Birth Story

Thought I had better do this before I forget.
Friday 19th of Nov I was getting v fed up, as 14 days over. at the hospital, an internal suggested nothing much happening [and I had had 2 stretch and sweeps before]. The scan shew that my baby was about 9lb weight, a good healthy heartbeat, and plenty of water. however, baby lying back toback [OP]. Although the consultant was quite happy for me to have a homebirth still, the midwife was v against it. Bearing in mind ELinor was also OP, only 8lb 1, and I had a 4.5 hour second stage, I decided to get it done with, be induced, and have an ultra early discharge.
When I went in that evening, I was having some contractions [but what was new, as I'd had them on and off for 3 weeks], and I was about 2 cm. She wasn’t sure whether to still give me the prostin, or wait till the morning to break my waters, when she asked me what I wanted, I went for the prostin. Like with Elinor, I started contracting pretty much straight away. It was about 8 o clock, but they were a bit erratic. I told chris to go home, have something to eat, and i would prob be in good enough labour for him to come back in at 11 ish.
By 10 o clock, I thought it was about time for a pain killer, as contracting every 3 mins, good and strong. the midwife examined me – 3cm, and gave me some co-codamol. An hour later though, I was contracting almost without a break, and v strong, so I said that I felt things were moving on. Looking at me she agreed, and rang labour ward. I texted chris to say things were thick and fast, time to think about coming in.
I had to walk down the steps to labour ward as the lift was still out of order – that is an acheivement when contracting non-stop! Esther [the midwife from the ward] stayed with me, and snuck me into the home from home unit. She knew I had wanted a home birth, so said she would fill the pool for me, even though not really supposed to for inductions. I guess being a consultant has some perks! A CTG shew a very happy heartbeat, and I was 5 cm. those pools take for ever to run. By 11.40 – with still no Chris, I started feeling that I was losing it. the contractions were non stop, the pains had shifted, so I thought the baby had prob turned to OA position, and I felt I needed ‘something’ Luckilly bath nearly ready, so jumped in. What a relief! Chris arrived soon after and almost immediately I wanted to push. This came as rather a shock, as although looking back I was almost certainly in transition when I got that losing it feeling, It had only been just over 30 mins ago I was 5cm. I knelt up in the bath, my waters went, and I felt the need to push despertely. Unfortunately there was meconium in the liquor, so the midwives had to persuade me to get out of the pool. I was all in a dither, and it took about another 10 mns for me to work out how to do that. Once out I pushed twice in a semi-kneeling position, supporting myself on the pool edge, and Alys was born. She was born at 00.22 20/11/04. Cried straight away, and weighed 9lb 1 oz. I did need stitches as had a second degree tear, but they were done under local with no probs.
She fed easily, and chris eventually went home at about 4am. He came back at 9 to take me home. All in all, I was really pleased with my birth. It would have been nice to be at home, but the midwives were lovely and supportive, and I did at least get a birth of my dreams, if not the location!