Two weeks before I was due I suffered from really painful back ache. I was in and out of the hospital on two ocassions, the first was to put me on a machine to check bubs heart rate. He was doing fine, but they realised I was having mild contractions, I couldn't feel a thing, just back pain. They done some blood tests and sent me home. The second time, they called me in to the hospital as they believed I was border line pre-eclapmpsia. They advised me to bring my bags as if I was, they would have to perform a caesaren. I was rather terrified, but luckily I was fine. They believed I just had a bladder infection, which is what was causing my back pain.

I was 5 days over due when I went in and had a stretch and sweep, for those who don't know what that is, a midwife gives you an internal, sweeps the hormonal thing (sorry don't know the term) around your cervix, as this is meant to soften it, they then stretch it. Which is meant to bring your labour on. They advised me I was already 1cm dilated. I hadn't felt a thing. They also advisd me bub was engaged but his back was facing my back. (which may have been what was really causing the back pain). So They advised to go home and rock on the labour ball to turn him around.

That evening at 5.15 while I was sitting on the labour ball, my water broke. I never realised how much water you lost. I lost it for the whole time I was in labour. I rang the hospital to tell them my water had broken, but I had not had contractions yet.  They told me I had to go straight into the hospital. I never realised that as soon as your water broke you had to go in.

On the way to the hospital my contractions strarted, they were bareable.  When I got to the hospital they were over crowded, there was women sitting everywhere. I was finally put in to a room and by 7 I asked for some sort of relief, I was given a pethadine shot and put into a bed to try to sleep. They gave me a sleeping tablet, but I would not take it. Lucky I didn't as the pethadine didn't work, just made me groggy.

By about 12 I was in that much pain I was ready for more pain relief, I requested the epidural. I was in and out of the shower,which did offer some relief, and my partner and mother in law rubbed by back thru every contraction. I am not sure how far apart my contractions were, my mother in laws tell me they were a minute apart though.

By 4am I finally got taken to the labour ward, where I showered for longer, I was then given an internal and told I was only 6cm. i was devastated, after 11hours of labour, I was not progressing enough. I was given an epidural, and rested on and off. My partner went home and had a few hours sleep.

By 6 I was given another internal and was told i was not progressing enough, so they put me on a drip to bring the contractions on faster. This ended up stressing bub, and both of our heart rates were up. They decided they would give me an internal at 10am, if i was no further progressed I would need a caesarean.

They eventually took me of the drip, as bub got too distressed. A doctor came in at 8.30am and did another internal, she then realised bub was still not properly engaged and my cervix was starting to thicken. I then stressed as I didn't know if my partner would be back in time for the caesarean.

Between here to the caeseran is all a bit of a blur, I had so much going thru my head once I was advised I was going to need a caesarean. But I kept thinking I will be holding my baby boy soon.

My partner finally did make it, and i the hospital staff made me quite comfortable through out the caesarean process. My baby boy Deklan was born at 11.16am. Weighing 8 pound 15 oz. It was an amazing experience.

I have probably missed bits out, as so much seemed to happen. But I forget lots of things and my partner and mother in law keep reminding me.

After all this happened, I was advised I could never of had him naturally, as he was too big for my small frame. I wish it had of been picked up on earlier. But I guess these things happen.

Unfortunately, I struggled with breast feeding, and ending up putting him on the bottle.

After all I went thru, I have the most beautiful boy and I would go thru it again. But I have been advised that if I fall pregnant again, I will need to have a caesarean. But alteast, I won't have to go thru 12 hours of labour, before the epidural is given.