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2am woke up with a pain; felt more like a contraction than previous nighttime pains, as could feel peak/fade. Waited for next one (no clock on my side of bed) it seemed about 5mins later. Went downstairs, got TENS out and was sticking it on when DH came down. We decided to time them a bit, then rang hospital. They said time them for 30mins and then come. After about 10 minutes we rang hospital again and rang minicab. Popped Eve into the cab to take to friends, she was a complete star, saying "We're going to Jane's house" and patted my bump and said "I want to meet you baby brother" I said "You are the best baby in the whole world" and she said "No I not, I'm a big girl!" She was very jolly until we got to Jane's, as I got out to cuddle her bye, and I think she knew things were a bit "emotional" but DH put her down in their travel cot and she fell asleep immediately. I realised the contractions had slowed as I hadn't had one since getting in the car. VERY worried we'd get sent home after waking our lovely friends up to look after Eve.
Got to hospital (forgot that north wing doors are closed in middle of night, so had to walk a bit further to other entrance!) The TENS was helping a lot. Arrived and settled in room at 4am. Perfect room, huge windows overlooking Houses of Parliament, just as I'd hoped! Examined, only 2cm; what disappointment! But she was encouraging; though my cervix was still v posterior - and let me stay (Home From Home unit was v slow, luckily, only one other woman in at the moment). I was eager to get IV antibiotics started, but she said she'd let me know when I needed to start them. Got on birthing ball and looked out the window! Also had a puzzle book from my mother (cryptograms) so worked on those a bit!
4.45 Contractions 3 in10minutes, 30 secs long. I think I'd started gas a bit then
5.40am IV started (whew!). Other MW came in and gave me the Indian treatment, saying I could do it without gas, it would be 100% good clean air instead of only 50% and better at relaxing uterus. So concerned about being "good girl" I stopped the gas and tried just breathing through contractions. Wondered if the holistic, "goddess of birthing ball" approach would really get me through. Envisaged self as Buddha (v appropriate size-wise)/ Venus of Willendorf-type character, did some dancey/writhing as well as rolling on the ball. Hmm!
7am MW suggested bath but wanted to see sunrise.
7.15 got in bath, still not using gas.
8am new shift came in, MW asked if I wanted to give birth in pool, as seemed to like bath. I said no due to GBS and those rooms not having windows. She said they could examine me in a while and if not dilated do a stretch and sweep, I refused due to not wanting waters to break early.
8.00 got out of bath to see view again, have breakfast, DELICIOUS toast and tea! TENS on again. Amazing that you're allowed to use mobiles in hospital now, DH was phoning family and texting people to say we were in hospital. Watching boats in the Thames was soothing, but contractions still bl**dy hurt!
8.50 went to loo and huge, icky show! OMG what I had in France was just a tiny show, mostly blood streaks, this was tons and tons of goo, so felt encouraged that MUST be dilating! Think around now got back on the gas again. Really tried to control and not use too much, alternated with plain breaths for 'pure air'. And didn't make me vomit like last time, less desperate sucking, I reckon!
9.40 Vaginal exam, 4cm and v thin and stretchy. Can't believe I only came into hospital at 4cm last time! Let the trainee MW do a VE too. I was a little worried things were moving much more slowly than I'd imagined, but MW were encouraging that things would move fast from here with second birth.
10.15 more antibiotics, felt so happy that he'd be protected if he came now. Not doing great with the puzzles, can't focus long enough!
10.45 agreed to get into pool, though they'd checked procedures and said I would need to get out for the birth.
11 walk to pool room, get contraction just outside, rush to gas and air, suck too much, vomit! Resolve to be better with it the next time.
12.15 contractions 4 in 10 minutes, strong. Using gas. MIL comes into pool room for brief visit (DH stayed outside with Eve for a few minutes).
12.25 Discussed returning to room as wasn't keen to give birth standing in pool room (they had bars set into the wall you can hold onto). Pain v bad, started saying I hope I want to push soon. Wishful thinking, didn't really want to push but was thinking about it so thought I might be nearing transition.
12.30 Lunch arrived, gorgeous. DH feeding me bites in between contractions. Eat like woman possessed! Bites of warm food and kisses from DH, heaven, until contractions come!
