Birth experiences » Group

Katja’s pregnancy was a dream.   I had no problems what so ever, even   no morning sickness and Hypermesis like I did with the other two.   Just towards the end of pregnancy that you get the typical   “end of pregnancy”   “I have had enough” aches and pains ect.

Things started with a few weeks of pre labor pains as it did with Kaeden, though they were not to bad.   By the 26th of September (two days before Due Date) I had enough and
went to see the obstetrician at the clinic.   He did an internal at which I was surprised to learn I was three centimeters dilated already.   He did a stretch and sweep of the
membranes also while he was at it and booked me in for an induction the following morning but commented that he really didn’t think I would make it though the night.

Boy was he right!!!!   A few hours after I had seen him was when the light contractions started, I still wasn’t sure if it was labor or not.   By 10.30 - 11.00pm I called the hospital
and told them I was coming in - Michelle, my sister and Birth partner came to pick DH and I up.

I was monitored for about an hour or so and the midwife decided to do an internal to see how far along I was and if I was dilated enough she would break my waters.   Funny thing was is she was also the same midwife who broke my waters with Kaeden!!!!

I was 3-4 cms dilated so she decided to break my waters.

Everything was going fine, I had a lot of fluid built up in there (she had put on my chart with Kaeden that I had copious amounts of fluid as well!!!)   The next contraction after
my waters were broken was when things started to go wrong - Bubs heart rate dropped considerably and didn’t come back up - I knew something was wrong, I kept looking from Michelle to Grant (It also showed on their faces)   The  midwife decided to do another internal straight away and said to Michelle to press the emergency button.  

Apparently the umbilical cord had prolapsed - in other words the cord had slipped out passed Bubs head and was coming out first, not a good thing as it was cutting off Bubs
oxygen and blood supply.   The midwife had to hold her hand up inside to keep the cord away from Bubs head   - lucky the doctor came running in and everything was explained
to her, by then there was also a few other midwives in there and I was told to take my earrings and rings off because I would need an emergency cesarean and I would have to
go under a general anesetic.   The midwife jumped on top of the bed and we were wheeled straight into theater.

There was a lot of people in there racing around, it was quite surreal.   It was not long and a catheter was placed in (not fun with the midwife’s hands still in there holding things
back and still only being 3-4 cms dilated!!!!)   At the same time a drip was placed in and an oxygen mask was placed on me, within seconds I was out to it.

Apparently bub had her cord wrapped around and around and she was using it as a pillow and when my waters were broken the cord simply came forward.   When Bubs came out
she was “stunned” with being under a general for about two minutes and they had put her in a humidi crib and had taken her to the NICU Unit to keep an eye on her.   Long story
but there was apparently no room in the SCN Units so they put her in the ICU -.

I came around about an hour after, they then let Grant and Michelle in to see me, the first thing I wanted to know was how Bubs was - which they told me she was fine - just being
checked out in the NICU.

I was pretty out of it but also in pain, I was hooked up to a nice little system which every time I pressed the button an amount of morphine would be put though my drip :)   They
kept telling me every time I was in pain to push it - and that they had it fixed so I would not overdose ect.   *LOL* I didn’t realize that I could press it about every 5 mins, but it
didn’t take me long!!!!! TRUST ME!!!!!  

Once They were happy with me in recovery they took me into the NICU to see katja - It was so surreal - all these tiny little babies and there was my big   8 pound 9 porker trying
to look comfortable in a tiny crib - I didn’t have time to get a good look or even touch her before they had taken me off to my room.   It was rather traumatic to have to go into the
NICU as well, I had memories from a family friend who had triplets there, they were so tiny and so sick - My bubby should not have been in there as she was not ill (well that
was my thinking at the time)  

By the time I got to my room I was continually asking when I was going to get my baby - about 20 mins later the phone rang, it was a doctor from the NICU explaining that Katja
was OK but they would keep her in until morning.

I was so happy when in the morning, I finally got to hold and cuddle my baby girl.   I gave her a feed right away and she took to it with no problems just like the other two had.

