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On Bank Holiday Monday, I had quite a lot of what I thought were more Braxton Hicks. Not too painful, but enough to have to breathe through. Then Tuesday nothing much. I wandered around the shops in Watford getting last minute bits and pieces. No pains at all during the night on Tuesday, but I did have a show on Tuesday evening, so I knew things could be hotting up or it could still be 2 or so weeks away!
I got up on Wednesday morning (5th) and had 2 more shows and had some fluid leaking, though I wasn't sure if it was my waters as it was quite jelly-like (sorry if this is too graphic ). Anyway, due to the GBS, I decided to check with the midwife and she advised me to go in to be checked. Phoned my mum to say things might be happening - just as well I did as she was due to go on a day trip with her work to Ramsgate. I told her we'd call her from the hospital as soon as we knew more.
I ran around getting stuff together and getting alex ready for nursery, whilst I was waiting for DH to get home from the gym - he'd left his mobile at home, so I couldn't contact him.
We arrived at hospital at about 8.15am and went to the Maternity Day Unit to be checked. Eventually got put on a monitor which showed I was contracting fairly regularly - I was using deep breathing at this point. I was then examined at about 9.30am and nearly fell off the bed when told I was 4-5cm. I had felt the pains on Monday had been stronger than the ones I was having now.
DH went to phone my mum to get her to come over (she was to be my other birth partner and he went home to get some things we had left behind (2 minute drive in the car). What I didn't know until later was that the car park was so full, DH decide to walk home so he wouldn't lose his space! so he took about 30 minutes. I had to have IV antibiotics during labour because of the GBS, so a doctor arrived to put a venflon in my hand. They put the drip up but for unknown reasons the ABs weren't going into my vein, but collecting in a puddle under my skin so the doctor was called back to re-site it in the other hand.
By this time I decided to use the TENS which proved to be really effective for me this time. I was standing up and leaning onto a pile of cushions on the bed during each contraction and using pelvic rocking and walking around to to ease the pains.
Around 10.30 my waters broke with a gush - cue me laughing, standing in a puddle with soaking wet trousers, but it was at this point that the contractions really started to hurt and come more frequently, so I began to use gas and air.
We were still in the day unit as there was no delivery room free. At 11am, I was transferred to the deliver suite by a lovely healthcare assistant, who hurtled down the corridor at full pelt with me in a wheelchair, going round corners on 2 wheels, to try to get me to the room before the next contraction.
I remember my DH saying to the midwife "If Michelle wants pethidine or an epidural will there still be time" and she said "yes". My mum finally arrived at about 11.10am and the contractions were coming virtually one on top of each other. I used a birthng ball for support at this point which was also really good. Then about 10 minutes later he said to her "The contractions seem to be coming very fast" and she said "yes they do, don't they?". She decided she wanted to monitor the baby and examine me, so I had to get up on the bed, which I really didn't want to do. Anyway as soon as I got onto the bed, the midwife said " Ooh I can see the head". I couldn't believe it. I felt his head crowning which was amazing.
Then she coached me through the "push now, pant now" stage and 4 minutes later Daniel's head was born, closely followed by the rest of him. I had a slight tear which didn't need stitches.
The whole experience was so so different from Alex's birth (delayed second stage, ventouse, episiotomy and 2nd degree tear) and really was a text book labour.
So all you 2nd timers - IMHO it is definitely much easier the second time.
We were discharged the following day after checks to ensure Daniel didn't have any signs of the GBS and he is doing well.
The worst part for me was the week following the birth as I had the most enormous piles which meant I literally couldn't sit down for a week. I had to have 48 hours bed rest and ice packs to bring down the swelling - not much fun.
Alex is slowly getting used to his new brother and has only managed to headbut him once so far!