Thank you-changed name as thought DD1 might get mixed up w actual content.
My story... Had DD1 3.5 years ago, delivery was fine if 2 weeks early (had 2weeks 'sort of' mat leave whilst doing some work still) but struggled to recover due to significant blood loss combined back problems (I think from doing no exercise and awful posture during pregnancy) with first time mother anxiety/not having a clue what I was doing/relocating to where I knew nobody and adjusting to a completely different way of life to the one I had pre-baby (v career focused). Survived. Then plucked up the courage to do it again but with much more preparation ie exercise, support network built since having DD1, practical stuff sorted in the house, hypnobirthing prep and a doula (actually two came as a package, though only one planned to be at the birth)...prob went slightly overboard! Doula was mainly to avoid going to hospital on my own if dh had to stay behind with DD1 and to help him to support me in labour (he flaps under pressure). So all going well this time until I realised the doulas had not understood what we wanted. Had a conversation to try to sort that out, I wasn't reassured and concluded that at least there would be someone to guide dh.
The outcome is that I laboured at home without a doula until the last 10 mins when one of them arrived (despite them being contacted 6 hours before when regular contractions started), as the ambulance arrived. I walked to the ambulance, just about to lie down and the baby popped out.
There's more to it than that but I am conscious I'm rambling...
Since then recovery speed has been incomparably better compared with last time, I'm working through breast engorgement, sore nipples and tiredness and doing fine taking things day by day. Mind you dh is on paternity leave at the moment. Likely to be hard when I'm on my own with two little ones.