My beautiful little dot is just over one year old now and she is the light of my life, I waited anxiously for her from the moment I found out that we were expecting, I read everything pregnancy related that I could lay my hands on and then some! Finally my due date got closer and closer and I couldn't wait to see her. I really enjoyed my pregnancy despite throwing up around ten times a day for 7 1/2 months. Eventually the sickness ceased and I rejoiced that now I could have a whole month and a half free of sickness! How wrong I was!

About a month before my due date I was attending my usual midwife appointment when she informed me that my blood pressure was high and that there was protein in my urine so my baby would have to be monitored. As a result of my high blood pressure I spent 2 weeks in and out of hospital (surely that was enough to send my bp up!)
After much debating the doctors decided to induce my baby two weeks before my due date so me an dmy husband set off home to make last minute adjustments to my bag, inform relatives that I was being induced on the Tuesday and get some rest before the big day.

Finally Tuesday morning came round and I was taken to be induced, the nurse strapped a monitor round my massive bump and informed us that my contractions had already started and I may not have to be induced after all ( I thought they were Braxton Hicks) they weren't really painful and she encouraged me to take a wander around the hospital, after about half an hour they were considerably stronger and we returned to the ward, the nurse suggested I take a bath which I did only to find that rather than easing the pain the contractions grew stronger, I waddled over to the nurse who said that perhaps it was time to consider pain relief, she had a quick look below and looked up rather surprised, telling me that I was already 7 cm dilated. I was moved to the delivery suite and given gas and air.

The gas and air made me slightly drunk (rather amusing to my husband as I am not one to drink and so he has only ever seen me drunk once in four years.) After a while the effectiveness of the gas and air seemed to be fading and it just made me sick, everywhere. (be warned labour is not at all dignified.) The doctor suggested an epidural and I welcomed it with relief, relief I may add that was short lived.

By now I had been dilated 7 cm for hours and I was desperate to see my little girl. The doctors gave me an epidural which only worked one side, they then had to top it up ten minutes later to try and get the other side numb, suffice to say my epidural did not work very well, I was in agony but kept telling myself that it would soon be over and I would have a beautiful baby girl.

Eventually the time came to push and the midwife informed me that it shouldn't take too long and that usually after about an hour-two they would intervene if I had not delivered my child.

After four hours I still had not pushed my little girl into the world and I was exhausted, four hours of pushing had taken it's toll and I could hardly support my legs, the midwifes and doctors were concerned as my baby was distressed, as was I, I was still in agony due to the inadequate epidural, my husband signed consent forms to allow the doctors to use a ventouse to assist the birth (as I was in no fit state).

After 17 hours of labour our little girl was pulled into the world, I was allowed a quick cuddle and then watched my husband cuddle our precious bundle while the doctor told me that they had accidently torn my insides while removing our baby and that they would have to stitch me up, they topped up my epidural but there was no time to let it take effect, she began sewing me up while I used gas and air. After a few moment the doctor announced that she had broken the needle and that I was losing too much blood, I was allowed to kiss my husband and newborn goodbye before being rushed to theatre.

Once in theatre the doctors continued to sew up my insides while a nurse held my hand and spoke to me, she once again topped up my epidural which was wearing off and finally I was free from pain, the doctors padded me up and I was returned to the delivery suite two hours after the birth of our child.

I had some toast and tea (much appreciated after ten hours food free)
and then I was taken to the wards. As it was only 4.30 am the nurses informed my husband that he would have to leave and return during visiting hours, he kissed our little girl and I goodbye before leaving.

I had been desperate to feed my little girl since she had entered the world but the nurse informed me that she would be fine and that both me and my daughter were too tired and to wait until morning.I was utterly disgusted with this response as I felt that my daughter must need food and I was anxious to feed her as I wished to breastfeed and was concerned that I would be unable to get her to latch on in the morning.

I looked beside me and saw that she was sleeping peacefully so I spent a few moments gazing at her tiny features and thankfully slipped into a well deserved sleep.

When I awoke I fed my daughter and thankfully she latched on fine (she breastfed fully until 6 months and then had evening feeds before bed untli she was 12 months)

I had a long and painful labour due to mistakes made by doctors around me but it has not put me off at all, the pain of labour was soon forgotten when I held our beautiful little girl and I know from speaking to others that each experience of labour, even by the same woman, is different.
It is not something to be scared of, it is a special and unique experience with, in most cases, a good ending. Children are a joy and should be cherished each day, a little bit of pain in return for a lot of loving is well worth it.

Be prepared for your labour as much as possible, it could be a long wait so take some bits to amuse you, puzzle books, magazines etc.

Make sure you have plenty of chilled water available, it's thirsty work, also water is great for cooling your face.

Make sure you have a supportive birth partner, I could not have done it without my husband. Choose somebody who is reliable, available, supportive and patient. My husband making me laugh and helping me with crosswords passed a fair amount of time.

Take a camera for that all important picture of your beautiful baby/babies when they have just entered the world.

Loose change is a great idea for the carpark and the phonebox!

Snacks to keep up your energy.

Good luck and congratulations if you are expecting a little one or more soon, I may not have had a great time in the last few hours of labour but the first bit was full of excitement and the anticipation and knowing that I would have a gorgeous child at the end kept me going throughout. Life is the greatest gift of all and you have created a new life so embrace every second of your experience.