I woke up at hald past 6 in the morning on my due date with cramps in my lower back, it felt like I needed the loo every half an hour except I couldn't go.

After a couple of hours my OH asked why I'd had a shower when I knew he was cooking breakfast, so I told him about the cramps. He rested his hand on my bump just as another one started, and asked if I was having Braxton hicks because my bump had gone rock hard - I couldn't feel anything in my bump! I clocked then that these could be contractions, shame OH didn't believe me... He suggested going for a walk down to Ely riverside and back (which was a roughly 3 mile round walk for us at the time).

When I had to keep stopping to breathe through contractions, he finally accepted that Bethany was on her way...

Things didn't get regular until around 10 that night. I called the hospital at 10:15 & let them know I was having regular contractions, then waited for OH to get out the shower so I could run a bath - my hind water broke during my next contraction. Contractions started to get painful after that.

I was admitted to the hospital just after 11pm and got in the birth pool.

By 6am the next morning I was still only 2cm dilated and things were slowing down, although my fore water had gone in the pool. I was taken to a ward for pethidine and a rest, before going back to the birth unit at 4pm.

By 8pm things were still going slowly, so I was taken to the consultant led unit and put on a drip.

I responded so fast to the drip that they had to slow it down for a while!

They could see Bethany's heart rate dropping with each contraction, so had to put a clip on her head - trouble was laying on my back triggered contractions, so every internal exam took several attempts.

OH's parents kept calling the hospital asking fir news, too - eventually another midwife came in and told him to call them back.

Another midwife also came in and asked me if I thought all my screaming was helping - it kept me breathing so, erm, yes!

At 12:30 I decided the pain was too much, opened my mouth to ask for an epidural, and screamed "I need to push" instead. The midwife didn't believe me as I'd only been at 4cm a couple of hours earlier.

At 1:05 on the Tuesday morning, Bethany arrived safely. The drip also flew out of my hand with my last push.

Then the placenta wouldn't detach. Eventually they had to take me to theatre & give me a spinal block, before managing to remove it manually (on their last manual attempt before operating).

By the time I got to recovery, OH had texted families to announce a new arrival so we waited for them to call back. My mum called first, and I got to tell her her granddaughter's name for the first time (Bethany's middle name is Jane, in honour of mum's late sister who lost her battle with cancer during my pregnancy).

Not quite the easy, midwife led water birth that I'd planned - but there's always next time for that! We both made it through safely, which is the most important thing.

@lexi thank you. Yeah it was, worried all the way through. Thankful they are both healthy.

@sarah i got to 5cms and didnt even know? was pretty lucky haha x

The pethidine made me that tired that I was falling asleep between pushing lol

I got induced as my waters broke and she had pooed inside me. So my birth was quick and easy and over quite fast (5hours ish) and the first 3 hours I was just laid chatting waiting for big contractions to start. So I'm dreading it 2nd time round.

@Kayleigh2803

Must of been nerve wracking after your first was born early! And having pre-e aswell glad your babies okay?x

My first was emergency csection at 30 weeks due to pree and placenta problems spent 7 weeks in neonatal.

My second I got to 37 weeks before pree started (yay) was admitted talking about induction when water went. Labour started but it was like period pain barely pain at all sometimes. Emergency buttons pushed due to HR dropping on baby was constantly monitored. Kept dropping I was worried I hadn't even dilated a cm. Told them I wanted her out give me a csection. They were busy. Dr agreed as soon as bed I labour would be sent down to wait and have section as soon as possible. While down there emergency switch was pushed again and I was rushed off. Spinal didn't work and I was put to sleep. She was born at 1:52am they say after her brothers birthday.

@mollybear2015 i think it depends on the child because i was told she wouldnt be doing anything till atleast 3-4 yrs old i think they just go off guidelines but yeah its just a waiting game she was also really behind with teething but once one came threw within a month she had pretty much every tooth x

@lexibaby2013 bless her she's had more than her fair share but sounds like she's doing so well! The consultant told me I would notice that Islas behind when is comes to walking and talking so will just have to wait and see! At least they are here though, little fighters!x

@mollybear2015 well it took a while for her to crawl and walk shes still kearning to run and hop etc shes behind on her speech shes just about putting 2-3 word sentences together but other than that i woukdnt say shes small for her age shes still in 1-2 clothing with some things but she has a 3 holes in her heart 2 in one chamber and another in one chamber she had surgery at 1 year old at alder hey to close one up but since her op shes so different seen a change almost instantly!! Xxx

