so being almost 12 day over due its understandable that i was becoming increasingly frustrated by the fact that it felt like this baby was never going to come out!! however when he decided he was finally going to come he did it in a hurry...

Tuesday 5th October: 41 weeks pregnant!! i had an appointment at the hospital today for my post dates ctg monitoring and an u/sound. i also requested an internal where i was told i was 2cm dialted and my cervix was favourable so i was given a S&S as well. i was then told to come back the following saturday so i could have a cervidil cervix ripener inserted and then was booked into to be induced the following monday. i got in the car and was feeling some odd pains due to the S&S so DP and i went for a huge walk that afternoon - no luck

Thursday 7th October: i lost the rest of my plug today. kept my fingers crossed but still nothing. my mum and sister arrived from WA and DP went back to work as nothing was happening.

Saturday 9th October: i called the delivery suite as advised by my m/w to make sure they still had a bed for me. they told me to come in at 1pm. so DP, mum, sister and i all got in the car and headed down to newcastle (an hour away) where the hossy is. we walked around the shops for a few hours before my appointment. arrived at the hossy at 12.45 and made our way to the ward. i was then put on the ctg monitor for bout 30 mins where i had a few tightenings and loads of movements but nothing major. i then had another u/s to check fluid levels which there was an abundance of. i should have known something was gonna happen coz bub was giving us a thumbs up on the u/s lol. a m/w then came in and told me she was going to insert the cervidil cervix ripener, she then explained i would have to come back the next day to have it removed nd then come in again on monday to be induced she also said that the CCR has been known to cause 'niggles' but shouldnt induce labour.

That night: i had been having the 'niggles' for a few hours but didnt think anything of it due to what the m/w had said but once again should have known something was afoot when i had a huge urge to clean the whole house lol. DP and i went to bed at 10.45pm when about 10 minutes later i was up again and sitting on the toilet having a strong 'contraction' (i still hadnt realised i was in labour) this is when DP got the m/w on the phone and told me that i just needed a shower and a hot pack and i should try and get some sleep there was no way i could sleep through these contractions. i then decided it was time to wake up my mum. mum and jess (sister) sat either side of me and held my hand while i screamed thru contractions which were about 4 mins apart and lasting 50 seconds!! mum then got on the phone to the m/w again and they told her the same thing!!! grr. about 5 contractions after that at about 11.30pm i was fighting the urge to push!! so DP got his m/w aunty on the phone and she said i will know when i need to leave for hospital. so immediately after he hung up we were off.

while i waddled down stairs everyone else ran around in a scurry grabbing heat packs, water and towels. DP jumped into the drivers side and mum and jess sat either side of me in the back seat. reversing out the driveway i screamed 'HES COMING!' i pulled my pants down and could feel something! so i yelled at DP to feel it hahaha poor guy! i later worked out it was just my waters. i must commend DP on his driving ability due to the fact i was screaming rather loudly in the back seat.

about 4 mins away from the hospital POP my waters broke! (thank god they grabbed all those towels) we pulled up to the hospital FINALLY. my sister jumped out and ran to get me a wheelchair, while i stumbled out of the car during another contraction. she came back and we ran to the delivery suite.

we barged through the double doors like we were off a tv drama and i was in a bed before i knew it. i remember a m/w saying 'ok lets see how ur going, oh fully dialated and theres a head!'

about 6-7 contractions and 15 minutes later Cooper James was laying on my chest! i kept saying 'hes mine' i just couldnt believe it. this gorgeous lil man was all mine

The damage: after a nice little skin to skin cuddle a dr came in to check out my hoo haa. i had sustained a 3rd degree tear and a fair bit of muscle damage in my bum. my only option was surgery, which meant being taken away from my baby however instead of being put under a general they said i could just have a spinal tap which meant i could stay awake and be returned still able to have cuddles.

i dont know what i would have done if my mum and sister werent there. i seriously think i would have either had this baby at home or on the side of the road. DP was amazing during the whole thing. and i will be forever grateful to all three of them for assisting in the safe arrival of my beautiful baby boy.

i think next time i will leave for the hospital as soon as the 'niggles' come lol

Final stats: Cooper James born at 12.48am on the 10/10/10 after a very quick 2 hour drug free labour. weighing 8pd 3oz, 52.5cm long and HC 36cm. apgar was 9 then 10

no words can truely explain the total love i have for this baby boy