Hello! Finally home this evening.
Baby Adam born 3pm Friday 12th (one day early), 7 lb 8 (3.42 kg), and rather good looking if I say so myself.
Had show and minor contracting 11pm Weds, contractions started 4am, waters broke 6/7am, went for assessment and was admitted to MLU 11am. The MLU was fantastic and I sort of enjoyed myself in the pool and on a beanbag with lots of gas/air and TENS for the next 6 hours. Unfortunately I was so relaxed that my cervix stayed at 4-5cm throughout. I wangled an extra 2 hours and nothing continued to happen, except that my SPD had got much worse once in labour and I couldn't sit or lie down without screaming.
So went for epidural and syntocin to speed up dilation. Epidural at 6pm wonderful; took until noon Fri to dilate though. At which point there was meconium and it had been 36 hours since waters breaking - and pushing did nothing except waggle the monitor wire about. So planned to try a ventouse but resigning myself to a cesarian.
Got prepped in theatre, ventouse attached, and to everyone's amazement he went from unmoved to head out in one contraction. Three more and he was out!!!
Minor blip as he decided to scare us in Recovery by momentarily going blue, hence him being routinely tested for lots of stuff and put on antibiotics so we had to stay in 3 days, although as soon as he was returned to us after 30 min we were assured he seemed totally fine. He's fine.
All the delivery staff (about 50!) I met were lovely, and they'd all clearly read my 1-page birth plan, particularly the bit saying "Happy for students to be present/involved - unless I need cutting or stitches in which case I want an expert!" - I was assured this would be the case and I've had several midwives complement me on how neat it is!
SPD now thankfully declining - the first night was not fun - and I'm feeling a lot better than I expected in all the bits involved in the birth. Since yesterday morning I've hardly felt it at all!