My recovery from the surgery is another story - Not that there was any problems as such - just the pain and my independence being taken away.  

I am so lucky as if my waters had broken at home there was a good chance Bubs would have been born stillborn.  And if I would have gone in and had my waters broken as with the induction the next morning, things still would have been bad as both operating theaters would have been in use.   It makes me realize how lucky we are that things happened they way they did. I was blessed with somebody looking over us that is for sure. 

  Picture of katja about 48 hours old

Picture of Katja today (18 months old)

Miss6's birth...

wow it was such a long time ago i hope i can remember....

at 38 weeks i started to experience braxton hicks, at the time i thought i was in labour so i called my partner at work and told him to hurry home... he made it home in 10 minutes flat (normally a half hour drive) all excited and pannicky. I had called the birthing suite to tell them i was on my way. My mum was on her way to meet us at the hospital.

when we arrived they done and internal and put the band on my belly that measures contractions... half hour later they came in and told us to go home as nothing was happening.... Now they tell me about braxton hicks ... i felt slightly embarresed but...

a week later same thing except this was in the middle of the night.. of we go to the hospital again only to be told to go home... OK so I was eager to meet my lil baby...

Then the night before the due date I started having contractions, no water breakage yet but i did loose the "plug" earlier that day... this time we sat there and timed them when we had 5 contractions 5 mins apart we called the hospital, they told me to come it... so i called my mum and off we went. we got to the hospital at 1am..

after they checked me out and measured the contractions they told me i was 5 cm dialated and that i could be a while yet... so we waited.

it seemed to take for ever and eventually they came in and checked me and said they had to break my waters. that was the weiredest feeling ever, i felt a faint pop and they they told me to stand up and warm water rushed from me... all of a sudden the contractions became intense and fast...this was at about 4 am and this is when they actually started timing my labour.

i was in alot of pain and wanting to push too early. this cause me to tear...

I begged for an epidural at about 8 am but they said it was too close to bubs birth to make any difference so i had pethadine instead. About an hour an a half later they got me into position, i was on my back legs up in the stirrup things and pushing whit all my might, her head came out and they told me to stop. the cord was around her neck, not that they told me that! they slipped it from her neck and before i knew it i was holding my baby! i was eager to breastfeed and they told me to try get her to latch on strait away. it was the most amazing thing ever. all the pain i was in disapeared instantly and i was on a natural high.

they took her away to bath and check her over and weigh her, 6 pounds 12 ounces,  while i got my tear stiched up, 7 stiches later!!!.

We then got transfered to the ward where all my family was waiting to meet my lil angel.

She didnt put weight on as quickly as needed and ended up in the special care ward and being tube fed thru her nose. this was hard for me to watch. I had to express milk for her to be fed and the pethadine i had during labour was making her too sleepy to feed.

eventually the effects wore of the she began to breast feed like a lil champion.

I think it was 4 days till we got to go home, over all it was a great life changing experience for me.

Hi im only 7 weeks pregnant and im already scared and worried about giving birth. I know as long as the baby is healthy thats all that matters but im so scared of the pain,i dont know how much ill be able to handle, and i really dont want an epidural. Any advice would be great.

hi iam off to write another book.

my 8th and i was wondering if anyone would like to share their birth story.

you cna share 1 story or all your birth experiences if you like and please include a picture of your baby so everyone can see them .its up to you.

natural births or c sections anything is cool.

you can see some of my books that i have writtten at : www.lulu.com/elisabeta

you can email me your storys to my minti or my email: fairysquizzy@yahoo.com.au

hope to hear from allot of you .

I have had two lovely natural births.

My first son was born on 5th Jan 2004. It was my first night in my new house and I had just finished painting it when I went into labour at midnight, 1 week early. I didn't sleep well that night as the pains gradually increased. In the morning I walked around, then had a bath, then repacked my hospital bag (I'd been too busy to have it sorted earlier). My mum called at 12 noon and I told her I was in labour - she was shocked I hadn't called sooner. As I was on my own at that time she was taking me to the hospital etc.