@lexibaby2013 ???I can imagine mine being a little terror as she's already put us through so much and the attitude on her from day one is hilarious! Even the nurses in NICU commented on it, don't know where she gets it from ? ! Is your little one small for her age or has she managed to mainly catch up now?X

@mollybear2015 looking at her now you wouldn't even think she was so early shes a little terror took her asda last night and she actually had security looking for her cos she ran off?? shes so funny love them when theyre this age!! Xx

@lexibaby2013 wow she wasn't that early so can't imagine the worry you went through but glad to hear she is doing good now! Glad your son is doing well too!x

@mollybear2015 omg that must of been scary my daughter was born at 25 weeks shes 3 in may and spent nearly 4 months in neonatal i hated it so much! So glad your babas okay though my 4 week old weights 8 pound?x

Went for a scan at 33 weeks and was told I was being admitted for a c-section due to no fluid, placenta was dying and baby had IUGR. Spent one night on the ward monitoring baby and she was born the next day, had to be resuscitated and spent 4 weeks in NICU. Worst experience of my life ? but baby is doing great now, 4 months old and 8 pound 5!x

@ajay92 That sounds so scary my little boy had to have a clip put on his head to monitor his heart rate as i was tackycardic(sp) and couldnt work out whos heart beat was whos an that was scary when the crash team came running in s*** myself?xx

I started with period like pains about 9pm went to bed couldn't sleep at all got back up around 1am sat watching tv pretty much all night went to move at 6am and hind waters went. Pain was ok until about 8.30am then started getting bad. Got to hospital at 10 was 7-8cm already. All happened really fast from there he was born at 12.01pm Christmas Day weighing 7lb14 5 days overdue. Waters broke as he was coming out. Had a second degree tear X

First was a nightmare. 27 hours in labour, cord around his neck twice which nearly resulted in a C-section. Very traumatic as I was expecting a non medicated water birth. Didn't sleep for near on 4 days by the time I got home from hospital.

Second was perfect!!!! 9 hours in labour. No pain relief and water birth. Was in and out of the hospital within 4 hours ?

Next time I'm not going to even bother with the hospital, just going to have a pool at home.

I had a pretty bad labour but don't want to let it put me off having more kids. I was induced on Thursday morning and never had Gracie-May until Saturday morning. I had one 24 hour pessary fitted which eventually worked Thursday night at 11pm, i started contracting and went into the birthing pool was in that for 6 hours but had to get out as pessary fell out. Was left 24 hours sitting about doing nothing, never got checked for dilation or anything. Finally got took down to labour work Friday night at 6pm, waters got broken and I was put on the drip. Took 6 hours of contractions before I was fully dilated, attempted to get an epidural as I was so tired but it failed 3 times! In the end I pushed for 4 hours before they realised Gracie-May was stuck. Ended up with an emergency c section as her heart rate started dipping, got to theatre where they tried another epidural and 3 spinals which all failed so in the end I was put sleep. They really struggled to get Gracie-May out she had to be pushed back up the birth canal which resulted in her heart stopping, she had to be resuscitated when they got her out. I had a really horrible labour but looking at my little girl made it all worth while☺️ xxx

@heatherlouise_x yep you are!! But im broody already and im only 4 weeks pp! Hahaha xx

1st birth was a nightmare had contractions from when I had my sweep 3 days after my due date on Monday morning then contractions where coming every 5 mins went in was 2cm carried on until the Wednesday midwife gave me another sweep contractions still 5 mins apart went in on the Friday and was 4cm could stay in had epidural at 6cm so about 10pm I think that never worked epidural changed it apparently tip on the needle was bent had a new one in then that wouldn't work had about 5 top ups which wasn't doing much and gas and air was making me feel sick. Went to theatre at 4.30 after 1 hour of pushing and had forceps max was born at 5.09 weighing 8lb 2 little did I know the forceps took 6months to recover from.

2nd labour a section from the previous one had section at 5.35 pm and was out next day at tea time Joseph was 9lb 3 and was up doing house work next day two completely different labours

Call me mental.... But reading all these labour stories makes me wanna do it again ???

