Joseph William Manning was born at 9.34pm on 01.12.06 weighing 9lbs 3oz (so not the frightening 13lbs I'd been told to expect!!)
Had a very straightforward labour in the end, and was 2 days away from my due date.
Waters broke at 7.50am, phoned the labour ward who said not to rush, so had a shower and some breakfast and made our way up to the hospital leisurely (or as leisurely as you can when contracting!!) Got up to the hospital and went to the assesment unit where they found I was already 4cms dilated. Had a bath, and was then transferred up to the labour ward. Had a fantastic room with a view of the Cathedral (I live in Lincoln) which is what I used to focus on when having particuarly bad contractions. Everything was going well, and by the time I was next examined at 8pm, I was 10cms and ready to push. Joseph arrived an hour and 34 minutes later with NO swearing or screaming from me (a minor miracle.
I'm so grateful for a straightforward birth, and am pleased I took the advice of fellow Mumsnetters about resting well when I started my maternity leave - I've already forgotten what sleep is....