OK, here goes for a stab at my birth story...
We planned for a homebirth, and my mum had been staying with me for a couple of days before the due date. Due on 28 July, which came and went. Went for curry on the Saturday night determined to get things moving. By Sunday afternoon sitting watching tv with mum & DH was getting uncomfortable, really fidgetty and back pains. Lots of pacing up and down. Phoned mw who advised getting rest, food, paracemol, bath etc. At about 6pm tried to eat pasta but feeling really queasy, then got the runs so knew things were getting started. Throughout the evening was having pains, using ball and TENS. MW came to check me over about 9pm, felt labour wasn't established and was a bit worried about my high temperature and pulse, thought could have an infection. Ended up advising going into hosp for a check up. So all into mum's volvo with birth ball.
Shown into a scary brightly lit hosp room with bed (panicked abit at this point). But really lovely mw turned up and hooked me up to monitors, turned down the lights and reassured me I could sit on my ball. Being monitored was actually really reassuring, baby was absolutely fine, contractions about every 5 mins, and my temperature was down. We agreed that no point for an internal exam and was sent home to rest. None of us really got much sleep, tho did try, lying on mattress in the living room and mooing through pains. By about 6am called oncall mw again and she advised getting into a bath again for an hour to start things off. Which really started things moving! Pains much more regular, really starting to rely on TENS (which I put on again after getting out of bath at about 7am). Had huge bloody show when I went to the loo and promptly puked all over the bathroom floor (and DH!). Went back downstairs to try different positions for contractions, hands and knees, leaning agains wall. Really concentrated on breathing, was using deep ooh and ah sounds.
However, by about 10.30 I was starting to get pretty scared, pain much more intense (and all in my back) was feeling really tired and like I couldn't cope. Was starting to think that I had bitten off more than I could chew! Mum and DH were both getting worried and trying not to show it. So DH went to phone mw, who was round in 30 mins with all equipment. By this point I was concious of comings and goings, but not really feeling 'there'. Think I kept saying 'it's too hard' etc. MW offered me internal exam, which she explained could have two outcomes - either I was nearly there and ready to push, or I could go into delivery suite and get some more help. Agreed to the exam was 8cm, hurrah! Felt much more positive, as could see end in sight. Then lots of activity around me, equipment, second mw called. I was pretty oblivious.
At about 12noon I was 'encouraged to walk upstairs' for a wee. The longest climb in my life! Another show, then back down again, everyone trying to get me to eat something as energy levels very low. Managed 2 polos but feeling really sick and contractions seemed to be pretty much non-stop. MW was fantastic and basically said 'I could examine you again, but it would be uncomfortable for you and you are probably fully dilated, up to you when you push'.
Feeling really exhausted by this point, kneeling over sofa gathering my thoughts, resting. Didn't want to push too early. Then started to get urge to poo and was told that it was the baby's head (was quite insistent that it was poo I seem to remember, and was partly right).
Started pushing about 1pm, although it felt more like breathing down hard. TENS was on boost constantly, but wasn't really aware of it anymore, never got to work out the last programme, too complicated! Things were progressing slowly and apparently mws were ready to break my waters (my own antenatal mw had arrived by this point). Then they popped all over floor. Decide to stand up, leaning on mum & DH, things moving quicker but shaky legs. Good pushes but starting to flag.
Then DH & I suddenly invented a new position for delivery. DH perched on edge of sofa with me facing on his lap, bum hanging down. I was clinging on for dear life and he was encouraging me all the way. Then they could see the head, but mws getting a bit twitchy (DH told me later that they told ambulance to stand by). Continued pushing slowly (didn't have the energy for anything else, and was scared of tearing. Then whole room of people urging me on, head was moving down well but slowly. Then suddenly crowned and head was out (ouch is not the word). One last push and Dominic slithered out into the mw's hands and we all started crying.
Cord was very short so they clamped it rather than wait. I lay down on the floor and they put him onto my chest. Most wonderful moment of my life. DH pretty pleased too.
Dominic weighed in at 8lb 8oz, perfect healthly boy. I had superficial 2nd degree tear, but no stiches needed. We all got cleaned up, ate pizza and went to bed, absolute bliss.
Thank you for anyone who has got to the end of this, as you can tell, I'm pretty proud, and have a wonderful little boy to show for it. If I hadn't managed homebirth, it wouldn't have mattered at all, all the mws were amazing - the NHS is pretty fab sometimes.
maewest, DH & Dom xx