Well, ladies, my beautiful baby girl arrived on 19th December, after a surprisingly easy labour- at least easy compared to my last one 
A little history- DD1 arrived 22 months ago after an agonising 32 hours of back labour, it took 18 hours of contractions every 5 mins or less to get to 6 cm. Contractions were then continuous, rising and falling but no break between them and, after 40 hours of no sleep, I reluctantly had an epidural. I got to 9 cm but then had to have an EMCS. It turns out she was back to back, head up and had her hand by her face so would not have come out on her own. Unfortunately after they got her out and Id had a quick cuddle, my uterus collapsed, I had a big bleed (4 litres) and I had to have a transfusion and a balloon in to hold my uterus up. Then we had a 5 day hospital stay while I recovered. All in all, pretty traumatic!
Anyway I was determined to have a VBAC this time around but had an ELCS booked for 40+6, just in case I changed my mind. The consultant said they would have blood sent to theatre when I was in labour and I would have a canula fitted- just in case the same thing happened again.
At 8pm on 19th Dec, at 40+4, I had my first contraction. My OH had been working 3 hrs away for the previous few weeks and was due back at 8.30pm, intending to work from home then until January. I had my second contraction at 8.15 and third at 8.30, two mins before he walked in. Couldnt have timed it any better!! By 9pm they were 5 mins apart and I was a bit in denial that things were moving so quick, so went and had a shower thinking that might slow them down. Well, it didnt, so phoned the hospital, nervous that they would want me to come straight in for monitoring but they told me to come in when they were 2-3 mins apart. By 9.45 they were 3 ½ mins apart and I began to accept it was truly real! Phoned Mum to come and stay with DD1 and went and had a soak in the bath to ease the pain while we waited for Mum and OH loaded the bags in the car. By the time I got out about 10.15pm they were 2 ½ mins apart and I was ready to go to hospital for gas and air! The next 45 mins were very strange; I was trying to get dressed, with Mums help, when my waters went. Every time I had a contraction more water gushed out and I was hopping round trying to get trousers on without getting them all wet! Then I wanted to kiss DD1 and had to hang over her bed in the midst of a contraction, then had to get downstairs between contractions and get my shoes on and up our outdoor steps to the car. Everyone was trying to hurry me as they were only 1 ½ - 2 mins apart but I was hobbling like an old woman and hanging on to my tens machine like mad.
Finally got to the hospital just before midnight with contractions every 1- 1 ½ mins, OH insisted on parking properly and not just stopping at the entrance (which you are allowed to do BTW!) so I shuffled, hunched over, across the car park with random strangers shouting encouraging comments at me. Went straight to Triage and was told I was 7 cm
and had to get over to Delivery quick smart. By the time I got settled on Delivery at 12.30am, and was given my much wanted Gas & Air, I was 8 cm and beginning to believe Id get my VBAC. I was put on a monitor but was able to move around the bed and try different positions. By 3am I was fully dilated and ready to push. The pressure in my bottom was incredibly intense but I was fighting it at first and the midwife kept telling me to relax, it probably took half an hour to get relaxed enough to start pushing. Pushing was hard but felt good at the same time! I pushed for an hour before the midwife said she could see the head, I was concerned about the ring of fire but actually dont really recall it feeling too bad. A few pushes later and Evelyn Elizabeth was born at 4.31am at 4.092kg/9lb.
Unfortunately I struggled to birth the placenta, it came out in three pieces and, despite them thinking they had it all, I started bleeding 90 mins later and went into shock. I was rushed to theatre to remove the remains and whilst there my uterus collapsed (as it did with DD1!) and I lost a lot more blood. Luckily they were prepared for this so I was given a transfusion and had a balloon inserted again. Recovery was good though and I was home two days later.
