Andrea's birth story

At the hospital
We finally got to hospital at 11.30pm. They hooked me up to a monitor straight away to check the baby was OK. Both the baby and I were fine, but the pains were getting more intense. They told us to wait for the doctor and sent us to the day room, where there was a TV to help us pass the time. By this time the pain was getting unbearable - the last thing I could do was watch telly.

The doctor came at about 1.30am. I thought she was going to examine me, but she just said I should try to get some sleep, as it could take a while - I couldn't believe it. A minute after she was gone, I asked for some pain relief and the midwife said she would have to check me out first. It was a good job she did - I was five centimetres dilated and fully effaced, so they whisked me up to the delivery suite. Yippee - pain relief!

The birth
They gave me a shot of Pethidine, which was strange. It doesn't take the pain away, it just makes you feel spaced out. I kept shutting my eyes and thinking I was back at home.

The delivery midwife was brilliant. She said she would examine me at 6.30am but, by 5.30, I told her I wanted to push, so she had a look and said I was 9cm dilated and to try pushing if I wanted. I tried for a while, but nothing happened, so I sat on the birthing ball and rocked about a bit, which did the trick.

I pushed for about 45 minutes and my daughter, Lucy, was born at 7.06am, weighing 7lb 8oz. She was so beautiful - not a wrinkle in sight - and a head full of dark hair. Andy was a star all the way through, wiping my forehead and giving me sips of water. The midwife passed Lucy to him, while they sorted me out, and he was teary with emotion. We will both remember the experience forever - it was the best day of our lives. Lucy is 12 weeks old now and we enjoy every minute of her as she develops her own little personality.

Don't get me wrong, giving birth is hard work, but it really is all worth it when you see your gorgeous baby smiling up at you.

Are you about to give birth and could do with some first hand advice or reassurence? Or have you had a baby and would like to share your story? Why not chat with other iVillagers on the Birth Stories message board.