She picked me up at 1.30pm and we went to her house while she got ready for a dinner party. At 4pm she dropped me off at my brothers house, where the pains started to increase considerably. I was lying on the bed suffering and my poor brother who was only 24 at the time didn't know what to do! In the end I called mum at 4.30pm, just as she arrived at the party and said I think its time to go to hospital. So we started out on the one hour drive to hospital. It was quite painful but I managed to eat chocolate and drink red bull on the way (mum insisted that I eat as she didn't think I'd have a chance for a while). We got to the hospital at 6pm and I realised I'd forgotten to call my midwife - oops!

I explained to the nurse that I was in labour (she asked why I was there!) and then she asked how I knew. Well duh! Its quite a noticeable sensation isn't it?! Hehe. So they put me on the moniter and agreed that yes I was in labour. My midwife arrived at 7pm and by that stage I was quietly enduring yet more pain, she examined me and found I was 4 cm. I hopped straight into the birthing pool and it was like heaven - instant pain relief! It was a lovely room with no lights on, only these tiny star lights in the ceiling. By 10pm I had only reached 5cm so she broke my waters after offering me gas, which I accepted as I was told the labour would step up a notch. I didn't use the gas until I was 9cm when the midwife found that the babies head was caught on my cervix and the last cm wasn't dialating. She gave me some arnica drops and told me not to push (by that stage I was bearing down. I then breathed the gas during contractions to help keep from pushing - I had to wait for a whole hour! That was the hardest part by far. I finally reached 10cm and my midwife helped me out of the pool and on to a birthing stool. They are fantastic - the gravity did all the work for me. Mum and I were looking in the strategically placed mirror so we saw his little head crowning. I lost the urge to push so started to breathe through contractions while my midwife applied a warm flannel to the area. All of a sudden he slid out and I hadn't even pushed - brilliant! I didn't feel the tearing but ended up with quite a big tear and several stitches. About 2 minutes after he was born I started to lose a lot of blood and the midwife looked a bit worried. She was about to call for a doctor when my placenta flopped out (I was still on the stool) suprising everyone. That explained the blood. Bryn was born 7 pound 6 ounces with a distinct conehead from being pushed against my cervix for that extra hour.

I met my husband when Bryn was one and we now live in the Middle East. I got pregnant 5 days before the wedding and found out on our honeymoon :) I chose not to have the baby here because the hospitals are not into natural births, with 2 out of 3 babies by c-section! So at 8 months pregnant I flew the 21 hours to NZ with bryn who was 3 at the time. My doctor had given me some medication to prevent labour while I flew, a low dose just for prevention. I ended up needing more as I got a tummy bug 2 days before flying and felt definite contractions. The pills worked (I didn't tell my doctor as I was worrie she wouldn't let me fly).What a mission but well worth it! My husband arrived 10 days before my due date (cutting it very fine) and Carden was born on the 11th March 2007 (1 day late). I went into labour on the Thursday afternoon but it was mild and kept stopping. I ate dinner with the family and didn't tell them I was having contractions. I tried everything to keep it going (including drinking castor oil - icky!). I went to see my midwife (same one as with Bryn)on Friday afternoon just to see if there was any dialation (it was so mild I wasn't sure) and she found I was 4 cm dialated - yippee, it was like a headstart as I hadn't been in any pain really, more like mild period pain! My husband was 2 hours drive away watching his brother play cricket but I told him not to rush back as things were going slowly. My midwife sweeped the membranes and I felt the contractions get more serious. Mum and I went for coffee then I went back to my husbands parents house to wait for him. Contractions started mucking around again, slowing right down to 30 mins apart.

I went for a 4km walk with hubby and sped them up again. Mum went home, we went to bed. I decided to have a bit of time in bed with hubby (if you know what I mean) as I hadn't seen him for a month and the last 10 days I had refused any action as I wanted bubba to have an extra week in there! But unfortunately that didn't work at getting contractions started (and was very painful!). Nipple stimulation worked but they kept slowing down again! The next day (Saturday) I went for a coffee with mum at about 4pm, and noticed during that 2 hours the contractions were 10 mins apart. Someone asked when I was due and mum was all excited and told them I was in labour. I got a bit pale so went back to the in laws house where my husband was waiting for me. We watched t.v and the contractuons kept coming. I was trying to eat dinner but had to keep putting my plate down and flip onto all fours every few mins. Very annoying as the dinner was delicious and getting cold!

