Hehe, no worries about asking twice, at least I know you're interested :)
Birth was pretty good actually. I had contractions all day Wednesday, but they weren't painful at all so I decided they were braxton hicks and ignored them, also deciding to keep them 'secret' from PIL who were through for the day visiting (even though they were our babysitters for DS should anything happen). Decided I shouldn't keep it secret from DH though, so sent him a text saying he could take some extra time, if he wanted, to settle up work stuff before coming home.
Went to midwife appointment at 3 for check up and sweep. Told her I'd been contracting, maybe. She did the sweep, I was 1-2cm, but cervix still high and long, and DD not fully engaged. So we both sort of figured it'd be soon, but not yet.
At 4:30 DH came home and PIL left, but DH decided he wanted to call them back just incase. They got themselves dinner locally, and DH and I settled into dinner at home. I kept saying to DH "there's another one" but they weren't very strong or painful. I started timing them after dinner and they were 3-5 minutes apart, and about 90s long. Phoned my sister for a chat, bounced on the ball, and made small talk with PIL.
At 7:30 they were uncomfy, so I took 2 paracetamol. At maybe 8:30 I called triage, who sounded disinterested, but put my name "on the board" and said to come in when I wanted. DH sat down and had some rice pudding, while finishing up something he hadn't done at work. At 9 I told him I wanted to go in, but it took him 45 minutes to get organised. I finally had to tell him that I really wanted to go, now.. So he put the bags in the car and we headed off the 5 minute drive to hospital. He faffed about getting a parking spot, making sure he was straight and going in and out the space a truly unnecessary number of times! We then walked to triage where they pointed me to some plastic chairs in a waiting room and told me to make myself comfy.
Waited what seemed like an eternity before finally getting called through. All the while I was comparing this to OBEM where they are always instantly taken through to a nice room. Getting increasingly annoyed at the time I was having to wait, the lack of pain killers, and the total lack of any support. Finally seen at about 10:20 and put on the monitor (after yet more waiting), 11:00 they examined me at 4-5cm and said I could go up to the labour ward. I then waited, again, before being taken up kneeling on a wheelchair.
Got to my room, ignored the midwife introducing herself and asked for gas and air. Decided I didn't like it, but as it was the only thing on offer I carried on using it. Got myself into a good position on the bed kneeling where I could sway my hips through contractions, rest my head, and reach the G&A all at the same time. I think I did 4-5 contractions before my body pushed. I really do mean my body, not me. I wasn't consciously in control of the pushing, and couldn't have stopped if I tried. I told the midwife as much. 2 contractions later and my waters went. Audibly I'm told.
From then it's a bit of a blur. They helped my take off my trousers, then forced me to turn to my back to get baby's heart on the trace. My body continued to push without my brain interfering at all. Indeed I was laying there thinking quite rationally and clearly about how interesting the experience was! Midwife started telling me to push, and someone asked permission to put a clip on baby's head. Sometime later they told/asked me they were doing a cut. Few pushes and DD was born, lifted out and straight to my chest (I hastily pulled up my tshirt, vest and bra - boy was I hot!) where I said "definately a girl!" (I'd been worried scan was wrong and we'd have a surprise DS).
We asked for delayed cord clamping while I was pushing, but a midwife who hadn't been listening had given me the injection to seperate the placenta, so they had to cut the cord early.
At this point I looked around and noticed a room full of people. They had been unable to find a hb for DD and pulled the emergency switch. I'd had no idea! The only voices I heard in the room were an anesthetist asking me to hold my hand still, DH telling me everything was ok, and the midwife telling me to push.
At this point it was 11:40. I'd gone from 4-5cm to delivery in 38 minutes. Total of maybe 4 hours of painful contractions, and only 2 hours of wanting more painkillers than I'd had.
Sorry for the essay, it's quite good to remember back and write it down though. Makes it all a bit more real.