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Well it all started on Wednesday 16th June (5 days before my due date) when my waters broke in bed. At first I thought I was wetting myself! But then realised it was my waters just as Simon was about to say bye and go to work. I went to the bathroom and by the time I came out Simon had put all the bedding in the washing machine and new bedding on the bed – he was panicking and thought the baby was going to come now!! But we had a little wait. I told Simon he had just as well go to work so he left, but I suddenly started to feel a bit scared so rang him when he was half way there and he came home.
We then went to the clinic to see a midwife who confirmed it was my waters. Not wanting to sit and wait for things to start happening, Simon and I went to Topsham to visit my friend Mel who had had her baby Poppy a few days previously.
Thursday morning I started to get some very mild contractions and felt very relieved that I wouldn’t have to be induced. By Thursday afternoon I could no longer call them mild!! I was using my tens machine with the booster button. This was fab and I would recommend it to anyone.
I wanted to hang on as long as possible before calling the midwife as I didn’t want to be told I wasn’t very far gone. So at 8.30pm on Thursday when I could no longer have a ‘quiet’ contraction and they were lasting over a minute I called the midwife. She came to our house at about 9.30pm to see how I was coming along. She examined me and told me I was 3-4cm dilated and that we could choose to go in to hospital then or she would stay at home with us for a bit. I decided to go in then, so I gave my Mum a call as she was a birthing partner along with Simon.
I started off with my plan of being active in labour and walking around etc, but by the time 12.30am Friday came I was breathing away on the Entonox lying on my side not wanting to move. My contractions were so bad now I was kicking the end of the bed off with every one! My Mum tried to hold my feet and was screamed at by me to let go!
By 1.00am the rest of my birth plan went out the window. My Mum was doing a lovely job of massaging my back and Simon was holding my hands and giving me water after each contraction as the Entonox made me so thirsty, but I had had enough of the pain and was shouting for an Epidural. I was told the anaesthetist was on an emergency but I thought everyone was lying and told them so! Then I was telling everyone off for laughing at me and talking about me! And I am usually so placid…
After hearing that I couldn’t have an epidural at that moment I decided to have some Pethidine, something I was previously determined never to have! So at 2.00am I was given some Pethadine. I didn’t think it had worked but everyone else assures me it shut me up for a bit!
The anaesthetist then turned up at 2.20am, but as soon as he had started setting everything up for the epidural I felt a real urge to push and the head was visible. I was gutted I couldn’t have an epidural as it was too late!
When the head was out I looked at it and felt it which was amazing. Simon thought it was the whole baby, curled up like a hedgehog! At 2.59am Lottie Mae was born into the world and I can honestly say it was the most amazing moment ever. She was 7lb 10 oz and absolutely beautiful. Simon and I saw together that she was a girl which was a lovely surprise as I secretly wanted a girl! My Mum then went home and Simon and I were left alone for a wonderful hour to bond together as a family whilst Lottie fed.