hi all, its been a while since iv been on here, just dont seem to find the time since poppy was born! where have the last 11 weeks gone???

anyway, i didnt really write about my birth story on here, so i thought it was about time!

poppy was due december 8th, but with no sign of her comin, i went to bed at about 11pm, i woke at 5.45 havin contractions, they were comin every 10 mins so i called labour ward, who said as it was my first, i should go in when they were every 5 mins! we got to the hospital at about 8am, and i was already 8cm dilated, as soon as i arrived, my waters broke! contractions were comin thick and fast by this point! i wanted an epidural but was told there was no time! at about half 9 i needed to push and 15 minutes and 3 pushes later poppy entered the world! no tear, no pain relief no stitches! couldnt quite believe it myself! thought this was brilliant goin for my first!

anyway, i put this brilliant experience down to 2 things, the first being that i did exactly as the midwife said, i didnt fight it, i just went with it! i stayed standing for as long as possible to try and let gravity do the work (id read everywhere that this helps!)

secondly, from when i was 32 week, i took raspberry leaf tea! starting with 1 cup a day and gradually building up to 4 cups a day! my OH is very sceptical about this but really girls... surely anything is worth a shot? i was petrified about going into labour as i dont handle pain very well! but even if u are as sceptical as my OH, is it not worth a try? id have done anythin to avoid a lengthy labour, and i swear to god this is what helped me!

sorry for rambling, but i just wanted to share this experience with u all,

dont take raspberry leaf tea until youre atleast 32 weeks though!

hope your all well, laura andd 11week old poppy! XXX

What a nice birth you had!!! Poppy is such a cute name too! Ill deffo be drinking the tea! Where did you buy it from?

kate 27 weeks today!

x

i took raspbery leaf tea from 36wk i loved it mine u didnt give me a short labour 26hr lol
but i didnt tear, i only had 1 internal tear was only because amber had hand on her ear.
as for the birthing ball, was a godsend, i loved mine was always on it, helped loads her her in position and her drop into my pelvis, helped in early labour, but i couldnt bare sit on it when contractions were on top of each other

leighannex2 & amber
almost 8weeks

its been a while since you have been on!
i also took raspberry leaf tea from 32wks. i had my little girl at 38wks and it was a quick labour (but not as quick as yours!!) i also didnt tear but i did have a epidural.

congrats again, cant believe poppys 11wks!
take care
Stacey & 8wk 5day old Olivia
x x x

Thanks Laura for posting such a nice birth story! I love reading over them, yours is especially good with the tips...am taking notes on all the delivery/labour tips that the new mums recommend...the raspberry leaf tea goes to the top of the list!lol

Welcome baby Poppy...I do love that name! You did really well with no pain relief Laura. Now you have your perfect little girl, enjoy!

tc Sharon 13+1 xxx

..to hear a birth story like this. It sounds a dream birth. I'm scared too and think I don't handle pain very well so will be on the rasberry leaf tea from 32 weeks for sure.
Congratulations and all the best,
Cherry x

Sounds absolutely perfect! I'm definitely going to give the raspberry leaf tea a shot, at the worst it can't do any harm.
All the best to you and Poppy xxx

Really pleased for you and Poppy, glad the birth went so well, sounds brilliant, I've been on the tea for a few weeks now, I'm optimistic that it may work for me!

Take Care.

Rachael(37+4)
XxxX

lets hope it's like that for us all!! Congratulations to you both. Writing this with a big pot of raspberry tea in front of me.. Here's hoping!

Caroline (38+2)
xx