@CK1411 you are BRAVE. Hats off to you having a 10lb baby!!! My boys a month old and hes only 8lb! Xxx

@hannahW33 yeah i know? i had stitches but i had anaesthetic luckily?xx

There seems to be a common theme in these labour stories - midwives not believing people can be progressing faster than they think! My water broke at home at 6.30pm and contractions kicked in soon after. A few hours later I was reaching my limit so phoned the hospital and was told by a midwife over the phone that if I was still able to talk I couldn't be in that much pain and that I'd be in labour for at least 12 more hours before I had my baby. Thankfully my husband took over and told her we were coming in anyway, and she just said they'd check me and send me straight back home. When I got to hospital just after midnight the same midwife was really rough when checking me, but I was 6cm dilated Without another word to me she phoned the labour ward and I got transferred to an absolutely wonderful midwife, and my son was born in a birthing pool at 2.26am. I needed 4 stitches, but the midwife thought it would just be one stitch so she didn't use any local anaesthetic. How people can get their labias pierced I don't know! Xx

My first I went into labour 11 days overdue, 30 hour labour.. Gas and air, diamorphine, epidural. Had to be cut and loads of stitches, had to use a suction cup to get him out and he was 9lb 6oz.

My second i was induced at 12 days over, started getting pains straight after first tablet. It was a 6 hour labour, using only gas and air with a tiny tear, and she was 10lb 4oz.

My labours were so different. second was a breeze! xx

@mummytwo2 i did aswell, especially the after pains they was excruciating x

1 labour lasted 2 hours 12 mins

No stitches had Gas and air

2nd labour lasted 2hours 25 mins no stitches had gas and air found my second labour more painful though ?

@natnat01 omg i know!! I got told to get over myself because i said i could do it?i really would off punched her if i had the energy???

Same as you mine was horrendous it's put me off for life ? the midwifes were absolutely vile to me telling me to grow up! I told them I needed to push and they called me a liar. She's lucky I didn't throat punch her tbh ??

My second labour was too quick. Woke up 4am with cramps needed to empty my bowls ? (tmi) called the ambulance and he was born at 6 am with three pushes lol.

Had my first twinge on sunday night at 37+4, carried on having mild contractions all day monday, went into l&d monday night because I couldn't sleep through them. She gave me codeine and antibiotics for a uti, did a sweep as I was 2cm then sent me home. Contractions carried on all day tuesday, felt a *pop* at about 6pm during a strong contraction and waters went. Went to the hospital, was 4cm and got sent home again. 1.30am couldn't sleep or do much through contractions so went back in, went in the birthing pool for a while but they made me get out to monitor him. Got stuck at 5cm because I was exhausted & dehydrated so was put on IV and given diamorphine to sleep. When i woke up they put me on another drip to induce stronger contractions, started taking blood from isaac's head, put a clip on to monitor him from inside, did 2 catheters and started talking about a c-section. Just as they said that I felt him in my butt, 30 mins pushing and he was here 9.42pm wednesday night! No tears or grazing and nursed straight away :)

Found labour easy for my first. Four days prior to my due date I woke up feeling achy (similar to just everyday pains) pulled my back previous day so was getting over that too. Slight discomfort felt around 7pm, ate and showered. then got very painful and regular about 10pm so rang hospital and midwife said to wait longer before coming in as I didn't sound in 'labour'!!

Managed about another half hour before ringing again saying it got pain ful have to come in now. She okayed it and off we headed the 20-25 mi journey to the hospital (feeling starting to push in car) got to the birthing unit in hospital and they took me into the side room to check me before admitting me, had painful contraction. They did BP then asked me to use bathroom and give pee sample. Couldn't do it and got a contraction whilst in there..

Hurt badly so midwife came in and saw me, said can I just have a look. Had a look and could see the head so bad to bet dad from side room as I was fully dilated already and time to push!!

30 mins later my beautiful baby Jensen was out. Tore, so got stitched up but found so much easier than I expected!

First was too long so won't bother and can hardly remember any of it being 17 years ago nearly.

This one second time round was the perfect labour.

Hot bath 6 days before baby was due, 3am that morning woke up with my waters breaking slightly. Went down stairs while partner was still asleep and stayed there breathing under control till 6am. Called mlu and was told to come down as contractions started to get a bit more intense.

Went down and I was 4 to 5 cm dialated. Waited for bath to fill so I could jump in this was 7.30am and by 9am I had her with one massive push she was out lol..