We said goodbye to the Danny's parents and headed off to the local birthing unit (30 mins away). I was standing outside the car trying to breathe through a contraction when my MIL came out to say goodbye. I get very embarrassed labouring in front of people so I forced myself to keep standing and talking through the contraction (she didn t even know). We arrived at the Birthing unit at 10pm and my midwife examined me. I was 5cm dialated so she broke my waters. I got into the birthing pool and labour progressed very quickly. I didn't want hubby to talk to me or touch me during contractions - I prefer to let my mind float away outside my body (and away from the pain). After one hour I said to the midwife 'I feel like I want to push - but that can't be right can it? Its too soon!' She said I'm probably right and just to go with my body and push when I want to. The second midwife came in to assist and checked my progress, she commented his must be my second baby to go from 5cm to 10cm in 1 hour! I was on my knees with my arms resting on the edge of the pool and rocking and swaying my hips during contractions. It was awesome, really helped open everything up and relieve the pain. I got the giggles (very painful during contractions)because the midwife had to open the window behind me - the castor oil had upset my stomach something awful and it smelled like something had died in the birthing room. Just before he crowned I noticed the midwife getting her 'tools' out and asked if that meant the baby was coming soon. I think she was shocked that I had the presence of mind to even notice what she was doing! Hehe. It took a fair bit of pushing to get Carden to crown, and the whole time he was kicking like mad - I was begging the midwife to pull him out or something because the pain was excruciating when he kicked. She wouldn't and said I'll just have to push him out. My husband was looking into the water when bubbas head came out, a big fat squashed face and he kept telling me how cute he was. I thought 'right, that's it - I want to see for myself!' So one big last push and he was out. 11.30pm he was born in the water and lifted into my arms. He was fat and gorgeous at 8 pound 9 ounces. Bubba latched on to the breast straight away. I sat in the birth pool for another 30 mins getting photos taken and talking on the phone then went to lie on the bed and deliver the placenta which didn't feel like coming. The midwife had to give it a bit of a pull in the end. She was amazed because I had only lost about a tablespoon of blood throughout the whole birth. The baby cried all night (darn it) so we were shattered the next day! He is absolutely lovely now, seven months old and has always been the happiest little man. He is still fat and bonny and loves his solids :) I actually enjoyed both labours, and because I had no drugs they went very well and I was in complete control. To this day my husband doesn't believe that labour hurts much because I didn't make a peep. I only swore at him once - when he slammed on the car breaks during one of my contractions (after I'd quietly asked him to pull over for a minute). The most painful part for me is at 4-5cm dialation when the bodies endorphins (natural painkillers) haven't yet kicked in. If you can get past that stage you are fine. Hope this helps anyone who is pregnant :)

well iam due to have our 5th baby in 20 days ,and iam trying to remenber what birth was like and if there was any simularities but i cannot remenber so i thought maybe other menbers could help me !

when did the plug come off ? some have told me its ar the biggining before contractions start some when the waters break ?

you would think id be an expert but my memory for some reason gets blanked out .

does anyone ever had cramps or sensations before contarctions started?

With my first baby, I had the benefit of talking to my friends and family and deciding what I did and didnt want. I didnt want a C-Section like mum. I didnt want to be cut like my best friend and my SIL. I wanted a natural birth with entonox and a TENS machine, and maybe water. And I kinda wanted a homebirth (but I wasnt brave enough to get past the scarey midwife). Or failing that, a birth on M5! No, not the motorway, our local hospital put you on the top floor (Maternity 5) if you were doing well, and moved you downstairs progressively if they had to intervene. M1 was the operating theatre etc! My aim was to stay on M5!!!

I went to NCT Antenatal Classes (excellent, recommend to anyone in the UK) and read avidly. I like being well informed. Information is power!

