I decided somewhere along the line that this time round (third pregnancy) that I quite fancied a Home Birth, for several reason.....I labour really quick, I wanted to be in my own surroundings, I didn't want my partner to have to leave afterwards and I wanted the same midwife during the whole of my labour (I know I said I go quick, but you never do know).
So, its early hours Thursday morning around 4am and I awake with a pain which I kinda knew was a REAL contraction.....I had spent the whole of Wednesday afternoon walking around the city centre hoping that I would get things moving as I was 40+8 and 2 days away from losing my HB, well it obviously did the trick as the contractions started off at 4 and by 8am they were irregular but every 10 or so mins.
8.30am: Called Midwife, she said to call back when they got closer together.
9.00am: Different midwife called saying she would be doing it, a bit gutted as I knew the other, but she turned out to be totally fantastic.
9.30am: Midwife comes out to introduce herself and sets up Gas and Air.
10.30am: Contractions getting more painful but still bearable.
12.00pm: Contractions about 5 mins apart now.
12.30pm: Called the midwife as I really wanted to find out how far I was gone, and to actually confirm I was in labour, still wasn't convinced at this stage for some reason...lol
12.40pm: Midwife confirms I'm in labour and 4-5cm dilated, we are all upstairs in the bedroom including partner, the contractions start to get more intence and about 5 to 1 I start on the gas and air. Isaid one swearwod the whole time and apologised....haha how polite, and started to make some really strange horse noises.
1.00pm: Contractions start to come thick and fast, I feel the need to push so up onto the bed I get, they manage to shift me into a sitting position, waters go and for the last ten minutes Im pushing with loads of encouragement from partner and midwife, about 5 pushes and.....
1.20pm: Daisy is born, 8lb 10, Apgar score 9, 5 mins later a 10, 1st degree small tear (thanks to great midwife), Daisy is as clean as a whistle and looking beautiful, partner is overcome with emotion and crying his eyes out, and I was acutely aware as soon as she was born that it was the most perfect birth I could have hoped for, and was all I had wished.
After delivering the placenta about 10 mins later the midwives cleaned up, made me and partner a a cup of tea and went downstairs for 15 minutes to leave us be.
I would urge anyone thinking about a Home Birth....do it =)))) Well for me at least it was amazing.