The Long story!

I was booked in for a sweep on thursday 9th August at 11.30am. The night before I was getting pretty wound up about it, I really didnt want it as I would prefer to laour naturally. Jay had managed to get the 9th off incase anything happened later that day... Lucky for him he did! I started feeling some strange wind like pains down my back at 4am that morning.

I would climb over Jay and walk around the house half zombie-fied... I really thought it was wind or something, I never thought for a second it could be early labour. All the pain was in my back and it was more like bad backache than anything sharp. The pains would ease off but return a few minutes later. I would try to go back to sleep but end up climbing over Jay again to walk about! I remember Jay was half asleep when I was on the floor and he just muttered 'Are you in labour?' But he cant remember it! I genuinely didn't think I was.

A few hours had past and these pains were getting more regular. I was 5 days overdue so I eventually clicked that I was in labour. It was about 7am now and I was debating waking everyone up! When the housephone rang, I knew my mum was awake so I went in to bother her. She agreed it sounded like labour so I eventually woke Jay up and muttered those fateful words... 'It begins!!!!'

I tried to catch some zzzz's but I kept having to get up so it wasn't really worth it. I started texting all the lovely new mums I know asking them about their labour. I was worried that as all the pain was in my back, my cervix wasn't dilating so it was all for nothing...?

I called my midwife who came around about 11am. She saw me laughing and joking through the contractions so she (kind of) dismissed me saying that it could be a fair while and that she'll probably see me over the weekend. Grrrr! This wasn't the best news, I have to admit I nearly cried as she basically was saying the pain was for nothing!

Jay and I tried to wear the day out. The pains were regular at every 5 minutes and the pains were getting stronger. No way was this nothing! I knew that baby would be making an appearance sometime very soon. It was probably about midday we decided to get some food.. So off to the local chippy we went! I was hoping the walk would push things along.

Walking to the chipshop wasn't easy! I kept having contractions and had to stop. I had a fair few in the space of a few minutes. Trying to keep looking normal through them was hard, I'd just squeeze Jay's hand and wait for it to pass.

I didn't do very well with the chips. By the time we got back the pains had got much worse. I managed to eat a sausage! I began pacing around the house and found a very comfortable spot snug on the stairs. Nothing would make me budge!

We called the midwife again and she turned up about 7pm. Hours after we phoned her! She seemed to believe me a bit more, although to be honest, I was putting it on a bit because I was worried she wouldn't believe me like the 1st midwife. She examined me and I was 3cm... She recommended a bath to soothe the pain. At this point, I feel as if I should have gone into hospital because the pains were becomming very intense and I knew the longer I was left, the stronger the pains would be and the harder it would be for me to move.

My midwife fed me a banana.. I'm not too sure why but I remember thinking 'Piss off! I can eat my own banana!' She kept following me around saying 'Do you want me to run the bath for you?' 'Do you want me to help you get undressed?' No. I want you to go away you clingy woman! She practically got into the bath with me!

I spent 2 hours in the bath like a beached whale. This is the point where the contractions were the hardest to cope with. I believe it was because I really wanted to go to the hospital and I was tensing my body with frustration so it made the pain worse. Jay and mum took turns watching me and rubbing (pounding) my back. They'd probably do about 10 minutes each because the bath was hot and it was giving Jay headaches and I wasn't making it any easier with the sunny words coming out of my mouth...

My waters broke in the bath... The weirdest feeling. Mum was on her shift at the time so she assessed the colour. (Might I add at this point I wasn't naked, I was wearing some very nice M&S undies.. matching ofcourse!) I remember my dad coming in and me screaming at him to let me go to the hospital. My mum had phoned the midwife to come back but she was taking her sweet time.

Eventually the midwife turned up about 9pm. With Gas and Air! Oh my god that stuff is better than chocolate... I managed to get out of the bath in my soaking undies (which I refused point blank to even try to take off) and was now on my mums bedroom floor! The midwife was texting the other midwife to meet us at the hospital (could she text any slower?) when she finally (after a few 'polite words' from me) gave me the gas and air....

That was it. Pigeon steps to my dads car in my soaking wet undies... great. Someone was holding the gas canister for me while I was sucking into it for dear life. All my neighbours were out so that was nice. lol. The midwife followed us in the car and told my mum that if they needed to stop, she'd deliver the baby in the car for me. NOT A CHANCE WOMAN! I'm not given birth in a vaxhall cavalier on Kennington road with my neighbours walking by shopping for milk. (Give me an Audi A8 and we may have a deal....)

Got to the hospital. The walk from the car seemed very long. I had a fight with an electric door because I had a contraction and it wanted to close. I wanted to lean on it. Got into the lift and run in despite the contractions. I just wanted to get to the birthing centre asap and not deliver in the lift.

The reception at the birthing centre was full when I arrived. I remember seeing loats of people staring at me in my soaking wet undies, dodgey hair and old pink bathrobe. We went to the room and they gave me a hospital gown. I was examined by the nice midwife and she said I was about 7 or 8cm. The gas and air at the hospital was so much better. She asked wether she should start running the birthing pool but it was far too late. My body began to push.

I didn't understand why my body wanted to push if I wasn't fully dilated but the midwife assured me that it was safe and that the last couple of centemetres would go if I pushed. So I got on the floor and strated pushing. About 10 minutes later, his head was out and he began to cry. It was really weird. I still had the gas and air in my mouth and the midwife kept asking me to take it out and concentrate on pushing. (again, not a bloody chance!)

Jay was on the other side of the room. I'm not sure if he felt a bit queasy or wether he was overwealmed or a bit of both... A couple of minutes later I pushed again and the entire body flew out. I really loved that bit, felt like a huge relief. I hear Jamie start to cry, it was very emotional. I was leaning on my mum while giving birth and she kept repeatng 'He's here, you done it' Words I hardly could believe!

Jay was quite choked up. It was nice seeing him emotional! lol. The midwife handed him to Jay first while she sorted out the yukky bits. I was so tired all I wanted to do was sleep. I couldnt help but ask the midwife wether I tore or not, I was so curious to know. She said not an inch! I was very lucky!

When I first saw Jamie it was crazy. I remember thinking 'Wow... your quite big!' lol. I was definatley in shock and I didnt take it in straight away. The midwife took Jamie away to be wieghed. I had prepared a scoreboard for Jay regarding babies wieght- If he was 6lbs, Jay would be fine- If he was 7lb Jay would probably get a pinch- 8lbs and probably a slap- 9lbs and I'd bite him! I didnt want to consider 10lbs!

9lbs 8oz! The midwife told me to bite him. lol.

I wasn't worried about the weight, it was over now so there was no point worrying. I'd managed to labour with him just with gas and air and have no tears so I was very happy.

Still, it was the best experience I have ever had in my life and I am very glad I got to share it with everyone. Good on you for reading this far!! Feel free to leave any comments if you like. This is a really positive birth story as it was natural and unassisted, I hope it helps some nervous first timer out there! It's not as bad as you think!