DH took redundancy from his job when I was in my second trimester, which in hindsight was great - like a second honeymoon once I was on maternity leave! The EDD approached. We got called in for the "Induction" appointment. I said it was my informed decision to wait for EDD +14. We got fully grilled until they had convinced themselves I really was informed. Here it is common to be induced at EDD + 10. But statistically most first time mums will go into spontaneous labour at EDD +10. So I wanted to give my baby plenty of time to come a few days later than the average. I had a feeling that this was a laid back baby - it had been a laid back pregnancy (those of you who know my DD1 dont laugh too loud at that naieve statement!).

In week 2 we opted for monitoring every other day. On day 12 we were due to go in for monitoring again. I got up at 8 and had breakfast. DH was having a lie in. Then I got a tummy cramp and the runs at 9. But they didnt stop, and so I talked thru the loo door to DH in bed. "Somethings happening! This may not be diorhea." We timed the contractions. 5 minutes apart and 30 seconds, in the first hour! After an hour I was pretty convinced that this was it. I tried to text MIL, who had texted me every day for a month with "anything happening yet?" No reply. Phone off, would you believe it! (Back on at 4pm!)

As per our antenatal training we rang the hospital "they're 5 minutes apart already". "Come in when they last 45 seconds". An hour was spent downstairs on DHs exercise ball with the TENS machine on. Then we rang to say we were coming in. I kept the TENS machine on but loaded the ball in the boot. Then followed an excruciating 30 minute drive to the Hospital in the city (they closed our local maternity unit 6 years before - I could have walked there in 3 contractions!)!

When I arrived, DH dropped me off at the door and went in search of an elusive and expensive parking space, taking 20 minutes and returning with what he could carry (but not the ball). They booked me in and I tried not to yell in Reception as I spelled out my GPs unusual name. They gave me a bed, and DH arrived in time for my internal exam - 4cm. They brought some food, but I was losing my appetite fast, so DH finished it!

Then they moved me to the labour suite. I tried a bath, but it meant taking off the TENS machine. They gave me entonox but the cylinder was empty. By the time they believed me and replaced it I was panicking a bit. So I got out of the bath. I stood looking out of the window, and the contractions built. I found it helpful to squat on a stall I'd brought - it hurt more but lasted less time - a good trade off IMO! Then the midwife changed shift and a new one came in. It was not encouraging to see that she had tipexed out "Trainee" from her name badge - a Newbie!

She wanted to monitor baby's heartbeat, so I agreed to get up on the bed for a short while. Baby kept moving. I got back down again but soon she wanted to try again. She couldnt get a proper reading and got worried. I wanted to stay upright, but she laid the guilt-trip on me. So they atttached the clips. It hurt more. They couldnt get a reading. I was hyperventilating on the entonox.

They decided baby was struggling (of course it is, Im on my back trying to fire it to the moon, let me off, I want gravity to help!!!). They told me off for making too much noise - you'll upset the other mums. I dont care, they've all had their babies overnight (they'd told me already)!

They decided to break my waters. Noooo! The newbie, watched my her boss, broke them. But she agreed she might have failed and emptied my bladder instead. Right, we've intervened, you have to go downstairs, they told me. Nooooo! As there was a smidgen of doubt about whether my waters really had broken, they agreed I could stay and see. The contractions suddenly lurched into anthoer gear. Obviously that was not wee!

I was by now overdoing it on the entonox, breathing it in constantly and pretty drunk on it. I would not stop using it. The midwives left me alone with DH most of the time as they had others to deal with. They came back in later and I said I wanted to push. Dont be silly, i was told, its too soon. Next time she came in Id been fighting the urge for 10 minutes and DH insisted. "Baby's already down the birth canal" she exclaimed!

By now though I was into the groove of not pushing and found it hard to start. I was getting louder and louder, and they tried to take the entonox mask away from me. Failing, they switched it off!!! I pushed HARD - too hard, I tore.

Baby came out, a bit blue, and was whisked away with Daddy in hot pusuit but not having been allowed to cut the chord, for some oxygen and heat in the next room. She was brought quickly back and put to the breast, and latched straight on. Hurray! All went quiet.

