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It was about 8pm and Dale had cooked a nice tea, Broken wrist and all bless him, But I really didn’t fancy eating anything, This was the exact same thing that happened with Lewis, I lost my appetite, the next clue was that I had an upset tummy. So I thought things might be happening soon, well tomorrow anyway, not tonight. I had been getting Zillions of Braxton Hicks for about two weeks, really massive ones that made it difficult to breathe. I was still getting them but now they were accompanied by a band of pain, like a strong period pain round my abdomen and back and a bit achy down my legs. And about every 10 minutes but not very regular and not lasting long. I decided I was probably in early labour and in it for the long haul. (Little did I know)
My parents who are about 45 minutes drive away are on standby to look after Lewis, and they have a bag packed ready to fly over, I had been voicing my concerns to my mum about it might happen quick, and at ridiculous O clock, But no one ever listens to me. I rang them and said maybe they better not drink tonight, as you never know I might need them over.
So I went to bed and tried to get some sleep, But I was getting these pains every 10 minutes or so, and they were getting stronger. Every time I was about to doze off another one. Dale was in the other room getting some sleep so I decided I’d be better walking around. So for 2 more hours I walked circles around the living room, they were probably about 5 minutes apart. And getting very painful, I decided I didn’t want to be alone anymore, so I’d go and lie next to Dale and breathe through the pains. But I woke him straight away, “OMG It’s happening isn’t it” “Yup” “Better call your folks then.” So this was 1 am. Got poor Mum and dad up and they were on their way over. Pains were only a couple of minutes apart, and lasting ages, But we couldn’t go as Lewis was in bed, and I didn’t want to get him up, Dale rang my parents – “Where are you”…..Halfway. He was going to run and get the neighbour, But I said No I’ll be okay, (I didn’t mean it I just didn’t want the neighbour to see me with no knickers on screaming with pain) *Massive* pains are 1 minute apart and lasting 1 minute, Oh dear. Suddenly waters went with a crash (all over living room carpet) and then Mum and Dad arrive,
My mum came in and took one look at me and sent my dad out of the room, She reckoned her and Dale were delivering the baby on the floor here and now. But we had other ideas. Ran to the car, nearly got there ran back inside to have another massive contraction (didn’t want the neighbours to hear me) ran back to the car got on all fours in the back. Mum said take these old (Clean) dog towels for her waters. So off we sped (what a pair of dip sticks – when I think of it now) the hospital is about 6 miles away, and we got about 3 miles and 3 huge pushy type contractions, when I remembered about the panting thing, I’m trying to pant, and with one humungous contraction I put my hand down below, “Dale I can feel the head its coming” so he starts going faster, I can feel the head coming downwards bulging into my hand. I don’t think I’m pushing, But my body is and there’s nothing I can do about it!! “Dale stop its coming out now!” so he pulls over on the side of a roundabout and rushes round to the back door, I turn onto my back, I haven’t got much room because of Lewis Car seat. And Dale says “The heads out, I said to Dale “Do you know what to do????” and he yells back “nooooo” He tells me ”your going to have to really push” so two almighty pushes….. shoulders out, and out baby gushes, Dale passes him up to me, he cries immediately that was a relief, we wrapped him up in the dog towels (Good old mum) and I held him close, he’s still attached so I am having to hold him down low, It was so scary, Just us out in the cold and dark with no professionals and a new wet nude baby. We decided rather than call an ambulance that we’d carry on the few miles to hospital. I was in the back, And It suddenly occurred to me what sex? So I unwrapped a bit and had a peek, “It’s a boy Dale” And then I phoned my parents on the mobile “I’ve had him in the car Dad!” They were worried that we weren’t going to make it.
We did an article for the Local Echo paper which was fun and I wanted it for Evans keepsake box, And we got talked into doing a slot on the Meridian Tonight news show, But then the BBC rang and it was starting to get a bit intrusive so we said no thanks. It was only supposed to be a bit of fun. Now things have quietened down so we are just getting used to being 4. Evan is super eater and super sleeper, But I’m not fooled I know It will probably all change.
Oh and Dale had to take out the car seats and hose and disinfect them clean on the patio. It looked like he’d done away with someone Pulp Fiction style. And it took 4 days to get the seats dry.