Thanks so much for people's support when I was going through horrible long latent early labour phase (24 hours of midwives coming and going and me getting really fed up and scared). Finally on Friday morning at about 1 am I felt contractions were getting harder to handle and pretty close and full on so I called up on-call midwife who was initially a bit sceptical because my v supportive (not) normal midwife had told her I was basically saying they were closer than they were earlier - anyway then she heard one and came running. I was 5cm and she said I could get in the pool (I had a bit earlier in fact for 10 mins and I think this was what helped get me going actually). She turned out to be a lovely midwife, really positive and supportive and I delivered at 4.11, so really quick for me. Pushing and coping with the contractions felt really natural and easy. Had trouble with third stage and had to transfer to hosp for spinal, but tbh was so blissed out on endorphins and so happy about the birth that i couldn't have cared less, just kept asking the ambulance drivers and surgeons if they minded if I went to sleep now. stayed in hosp for a day and a half (needed a transfusion) and now all at home (putting away the birthing pool). Sophie May is a sweetie, really calm even right after the birth, don't think she got stressed at all, and her big sister adores her (Hannah 23 months) and asks for her every morning when she wakes up.