Hello everyone, I have news of another May baby! Alice May was born at 7.29pm on 7th May. We had one night in hospital and are currently enjoying our first full day at home. She was born in the birthing pool, which was fantastic - my mum caught her as she came out which was so lovely for her. She is doing really well, although as a first timer it is all very overwhelming dealing with the tiredness, feeding, recovery from birth etc. But we're getting there. Good luck to all those who are showing the early signs (how are things going aberjen??)
For those who like to hear them, this is my birth experience... I had a stretch and sweep on my due date (Sunday) at which point they said I was 2cm dilated. I had some period type pains that day, which by the evening had become more on and off contraction-like, although still v. mild. Monday morning I had my show and continued have the very mild contractions all day. Tuesday morning at 2am my waters broke and at the same time proper contractions started. I was at home with regular contractions until about 1pm that day when we went into hospital. I felt panicked when they said that I was only 3cm dilated and not yet in 'established' labour (it felt pretty established!) Just as they were sending me home for a few hours, things started to intensify (picture me sprawled on the floor in the reception area mid-contraction!) and they changed their minds and kept me in - from that point things moved pretty quickly. I had about 2 hours in a bath in the hospital and then surprised everyone by saying I felt the urge to push. Was quickly transferred to a labour room and they confirmed that I was fully dilated. Hopped in the pool and she was born about 5 contractions later! All in all I feel very lucky that everything went OK and relatively quickly - although nonetheless at the time it felt like the craziest, most intense and challenging experience of my life. Interestingly, with hindsight, just at the point at which I was feeling like I couldn't cope (I had chosen to go into a midwife led unit and was feeling like I lost my confidence that I could manage without pain relief), this was actually a sign that things were progressing.
However they get here, 2 days in I can confirm that having a baby is the most wonderful thing in the world - wishing all of those of you to come all really positive experiences.