dd2 has arrived three days early (dd1 16days late) and 7lbs 4 (dd1 9lbs 6oz).
Ten hour labour. Started 1.30. Got to hospital at eight. Spent two hours standing in the labour ward corridor waiting for a room, holding on to my pillow and my tens machine with my head hanging low like an uncollected evacuee. But it was fine, because you've got to be somewhere and just 'be' ain'tcha? Had been mostly standing on my landing the two previous hours, so same old same old really. Got on ruddy monitor and midwife all gloomy as looked like cord round neck from heartbeat. Started muttering about doctors and breaking waters - she was expecting me to be about 5cms. But I was FULLY DILATED on first exam (do WHAT?) so then she started talking about putting out the baby's clothes to warm, and everything looked rather fab. BUT I had no bearing down urges at all. Had to do ALL the pushing myself. second stage an hour and a half - first half (look away the squeamish) was spent having to give birth to a poo which was somewhat disheartening - It was like having twins - one the VERY ugly sister. Anyway, had an episiotomy (surprisingly OK) and pushed her out at twenty to midnight. Stitching vile, but got stuck into gas and air to extent where I made the midwife sing 'Oh lord, Kumbabya' with me. DP already doing an impression of this. Not proud. But very happy.