They repected my wishes at last - a natural 3rd stage. An hour later the placenta arrived. The largest any of them had ever seen. No wonder DD was late - she was being well nourished by a very effective placenta! She was 7lbs 3oz and born at 6.17pm. After the placenta arrived, both the newbie and her boss admitted it was the first natural 3rd stage any of them had attended!

Then they wanted to stitch up my 2nd degree tear. The other tear (caused, DH is sure, by the monitor, which they'd fixed to the SIDE of baby's head - no wonder it didnt work!) didnt need stitching. The matron stitched it up as I refused to let the newbie do it. It took 10 months to stop hurting, so even she didnt do a good job!

Then I went with baby and DH for a bath. When we emerged, they were on a shift changeover and we couldnt find anyone to tell us where to go, so I went back to the labour room and DH went home. Half an hour later they found me "WHAT are your doing HERE?" I was moved to the ward and baby and I slept well, feeding every 2 hours.

The next day they took my BP - it was high! It had been fine for 9 months and now it was too high for me to go home. Gutted! DH arrived after lunch. They'd been trying to get a blood sample out of me all morning, but midwives arent good at that - I was bruised up both arms. The brought an anaethatist up from surgery to take the blood or they'd have missed the last intake of the day. The next day the took my BP without baby crying at the same time - nearer to normal. Blood tests came back ok. So they let me out.

I hate hospitals!

On paper it was a good enough birth. For me it was a loss of control. I had minor nightmares. I resolved to take more control next time!

 

I will try to remember what happened a year ago first! I may have to come back later and relate her big sister's birth!

I had not enjoyed the delivery of my first baby, although compared with a lot of the stories Ive just read here it was quite straightforward. I felt that my wishes had been ignored by & large, and that the problems I did have were because of poor choices made by over worked midwives. And they wouldnt let me go home, and I hardly saw DH for 2 days. So I knew that I would choose a Home birth for my second successful pregnancy.

My first meeting with my midwife went well and when I told her I would be having a HB all being well, she was encouraging - a big contrast to the m/w I got with DD1! Talking to a friend later I discovered this m/w had HBd her second daughter, so that was encouraging. I also went along to an NCT Homebirth group to be able to ask questions and did my research on the Internet, and joined the Yahoo Homebirths UK group. I was going to be well informed!

The pregnancy progressed well, and all my antenatal meetings were good. The only exception was when Cath, my midwife, was on holiday, and my previous m/w stood in for her. She was aghast that I wanted a H/B! I heard that my friend went in to labour when Cath was off duty and this m/w turned up instead, and the labour stopped for 4 days (until Cath was back on duty LOL)!

DD1 had been 2 weeks late, so I braced myself for another late one, JIC!

Happily at 40 + 3, I went to bed at 10 pm and felt something was different - baby, normally so quiet, was doing the Conga in my tummy. I tried to go to sleep but couldnt. I remember exactly the radio programmes I was listening to on the pillow speaker that night! After an hour I got up and whispered to DH that something "might" be happening. He hadnt been well and needed his sleep. Well, after that he couldnt sleep either!

I sat downstairs, on my exercise ball, and watched some TV. The contractions started. I walked around a bit, leaning over the kitchen counter as the contractions came in, and rocking a bit, or sitting on the ball and bouncing through the pain, as I had with DD1. I felt in control.

At 12 I rang my inlaws to say "maybe tonight". Half an hour later I said "please come" - they had a 2 hour journey, so we couldnt leave it to the last minute. They'd been lying in bed staring at the ceiling!!! 

At about 2am DH phoned the midwife to ask for her to visit. Unfortunately Cath was on 2 weeks holiday, but Helen arrived, and we warmed to her straight away. She did an internal exam and said unfortunatley I wasnt dilated at all. That was a bit gutting! She stayed and chatted for a bit, and my contractions pretty much stopped - i was too distracted! The inlaws arrived about 4am, and went straight to bed. Helen went home to bed, advising me to do the same!

