I have finally found five minutes to write up Lily's birth story....
On Wednesday 24th Nov (@ 38+1) I was booked in for a sweep as I was measuring big. The consultant started the sweep at 11am but stopped as he said I was already 4cm dilated and thought he may end up breaking my waters.
I went home feeling fine, had a few odd contractions, but nothing too exciting. Then they stopped. At about 5pm they started again... nothing too painful, but were coming 5 mins apart. Put Aimee to bed at 7pm and called the hospital, who said to get checked out.
We got to the hospital at 8pm and they checked me and said I was now 7cm dilated - woop!
Pains started getting stronger, but with gas and air I felt ok and could get through them ok. They said that baby would be here before midnight.
I got in the birthing pool at 10.30pm (I had only progressed to 8cm) which made me feel worse so asked to get out and asked for an epidural. I was told there were two people before me and I wouldnt get it in time, but I insisted on being put on the list anyway.
In the meantime they gave me some Meptid to help with the pain. I felt ok with the Meptid and could still get through it.
At 1.30am baby was still not here and they came to do the epidural. After they had done this, the midwife checked me again and I was STILL 8cm! She said that I had made the right choice as the baby was back to back and we had to wait for her to turn. She broke my waters and we waited.
At 4 am I felt a little bit of pressure in my bottom, but was too comfy to tell anybody, so just chilled out a bit longer. At 4.15 I thought I had better mention it.
The midwife took a look and said that baby was ready to come out and to push when I was ready. I did about 3 pushes and Lily was born.
I was so terrified of giving birth after the horrific experience with Aimee, but this couldnt have been more different, even though she was back to back for a while and it dragged out.
So... Lily Kate was born, weighing 8lb 0.5oz at 4.20am on Thursday 25th November and is a little angel.
x