The short version:
Pablo Conrado was born on Saturday 21st at 3 a.m. in Vigo hospital in Spain. 3560g, 53cm long. A natural birth with no pain relief. Both of us are doing well.
The long version :
As a Brit living in Spain I was rather apprehensive about giving birth in a Spanish hospital, which are medically excellent but with a reputation for being very keen on interventions. My hospital has high c/s rate and 80% of first timers are given episiotomies. The only pain relief available is the epidural. And constant monitoring, nil by mouth and giving birth in the lithiotomy position are mandatory.
The rumours I'd heard had also mentioned stroppy nurses, bossy midwives and disinterested doctors. So, my birth story is imo a bit of a miracle!
On Friday morning I had to go into the hospital for routine monitoring because I was then at 41 weeks. I was having regular contractions according to the machine, but really couldn't feel anything. However, when I stood up, I felt my waters go. My reaction was "damn" as I knew I wouldn't be allowed to go home now (another protocol they have).
I was admitted, but no beds were available in ante-natal so I was put on the post-natal ward, which was a bonus because the nurses were far too busy with new mums to take any notice of me rocking away in the corner. I spent the day alternating between rocking on my knees on the bed, walking up and down the corridors, and leaning against the wall moving my hips.
I had been given 24 hours to deliver naturally, or they would put me on an oxitocin drip. By 11pm the contractions were coming every 2-3 minutes and strong enough to warrant me asking to be checked out. I was 4 cm dilated so they transferred me to the labour ward where I was in my own room with dh. Here I met my (male) midwife who was fabulous.
I was hooked up to the monitor and told not to move too much on the bed, but pretty soon was rocking with pain. I asked for the epidural then, thinking that as I had taken 12 hours to get from 0-4cm, we could be in for a long night. However, the anesthetist was attending a c/s and I was told I would be seen when he'd finished. In the meantime my midwife took me off the monitor and so I could move much more freely.
I spent the next hour or so rocking back and forward with dh sponging me down with water. I suddenly felt a huge pressure in my bottom and so called the midwife in. He examined me, and said I was now 8cm dilated! And now it really wasn't worth putting in the epidural, as I was almost ready to push. I agreed with him, just so glad that the end was in sight. The midwife left me to push if I wanted to and came back half an hour later to tell me that the head was now in view! I had crowned without even realising it!
I was wheeled out into the delivery suite and passed by several nurses who all commented "oh, she hasn't got an epidural in..." Once in the position (legs in stirrups, hands on bars by my legs) I pushed and after about 5 contractions he was born! DH announced "It's a boy!" and we watched him being cleaned up on the little heated bed next door to me. He took a little encouragement to breathe, but had an AGPAR of 8 in total. I had a slight labial tear needing 4 stitches but nothing more - I had escaped the episiotomy!
Pablo took a while to start to feed but by day 2 he was latching on ok. We had to stay in hospital 3 days (as is the norm here) and I actually got quite institutionalised, looking forward to meal times and having the baby bathed for me. But we were still glad to get home and sleep in a big bed again.