I thought I'd share my labour story as I've read so many before, and all the midwives at the hospital were so amazed by mine! So I'd been having problems with my daughter from around 20weeks, got told her head was too small so was referred to a hospital in Bristol where we were closely monitored. Things with her head finally sorted itself out, but then other things started to look wrong as her stomach size was small and her weight was low. So because of this I was told I'd be induced around 37weeks. When that day finally came I was called in and started the induction process, which for me was having a pessary inserted for 24hrs to soften my cervix to begin with. I was 1cm dilated at this point and baby was already low down. 24hrs passed and I'd been having pains on and off all day. I was eventually taken down to delievery suit that evening and my waters were broken at 22:00. After some walking around the hospital my contractions got stronger and closer together, so I was taken to a delivery room and that was where I decided because I had to go on a hormone drip to help my contractions along, I also wanted an epidural. Things were going well, contractions got closer together and stronger but the epidural was helping and they got easier to deal with, so I was able to relax. At 02:25 the pains started to come back, so I requested my epidural to be put up, as they did I was checked again and I was 3cms dilated! This was when the pain had eventually moved down lower, and I felt the need to push. Even though I'd been told not to the urge became too much, so I was checked again. In the space of 5 minutes I'd gone from 3cms dilated to fully! After some good pushed her head finally delivered at 03:37 which amazingly I managed to calm myself enough to reach down and touch her. One last big push and 1 minute later she was born and put straight up onto my chest at 03:38! After tears from both me & daddy, I was so amazed that finally our daughter had arrived, and here she is.. Ava Louise Gardener, born 7/6/16 weighing 4lbs 10oz, tiny but she's sure one strong fighter and I couldn't be anymore proud of her! Hope to have her out of NICU  and home with us soon!