Hopefully it won't be toooo long! I just want to say that I read heaps of other people's stories and have now realised that NOTHING can prepare you for your own labour and child's birth! Labour bag! what do you need that for! I didn't play cards or read, I didn't eat and I certainly didn't wear many clothes! ha ha anyway here goes!

On Wed 12/9 I felt fine but a little tight. DH and I even went to the pub for a drink at 5.30pm! We went to his sister's place for tea and at 7pm while sitting on the couch I felt quite wet! Ran to toilet and knew what had happened. With a few towels we headed to hospital. They checked me there and sent me home 2 hours later as I wasn't having contractions - no pain at all really and I even had some REd Rooster for tea!

After that though it changed. The period like pain started and then didn't stop! Got closer and closer so we decided to go back to hospital at 11.30pm. By midnight I was getting contractions every 3-4 minutes for about 30 seconds. The shower helped the most but in the end the contractions were so awful I asked for pethadine with I originally didn't want to have to take - hey I'm no hero though so I took it. Unfortunately all it did was make me very sleepy between the contractions and didn't do anything for the pain. I've NEVER felt so awful! Anyway at 4am decided to go the epidural and that is now my new best friend! It was awful having it in cause I had to be still but was still having contractions!

After that it was a breeze! I woke up and felt great. 7.30am my ob arrived said I was fully dilated and could push! DH was very surprised by that! I pushed which was weird cause I couldn't feel it but after half an hour with bubs heart rate dropping slightly he decided to do the vontouse. About 15 mins after that Mackenzie Brooke was born! It was so amazing because I did feel her down there (slightly) and got to touch her head.

DH was brilliant - alwasy there massaging my back and just there whenever I opened my eyes which wasn't often! He coped really well though did go a bit white during the epidural! I had 2 midwives who were SUPERB!!!!!! I had one for most of the night and she was so fantastic - a shame she missed the actual birth.

I am very glad now I had the epidural because it meant that Mackenzie came into the world so calmly without me screaming or being in agony. I know everyone's births are different so it's hard to compare but I did what was right for me.

All in all loved every bit - well honestly not from 12-4am! WEll worth every moment!