Im thrilled I got my VBAC
and want to stress to anyone that had a tough first labour that your second can be very different! My LO is gorgeous, shes feeding well, sleeping fairly well(!) and DD1 is mad about her, as we all are. Im a very happy mummy with two beautiful girls 
A little history- DD1 arrived 22 months ago after an agonising 32 hours of back labour, it took 18 hours of contractions every 5 mins or less to get to 6 cm. Contractions were then continuous, rising and falling but no break between them and, after 40 hours of no sleep, I reluctantly had an epidural. I got to 9 cm but then had to have an EMCS. It turns out she was back to back, head up and had her hand by her face so would not have come out on her own. Unfortunately after they got her out and Id had a quick cuddle, my uterus collapsed, I had a big bleed (4 litres) and I had to have a transfusion and a balloon in to hold my uterus up. Then we had a 5 day hospital stay while I recovered. All in all, pretty traumatic!
Anyway I was determined to have a VBAC this time around but had an ELCS booked for 40+6, just in case I changed my mind. The consultant said they would have blood sent to theatre when I was in labour and I would have a canula fitted- just in case the same thing happened again.
At 8pm on 19th Dec, at 40+4, I had my first contraction. My OH had been working 3 hrs away for the previous few weeks and was due back at 8.30pm, intending to work from home then until January. I had my second contraction at 8.15 and third at 8.30, two mins before he walked in. Couldnt have timed it any better!! By 9pm they were 5 mins apart and I was a bit in denial that things were moving so quick, so went and had a shower thinking that might slow them down. Well, it didnt, so phoned the hospital, nervous that they would want me to come straight in for monitoring but they told me to come in when they were 2-3 mins apart. By 9.45 they were 3 ½ mins apart and I began to accept it was truly real! Phoned Mum to come and stay with DD1 and went and had a soak in the bath to ease the pain while we waited for Mum and OH loaded the bags in the car. By the time I got out about 10.15pm they were 2 ½ mins apart and I was ready to go to hospital for gas and air! The next 45 mins were very strange; I was trying to get dressed, with Mums help, when my waters went. Every time I had a contraction more water gushed out and I was hopping round trying to get trousers on without getting them all wet! Then I wanted to kiss DD1 and had to hang over her bed in the midst of a contraction, then had to get downstairs between contractions and get my shoes on and up our outdoor steps to the car. Everyone was trying to hurry me as they were only 1 ½ - 2 mins apart but I was hobbling like an old woman and hanging on to my tens machine like mad.
Finally got to the hospital just before midnight with contractions every 1- 1 ½ mins, OH insisted on parking properly and not just stopping at the entrance (which you are allowed to do BTW!) so I shuffled, hunched over, across the car park with random strangers shouting encouraging comments at me. Went straight to Triage and was told I was 7 cm
and had to get over to Delivery quick smart. By the time I got settled on Delivery at 12.30am, and was given my much wanted Gas & Air, I was 8 cm and beginning to believe Id get my VBAC. I was put on a monitor but was able to move around the bed and try different positions. By 3am I was fully dilated and ready to push. The pressure in my bottom was incredibly intense but I was fighting it at first and the midwife kept telling me to relax, it probably took half an hour to get relaxed enough to start pushing. Pushing was hard but felt good at the same time! I pushed for an hour before the midwife said she could see the head, I was concerned about the ring of fire but actually dont really recall it feeling too bad. A few pushes later and Evelyn Elizabeth was born at 4.31am at 4.092kg/9lb.Unfortunately I struggled to birth the placenta, it came out in three pieces and, despite them thinking they had it all, I started bleeding 90 mins later and went into shock. I was rushed to theatre to remove the remains and whilst there my uterus collapsed (as it did with DD1!) and I lost a lot more blood. Luckily they were prepared for this so I was given a transfusion and had a balloon inserted again. Recovery was good though and I was home two days later.
Im thrilled I got my VBAC
and want to stress to anyone that had a tough first labour that your second can be very different! My LO is gorgeous, shes feeding well, sleeping fairly well(!) and DD1 is mad about her, as we all are. Im a very happy mummy with two beautiful girls 
