If you’ve read my first birth story, you would have read that it was a quick labour! Well they say ‘if your first was quick, your second will be even quicker!’ They weren’t wrong!


Sunday 18th February was my last working day before I began maternity leave. This gave me a week free before my due date or so I thought! We all went to bed as normal that evening and had no idea what was about to happen! 


I woke up at 3am with a sharp pain and I desperately needed a wee so off I went to the toilet. As I sat down, I felt and heard a pop! I thought oh my gosh! This is it! But nothing happened. I waited a few minutes and then stood up and still nothing happened. So I went back to bed. It got to about 3.20am and I couldn’t settle so thought I’ll just go for another wee - I stood up and all of a sudden I felt like a gush on its way so I quickly walked to the bathroom, trying to hold my legs together and my waters literally went everywhere! I then stood over the toilet as they just kept coming and I froze. I didn’t know what to do, my pyjamas were soaked and the floor was a puddle! So I shouted to my husband, ‘My waters have broke!’ To which he replied, ‘I know, I heard’ Haha! I grabbed a towel and started mopping up the water whilst shouting ‘we need to ring the hospital and we need to ring my sister! What order do we do it in?!’ I walked back into the bedroom, laughing because of the trail of water from the bedroom to the bathroom, and the contractions just started coming every 5 minutes! We got through to the hospital and they said come straight to the birthing unit! I remember the lady talking on the phone asking me questions and I had to keep pausing because of the contractions! It felt like very hard work! Meanwhile my husband was trying to get through to my sister but ended up ringing his parents instead to come over and look after Oscar. They live 15/20 minutes away and then the hospital is another 50 minutes away and I just remember thinking, am I even going to make it to the hospital?! My father in law arrived and we were all good to go! 

A black and white hospital scene showing a birthing moment with medical professionals attending to a patient on a bed.
A black and white photo shows a joyful moment between parent and newborn baby resting together.
A tender black and white photograph shows a newborn infant resting peacefully on their parent in a hospital room.

The journey to the hospital seemed like it was the most bumpiest and longest drive ever! The contractions were coming every 2-3 minutes and lasting for about a minute and I really thought I was going to have to give birth in the car. We finally got to the hospital at about 4.45am but I couldn’t move out the car! I was having a contraction but really thought that if I’d stand up, then the baby would be about to make an appearance! But he didn’t, he held on, just!


We eventually got to the birthing unit, and I it was so peaceful. The midwife showed me to a room, which was actually the same room I had Oscar in, but it had been transformed into a proper room this time and not a storage cupboard haha! I remember the midwife being so calm and chilled and I was ready to push this baby out. I kept telling them I needed to push but I felt like they weren’t really listening. I know my body and I know that’s what I needed to do! My husband had to go and move the car into a carpark as we had just parked in the drop off space and I felt so anxious because I didn’t want him to miss the birth! The midwife was like yes you’ve got enough time, me on the other hand wasn’t so sure! When he left, a student midwife came in and wanted to try and listen to the baby’s heartbeat on my tummy, whilst I was having contractions and of course she couldn’t find it as the baby was right down, ready to come out! I was on the bed, off the bed - nothing felt right. My husband came back and I just wanted to take my jeans off - like my body was ready! A good bit of information here - don’t wear skinny jeans when in labour! I now have memories of my husband Niall and the student midwife trying to pull my legs out whilst I’m sat on the edge of the bed breathing through a contraction! But finally they were off! I got onto the bed and the other midwife came back in and asked if I was ok to let her examine me - I was like ‘yes go for it, I just need to push! Let me push!’ She examined me and guess what? I was 10cm and I was allowed to push! It’s only taken me 30 minutes to explain that to them! 


My birth plan was to have a water birth. I couldn’t have one with Oscar due to medical reasons but as my birth was straight forward with no complications, I fought hard for a water birth with this pregnancy. The health professionals all gave me their opinions but at the end of the day, it was my decision and I trusted my body, so I requested one. The doctors and midwives all communicated with each other and they were putting extra training in place for all staff members on how to deal with emergencies that happen in the pool. I did feel guilty that all of this was having to happen just because of me but I just keep thinking, this might be our last baby and this could be my final chance. A part of me did think that it probably won’t happen because it’ll probably be a quick birth again but at least I knew that that plan was in place if it wasn’t quick.

