Kelly and her husband had been trying to conceive for three years and, after seeking the help of a fertility specialist, had all but given up hope. However, Kelly did eventually fall pregnant. This is her story

My labour did not start until the December 31 2006. At about 3pm my mum, step-dad and nan came around to for a cup of tea. My mum brought an exercise ball for me to sit on as sitting on the sofa was proving to be quite uncomfortable, and almost as soon as I sat on the ball I started to have contractions.

I had about two or three contractions about 25 minutes apart and then all of a sudden they were four to five minutes apart. This made my dear hubby have a mild panic attack as we live quite a way from the hospital, but at the time my waters had not broken and I was managing the pain quite happily with my TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator) machine.

I tried to encourage the labour along by keeping on my feet and walking around but as the pain intensified I found sitting on the ball or the sofa much more comfortable. Don't ask me how, but during all this my husband even managed to get me to eat some food so I would have enough energy!

I called the hospital at about 7.30pm to let them know I was in labour, but I was happy to stay at home for the moment. I just carried on breathing through contractions and bouncing on my exercise ball.

At around 9.30pm the contractions suddenly intensified and I made the decision to go to hospital. My husband had packed up the car and moved it so it was easy for me to get into. He had also piled towels onto my seat in case my waters broke on the way in. We reached the hospital at about 10.45pm, and I was taken into one of the labour wards and left to breathe through the pain. My husband tried to entertain me with crossword questions and just generally made me laugh.

Fireworks outside and in

At midnight, just as I heard fireworks going off outside, the midwife came to take my temperature and listen to the baby's heartbeat.

All was well so she left us to get some rest. Hardly! It got to 4am and I could no longer manage the pain so I called the midwife back. She asked if I would like to use the birthing pool. I jumped at the chance.

I had always dreamed of a water birth, so the midwife checked to see how dilated I was...only 4cm. I got into the pool and it was the best thing ever. For a few minutes I almost forgot I was in labour.

At about 6am my waters broke. At this point the midwife asked if I would like to use gas and air and I swear it's the best thing ever! I had two big breaths and then I was away in my own little world.

I got comfortable in the pool and I managed to shut everyone out. The only time I spoke to my husband was to tell him that the contractions were hurting. I remember the midwife talking to me telling me I was doing a great job. She then asked to check me again and said that I would have to get out of the pool. I think after about ten minutes she realised that I was not going anywhere and if she wanted to check me she would have to do it in the pool!

At this point she looked up and said, 'There's a head', which shocked my husband and got him very excited. A bit later I opened my eyes and saw my husband, James, leaning over the pool and I asked him, 'Is the baby nearly here?' I think I was so far into my own little world on the gas and air that I had no idea how far along I was.

It was at that point the midwife said, 'It's twenty to ten now Kelly, if you push properly this baby will be out by ten.'

Well that was it, the biggest motivation ever! After a few more big pushes our much wanted and waited for little boy, Daniel James, arrived at 10:04am, January 1 2007.

Yes it was hard work, yes it was painful, but would I do it again? Absolutely, yes! I can't wait for a second child! For me, giving birth was the best experience of my life.