Caitlin Mary was born at home at 7.46 am yesterday (15th) weighing 8 lb 12 oz. She is beautiful and it was a great birth.
While I get chance (DH has taken DS to a birthday party and DD is asleep) I will give more details. Quite a lot of Braxton Hicks on Friday. Then more in very early hours of Saturday morning.
3 am I decided they were contractions and put on Tens machine and read for a while.
5 am Got too strong to just lay there so pottered around house.
6 am DH woke up and timed contrations as 3-4 mins apart lasting 30 secs.
6.35 am Rang hospital to let duty midwife know as per procedure.
6.45 am Spoke to midwifeand she decided (thankfully) to come and check me out.
6.50 am DH rang PIL to collect DS. DH got DS up.
7 am All sat at the kitchen table having breakfast.
7.20 am Midwife arrived while DH dressing and organising DS and trying to organise bedroom with plastic sheeting etc.
7.30 am DS in front of Tweenies video downstairs.
7.35 am Started on gas and air.
7.40 am Started pushing and waters broke - stood leaning on bed with midwife behind and DH knelt across bed.
7.46 am DD born - DH had to catch her from the bed.
8 am - second midwife and PIL arrive.
It was a lovely birth, aided by a brilliant and efficient midwife and my wonderful DH (who was shaking somewhat afterwards). DS was a star and has fallen in love with his little sister (until the novelty wears off I suppose). I had a small, first degree tear and no stitches.
So can I just say a massive thank you to everyone on Mumsnet who has supported me in my decision to have a home birth - it was the best decision I could have made for all of us and I'm not sure I would have gone through with it without your support. I am really grateful.
(And so is DH - he has had subsequent visions that otherwise DD might have been born in the car...).
Sorry for waffling on but I am still very excited.