Haha omg your all making me laugh?? reading someone elses labour stories are so much more interesting than thinking about mine??? xxx

My first I'm not even going to bother as its so long ? my 2nd on the other hand. 3:30am contractions started. Went to hospital at 9am. Everything stopped. Left. Drove 30 minutes home and they started again. Within an hour of being home drove back. Waters broke in the car. Had to cross my legs (literally) lol and had her 20 minutes after getting there. Boom haha

I was induced at 36 weeks, told to come in Sunday night at 8, didn't have any room to get me started so spent the full night and the next day in the observation room (raging ?). I was given my first pessary at midnight on the Sunday, examined at 8am Monday and was 3cm. Started having cramps (and I actually thought if these were contractions this would be piss easy ?) hahahaha I now know that they weren't even a 5% of a contraction ? just had a several hot packs and paracetamol. Eventually got into the labour ward at 8pm, the anaesthetists were there waiting on me and gave me an epidural, I was fuming because I didn't ask or want one but was told its standard procedure with twins ? anyway waters were broke at 9pm, twin 1 born at 1.42 and twin 2 at 1.55 with a few puffs of gas & air. I had to get an episiotomy because I laboured so quick. All in all it couldn't have gone any better! But I'm so eager to have a "normal" labour rather than such a high risk birth with a million people watching ?? and I want a proper shot of gas and air ??? xxx

I was 5 days late, my waters broke 7 in the morning my labour lasted 22 hours they forgot to turn my drip back on I would of had him a lot sooner, then had to be rushed in for a forceps delivery got a 3rd degree tear was horrible and not looking forward to this time ??

I was 3 days late, my waters went a 4pm, then my contractions came thick and fast! Got to hospital at about 5.30pm and was 3cms, I got checked again just before 8pm cause I said I needed to push and the midwife was flapping saying I wouldn't be ready to push ( t*** ?) I was 10cm pushed for 45 minutes and she was here! I had gas & air and a 2nd degree tear and a few grazes but I loved it all!! I had a great experience!

Glad you all had a "okay" labour haha i got to 5cms and didnt even know??went in at 37 weeks to be induced on the monday at 1pm didnt see a doctor till 5pm where she checked my cervix to out the gel in and said are you sure your not already in labour so i did my nervous laugh as always and said nope not that im aware of and she said well we need to get you down to delievery your 5cms got down to the ward at about half 7 was checked again and i was 8cm but my waters hadnt broke but they was bulging so doctor broke my water and then i oushed for 1hr 40 minutes and my baby boy arrived at 21:17. Monday 14th, 6lb 3oz!! But my midwife was a b**** and kept telling me to calm down baby came out face up and got stuck which i told her in the first place! Had 2nd degree tears and 3 grazes but he wad worth all the pain x

I got up 7 days before Harri was due getting kids ready for school had normal app at hospital for blood pressure. Was sat eating my brekkie and felt a twang in my stomach. Said to oh oh that's felt strange like a balloon popping in my stomach. I stood up and all of my waters gushed out I cudnt move I had to stand in one place while oh took kids t school and then had to go t hospital for them to check leaving a wet trail everywhere I went it was gross tbh. I then was checked deffo waters. Was told had t stay in cos of previous section and high bp. Was told if I didn't go into labour by 7:30 pm wud induce me. By 1.00 pm was in full swing labour got onto labour ward about 7:30 Harri was born at 8:53 using gas and air x

I had my first contraction at 2.30am on the Thursday, they progressed throughout the day and at 2.30pm I went up the hospital to get checked. I was 4cm dilated and I was asked to go for a walk I came back in at 4.30 when they started running the birthing pool for me, at this point I was on gas and air and I was 5-6cm I got in a laboured in the water I did ask for an epidural but the anaesthetist was too busy with c-sections so I couldn't have one. I stayed on gas and air in the pool until my waters popped at 11pm I got out to get checked and they said I was 10cm I got on the bed and was flipping round on the bed seeing how I wanted to give birth?? (all pain went as I suddenly got excited and realised my baby was gonna be here soon) after 40 minutes of pushing my 10 day late 6lb 3oz beautiful boy Sonny arrived at 00:11 on the Friday morning. Couldn't had asked for a better labour no tears just a graze. I remember being so high off gas and air afterwards tho that I rang my dad and kept saying I feel so weird dad lol and then would nearly crying because I felt bad that I couldn't hold him where I felt high lol ??xx

Had 3 sweeps leading up to my due date 21.2.15 was booked in for induction on the 18.2.15 tho as baby has chd. Hind waters went on the 17.2.15 went in for induction on the 18.2.15 had the gel at 11 ish. Walked around for a bit started to get pains, met my new mw at 5:30pm and she examined me was 4cm she popped my front waters and she left the room, oh went back to get her as I wanted to push, she came back checked me again was 10 cm and pushed for 10 mins baby born 6:15pm so 45 mins established labour. No drugs, may as well have been on my own lol haha was nice tho x