Our baby girl arrived a little early on the 25th at 5:30 in the morning. I had had an increase in Braxton Hicks for two days prior but not painful really.

On the 24th I did start thinking labor could be soon but like still a day or so away as contractions weren't super regular for very long and not painful. Around 10 or 11pm I started to feel more pangs and more cramping. I was kind of hoping I might wake up around 7 or 8 the next day in labor and calmly go to the hospital. I did feel a bit nauseous and very awake so I started to time some of the contractions as I tried to fall asleep. Contractions were around 9 mins apart but again, very much like my Braxton Hicks but more cramping. I couldn't sleep so I went to the living room and put a movie on. I was getting annoyed with myself for not sleeping when around 2:30 am, all the sudden I felt two really sharp stabbing pains, this is when things went crazy. I had one really painful contraction that felt like it lasted forever. I went to the second bedroom where I could move and make some noise. I quickly had a second contraction equally painful and a third. I realised they were coming very quickly I was remembering the recommendation to try an hour with contractions under 5m apart but thank God I didn't wait. At 3am I woke my partner when the pain was beyond what I thought possible so quickly and contractions were every three minutes approx.

Around 4 or 4:30 am I was on a monitor at the hospital at 6cm dialated and I started to ask when I could get an epidural. I always wanted an epidural and did not prepare at all for a natural birth. I had no idea how to breathe or pass the pain that was now so breaking me. The worst pain was in my lower pack.

They said we would go up to the room after the monitor and they would put the epidural in as soon as we were up there. We got up to the room and the team was waiting to put in epidural and I was beyond ready for it. First they had to check the progress again. The gyno checked and said I was complete and we had to go now. They said I was not going to get an epidural. I started to freak out as I was really unsure how much more pain I could take but the nurses were great and also, there wasn't another option. So they quickly rolled me down to the birthing room. They kept telling me the worst was over , that getting gto 10 is the worst and I think that's true. I almost couldn't switch beds as it was time to push and I could barely move. I stopped trying to control my reaction to the pain and just let go. My gyno still hadn't arrived but I had to start pushing, just after I started pushing she came through the door. I am told I was only pushing a few minutes but I only remember my screaming and the relief when she was finally out. I didn't remember my water breaking and they said it didn't break until she was out.

Wonderful Lydia is in perfect health and was born with 3.3kg . We are tired and I'm still digesting my experience but if I have another pregnancy, which I don't think I will, I will be heading to the emergency room even if I just suspect labor lol. Thank God it was comparatively fast!