Ok, here is my very belated birth announcement - Polly Isabel born on Tuesday 18th May at 3.45am after a very short labour. My waters broke at 6.30pm on Monday, then contractions started about 7.30pm (conveniently just after ds had gone to sleep - i'm sure that's connected !). Had contractions 5mins apart all evening, but managed to eat supper in between. Went to hospital at about 10.45pm to the midwife led unit, and had a male midwife which was a bit of a surprise, but he was brilliant. Just left us to get on with it really, didn't examine me until about 1am when I was 3cm dilated. I was quite tired by then as i had spent the whole evening walking around. He suggested i lie down and get some rest. I did and the contractions got much milder - in fact i managed about 10 mins sleep and dh got about half an hour. By about 2am i decided i really had to get on with things and got back on my feet and the contractions started again. Had about an hour of ok ones, then they got pretty painful for about 20 mins. The midwife came back in and checked the baby's heartbeat. Just as he left the room, i felt an overwhelming urge to push, staggered over to the bed and pushed her out in three pushes, still standing. All i could hear behind me was 'shit, shit, shit' and thought ' i hope that's not the midwife talking ! He was trying to get his gloves on and one of them had filled with blood. The next thing i heard was the midwife say to my husband, get over here now and catch her' and so dh caught her! Managed to sit down, put to her to my breast and then passed the placenta out naturally about 10 mins later and dh cut the cord. Managed the whole labour with just the TENS machine and a homeopathic childbirth kit, not even gas and air. Left hospital 6 hours later and now 8 days later feeling on top of the world. Baby is gorgeous, feeding well and just very very happy.