Today would have been my baby boys due date but he decided it was time to enter the world at 11.59pm (40 seconds before midnight) on 11/07/17! Contractions started at 3am and were pretty regular straight away. I was in two minds whether to ring the hospital but decided to take a warm bath and try and relax. By 5.30am I rang the hospital to let them know what was going on and they said to stick at home and wait until the contractions are unbearable and then ring back. I rang them at 11am and then 1pm too and was finally allowed to go into the hospital. In the mean time I went for a walk and bounded on my yoga ball which seemed to get things going a bit!

We went into hospital at 2/3pm and I was examined and was 3cm dilated which wasn't a bad start and they were happy to keep me in (phew!) we had a walk around the hospital which really picked up the contractions and I was given a heat pack which I found helped take the edge off the pain! I was examined again 4 hours later to find I was only at 4cm which was frustrating as I was in so much pain! The midwife gave me a sweep at the same time and at this point I lost my mucus plug gradually and the contractions got so much more intense so we had another walk around the hospital and then took a bath. I'd put on my birthing plan that I'd like to use the birthing pool so we were moved rooms into the pool room which was lovely.

I started on the gas and air and got in the pool and it wasn't much longer before I was ready to push there was no stopping it! I was pushing for just over an hour and although so uncomfortable I found this the easiest part especially in the water! Our little boy came into the world at 11.59pm and the birth was exactly what I had planned! I really thought I was going to need the epidural but I didn't have it and i am so proud of myself for going natural! I have so much respect to every mum out there who has brought a baby Into the world (with or without pain relief) and I want to thank everyone on <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.glow.android.nurture">nurture</a> for the advice and stories during my pregnancy it has been the most amazing experience! Good luck to all mums out there and to those who are waiting for their little ones arrival, do not panic and just think about the end result it is so worth it 😍😍 George Oliver Andreou, 8lb 1oz 💙