Thanks for the feedback fifi, what was your DS head cir?

laura - thanks for the link, interesting chatter

hoobley - pushing phase lasted about 1.5 hours. I was basically hanging over a fitball, so kind of in a hands and knees position the whole of the pushing phase, with a little squatting but not at the end. I didn't have any pain relief at all but was on a syto drip which was turned down really low (my body kicked in really well). As for guarding the perineal area - well the midwife was great and telling me to go slowly, talking me through the crowning stage but maybe I didn't go slow enough?

I've also read since then that applying a hot washer to the perineum during crowning can help things out as well.

Love to hear from more people who have used it and it worked or didn't.