wine!