My due date was January 6 and as Milo came just after his due date I really wasn't expecting anything to happen earlier. However on New Year's Day I had felt some pains when I was still in bed and then some more vague pains during the day, but nothing that (I thought) suggested labour was imminent. In the evening Nick and I watched some TV (Survivor: Nicaragua, not a great Survivor season, but still some of my favourite TV) and from about 10pm I was having regular pains but nothing too uncomfortable. I started timing the pains on Contraction Master and they were about 5 minutes apart and lasting about a minute, but still I didn't think they were painful enough to be the real thing. I decided to take a bath, as apparently this can stop or slow Braxton Hicks contractions, but after a few minutes, the pain was increasing so I got out and got ready to go to hospital, finally believing that labour had started.
After timing a few more contractions, I called the hospital. They suggested I come in, as we are now about 15 minutes away from the hospital and it was my second, so things can happen quickly. At this point, Nick and I will still trying to work out the logistics for Milo. Our babysitter was an hour away, our closest option to fill in while she arrived had gone away over New Years, our back up filler option were also away and we were struggling to work out what to do. Fortunately Nick tried Nick Gee who had been away in Egypt, but we thought might be back in the UK. In a huge stoke of luck, Nick and family were literally on their way from Heathrow and Nick could make it to ours in about half an hour or so. By this time it was 12.30am so Nick was due to arrive around 1am however as the contractions had escalated somewhat I decided (with Nick's reluctant agreement) that I should go to hospital while Nick waited for Nick Gee to arrive.
At 12.45 Nick called a mini-cab for me which came about 10 minutes later. While I was at home, there had been a clear break between the contractions but by the time I arrived at the hospital it was just one continuous pain. The mini-cab driver got me out of the car and escorted me into the hospital where a baffled security guard had to radio someone to ask what he should do with a woman in labour! Granted, it was a bank holiday weekend and the security guard was probably just filling in, but he was working at a maternity hospital! After a few minutes rest, I somehow made it to the lifts to take me to the labour ward.
Even though I hadn't written my birth plan yet, it had always been my intention to go to the birth center - as I had intended with Milo (although ended up in the labour ward). I had even called the birth center who were expecting me. But in my haze of pain, I went to the labour ward and so was admitted there. By the time I got to the midwives station on the 2nd floor (helped by a lovely man who was waiting for his wife who carried my bag and buzzed me in) I was feeling the urge to push and was bent over in pain (as far as I could bend), gasping 'I think I'm really close'. After the midwife got my notes and asked a few questions I was shown into a room and examined (this was 1.20am). The midwife did the most cursory of examinations as she immediately could see I was fully dilated and he was ready to come. My waters hadn't broken yet so this was holding up proceedings somewhat which was kind of good since we were waiting for Nick to arrive, but also meant it was a bit more painful as it was causing more pressure.
The midwife called the birthing center (on the 3rd floor) so that they would immediately know to tell Nick to come downstairs to the labour ward. The birthing center were expecting me, but by this point the midwife could not transfer me as I was too close. However, even though I wasn't in the birthing center, this was going to be a very natural birth. It was far too late for pain relief (I had diamorphine with Milo), the gas and air was completely useless so I didn't bother with that, continuous monitoring was pointless at this stage and it was looking fairly straightforward so there was no need for anyone other than the midwife and the assisting student midwife. (I could be more smug about a fully natural delivery however I absolutely would have taken pain relief if I could!)
Nick arrived maybe 20 minutes later after a quick detour via the birthing center. As soon as he was in the room, the midwife broke my waters and it was time for me to push. The pain was intense but the midwives kept assuring me I was very close and it wouldn't take long. Sure enough, after maybe 15 or 20 minutes, our beautiful new son arrived at 2.04am.
Immediately after the birth -
Getting checked out -
A few hours later I was transferred upstairs to the maternity ward (we upgraded to a private room - worth every penny!) Nick headed home around 6am to get some sleep, and I tried as well, although between monitoring, breakfast, the highs of childbirth, and gazing at my new little boy, I didn't manage much. All wrapped up -
After a morning out at the park with the babysitter, then lunch with Daddy and a nap, Nick brought Milo into the hospital around 3.30pm to say hello to his new brother and take us home.
Trying to interest baby brother in one of his toys -
After being released by the pediatrician and the midwife with the all clear for both of us, we all headed home around 6pm.
