Another early morning rise and though that I was having a few BHs. At 6am started timing them - was shocked that by 6.44 I had had 6 up to 20secs long, thought I better tell DH.
Had breakfast, bath and short, light snooze. By 9am they were stronger and more regular and was being sick (never had morning sickness- why start now!). Also whatever happened to the contractions starting of 20 or so minutes apart?
At around 11.30am set off in car to hospital, arriving an hour later. At 1.30pm I was 4-5cm dilated, another shock (but pleasent one) to be so far on, - was expecting labour to be around 24hrs mark given that is what it has taken for several other first times mum friends of mine.
Kept asking if the pool was available but told they doubted I had time. My waters did not break until well into labour and then not fully. This made me feel that 'this push has got to be the last one', but the water meant after a push baby moved back up. Also, baby having a fist up by the head did not help. They broke the remaining water/membrane, I did tear and was given a small episitomy, but they did not have time to get the drip on. For over 30mins they could see baby had dark hair.
Throughout labour I had been on my knees (v glad brought in 2 large cushions from home) with upper half resting on the bed, only the final few pushes I stood up against bed. I had used TENS machine and started using entonox (but did not breath enough in to have an effect - only found out how high you can fly on the stuff when they did the stitches). The other great help was DH, and he has the marks on his arm to prove it
They put baby on the bed where we had a look to find out the dark hair belonged to our little GIRL.
Did not get the birth that I had planned (1st choice pool, 2nd home), but the end result was still wonderful. She was born Weds 15th at 4.14pm, 7lb 8oz (no name yet)