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I'd been having bad braxton hicks and period type pains for a few days but nothing regular. On my due date I woke up and had a show (probably TMI, but it was clear, thick jelly like stuff.) On Sunday (3 days after my due date) I woke up at 6.30 am with contractions, lasting about 30 seconds but they were 20 mins apart to start with. They were causing lots of pain in my back I had a bath, called my friend who told me to go for a walk to keep them coming. Woke DH up, who looked a bit shocked when I mentioned the word contractions!!! Contractions keep coming throughout the morning, lasting 30 secs to 1 1/2 mins 6- 20 mins apart but really painful.
Phoned the hospital at 4pm saying contractions 6 mins apart, but really painful. They didn't think I was in labour yet, but they asked if the baby was moving as normal and I said I hadn't felt it much, so I had to go in to be checked over.
The contractions immediately got closer together, I arrived at hospital at 4.30, they put me on the CTG then examined me and I was 5cm, waters were bulging, but not broken yet. We talked about my birth plan and the birthing pool was free if I wanted it. I was sent for a walk round the hospital, but told that if my waters went I had to come STRAIGHT back in case the cord slipped out before the baby even though it was head down etc.
I didn't get very far before I threw up, but managed to ask someone to get a bowl from the nearest ward first. I had loads of porters and nurses passing me in the corridor asking if I was OK and suggesting I went back to delivery suite quickly and offering to take me in a wheelchair!!!
Got back, had a bath, which honestly didn't help. The contractions were still hurting my back most and all I wanted was DH to rub it. The midwife came in to check on us and I asked for gas & air. Tried that for a while, was helping a bit, but not much. Was asked if I wanted the birthing pool run and I said no as the bath wasn't helping and I wanted stronger pain relief anyway. Got out of the bath and had pethidine and an anti-emetic at around 6pm. I don't remember a lot of what happened next, was put back on the monitor for a bit, but baby was fine, contractions coming closer together. Next time I was examined I was 8cm. My waters had broken before then (lots of water) but apparently there was 'some' that hadn't gone, so they broke those. Midwives changed shifts at 9 or 9.30, I started pushing around then, but they took my gas and air away!!!! I had an episiostomy as the head wasn't coming quick enough which had to be made bigger when his head got stuck 1/2 way out!!! His head was delivered at 22.14 and his body with the next contraction.
I can't remember the placenta being delivered, but I had the injection and I did look at it!!! I vomited again after birth, I had 5 stitches while DH went out and phoned everyone, both Mum's arrived soon afterwards. Joseph had his 1st bath while I had tea and toast.
So 1st contraction to delivery was 18 hours. Pushing bit was probably about 45 mins but didn't feel that long. The contractions were more painful (especially in my back) than I expected, the pushing bit hurt like I thought it would but it was all worth it!!! By the way, the baby wasn't back to back like the midwives thought he was.
As they was a paediatrician around to check the baby then, the midwife would have let me home after a couple of hours but I said I'd stay till after the paediatrician's round at 9am and have Joseph checked then. Turned out she didn't come round till 3pm due to emergencies and we went home at 4pm.
Tips / advice for future mum's Show DH/birth partner where everything is in your hospital bag, it took DH ages to find anything in mine!!! I had packed a wallet so DH had money for car park, phone, snacks etc which was good. What did I actually use from my bag- Straws, cheap nightie to give birth in which I've now washed and is fine!!! wash bag with mini- toiletries in. DH had his own bag with crisps, sweets, drink and a book in. I think he had time to get a drink out, but that was it!!! Had my own maternity pads, but used the hospital ones while on delivery suite (but not the post natal ward). I had packed a set of baby clothes and nappy in a clear plastic bag that was easy to find.