Sophie Grace arrived safe and well on Tuesday 25th at 9.12pm weighing 8lbs 2oz.
Went into midwife unit at hospital at 7ish and was sent home as although contractions were 7 mins apart lasting a minute they were not regular enough (always managing to slow down whenever midwife came to monitor me!!) As soon as we got back home they started coming every 2-3 mins so I had another bath and went back. Was not considered 'in active labour' so in a side room and left to it. My pains were very intense and I struggled on until 4am. When I was finally examined I was 5cms so could have gas and air (wow! what fab stuff 
). I also had pethodine but this didn't seem to do very much for me. Eventually by about 2ish I was 9cm but had a bit of cervix left which refused to budge and baby was lying strangely (was later to find that she was back to back) hense intense back pains. I was sent to labour ward as I wasn't progressing and was told I could have an epidural and a Syntocin drip to speed up the contractions - the epidural never arrived but drip made it very painful. Pushed for next few hours until eventually I was prepared for theatre to have an emergency c-section. Before they put the spinal in they suggested half an hour of trying to pull her out with a ventouse. on my last push her head came out (staring straight up at the doctor). As soon as she was born the pain just disappeared and it was all worth it!! She had a huge lump on her head from the ventouse cup but now (four days on) her head is back to a normal shape and most of the bruising is gone.