Helloooooo! I've had a baby!
So here's the bit you're actually interested in:
Having been having twinges/contractions/tightenings/call them what you will since Friday 20th, I was getting increasingly irked and anxious. I didn't realise how much my previous quick birth had affected me (I just told it as a funny story) but every twinge brought me out in a panic attack at the thought that it could suddenly kick off and I had next to no time to organise child care, get DH back from work, get to hospital etc etc. By the end of 9 days of this I was barely eating, couldn't sleep, and just permanently on edge and very anxious.
We phoned the midwife on Sunday (29th) to say I couldn't cope any more, so I went into hospital to see her that afternoon where she was doing a clinic. She and another midwife agreed that the best thing to do was to deliver, because it was only the fear of not getting to hospital that causing me stress, so why not keep me in hospital and take the stress away! I also knew that fear and adrenalin stopped contractions, so the more anxious I got, the less likely labour was to start, and the more days the contractions/anxiety would continue. I am so so grateful to those midwives for making the right decision for me (and I was 41 weeks so it wasn't unreasonable to deliver the baby!)
I was given one helluva stretch and sweep (DH said she was in up to her elbows 
) by a registrar, and sent to the ante-natal ward, but before I even got there the contractions had started. Things ramped up very quickly and at one point I felt pushy, a student midwife had a look and thought she could see a head (they even started talking about vitamin K and all sorts, we really thought he was coming!) but actually it was just my waters bulging, but I was 3cm and wheeled round to delivery - all within an hour of the sweep.
I got in the birth pool and onto the gas and air - my happy place where I delivered DS1 and DS2 with relative ease. But then 4 hours passed and there was still no baby, they got me out and I was still only 3-4cm 
I cried a lot. With hindsight they shouldn't have let me in the pool that early, I should have laboured upright and really got things going, but that was unfortunately a result of a bad call made by a student.
So I was moved to a room and told to move around a lot, then there was a shift change and the new midwife got me to lie on my side on the bed with the gas and air, and she was feeling my tummy the whole time. Apparently I thought I was having contractions when I wasn't, but the pain was so intense I couldn't cope, so they pursuaded me to have pethidine and took me back to the ante-natal ward for a sleep. Gradually the contractions and pain subsided and by 3am, 13 hours after the sweep, I was officially not in labour at all . Lovely lovely midwife who I cried all over just said "we don't make decisions in the middle of the night" and told me to go back to sleep.
I do wonder what was said about me behind my back (!) but at 9:30am another amazing midwife came in and said they were going to break my waters since I was sitting at 3-4cm, which meant they were committed to inducing me and getting the baby out. I was official Not Going Home! YES!
My waters were broken at about 1pm, and as I moved around the contractions gradually came on after about an hour. I can't remember what time I started gas and air, but I tried moving to lots of different positions and gradually things ramped up. There was a bit of scare with the baby's heart beat so I was on the monitor for an hour, and I had some food which passed the time. I remember losing my sense of humour and some time after I was decreed officially 'in labour'.
And then I had my baby TWENTY SEVEN MINUTES LATER. And that is what I was afraid of. I am so, so glad they took my fears seriously and induced me, although I could have done without the 12 hours of false labour the day before.
Lots of midwives have talked about 'tricky fourths' because the uterus and cervix don't always contract and dilate as efficiently and rhythmically when they've been through it many times before. Perhaps if I'd laboured upright more the day before I would have gone into proper labour then, but we'll never know.
While I was sorry not to make it to the pool, DH thought it was brilliant because he actually saw the birth as it wasn't all under water. Also I have a vaginal wall prolapse which was stopping the head descending and the midwife 'moved it out of the way' for the birth, which couldn't have happened in the pool. As I was delivering I heard her say something about the damage being done to my pelvic floors, but what could I do?! Certainly things are very numb down there, but it'll be a while before we can tell the full extent of the damage 
. I didn't tear at all, and don't need tena lady so it can't be too bad 
DS3 is adorable, perfect, wonderful, amazing. He's got perfect little petite features, he's 8lb 3oz and feeding pretty well although he has tongue tie that needs to be snipped. I think we'll both appreciate it when my milk comes in properly.
Due to cost cutting measures, I have to take him to the GP this afternoon for his check, I have to take him to the midwife tomorrow for his 3 day weighing, and I have to take him to the hospital clinic on saturday for his heel prick test. All those things were done at home visits with the previous three children, I can't believe I'm expected to go out, and I don't feel up to driving so DH and all the kids have to come too!
His siblings are besotted, and the teachers strike day was so well timed because we could have a family pyjama day yesterday!