Black and white photo showing a person in labor during childbirth while being supported by their birth partner at bedside.
A newborn baby lies on a digital scale during their first medical checkup, with a glowing lamp visible in the background.
A newborn baby in white swaddle rests on an adult's chest in a black and white hospital scene.
A person in a gray sweater sits in a turquoise armchair while holding an infant wrapped in white blankets.
A gray plush bunny toy sits beside a newborn wrapped in a white blanket in a hospital bassinet.
A person wearing a dark sweater leans over a hospital bassinet containing swaddled blankets and medical supplies.

Fast forward - nope, there was no time at all to have a water birth! I was gutted but sort of knew deep down it wasn’t going to happen. As I was now ‘allowed’ to push, the midwife went to get me the gas and air whilst the student midwife took over. She was amazing! With Oscar’s birth, I tore really badly and I was so worried about tearing again (which was one of the reasons i also wanted a water birth) that she offered to use a warm wet towel on me ‘down there’ to help ‘soothe’ as she knew I couldn’t have a water birth which I thought was really caring. A doctor also came in the room to check everything was ok and apparently he stayed in the room the whole time, just observing and I didn’t even know but it put my husband at ease knowing there was someone there incase anything was to happen. Anyway these contractions were so painful. I was squeezing nialls hand so hard, I was certain I was breaking his bones! I kept telling myself, as soon as the heads out, it’ll be fine. But the head was literally just taking its time and the pain was awful! I remember thinking, I’m never having another baby again! The student midwife also said to me as soon as you’ve pushed his head out, just to stop and take a minute so he doesn’t come out too quickly (which can lead to tearing). Anyway I finally pushed his head out and all was ok in the world! It was like everything just stopped anyway and i was trying to focus really hard on not pushing baby out too fast to which I then said out loud, ‘I know this sounds strange but could my husband take a photo please before I push the rest of baby out?!’ The midwife didn’t find it weird at all and actually took on the job herself leaving my husband to carrying on supporting me. Everything else that was left about the delivery was just so calm - I pushed him out, along with a lot more water, and so at 5.44am, Elliott Christopher was born into the world weighing 8lbs 1oz. He was placed on me, and he was beautiful! He had so much hair! I was so relieved that he had arrived safely, that the labour was done and there were no emergencies! I was still so anxious trying to find out if I had torn but the student midwife had to get a second opinion from a consultant. Luckily, I didn’t need any stitches and I was so thankful to the student as I think her idea with the warm flannel helped a lot! 


After we’d had a few minutes to breathe and take in everything, the midwife said she had actually took a few videos on Nialls phone as well as some photos! I didn’t even think about videoing it but honestly, I’m so happy and grateful that she had as it’s the most empowering and emotional video I’ve ever watched. To see myself push a baby out is just out of this world! Like my body just did all that. I’m really self conscious but seeing what my body is capable of just makes me feel incredible. 


Compared to Oscar’s birth, yes it was faster but it felt a lot harder. The contractions felt like they were never going to end and the pain was a lot more intense! But I kept telling myself, the contractions will come to an end and I will get through it. I was also 6 years older with Elliott so I think that was a big factor. 

Two people resting peacefully on a gray daisy-patterned bedspread with one wearing a turquoise top and the other in yellow.
A baby wearing a yellow knitted dress and matching yellow hat sleeps peacefully in a black car seat.
Two people sleeping peacefully on a gray floral patterned bedspread, one in a mint green outfit and one in yellow.

Are we going to have anymore? Hmm maybe? Maybe not! I’m just savouring every single moment with Elliott as he could be our last and I don’t want to wish time away. I’m soaking it all up, I’m taking all the photos and recording every little detail. I’m trying to be more present with both boys (which is really hard being back at work now) but we’re doing alright. I’m also still trying to find a work home balance so if you have any tips, please let me know! 


Anyway, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this! I’m writing this laying in bed with Oscar on one side of me and Elliott on the other, thinking to myself, how lucky am I to be a mum to these beautiful little boys! 


Daisy x