I had originally planned to have a HB, but because Pip wasn't 37 weeks - we weren't able to. But we had the next best thing - an all-natural hospital birth in a nice birthing centre with only my Midwife and OH there. I had no medications/pain relief and apart from the MW breaking my water at the end - no interventions. I would have said no to the water breaking, but I got impatient! 
Earlier in the week I had a growth scan because I was measuring 5 weeks behind - they said all was well and Pip was actually 7.5lbs at 36 weeks. I did get the sense that things were happening though - there was a feeling I was getting that things were getting close to the end. Pip was very low, lots of pressure, and the BH had gone from tightenings only to pain as well. But still BH - it was just a bunch of little things that made me think hmmm.
On Saturday morning I started getting niggling BH with period pains at around 9am. I lay down for a bit to see it they changed, but they were still there so I took a shower and hung out for about an hour - the BH still stayed, so I started timing them. I timed them from 11:30-1:15 and they were every 3-4min and lasting 45seconds each. They stayed like this until the end - the contractions just lasted longer - about 90 seconds for every 3min. I didn't want to go in right away so I just walked around the house. Also I packed my bag finally! Talk about waiting until the last minute! They were getting more painful and OH was talking about going into work at this point, so I mentioned that I *might* be in labour and that I was going to call the MW. This was at 1pm. I called the MW and she was going to come check me but then looked over her notes (bun was born in 5h50min after contractions started) and she said she would meet us at the hospital in an hour. We had to get someone to watch Bun though, so FIL said he could get here at 2:15. I just walked and walked until he got here and we headed to hospital. At this point my mind was really drifting during contractions (they were impossible to talk through at this point) and I was starting to get the weird visualizations that I did with Bun while in labour.
I just kept remembering that a contraction is only 60seconds and then over - I can do 60 seconds! And I kept visualizing all the women everywhere in the world walking and labouring just as I was at that moment. Women thousands of years ago experiencing the same thing. And they did it just like I would. So I continued to walk through the contractions - even though the pain was radiating to the back and making my legs feel weak. I kept picturing Pip getting lower and was working to not panic and not tense up - just to let everything happen.
At 3pm they admitted me after the MW checked me and I was 5-6cm!
She was beyond surprised lol! We got to our room (lovely big tub and shower, dim lights, and lots of room for walking. I continued to walk even though I could only shuffle very slowly and my legs could hardly move during the contractions. The MW was rushing to get things ready and since Pip was still in her bag of water the MW offered to break it for me at 4pm once the backup MW got there - saying that I would have a baby very fast once that happened. I wasn't sure I wanted any interventions, but once the MW got there I looked right at me MW and said "Do It Now".
This was easily the most painful thing I ever experienced - once my water broke I had one long 3 min contraction where the water rushed out, and Pips head and body stretched everything and she was crowning. 2 Pushes later and her head was out, but her shoulders were stuck. The MW had to put her hands in and turn the baby manually to get the shoulders out and she was born. 11 minutes from the time my water was broken and 1hour, 19 minutes from when I was admitted. And even with the MW manually turning the baby, I didn't require stitches - just a few grazes! We got 2 lovely hours of skin on skin before I got up to shower (amazing!) and OH got his time with Pip.
She was born at 4:19pm on Saturday November 05, 2011 weighing 7lbs 4oz. She was 36+5 weeks old and is my sweet baby girl and so beautiful! She has been a dream since we got home and is BF well. She adores the wrap carrier and I have been carrying her around getting things done and playing with my son. Amazing!
The only problem is we don't have a name But we're getting there. Any suggestions welcome! 
Here she is - it's just a phone pic so a bit fuzzy, but I'll upload more later!
Thanks for reading if you got this far!
Earlier in the week I had a growth scan because I was measuring 5 weeks behind - they said all was well and Pip was actually 7.5lbs at 36 weeks. I did get the sense that things were happening though - there was a feeling I was getting that things were getting close to the end. Pip was very low, lots of pressure, and the BH had gone from tightenings only to pain as well. But still BH - it was just a bunch of little things that made me think hmmm.
On Saturday morning I started getting niggling BH with period pains at around 9am. I lay down for a bit to see it they changed, but they were still there so I took a shower and hung out for about an hour - the BH still stayed, so I started timing them. I timed them from 11:30-1:15 and they were every 3-4min and lasting 45seconds each. They stayed like this until the end - the contractions just lasted longer - about 90 seconds for every 3min. I didn't want to go in right away so I just walked around the house. Also I packed my bag finally! Talk about waiting until the last minute! They were getting more painful and OH was talking about going into work at this point, so I mentioned that I *might* be in labour and that I was going to call the MW. This was at 1pm. I called the MW and she was going to come check me but then looked over her notes (bun was born in 5h50min after contractions started) and she said she would meet us at the hospital in an hour. We had to get someone to watch Bun though, so FIL said he could get here at 2:15. I just walked and walked until he got here and we headed to hospital. At this point my mind was really drifting during contractions (they were impossible to talk through at this point) and I was starting to get the weird visualizations that I did with Bun while in labour.
I just kept remembering that a contraction is only 60seconds and then over - I can do 60 seconds! And I kept visualizing all the women everywhere in the world walking and labouring just as I was at that moment. Women thousands of years ago experiencing the same thing. And they did it just like I would. So I continued to walk through the contractions - even though the pain was radiating to the back and making my legs feel weak. I kept picturing Pip getting lower and was working to not panic and not tense up - just to let everything happen.
At 3pm they admitted me after the MW checked me and I was 5-6cm!
She was beyond surprised lol! We got to our room (lovely big tub and shower, dim lights, and lots of room for walking. I continued to walk even though I could only shuffle very slowly and my legs could hardly move during the contractions. The MW was rushing to get things ready and since Pip was still in her bag of water the MW offered to break it for me at 4pm once the backup MW got there - saying that I would have a baby very fast once that happened. I wasn't sure I wanted any interventions, but once the MW got there I looked right at me MW and said "Do It Now". This was easily the most painful thing I ever experienced - once my water broke I had one long 3 min contraction where the water rushed out, and Pips head and body stretched everything and she was crowning. 2 Pushes later and her head was out, but her shoulders were stuck. The MW had to put her hands in and turn the baby manually to get the shoulders out and she was born. 11 minutes from the time my water was broken and 1hour, 19 minutes from when I was admitted. And even with the MW manually turning the baby, I didn't require stitches - just a few grazes! We got 2 lovely hours of skin on skin before I got up to shower (amazing!) and OH got his time with Pip.
She was born at 4:19pm on Saturday November 05, 2011 weighing 7lbs 4oz. She was 36+5 weeks old and is my sweet baby girl and so beautiful! She has been a dream since we got home and is BF well. She adores the wrap carrier and I have been carrying her around getting things done and playing with my son. Amazing!
The only problem is we don't have a name
But we're getting there. Any suggestions welcome! Here she is - it's just a phone pic so a bit fuzzy, but I'll upload more later!
Thanks for reading if you got this far!
I hope you find the perfect name for her soon.
) Wow. Totally awesome stuff hun!
xxx
I'm sure you'll find the perfect one for her though!
