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Well it all started with a chicken madras on Friday (when I was 37 weeks pg and therefore "full term"), and a chicken tikka "sizzle and stir" on saturday night My sister was staying over and heading back to Guernsey on sunday lunchtime, so I was cutting it a bit fine to have the twins before she left.
Ok, for the serious stuff. As with Kathryn, I started with a mild ache and waters breaking, but it wasn't so very gushy, and as I was carrying twins my pelvic floor had totally flopped, so I was used to legging it to the loo every couple of hours during the night and being lucky to make it in time. I'd made my usual dash around 7, and needed to go again at 8:13, which was a little unusual, but was heading back to bed and needed to go again, so I stayed in the bathroom wondering if things were starting to happen. Soon I was getting harder contractions and thought this was definitely going to be it, so called to hubby to get my labour bag. Meanwhile Kathryn had woken as usual and wanted her breakfast, so hubby asked if I wanted some too. I had my breakfast in the bathroom, as I figured I'd need my energy if this was going to be it for the next 5-6 hours. DH got my TENS machine out for me. He never did get to eat his own breakfast. He got Kathryn's and my sister's ready then started making phone calls. My MIL (DH's first emergency call) had just arrived at Brick Lane market on the other side of London, and had to turn straight round and get back before my sister left for the airport. I meanwhile was trying to time my contractions, and failing miserably. I ended up writing some times on a piece of paper at 9:20-9:30 when the ambulance arrived. By this stage I was only 2mins apart, going down to 1.5mins as the paramedics came upstairs. They were a bit worried about me having time to get to the hospital but as no midwife was on their way over this time, I told them to just get me there in between contractions. Nick found my robe and they helped me downstairs. They wanted me to climb on the trolley to go down the path, but this was a bit awkward, so I told them I'd rather walk rather than faff around. I then had to wait for them to load the trolley and climb in after it. Although I would have prefered to be on all fours, I had to lie on my side, as that was the only way I wouldn't fall off the trolley as they winged it round the bends and over Chertsey bridge (hump backed!). Got whisked straight into the hospital and down to the biggest delivery room. Went past a lovely pregnant tour group and waved royally. I suppose I should have been crying out in agony, but I found it amusing.
Anyway, can't remember much of the next 45 mins, except there was a fair flurry of people. Nice midwife, 2nd midwife was the same as at Kathryn's home birth, and then the 2 paediatricians. The registrar turned up dressed smart-casual, looking out-of-place, and I said "'oo are you?" accusingly. He was probably the most senior person in the wing and I treated him like scum! There was also an obstetrician who I remember a lot as he was telling me I ought to have the hormone drip and an epidural needle. We did spend an awful lot of time arguing or rather he kept saying "let us help you". What with an epidural? Didn't want that. Had a fair bit of gas and air, mostly to chew on the mouthpiece. Felt like I did more pushes this time to get Mark out, and I apparently had a 1 degree tear, but the midwife descibed it as a nick because Mark had his hand near his face at birth. Didn't feel at all sore from it though. So 10:30 and I could have a bit of a rest.
Several times they asked me to go on my back to check various things, which was a bit of a palava. After Mark was born, I went on my back for the manipulation to get Aiden head first, and ended up having Aiden back to back. They like to get the second twin out within half an hour, but Aiden took 50 mins. I asked if they could wait to see if my contractions restarted by themselves, and again to see if my waters broke again automatically rather than then having a go with the crochet hook. It was much harder pushing Aiden and I was a lot more tired. They started complaining it was taking too long and they wanted to try some form of intervention. I said ok, I'll hoist myself up more upright from being on all fours and gave a really big push which was enough to get Aiden out, and they then realised he was back to back (hence the time taken).
Still I just had to wait for the placenta and it was all over. A few hard tugs and a couple of pushes. Worst bit was definitely the long needle they stuck in my arm for the drip, and I wasn't happy having to have a crochet hook either. I cried mostly when they took the needle out (I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to needles, but I can push a baby out no problem!)
Yes my sister did have just enough time to pop in on her way round to Gatwick to see the twins and make it to the plane on time! After a spot of hospital lunch, and a leisurely stroll down the corridoor for a bath, I felt ready to go home, but it took 30 hours to escape from hospital.