A fast first labour

This is it!

Debbie Steeles tells her birth story: 'Most mothers dread labour as I did all through my pregnancy. I just want to share that sometimes it's not always as daunting, long and painful as most labours.

Four days before my due date, my partner Norman had to go away on a work trip for a few days, and as he left he kissed my bump and told me not to go into labour early.

After he had gone I had a sudden burst of energy and had an urge to clean the house to to bottom. That night I was in bed and couldn't get to sleep so decided to sit up and read a magazine.

Before I knew it, it was 4am and I began to feel a dull ache in my stomach; two minutes later I felt another pain. I thought it must be Braxton hicks; I hadn't had any up until now and didn't know what to expect.

They were quite painful so I rang Norman to let him know. As we were chatting I had another jolt of pain and bent over in agony. Norman immediately said it sounded like I was in labour and that he was going to drive the 40 minutes home to get me to hospital straight away, which was a relief even though I wasn't sure this was the real thing or not.

I rang my mum and dad too, who live up the road and they arrived  within minutes with my two brothers Gary and Anthony and his girlfriend Emma. The moment she saw me, my mom knew instantly I was in labour.

I was confused as I thought my contractions were meant to be further apart at the beginning of labour, but mine were already coming at two minutes apart and were painful.

Hospital dash

At 4.25am, I was on my knees biting and screaming into a pillow and wanting to push.

My dad rang the hospital and spoke to a midwife who said I should come in straight away. But I was adamant I wanted to wait for Norman to get home first. While we waited I tried with all my might not to start pushing, but the urge was growing stronger and stronger.

Finally, at 4.40am Norman arrived home and we left for the hospital with mum, dad my 2 brothers and his girlfriend following behind.

We arrived 20 minutes later and by now I was in agony. I could feel what I can only describe as my baby's head pushing down and I was screaming in pain every minute with every contraction.

A midwife examined me and found I was fully dilated already. She couldn't believe my contractions had only started an hour ago and I was taken to the labour ward.

I was a bit shocked, but relieved that it wasn't a false alarm. I pictured it all to be a whole lot more painful and longer. I was really excited at the thought that me and Norman would soon be meeting our baby.

As soon as I clambered onto the bed my waters broke with a huge gush. The midwife said she could see my baby's head and that with the next contraction I should push.

I had some gas and air to help with the pain and pushed with all my might. With the first push, my baby's head had emerged and with the second one she was out!

Naomi was born at 5.33am screaming the ward down, after two pushes and an hour and half after my first contraction!

She was checked over and was fine. I was so happy. I was the talk of the ward after my quick labour.

I still can't believe how easy it all was.'

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