I've read so many birth stories on here while pregnant so thought I'd share mine, especially for anyone planning a home birth.
We'd planned it all. Pool in the living room, fairy lights, playlist. Contractions started at 2am on a Tuesday at 40+4. Midwives arrived about 9am and I was 5cm. Got in the pool, it was honestly lovely for a few hours.
By the afternoon progress had stalled and his heart rate started dipping with contractions. The midwife was very calm and said she wanted to transfer us in. I cried getting into the ambulance, not because I was scared but because I felt like I'd failed at the plan.
At the hospital it turned out he was back to back and stuck. They tried forceps in theatre and it didn't work, so it ended up as a section. He came out at 9:14pm, 8lb 2oz, yelling.
Three weeks on and I'm still processing it. The midwives and the theatre team were wonderful and I'd do it all the same way again, but I wasn't prepared for how sad I'd feel about not getting the birth I'd planned.
Anyway. He's perfect. He's asleep on my chest as I type this with one hand.