12.35 Surprised by contraction, choked on mini-corn cob, really bad, trying to cough it up, then another contraction comes, and have to debate which is worse, use gas and risk corn being pushed lower into lungs and choking to death, or endure a contraction without gas??? Used the gas (carefully!). Decided no more lunch for me. Start saying I need to push. Main MW was down the hall, and I knew they didn't want me to give birth in pool but knew I had to push, soon! DH went to call the MW back, saw someone coming and thought it was her, came back into room.
12.40ish I said 'The head is coming, it's coming!' DH ran into hall to call MW again. I could feel head move down v quickly during a push. Tried so hard not to push. Trainee MW was trying to hold his head in!
12.45 MW back in room. I said 'You're not going to make me get out, right???!' She said no, it was fine.
12.47 Head delivered. I said 'The head's out', as the pressure eased. Then I said 'I'm weeing' and it was loads. Turns out it was the waters breaking as DH said later he could see white bits floating (vernix?) in it. They told me to pant and I really really tried, ouch ouch ouch, but pushing pain is soo much easier than contraction pain imo. I was lifting my tum up towards the surface, panting and they told me to put my bottom down, but I didn't want to bang his head! DH was brilliant, getting all teary and saying I was 'heroic, absolutely heroic'. MW had put a mirror in pool and he could see the baby's head rotating to get into position for shoulders. MW told me to push a little to get shoulders out so did and out he came at 12.49. The MW put him on me with cord still intact. The cord was wrapped tightly twice around his neck so she tried to loosen it. He was semi-pink but not breathing (I had heard at ante-natal class that some water babies are so 'chilled' they don't breathe immediately so tried not to panic.) MW was rubbing him and telling him to breathe. He made a couple of movements and noises so I tried to think positive. Then she wanted to cut the cord to take him out for a little oxygen, so DH cut it. He said they didn't put the mask on Theo, but waved it in front of him a bit. He got better and finally breathed properly, and did a big wee and poo, just like his sister had at birth! I asked for the jab to get placenta out, as cord had been cut, but they wanted to get me out of the pool first. Unfortunately they were draining it so it was harder to get out as I was no longer weightless, far from it! They'd made up a little bed next to the pool for me to birth the placenta, but when I stood up I had a little feeling of a push and plop, the whole placenta slithered out! Urrggh! Another fast birth! They got me onto the little bed anyway to wait for Theo to come back to me. We had a little cuddle and then they took us back to our room. He was a little unsettled and cried a lot, great to hear him though after his being so quiet at birth, but I was worried he wouldn't be a content baby, didn't seem interested in the breast at all, and maybe I was too eagerly poking it into his mouth. Then we put him in the fishbowl and he slept a bit and woke up a changed baby. Nibbled at the breast and was really quiet and content. Has been ever since! I got really emotional and was kissing his head and saying how much I loved him. V exam showed only a couple of grazes, no tears, no stitches needed, hurrah! If mw tell you to pant, please try to and don't push! We stayed in the room with a view until 6.30, they decided to move me downstairs onto ward so baby could be checked more often at night, but still saw the lights come on at parliament and sun setting behind it, lovely. Only 4 beds in the ward, but it was not facing the river, all 4 beds were full plus my tv/radio didn't work, which also had a clock and telephone, great system, btw! So no Green Wing for me (DH taped it last night though!) and couldn't tell what time it was when I woke up in the night and my mobile had run out of power so felt a bit isolated the next morning. It def wasn't as luxurious as the private room upstairs. Still a great night. Had him in the bed with me, nibbling away. He was quiet and no uncontrollable crying.
Eve, DH and MIL came for a visit next day. We presented the 'Teddy from Teddy' and she loved it and took to him as well. She has said 'I want to throw him away, in the bin' in a playful way a few times but mostly to get a reaction. She's really loving to him and I think she's going to be just fine. It's wonderful that MIL is here and DH has a few days off so feels very easy at the moment. Feeding is going brilliantly, just let him suckle away all the time and last night he seemed a bit more impatient that no milk yet so I figured it would arrive this morning and it has. Hurrah! He's really easy and good at the moment and eats like a real pro! And no stitches means I feel so much more 'normal' than after Eve's birth. None of that tender feeling and pulling when you sit up straight. Lochia is really easing up, v pale now. Had a tiny blister on one nipple but it's gone. Afterpains ok, haven't had painkillers since day of birth. Feeling over the moon all round!!
PLUS we got home in time to watch the England match! Hurrah!