Ok - short version for those that can't be bothered to read it all.
Had a show on the Wednesday (23rd may) lunchtime, very irregular and generally quite short contractions, lost more of the plug overnight, contractions still very irregular and short, but starting to get very painful. 11am I decided that perhaps DH shouldn't go to work but that we should make our way to Kettering hospital. After dropping DS2 off at friends, and confirming arrangements for DS1 to be picked up from school it was 12.45 by the time we go there, was examined at 1.30 was "just" 3cm and membranes 'bulging' waters broke about 2.30 (ish), started pushing at 4pm and DS3 arrived at 4.17 (all on just gas and air) , hoped to deliver the placenta without the drugs but after about 45 minutes I'd had enough waiting, just wanted to be stiched up etc etc so I had the injection to speed things up. Was discharged at 9pm and home by 9.45. Fantastic midwifes and brilliant care from Kettering Hospital.
Long version.
Had been having quite strong BH's for a couple of days before the 23rd of May. Then at lunchtime on the 23rd lost the first part of my plug. Was having very mild and irregular contractions (thought they were just BH's tbh). Lost a bit more of the plug mid afternoon but it wasn't until the evening that I had anything that even vaguely resembled a contraction (which I was still convinced was BH's) to make me stop and think.
They continued to be irregular, generally quite short and moderately uncomfortable until nearly midnight when I was starting to have to breath through them a bit but still I was convinced it wasn't "IT".
About 2.30am (24th may) got up for the toilet and more of the plug had come away. Most of the contractions were starting to wake me up, but still totally bareable - and as they were still very short I was still convinced that I wasn't in labour and had ages to go.
By 4am they were still quite a long way apart (10minutes or so) but still completely managable.
By the time I was getting DS1 and 2 up and dressed and ready for school etc I was really having to stop for each contraction (meanwhile explaining in as simple terms as possible DS1 why I was grimacing LOL). Took DS1 to school and told them that "he may or may not be picked up by someone else this afternoon". At this point even though they were getting very painful I still wasn't convinced that this was 'it'.
DH got up and started to get ready to go to work, but I could tell he was unsure as to whether he should go or not - I kept telling him "just go" (while having contractions ranging from 3-7 minutes apart, and varying lengths and strenghts.............far too inconsistent to be anything but 'false labour'........). However by 11am I told him perhaps he shouldn't go - and could he please call our babysitters etc and sort of dropping off/picking up of the DS's and could he please take me to the hospital now. Still most didn't even last 30seconds but I was really struggling through them.
By the time we got there I was starting to really find it hard going. Handed over my notes at 12.45 and it took about 20-25 minutes for them to come and see me (after leaving me in a labour suite!). Didn't give me much confidence that my wishes would be listened too.
HOWEVER, I was in for a big suprise. Once the MW finally arrived she apologised for taking so long but she'd been reading my notes (previous CS and induced, assisted delivery VBAC) and my birthplan (no continous monitoring, mobile, limited internals......).
She had to go through the usual "these are the risks blah blah blah" but had obviously already realised that I knew what I wanted and had looked at the pro's and con's for myself - as she'd brought the doppler to check the heartbeat........she told me she didn't expect me to change my mind so didn't bother bringing anything else .
Once she'd checked my blood pressure (which she did twice as it was so low...... 90/40 and she thought she'd got it wrong LOL) etc etc it was 1.30 by the time she examined me. I was "just" 3cm and my membranes were bulging nicely (apparently ).
She then went off and brought a birthball for me to use and helped me clamber back off the bed to sit on it. by this time I was getting high on the Gas and Air and was still 'with it' enough between them to play with the buttons on the bed to see what positions I could get it into that could be useful . MW's then switched over as Melissa (first MW) had a double shift to work and it was her lunchbreak.
My Doula arrived at about 2.30, having be caught up in traffic on the motorway, at the same time as the Senior Midwife (or something like that title) who wanted to put a Canula in and take blood, as well as 'advise' me (again) on why I should be lying on the bed being monitored). With the help of my Doula I (politely) refused both and she buggered off again.
