This time last year

10th June 2016

Exactly 6am this time last year I was sound asleep when Tom walked in from his night shift.

I was woken by my dream...thinking I'd wet myself. But low and behold it was my waters that had broken 😀 I was soooooooo excited, because with my first two girls, the nurse used a large *knitting needle to pop them 💦

(*not sure what the medical term is 🙈)

With excitement I waddled downstairs to tell Tom the news 😀 his first words were.....
"Can you cut my hair!"

Yes I was bloody shaving his head in the garden at 6am.

Bless him! 😁 But he does like to look smart for the arrival of his children (best shirt and aftershave!)

By 9am my contractions had started, so we packed the girls off to my BFF's house (they were sooo excited! 😍 and headed towards the hospital (we live approximately 45 minute - with no traffic - drive from the hospital) so I didn't want to chance having to get blue lighted there.

On arrival to Broomfield, I confirmed that I wanted a water birth (I had planned for one the whole way through my pregnancy) and luckily the birthing pool was available 👍🏻

My contractions had started getting more frequent (and more painful!) I wanted to go as long as possible without pain relief, but by 1pm I most definitley was needing it! But I had told Tom and the midwives that at no point did I want to know how far dilated I was (I think it was because, I was trying to stay calm, and enjoy the labour, not knowing how much longer I might have to go)

Checking in that the girls were OK and speaking to my BFF (Jodie) I remember saying "it's all going how I wanted it to Jodie" 😊 My girls were so excited. (Jodie had sneekily taken them home to decorate the house!) 😀💕

1pm - By this time I was told that I could not have a water birth. I was gutted! (and I can't actually remember why I wasn't allowed to?)

As the day went on, and my contractions intensified, it started getting dark, and by 8pm they were cranking up something on the machine, to what I could only describe as electrocuting my body! (It was to move the labour along)

The girls, my Dad, Toms Mum and Jodie were still ringing to hear if there was any news.

Gone midnight, Tom had been awake for over 36 hours, chatting to the midwives, keeping my playlist going on loop:

UB40 - Homely Girl
Justin Timberlake - Can't stop the feeling
Chas n Dave - No pleasing you
Lemar - Someone should tell you

and many more of my favourite
tunes (a real variety!) on loop kept me going, oh and toast - I'm not sure why, but hospital toast seemed like heaven during labour!

Something just didn't seem right. The consultants kept coming in to examine me.

It was nearly 2am (I had been in active labour for nearly 20 hours) I was exhausted, Tom was tired (but amazing at keeping me going) the midwives were fantastic !

But then.... I'll tell you the rest tomorrow