7.15pm I was talking in a chat room when my waters broke. I was quite looking forward to the experience but suddenly found myself shaking like a leaf experiencing every emotion from joy to fear.
9.15pm I arrived at the hospital and got changed into my nightie. I had to give a urine sample to confirm my waters had broken. The baby's heartbeat was monitored and all was fine. I was beginning to get a few tightenings and some back pain. I was 1cm dilated and 50% effaced.
11.30pm Midwife confirmed my hind waters had gone and my contractions became more painful and regular. The TENS machine was placed on my back and I was given painkillers and some elixiir to knock me out, which did not work in the slightest. I hardly slept all night and my contractions were anything from 5 to 15 minutes apart.
MONDAY 27th SEPTEMBER 1999
5.30am Midwife brought me tea and toast
8am Midwife brought me more tea and toast.
8.30am Went for a walk around the hospital grounds. I found it much easier to cope with the pain of the contractions this way and I hoped (in vein) that being mobile would speed things up.
12pm Lunch - sausage and mash, apple pie and custard.
1pm We were monitored again and I was examined only to find I was still only 50% effaced and 1cm diameter dilated. I couldn't believe I had made no progress whatsoever.
The contractions were back to 5 minutes apart and very painful and I found having my back rubbed was very helpful but I went for another walk around the grounds and collected some conkers. I came back and went for a bath which I did not like at all so I went to bed to try to rest and luckily the contractions eased off again.
5pm Dinner (Tea) - Quiche and Jacket potato. As I sat up to eat, the pain hit me severely and took my breath away.
I tried to eat then I called the midwife. By the time she arrived I was clinging to my partner in tears. I could stand the pain no longer and requested an epidural.
6.30pm I was checked and found to be 4cm dilated. I took some gas and air as the anaesthetists gave me the epidural. I was exhausted and happy I could finally get some rest.
10.30 Having only progressed to 6cm, the midwife added syntocinon to the drip to speed up and strengthen the contractions. As I watched them on the monitor, I was so pleased I couldn't feel them.
TUESDAY 28th SEPTEMBER 1999
Some time after midnight I called the the midwife for more water and told her that I could feel a sensation of pressure. I was lying on my side and she asked me to raise a leg and said 'oh wow look at that full head of hair' She then opened the door and called for a 'baby catcher'. I asked for a mirror so I could watch and they brought in a full length one. It was amazing.
I couldn't believe how fast the delivery went. It felt like 5 minutes but I was in fact pushing for 46 minutes followed 3 minutes later by the placenta.
Heather was delivered onto my belly. She weighed 7lb 11oz. I had an episiotomy and 4 stitches but no soreness.
Waters breaking to giving birth - 30 hours.
