I was due originally on the 14th of Feb but nothing happened until Monday the 18th. That morning i lost my plug but did not get too excited as i knew that this can happen days even a weeks or so before you go into labour. I was due to go to hospital that afternoon to be observed again anyway so asked for an internal to see how things were going. The midwife said that i was completely effaced but not really dialated at all. She gave me a sweep and sent me home.

An hour late my waters broke - to think that i had wondered if i had been losing them slowly previously!! My gosh - without meaning to give tmi it was completely unmistakeable - like the flood gates opening. The most embarrassing thing about it was that we had electricians round our house at the time so it was like an action movie with me and the multiple towels trying to hold me together making it to the bathroom without being observed!

I then had to go back to the hospital to be obsereved again and after being given the all clear was sent home to wait for things to happen. Had dinner and went straight to bed. Was woken up at 11:30 with the start of my contractions and stayed at home until 3:30 when the lady i had helping me - a doula like figure i guess you could say, thought i should go to hospital. My contractions were still 6 mins apart but about 1 and half to 2 mins long. When at the hospital you could the midwife was very skeptical about how far along i was etc but she kept me in and examined me about and hour or two later and i was 7cm. She was almost apologetic because she had doubted me before but was now glad that she had kept me in.

The end bit was the worst. For starters althought the baby was head down the body was sideways so there were problems with her dropping down properly. By the time i was ready to start pushing at about 8:30am tues morn they realised there was more problems. Despite my apparently excellent pushes, the baby kept coming down then seemingly falling back in. After nearly an hour of pushing they were getting really concerned as the babys heart rate had fallen to 40bpm and so instead of controlling the last bit they wanted me to just push her out no matter what. They thought the cord was round her neck and so were preping all the emergency procedures. But after another couple of extremely painful pushes little Amelie Sophia Joy was born at 9.39, not with a cord around her neck but her hands by her ears (hence the pushing herself back in).

She was 7lb 11 and is absolutely perfect if i say so myself. My labour (my first) was 10 hours and I am chuffed to say without any pain relief. I will try and add some pics as soon as possible. Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped me through my pregnancy and given me such good advice on all my pregnancy queries!

Sorry for the long post! Hope the rest of you are all keeping well

with love
Holly and 5 day old Amelie

And lovely name xxx

well done you!! sounds like you had a fairly good experience. it has been really nice to read on here about the positive experiences we have been having - and several of us seem to have managed without pain relief lately, which is good to know.

hope little amelie is doing well.

love to all mums, bumps and babies
kelly and 13 day old oliver
xx

""

congratulations hun, Lovely name Amelie Sophia Joy.
Take care hun.
Lis 28wks

glad evrything went ok for you, enjoy your little girl

congratz again

emma

on the birth of little Amelie. Such a lovely name. Glad you had such a positive experience.

Well done and take care

Sarah 18+4

xx

"Awwww "

Congratulations Holly and welcome baby Amelie! Thank you for posting your birth story, I just love reading over them, the longer the better! You did really well not having any pain relief, well done Holly! Now you have your perfect little girl to hold... enjoy!

tc Sharon 12+6 xxx

Aww hunni that had me in tears,im sooo happy for you and im glad that Amelie is well, it sounds like you handled it perfectly, well done you

wishing you and your family all the very best and much happiness

Love always
Leitia & Harry(13 days old)
XxxxxX

And amazing doing it without pain relief when the positioning wasn't good! Do you have any tips?

xxx

I was switching between my side, my back and all fours in order to encourage her to move. Awkward but it worked

Best of luck!!
Holly

sounds like you did a brilliant job, and with her hands by her ears...extra ouch! Lovely name too

Anne-Marie 37+6

xxxxxxx

glad that everything was okay, I agree with Anne-Marie, lovely name you've chosen for her.

take care.

Rachael (37+2)

XxxxX