A picture-perfect ending

• At least I had a lovely tea!
• A dramatic ambulance trip!
• The icing on the cake

Baby Ella Grace was born on Tuesday 9th November at 4.54.

It was a long and tiring labour and delivery. My waters broke at about 4.15pm on Monday but I wasn't having regular contractions. I went into hospital at 6pm to be checked over but was allowed to go home at 8pm because nothing was happening. We called at Tesco on the way home for something good to eat. Lee made me a lovely tea - chicken in a great sauce with mustard mash and then we munched on a big bar of Galaxy too!

By 11pm, I still didn't have regular contractions so we went to bed but I couldn't sleep because it seemed as though someone was creeping around outside messing with the garden lights. I kept getting up to check the doors and alarms. By 1am, the contractions had speeded up to 6 minutes apart and were more prolonged and painful. Lee didn't want me to stay at home anymore so we went back to the hospital.

Slowly they got worse but I used the birthing ball and focused on the breathing we had practised at the aquanatal classes, which really helped. I was finally able to use the pool at about 12pm the following day. That felt much better and, by 2pm, I started getting the urge to push. But then my contractions started slowing down again so I had to be brought out of the pool and we tried different positions to get them more regular again. I then needed to use the gas and air because I was just getting exhausted.

Eventually the decision was made to transfer me to the larger hospital in Preston to be put on a drip to make the contractions come back. This was because it was almost 24 hours since my waters had broke and they were worried about infection. I really didn't want to go to Preston but was too exhausted and just wanted it to end. I did get to ride in the ambulance with the sirens going though, just to add to the drama of the whole event!

After an uncomfortable examination by the consultant (MEN!!!) I was told that I would need either forceps, ventouse or a C-section. Lee and I were a bit shell-shocked and Lee took a bit of persuading but I was resigned that I was never gonna get baby out on my own and at least the end was in sight!

The midwife was fantastic, really reassuring that it would all be alright and it was decided that they would use the old salad servers! The prep. seemed to take ages but then it was just three pushes and out popped my gorgeous baby girl! And we had been convinced by all the old sages it was a boy!

Lee was asked to warm a towel by his chest and as soon as she was placed onto me they wrapped her in the towel with his scent! She had a feed straight away which felt like the most natural thing in the world. And then she went across to Lee for some skin-to-skin contact with her daddy. It looked amazing seeing my precious baby being cuddled by her daddy. He'd been so emotional all night and this was just the icing on the cake. Picture perfect!

Where to next?

• Read the full birth story
• Read accounts of different types of birth
• Read accounts of other assisted births