Sara's Birth Story

She's fab and it was an amazing birth and I had amazing people, including the utterly amazing Marcia who was, yes you've guessed it, amazing!

No, I wasn't on gas and air, or anything at all, just truly had an amazing day and before the mad established labour kicked in and I was having strong but bearable contractions it was the best feeling in the world.

I could feel my pelvis expanding, feel her moving down with each contraction, the sun was shining, I had my man and Mars and a lovely midwife and it was really enjoyable.

So shall I start from the very beginning? It's quite funny.

Well Dom left for work and not a minute later I felt the pop as I sat forward and my waters went.

I straddled this tub of washing in my room and got on the phone with Eve standing pointing saying 'oh look mummy wee wee'. 17 missed calls later and I began to panic he'd get on the fast train into Farringdon and miss the birth!

SO - I threw on this black velvet robe thing which is slashed to both thighs, donned my flip flops, tore out in the rain, banged on the neighbours door and shouted at her 'waters have broken, Dom's headed into town, watch the girls' and ran to the car.

I drove to the station like a mad woman, drove into the no entry bit, left car parked madly outside station and ran in. Shouted at the guard -my waters are breaking and my husband is on the platform, let me on'. He opened the gate and me in my long slashed robe and flip flops, holding the bump run down the platform trying to find him.

Was slightly aware of a lot of open mouths and wide eyes. No Dom though.

Ran back to ticket office and screamed 'do an announcement' so they did and a man on the platform shouted 'he's coming, love, he's coming'. Dom appeared with a mad grin and we tore off home.

No real contractions had kicked in but we began inflating pool and then realised a day /pool birth and Lottie and Eve weren't going to work so Dom took girls to my mums.

Midwife arrived, had tea etc, Mars arrived had sandwich and then at 3pm I was allowed into the pool.

Mars says I had a silent labour, by which we mean I just breathed through the contractions and then at just before 4.40pm I started to feel the real pressure to push and got bit loud. Mars reminded me to breathe the baby out and thank God she did as I thought I was going to get into a panic at this stage but she calmed me right down and I did just that, I breathed her out.

Then I heard the midwife say 'catch her' so I reached down and she swam up into my arms. It was the best feeling in the world and I'm crying typing it.

She is perfect. And a girl and ohhhh the world is just wonderful.

She was born at 4.40pm weighing 7lb 1.5oz, is feeding really well, and her sisters are so bloody cute with her it's heartbreaking!

No stitches, no grazing, nothing, just bliss.

Not even started to think of a name but we'll let you know.

At the moment she's just angel child, because that's what she is.

I'm in love and so lucky and everything is great.

But an especially huge thanks to Marcia. You were amazing, just a wonderful presence to have in the room with me, I'm so pleased you were there and my daughter is a lucky girl to have had someone like you at her birth.  And the offer to stay and make lemon drizzle cake was just lovely and won't be forgotten.