Hi all
Goodness I've only just got back on here and am touched to see how many people dropped by to wish me luck!
Very proud to announce that blushingfilly was born at 7:26pm on the 8th June, weighing 8lbs 6oz. She is absolutely perfect and I can't believe how blessed we are to have such an incredible daughter.
Here is the (long) birth story if you're interested...
I went into hospital at 4am, not really because I thought I was established but because the sensation had changed to my bum so they wanted me in. I was only 1cm, but
because by then well over the 24hrs since waters went, they kept me in. After a horrendous experience with a totally non understanding registrar who want to induce me straight away and have me strapped to continuous monitoring throughout, I was saved by a superb midwife, who negotiated breaking my forewaters and giving me 2 hours to progress. Well, within 2 hours I was 5cm, so induction went out the window 
Went on to have a truly amazing birth - used TENS up until 8cm, then got in the pool, tried the start of pushing in the pool but lost my contractions and got out and pushed her out on the birthing stool. it was perfect and the midwife and student midwife were incredible - I will always remember them.
Sadly, things then turned a little scary. I had a third degree tear and also my uterus didn't contract properly and the combination of these two things lead to a massive haemorrhage, the emergency alarm going off and the room suddenly full of people. I was whisked off to theatre and spent four hours being stitched up (so ended up with an epidural after all....). I was then transferred to the high dependency unit, where I had a horrible 24 hours, feeling like shit and totally unable to care for my baby. Whilst the medical support for me there was excellent, there was no support for looking after baby and feeding and poor little filly was totally neglected and not even attempted to feed. Once transferred to the ward I also had a bit of a miserable time - really struggled with establishing breastfeeding and didn't have great support. HOWEVER, the great news is we are home . We're now making progress with the feeding and have been visited by the community midwife who is lovely. Filly has lost 12% of her birth weight, so we have some work to do, but I feel so much stronger and more confident we can do this now.
It's been an emotional journey, but with a fabulous outcome. Thank you so much for a your good wishes.
Mare & Filly x