Hi @mamaAJ! I gave birth on 22nd March (Also a ftm so I was also incredibly anxious so I know how you feel!).
My waters broke at 9pm on the Saturday night and contractions started around 10pm. I called the maternity ward and they told me I needed to go in to confirm it was my waters as they start a 24 hour timer so if I wasn't in established labour they would induce me to reduce infection risk.
I went to the hospital to be checked out (about midnight), my husband wasn't allowed into the maternity unit at this stage so waited outside while I was checked over and confirmed it was my waters. As my contractions had started they told me to head home and gave me some codeine for the pain and to call back when contractions were closer together/stronger. My husband had some sleep while I couldn't so I got in the bath to deal with the pain.
About 7am, they were 5 minutes apart and lasting 1 minute so we called the unit back, they told me to go in to get checked out (again husband had to wait outside). At this stage I was 2cm dilated so they told me it could still be a while yet and sent me home again (I could have stayed but it would have been on my own until I was in established labour).
About 10am, I was really struggling with the pain so we made our final journey to the labour ward. I was really worried that I still wouldn't be in established labour and would have to wait on my own until I was as there was no way I could have made the car journey again! Instead I was ushered straight into a delivery suite and it turns out I was now 6cm dilated, at this stage my husband was allowed to join me in the room. I was just discussing pain relief with the midwife when she checked me over again and turns out it was too late for that and I was ready to push. Our daughter was born at 2:29pm. I had a second degree tear so had to wait to be stitched up but that all happened quite quickly afterwards (took about 45 minutes to stitch me up). The midwives were really good and let us stay in the delivery suite until about 8:30pm as once I was moved to the maternity ward my husband had to go home and wasn't allowed to visit.
I was on the ward until about 5pm on the Monday 23rd, I could have gone home sooner however I was having difficulty with breastfeeding so I was waiting for a visit from the infant feeding team. If you're planning on breastfeeding, I would definitely recommend touching base with any infant feeding team available in your hospital as their advice was invaluable and it has been the only face-to-face support I've been able to have as they are no longer doing home visits due to the current circumstances (although our health visiting breastfeeding support team has created a facebook page with daily videos on to help - but it's not the same as face-to-face advice in those early days!).
I know some people have been concerned about bags and leaving the hospital when it comes to being discharged - I just asked the midwives to carry my bags to the ward exit and I carried the baby in my arms, my husband met us at the door with the car seat to relieve the midwife.
I hope that helps alleviate some of your anxieties! Other than being initially checked out on my own and being on the ward without my husband (or other visitors), I can't imagine my birthing experience was much different to any other time, the midwives were very attentive and helpful throughout (and I think they are very aware that this is an anxious time for any mum-to-be!).
Good luck with your impending arrival!