I need to do a major catch up on this thread. I see congratulations are due to Sam, mendip and AfterIVF. And jeffily but I think I already did that.
Birth story - skip if you want to.
My waters broke on the Monday night, about 10.30pm as I got out of the bath. I was soaking through maternity pads very quickly! Went to the birth centre and they confirmed it was waters, told me I had 48 hours to go into labour naturally or I'd be induced. I went home and tried to sleep.
Contractions started about 1.30am. I put my natal hypnotherapy cd on and breathed through them and slept in-between. They had got stronger by the morning and I put my TENS machine on, which helped a lot.
Called the birth centre at 8am as it was feeling quite intense but they told me it sounded too early to come in. Kept on with the TENS, the breathing, had a shower. I spent quite a lot of time leaning over my bed, the chair, or my body pillow. Sometimes with a blanket over my head to hide away!
At 12.30 I went in to the birth centre thinking i'd be sent home but really needing to know where I was. Examined and was nowhere near being dilated. Told to go home, have lunch, go for a walk and get some sleep. Definite undertones of "you have hours and hours to go". Was also told baby was in-between back to back and proper position, which was why my contractions felt so intense. Was given tips on how to help the baby turn.
Couldn't eat the pizza DH ordered so tried to lie down instead. Contractions started getting much more intense but I was managing with the hypnotherapy and TENS. Then I started pushing. Which I was sure shouldn't be happening yet. Went to the loo and had a massive contraction and again the pushing. Got up and saw bright red blood. DH came to look too. We decided it was time to call the birth centre again.
Birth centre said the bleed needed to be checked out on the labour ward, they had concerns about the placenta. So off we go to the labour ward, at 3.30pm.
At the labour ward I swap my TENS for gas and air. I loved the gas and air. Get examined and told I'm now 6 cm dilated. I get told not to push a lot but I don't know how to not push as my body has just taken over.
Examined by midwives and docs, much debate about what the bleed is. They eventually decide it's not serious. Then they wonder what to do with me. Someone decides to examine me again and I am now fully dilated. Midwife explains I have basically pushed my cervix away, and this has probably caused the bleeding.
Now I'm fully dilated they decide to let me have the baby. I get to pushing properly, the docs leave with one saying she'll be back in a few hours to see how I'm doing.
Now I'm free to push I feel much calmer and work on getting this done. In between contractions my DH gives me apple juice to drink and keeps me cool with a damp flannel. It is unbelievably hard work, but I never feel the pain is too much. I am off my face on gas and air though!
Midwife and DH start getting very excited as they can see the head. This next bit was the hardest thing I've ever done. Midwife tells me to stop with the g&a and concentrate on pushing. I push, and push, and just as I feel there's no way this baby is coming out she's suddenly being bundled onto my chest.
It is 5.32pm. 2 hours after being admitted, 5 hours since I was told I was nowhere near having a baby. I am stunned but absolutely exhilarated as I hold my little girl. It is the most amazing thing that I can't even describe.
So that's my story. Fast and furious! Now we're 10 days on and I can't believe it. She's perfect. It's been very hard and there have been times where I've sat and sobbed from lack of sleep. But every day gets better. And inl