Waters only broke right at the end

Jennifer tells her birth story: 'My due date was the 7th November. This came and passed and still no sign of little one. I was starting to get fed up, wondering if we would ever get to meet our baby.

Woke up at 06.30 on the 9th with cramps, didn't really think anything of it. Did phone my husband Andy just to tell him I thought I was having contractions, but not to get too excited in case it was nothing.

He kept phoning me throughout the day to check, told him to stay at work for the time being as nothing major was happening. Started to get really excited at the prospect of seeing our baby.

Finally phoned him and told him to make his way home as the contractions were getting stronger and more regular (at this point they were coming every 5-10 minutes,) but waters not broken. Had a bath and phoned the hospital, they told me to go in at 19.00 to be assessed.

Got there and they did a tracing of baby's heart and examined me. Yes I was having contractions, but waters hadn't broken and I wasn't dilated at all, so got sent home and told to wait until contractions were unbearable or waters broke.

Got home at 20.15, tried to relax but the pain was becoming even more intense and every 3-5 minutes now. Was sick, so Andy phoned the hospital to tell them I couldn't bear it anymore.

Was told to go back and they would examine me again, give me some pain relief and try and find me a bed, but because my waters still hadn't broken would probably be in for a long wait.

. '

Got back to the hospital, was examined and found to be 8cm dilated. Didn't think I'd heard her right at first, but I had. Baby was definately on the way.

My mum had made her way down to the hospital and was with us. Had a tracing of baby done which showed he was in a bit of distress, but they weren't sure why. Was given some gas and air which took the edge off but not the pain.

They decided to do a fetal scalp blood test, which was painful, but luckily came back ok. Was getting tired at this point, so the midwife suggested an epidural and syntocinin, which I had, (I'd been adamant I wanted as natural a birth as possible previously). Epidural in, which didn't hurt a bit, the drip was started.

Even with the epidural I still felt the contractions. Was told not to push yet as only 9cm dilated, and cervix was in the way.

That's one of the hardest things to do, don't push when your body is screaming out to. Eventually I could push, Andy was looking for the head, which appeared and then disappeared again. Tried pushing for over an hour but no joy.

Was examined by the doctor, and due to the fact baby was still distressed, they did an episiotomy and forceps, still had to break my waters though.

Our beautiful baby boy Oliver was born at 04.31 on the 10th November weighing 8lb 2oz.

Ten days on, I'm starting to feel human again. Our lovely little boy is contented and happy and putting on weight. The staff at the hospital I can't thank enough. As for a little brother or sister for him, who knows

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