Well, the first contraction came and I shot out of bed - this wasnt going to work! So I left DH sleeping and ran a bath. I tried to realx and with each contraction I had to get up on my knees and hang over the edge of the bath. In between I listened to Classic FM and nearly fell asleep. After an hour the pain was increasing and the water was cold, so I got out, and realised things were getting going, so I went downstairs again and got back on my ball! TV on to distract myself.

After hour I decided I finally needed my TENS machine on so woke DH and we popped it on. By now I was in some pain thru the contractions and was cranking up the TENS machine and getting grumpy with tired DH who was gazing at the telly oblivious to his wife bouncing like Tigger in front of him!!! "IM BOUNCING, RUB MY BACK!!!"

At 7 I decided I needed Gas & Air, and so DH rang the midwife, who had been asleep. She was rather surprised to be called back so soon. About 715 DD1 woke up and padded downstairs, and I tried to put a brave face on the contractions (Im not quiet in labour LOL!). Helen returned and got me off my exercise ball, which was over DD1s waterproof car mat (we hadnt had time to dig out the old shower curtain!), and did an internal exam on the sofa. 8cm, she exclaimed, and was about to swing into action when the next contraction hit and I leapt off the sofa and onto my ball. Whoosh! The waters went, I yelled, DD1 looked worried (to say the least), and DH took her upstairs to cuddle up to Grandma in bed. Wise Grandma saw DD1 looking worried when I yelled in pain and reminded her that they were to listen for when the baby cried  instead of mummy. So from then on, whenever I yelled, it was a "tut, its just mummy again!"

Meanwhile, Helen had put in a call for her back-up midwife (you get 2 midwives to yourself when you labour at home, instead of 1 shared between loads of labouring women at hospital - much more conducive to good care IMO!). I started on my entonox, taking 6 breaths in when I felt the contractions coming, as my research had showed up (not told about this last time). It helped! And I stayed in control!

Somewhere around here I got the urge to push, but went on strike (Too much control LOL)!!! They got me off the ball to check, then gave me the go ahead, but every urge I fought - I felt too tired! They said they'd never seen anyone put up such a fight against Stage 2 LOL! In the end they said they could see the baby's head so I thought I'd better get her out!

She was born at 7.47am, at 7lbs 5oz, with labour officially timed as 2 hours. Tears were too minor to stich (hurray)! She let out a loud yell, so loud the midwives were surprised! DH got to cut the chord this time! And I had another natural 3rd Stage, which was only about 10 minutes this time.

We had already agreed she would be called Sophie - so Sophie was born on the sofa! I promise I would not have called her Bed if I'd had her upstairs as planned ! Upstairs they'd heard Soph cry, and a minute later Daddy appeared and asked DD1 if she wanted to meet her new sister (blew that surprise then!). So the sisters met in the first 5 minutes. Em helped the midwife give Soph her first bath, in the sink.

After a feed, and the grandparents crept downstairs to meet their new grand daughter, the midwives ran me a bath and loaded the washing machine and tidied up so you wouldnt have known anything happened (the car mat survived without a stain!). After the bath, they returned Sophie to me and helped us to bed. I tried to sleep but I really wanted to be downstairs with my family, with those I love, so after half an hour I surprised them by appearing downstairs, and sat on the sofa again! I hadnt slept for 36 hours, but the addrenalin was working!

I got the Home Birth I really wanted, and it went pretty much to plan. Definitely something I'd recommend!

She is less than 1 hour old here - her extremities were still grey!

 Us all on the sofa, midwife almost out of shot, bottom right!

13 hours old and trying out those lungs!

hi all,

well im due in feb so ill have a story to share then lol,

im planning on having an epidural as my last birth was a drug free one and i regret it! i had nightmares afterwards and shock related PND.

if anyone has had an epidural and had any advice for me I would be very greatful

xxx

angie

Hello everyone,

How are you and your family's?

If you have any friends to invite please do, l would love to hear more storys as well....its been abit dead here.

l have good news to tell, lm 8 weeks pregnant and due 31st of March 2008, so there will be a new birth story soon.

Thanks all and take care

Heather