By this time the G&A and birthball weren't really helping and my waters had gone (no-one believe me until I stood up so I clambered back onto the bed with the top of it upright so I could kneel upright with my head hanging over the top (was easier to use the G&A from that position too).
At some point the Consultant came in to advise me that I should be conitinusly monitored blah blah blah (I can't remember what else she said I was finding it tough going by this point and once I'd registered who she was and what she was there for I switched off until I heard her say "are you sure you still want to refuse" LOL). Didn't see her again either .
By about 3.30 (I could just see the clock at the side of the room). I was doing a lovely mixture of grunting and screaming through the mouthpiece of the gas and air, accompanied by "I can't do this", "you're lying it's going to be hours yet" (when told it wouldn't be too long), "ow it hurts" (yes it really did) and other such daft comments.
That's the last time I remember look at the clock and actually registering the time. But around this time I started asking for an epidural (and being told it was too late..) At what must have been about 4pm (given that 2nd stage was down in my notes as 17 minutes and he was born at 4.17) I kept shouting that "I feel like I'm going to poo" and one of the classic comments as I had extremely strong urges to push.........."Oh gawd I haven't poo-ed have I"
MW: - No you haven't, and even if you do we won't tell you
I knew it was still only mid-afternoon and never having gone into labour on my own was convinced I still had hours to go, but the urges to push were there. MW (sarah) kept saying it's not going to be long now and I kept telling her she was lying to keep me motivated.
A few minutes later I shouted (very loudly apparently). "I'm going to get piles" (something which DH still keeps chuckling about now as I apparently timed it as someone left the room so the door was open ).
As the Doula, MW and my DH saw the top of his head and told me I STILL didn't believe he was about to be born (talk about denial) I kept telling them they were talking nonsense and that I must have hours left as I'd only been there for a couple of hours.
4.17 and one extra push that wasn't through a contraction (as by then I could "feel" he was nearly there and couldn't bear the thought of having to face another one like it LOL) and Takunda Myles was born. My first comment was "OMG I DID IT" and as my Doula and DH helped me turn round to my back DS3 was handed straight to me.
Had a few slightly scary minutes as he didn't come out screaming - infact he hardly wimpered and it took a couple of minutes because he did his first little squeak. I think if my care up until then hadn't been so fantastic, meaning I completely trusted my MW, I would have panicked - but she was quite happy that he was ok. DH cut the (very thick) cord and he had his first attempt at breastfeeding. Waited to try and deliver the placenta naturaly but I got fed up after about 50 minutes and had the injection to speed things up. Even though this was DC3 it was the first time I'd actually seen a placenta and was amazed how big it was!
My next question was "did I tear" - turns out I had a small 2nd degree tear but nothing major and then "when can I go home".
Was stitched up (by the senior midwife person from earlier) and got totally high on the Gas&Air as she did it and then DH popped home to check the DS's were ok and get me some dinner (as I'd missed the hot food) as it was going to be 9pm before I was able to leave.
Was home at 9.45 the same day. I'm still feeling completely elated by the whole experience. DS1 and 2's births left me feeling quite 'low' as I didn't feel in control.
But thanks to the combined efforts of me, Helen (my Doula), DH and the 2 fantastic midwifes I felt in control AND it went according to my 'hoped for' birth plan.
Went into labour on my own, stayed at home for as long as possible, I only had 1 internal during the entire labour, didn't have the continous monitoring, only gas and air, wasn't an assisted delivery, DH cut the cord, he's breastfeeding.............the only thing that wasn't 'to plan' was the delivery of the placenta - but by the time I'd done everything else myself I didn't care.
I had DS2 at Kettering Hospital 3 1/2yrs ago (that was the horrible induced, assisted delivery, episitomy and 4th degree tear, flat on back on bed being continously monitored labour) and generally didn't feel I was listened to. So I was slightly apprehensive about going there again, but the care was AMAZING and Sarah and Melissa (the 2 midwifes who looked after me - although it was Sarah who delivered him) really made it feel like it was "my" birth and not just another in the 'production' line.