Well it's been a week already so thought I better do this before I forget it all! Apologies in advance for it being so long but my recollection of my previous 2 labours is pretty hazy so I want to get it down in as much detail as possible!
I had been having contractions on and off for a week, twice i'd thought it was 'It' but it hadn't been. About 2am monday 23rd (1 week after my due date) I got up after having some very painful contractions about 10 mins apart so straightened my hair and then came on mumsnet, like you do! About half 4 I decided i wanted to go hospital, they werent that regular but never were with ds all the way through and they were very painful. Got to hospital about half 5 just in time for them to slow down. Stayed for a while but nothing was really happening so about 8.30ish they gave me a sweep and sent me home. I was about 2-3cm so hopeful that something was happening. Went back to bed for a couple of hours when I get home and when i woke up it had all stopped. Walked to the school to collect dd in the hope it might get me going but still nothing so about half 4 went back to bed.
At about 5.15pm ish my waters went with a pop and gushed all over the bed. About 20 mins later contractions started coming every 5 mins or so so my step dad came to collect dd and dp left to drive ds to his mums. While he was gone contractions were coming every 2 to 3mins and pretty strong. Got to hospital about 6.45pm and it all slowed down to about every 15 mins but they were very painful when they came. Bounced about on the ball abit, wandered up and down to the toilet every half hour or so. Started on the G&A when they got really strong which helped alot at first, didnt take away the pain but helped me feel slightly removed from it somehow. I felt very in control and very aware of what was happening. I was stopping sucking on the G&A before contractions finished so that I wasnt left feeling too dizzy after whereas with ds I had to be told to stop! The contractions were much more painful than they ever were with ds though. I was examined about half 8 I think and was only 4cm but when I had a contraction it went to 8cm. She could also feel the membranes bulging so waters earlier must have been hind waters only. New mw turned up about half 9 I think and got a big mat to put under me as I was standing leaning on the bed and refused to get on the bed or sit on the ball. Got abit tired so they lowered the bed so I could kneel and lean on it then gave me the ball to lean on. It was about this point I gave up using the G&A as it wasnt really touching the pain anymore and was interfering with my shouting and groaning! I felt my waters pop again and told the mw but as there was no gush she didnt really believe me so was rushing around sticking mats between my legs to see if I was leaking! I got the feeling she really wasnt happy with my position but I wasnt moving for anyone. I felt the need to push and told her and I was scarily aware of exactly what was happening and couldnt understand why the mw seemed in such a panic about him coming quickly when I'd been aware for ages that he was on his way! It took a fair bit of pushing to get him out and Dylan was born at 10.35pm. After he came out the rest of my waters came flooding out so we were all left kneeling in a huge bloody puddle! Dylan didnt cry at first so I was helping the mw hold him as she rubbed him with a towel to get him going. It was abit worrying but I could see his eyes were open and moving so I wasnt too scared and soon he was screaming like a good 'un and I held him while she cut the cord.
Dylan weighed 8lb 13.5oz. I had a slight graze but nothing too bad. Dp was absolutely brilliant though, really really was a fantastic help and support.
The whole thing was extremely painful, much worse than the other 2, but I felt completely in control. I did it my way, I knew exactly what was happening and when. I only lay on the bed once when they examined me. They only listened to the baby using a handheld thing with me still standing, never had the monitors on at all. I feel like I delivered my baby and the mw was just there to help rather than my previous 2 when I just did what I was told and the mws really did it all. And I think alot of that is due to everything ive learnt from mumsnet and all the great advice and support ive received here for myself and just reading whats been posted for other people. So thank you to you all so much If id not felt so in control im not sure how I'd have got through it.