12 days over (16 by my dates) and i was finally 'persuaded' to go into hospital for an induction....
Arrived at 9 in the morning, after an hour and half's worth of 'settling' in and baby monitoring, the Prostin was 'sent' in to do its job and we were left for 6 hours to wander the corridors of the Queens Medical Centre!
During this time not much really was happening, i was due to be re-examined at 4.30pm in the afternoon, but because of shift changes and doctors going AWOL it was nearer 6.30pm. By now i was at least having contractions, but they were few and far between and only lasting about 20 seconds....this baby was so well settled in there!
So upon examination, i showed 3cms dilated (bah, rubbish!!!) 4cms at a 'stretch!' the MW said she would break my waters if i wanted. So i agreed. I was waiting for the almighty contractions to kick in straight away but, NOTHING!!!
Next examination was due at 10.30, and if nothing was happening by then the dreaded 'drip' would be bought in no way!
At about 8.30 - 9.00, after experiencing no further improvement in my contractions, the MW asked if i wanted some vaporising oils burnt...she bought in some clary sage. Lavender and Rose, it was heaven, she turned down the lights and put on some really lovely music....my contractions kicked in almost straight away. With them coming every three mins for about 50-660 secs!!!
For the next hour and a half they got stronger and closer, Gas and air to the rescue, and i just went with it as much as possible. At 10.40 i was re examined and had reached 6cms - is that all i said!!!!, but at least i had managed to avoid the drip!
I went to the loo, and then changed positons, got on all fours holding on the the 'head' of the bed, at this point, approx 10.50 i had one almighty contraction, which took everyone by surprise, where i screamed like a banshee and let out this almighty 'oh my god' - i had the most overwhelming urge to push, and felt the babies head crowning and 'hitting' me with a massive THUD! The next contraction came and he was born, caught underneath me and then passed through, where i held him and my DH told me we had had a boy!
It was a totally amazing experience, one that wasn't without its fraught times and some hard decisions to make but one that was most definatley worth it!
Thankfully, the labor didn't end with a shoulder dystocia or the registrar and crash team being called, it ended with my beautiful son Cooper being born safe and well, weighing in at 11lbs 3ozs, and is perfect in everyway!
pictures can be "seen here" ENJOY!!!!!!