I had my baby last night at 39w 2 days.
The birth was amazing. So different to my DS's birth. Planned home, water birth. Bit scary as contractions were every 3 mins from the start and painful pretty quickly and made me wonder if I could cope without pain relief. Was about 2 hours all in. No time to fill pool, but I did manage a bath. Contractions so close from the start and super painful, I was pacing around the house trying to get comfy during them, but of course failing!
But overall, no tearing, she was super alert and I was on adrenaline high as soon as she was here, not doped out like with DS. So, so healing.
OH was amazing - he was in phone to ambulance as they told him what to do and he caught her. But basically I was pushing and nothing was going to stop me no matter what! I put my hand down and felt her head and thought, right this just got serious, going to have to pull myself together and do this thing.
I got to hold her immediately and was just blissed out that she was here safely - was in shock a bit I think!
She'd passed lots of meconium which made waters green and was scary. But she arrived 30 mins later, so just had to get on with it.
Doula and paramedics arrived about 10 mins after she came. And midwives about 10 mins after that. Then had everyone watching me while I waited an hour for placenta to come. 7 people coming and going and my DS slept through it all.
Meconium is why we were transferred into birth centre after the birth. She passed all observations and is feeding well so we went back home at midday today. Was in private room with en suite, so was lovely actually.
Am so blissed out and she seems a really happy baby and seems to be fine with her crazy big brother running about. She bought him a space rocket, so he's well chuffed with her too, :)
I totally feel your pain ladies, but wanted to share my story as it all feels so different just 24 hours later, once on the other side. I'm sore down below, but no tears or anything and don't feel huge, pain in hips gone, carpel tunnel gone down loads and no heartburn. Very happy not to be pregnant anymore. Its so worth it ladies and it will be your turn soon!