I had natural water births with both of my children.
With my first my waters broke in bed at 2am on my due date, my contractions started straight away and she was born at 2.38pm.
With my second I was 17 days overdue! Though closer to two weeks by my dates.
I had been woken with intense contractions, that continued for several hours, in the early hours of the two morning before the real thing.
So when it happened again on the third morning I decided to stay in bed and was actually able to fall half asleep in between contractions.
I think it was about 3am when I got out of bed as I couldn't get comfortable in between contractions any more.
At about 5.15am I texted my mum to see if she was awake, I still didn't really think it was proper labour, the contractions were intense but nowhere near as bad as they were with my first when we knew things were really getting going.
I had planned a home birth and had got the birthing pool ready a couple of days before when I thought I was in labour, so I topped it up with hot water. I still didn't think I was close so didn't think there was any point in calling the midwife, I just wanted to be left alone for as long as possible after being lectured and patronised for two weeks.
I was tired and achy so decided to get in the pool, expecting it to slow things down but provide a bit of relief.
It was lovely and relaxing.
My contractions stopped for five or 10 minutes, then started up again in full force.
After a short while in the pool the intensity changed and I knew she was coming soon. It was a really funny ordeal that followed, my mum struggled to call the midwife at first as she dialled incorrectly, and every time she left to call I would have another contractions and so scream for her to pour hot water on my back. She then dropped her mobile phone in the pool! She managed to get through to them just as the baby was crowning, she then dropped the home phone in the pool!
It was brilliant, and I know I was so lucky that everything turned out ok, but it was the perfect birth after the last two weeks of my pregnancy had been so stressful.
An ambulance arrived about 20 minutes after she was born and then the midwife a while after that. The paramedic rudely told me I "might have to go in", I calmly told him I didn't "have" to do anything, and said "yes" when he asked if I'd prefer they wait outside.
Sorry for the essay! It's nice to reminisce.