I was 9 days late and almost on the verge of having to give up my wish for a home birth. But somehow I just knew she would come today! My mother in law was flying down today. Original plans were that she’d come down a week after the birth but seeing as I was very overdue things weren’t going to plan! But I had a feeling today would be the day and I had felt it for a while. I just knew my baby was hanging on until Nanny arrived, and I’m so sure that my husbands late sister was having a big influence on when my baby was going to be born!
After three days of false starts things finally started happening. I got up as usual to take the children to school, and i had such a sharp pain in my stomach in the car I couldn’t take my daughter into school. So off she went, in by herself, while I went home. Still convinced it was another false alarm!
I called mum and she decided to come to my house as Mark, my husband was at work, 30 miles away. He wasnt going to return home just yet as we wanted to be sure this was for real this time. I was keeping busy doing the chores, and my Avon order had arrived that morning to I had boxes of orders to sort out. Every contraction I would get up and heavily pace around the room to try and get things moving in the right direction. Around 2pm I was getting contractions around every 7 minutes so decided I’d better call a friend to do the school run. I busied myself in the kitchen as I had 9 people to cook for that evening. My parents, as mum was here with me for the birth, and my mother in law was on her way from 230 miles away!
I called Mark to keep him updated, and although he thought there was no urgency to return home yet, his colleagues thought otherwise and could not understand why he was still there! Anyway around 3pm he decided to come home.
The midwife came out at 4pm and upon examination said I was about 3 cms. She was going to return home as by my previous experiences I take along time to dilate, but she did say she lived half an hour away so not to leave it too late.
Around 5pm Mark suddenly announces he’s popping to B & Q for a new toilet seat as ours had broke and he couldn’t let the midwives see the state of that! My contractions were 6 minutes apart!
I was still up and about at 7pm, dishing up the casserole, whilst breathing through 6 minute apart contractions! Its never taken me so long to dish up tea. Dumplings, stop and breathe, potatoes, stop and breathe, meat and veg, stop and breathe. I was flopped over the cooker, whilst mum rubbed my back. Can you tell i'm on baby number four and not one!
We sat down for tea and I had 3 contractions whilst eating. My mother in law said she'd never seen anyone eat a hot stew so fast before, but I was hungry and knew before long i'd be at the point where I couldn’t eat. Mark thought he'd better call the midwife as I was looking in a lot of pain, but I was saying 'no, it'll all stop in a mo, you know what its like' But then I remembered she had a half hour drive to get here, so thought it best if he did call. I was starting to need some Gas and Air now! I kept feeling like I needed a poo, so I knew the baby had moved down loads, but as much as I tried to go to the toilet I couldnt. Ryan, my eldest son went out for fresh air and informed me the neighbour was out in the street with her phone informing everyone I was in labour as the midwives car pulled up. She told Ryan to turn his light on and off when the baby was born so she'd know!
The midwife got here just before 8pm, and immediately called the second midwife in. I was flopped over the birthing ball, but the babys heartrate kept rising so I got on my side and it settled again. But boy did the pain kick in then.
I was feeling like I could push, but I had no idea how dilated I was. The midwife said if I feel I can push then do, as visibly she could see I was ready. She wasn’t going to examine me!
The contractions by now were getting very painful, and at this point I started mooing (as you do) The children were in the next room with the 2 grandmothers and the next minute they were all laughing their heads off as Jacob was copying me.
Ryan, age 12, by now, was hovering by the doorway so Mark invited him in to join me on the bed. All along he had made it clear he’d like to watch the birth. Anyway, another painful contraction, and I felt my waters burst. The rest of family now came in. My mum was stood there holding Jacob, age 2, and Natalie, age 9 was in the doorway with my mother in law. The next contraction I started to push, and I thought to myself i've gotta get it out with this one, i've had enough now. So I pushed hard, until I felt the head come out. The body slipped out easy.
From waters breaking it was 5 minutes until birth, 7 for placenta!
It was great. I was so glad the children got to watch, and so were they! Ryan was infront of me on the bed, Mark beside me, Mum and Jacob behind me, and my mother in law and Natalie were in the doorway. Dog, god knows where he was, and my bloody neighbour was probably there somewhere! Jacob was mesmerised, mum said, but as soon as the body came out he just went to sleep on her shoulder. The other 2 were made up to witness it all.
Lauren Janet born 9.36pm weighing 9lbs.
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