Well - what a day I've had. I was convinced that this baby was going to put in an appearance next weekend - but she chose to come early. (Well 41wks officially - but I think she wasn't due until tomorrow) So - this morning I woke at 5 feeling restless and got up to have a bath and a wander. DH was supposed to be working in Newcastle and leaving at 7. Basically just had achey thighs and was feeling restless. DH ran me a bath - nice... - and then started to get ready for work. I wasn't sure at this point if it was just aches and pains or the real thing. Martin (DH) asked me to make a decision so I asked him to stay at home - still not convinced that this was it.

I went back to bed for a doze and continued having aches in my thighs - by 8 I decided to get up and start timing things. They were coming every 5 minutes and regular. At 8.30 I called the on call number and specifically asked for my local MW - rather than the on-call MW (as she was due to come see me early this week anyway - and I knew she wanted to be here for this baby!) Liz called me back fairly quickly - mid-contraction (dh had taken the boys to a friend's house and school) - and decided to come and see me fairly soon. She arrived at just after 9 with one of the student MWs - which I was happy about as I had met her a number of times. Checks were done and I was finally convinced that I was in labour.

I was having to concentrate on the contractions by now which were coming thick and fast. To begin with I was sat on the birth ball but found this restrictive - so moved to kneeling in front of the ball which allowed me to move my hips more and I got a much bigger sense of opening up and kept visualising this during contractions. After a while they seemed to be slowing down a little and I was losing energy but food/drink did not sound appealing. I started to walk round the house which picked them up really quickly.

By this point the pool was just about full and Liz was eager for me to get in after a VE - not my idea of heaven but I agreed (I was curious) and was 5cm dilated. Not sure exactly what time I got in the pool some time after 10.30 I think, maybe nearer to 11.00. Contractions immediately picked up and every contraction from then had a pushing element to it.

Poor Martin had had to go and get Ruaridh at this point - ah - so it was 10.45 by now. The second midwife (well third) arrived after I had had a couple of big contractions. The next contraction was a whopper - and didn't stop until the baby's head was out!! Wow!! Talk about fast - the body followed soon after and I was recorded as having a 2 minute second stage - woweee.

Orla was born in the water and as I had just turned to hold her Martin and Ruaridh arrived back and I yelled them in (Martin thinking I still had ages to go!!).

I cuddled my little bundle in the pool for about 15 minutes which was lovely and finally asked for the cord to be cut as I was starting to get a little shaky. I took some pulsatilla to help the placenta along and it fell out with a big splat after about 20 mins with me stood at the side of the pool. All looking good.

I got my bundle back and settled in for a cuddle. A little later I felt a couple of big gushes so we consulted the homeopathic guide and I took some Caullopyllum (sp?) as I was also getting very shaky. We were a little concerned about a possible PPH - but thank goodness the bleeding seemed to subside - I've had a couple of gushes since and have almost run out of PJ bottoms! But all is well.

I think I am in shock still with a 3hr 03min 1st stage, 2 minute second stage and 20 minute 3rd stage - that's going some for me!!