Amazing birth for a first time mum

On Sunday I was convinced that I would have my baby the following day (my EDD was the Saturday). I went for a lovely walk in the park and felt the pressure of my baby in my pelvis but no surges or any pain, just an overall ‘sense’ (possibly wishful thinking!). The head had been engaged since week 38 so I had thought I would not go too far over the EDD. I had a disturbed night’s sleep on Sun night but I am a heavy sleeper so it could have been surges, I don’t know! Monday morning 8am I had a show and started to feel surges irregularly. I told my husband it would probably be a good idea for him to stay off work and come with me to my consultant’s appointment I had that morning at 11. The consultant listened to what I was feeling and told me I could be a few days away or imminent and offered to check if I wished. I accepted and she was quite surprised to inform me that I was fully effaced and 3-4cms dilated. Since I am quite near to the Coombe, she suggested I head home and that she would see me that night! I couldn’t believe I had got to that point and it didn’t feel like a big deal but I was so excited that the baby was on the way. I went home, put on the TENS, sat on my ball and had some lunch while watching Netflix but had to keep pausing it to get up on the couch to kneel and breathe through the surges. By about 2pm, I realised I needed to get back to the hospital as surges were very close together and all of a sudden there was a huge pressure and what I assume were my waters releasing. I had a  little wobble at that point as I thought the baby would be born at home! It was a bit of a Hollywood movie scenario to get out the door and to the hospital in a hurry as I felt the baby was really pressing down and about to come but I listened to my tracks in the car and refocused. On admittance I was 9cm and brought straight to delivery – they initially offered me the birthing pool as I had it in my preferences but I was too far along so didn’t have time. I had no admittance trace, I kept the TENS machine on throughout, the midwife and consultant were joking with me that I was still smiling (in between surges). I knelt on the bed, leaning over the top and I didn’t feel the need for any other pain relief. Our baby girl was born within about 50 minutes of our arriving in the hospital at 3.50pm. Cord clamping was delayed as were all checks to allow skin-to-skin and nursing as per my preferences but I did need to have some intervention for the third stage as I was losing a little too much blood. For delivery of the placenta I used the gas and air and I had a 2nd degree tear so needed a few stitches. But throughout I felt listened to and respected and that nothing was done unless it had to be. I felt empowered by the knowledge I had received from GentleBirth. Most of all I was ecstatic to welcome my daughter and when the midwife placed her under me on the bed I was the one to announce ‘It’s a girl!’ which I will remember forever.