As promised, the first of what I feel confident will be many, many picutres are available for viewing over at the Gallery.

I'm not going into all the gory details, but for those who want to know:

I had a slight fall on Thursday, which may well have triggered things off. I slipped on the stairs, sliding on my bottom and grazing my elbow. No harm to Baby but a bit of a jolt for us both.

All day Friday I was getting regular and strongish Braxton Hicks contractions, fairly regular, but not progressing into anything more.

Friday evening the real contractions started - or at least the others got strong enough for me not to be able to sleep and to have to breathe through them. James and I were up until 2am, at which point they tailed gradually off and we gave up and went to bed. (Still, it was a good excuse to finally watch the Concert for George!)

The contractions woke me again at about 5:30am yesterday. They were stronger again and fairly regular- started 30 minutes apart, dropping through 20, 15 to ten or under. Then they got a bit irregular. They'd drop to fairly close, then they slowed down again. We called the midwife who told us to call again when they were regularly down to 5 minutes apart.

By about mid morning they had closed up but when the midwife got here they'd slowed down again. I was partially dilated but Baby was the wrong way round (facing front instead of back) and quite high, so the midwife left me with instructions to walk around lots.

We went for a walk around the park and took Alix on the swings. James' Mum had arrived in the early hours (as I was trying to decide which I hated more, contractions or vomiting) and was helping with Alix so I could alternate leaning on her or James through the contractions. The walk certainly helped as by the time we got back the contractions were under 5 minutes apart and heavy enough for me to be asking for pain relief.

The midwife returned, confirmed that Baby had turned and dropped, that I was further dilated and, because things had been dragging on a bit, she broke my waters to speed things up. This worked because the contractions continued to increase in intensity and frequency.

Thank goodness for Etonox (gas and air)! I went through four canisters - apparently - I wasn't actually counting myself. It doesn't get rid of the pain but it really takes the edge off, particularly the earlier ones. You get pretty woozy after each contraction though, so I recommend a birthing partner to lean against!

I spent most of the labour upright. Last time, with Alix, I was restricted to lying on the bed which was very painful and uncomfortable. It was a lot easier being able to stand and James makes a very good leaning post.

I just realised I haven't mentioned that we managed to stay at home through all of this. James' Mum took Alix out grocery shopping during the earlier part of the labour and when they got back Alix was tired and so she went down for a nap - and slept right through the delivery!

Eventually things took their course and I had to re-learn how to push. It's true, you do forget about this side of labour and I'm not going to write in too much detail while this is still fresh in my mind because I don't want to remember it too clearly! Suffice to say you are torn (literally in my case) between the reluctance to push completely because it hurts so much and the need to push completely to get the contractions over because they hurt so much. Fun!

I do remember the relief as Baby emerged, though, the sudden release from pain. Wonderful!

And the emotion on holding my Baby. And learning that she is a little Tiphaine. And seeing her Daddy hold her for the first time. And introducting her to her big sister. And ringing my parents and hearing my Mother crying down the phone, which set me off again. I must have spent the first hour in tears, on and off. Amazing.

Finally, I am sore and extremely tired. I threw up for what was hopefully the last time after the birth - probably an after-effect of the gas - and I had stitches so I'm a little sore there. Not as sore as I remember being after Alix though. I am getting strong cramps as my womb contracts - thank goodness for hot water Ermintrude's and paracetamol. I keep getting trapped wind as I did with Alix over the first few days, but hot water works a treat and I can drink fruit tea by the gallon now.

And I've breastfed Tiphaine. It's like riding a bike - it all came back really quickly. I'm a little sore I need to toughen up again but it seems to be going really well and I'm a bit more confident than last time. It's lovely to be breastfeeding again.

Tiphaine is currently asleep in her cot. She's had a couple of nappy changes - both pooey! She woke a few times in the night, once for a feed, once for a change and a couple of times for a cuddle and because she was a little cool. But in between we both got some sleep, which was lovely. We're currently taking it easy and waiting for her to wake up so that the whole changing-feeding-cuddling cycle can begin again. Ain't life grand!

Well, it's twenty past eight in the morning. I won't pretend I'm not totally shattered or fairly sore, but...

I'm out of bed without needing to be sick or spit or stick chewing gum in my mouth.

I've washed and changed and combed my hair so I feel a little more human.

I've washed and dressed Alix and played with her and done her hair.

James, Alix and I had breakfast together!

Toto, I don't think I'm pregnant any more!

Tiphaine Marguerite-Marie Le Marchant Dane
3.5Kg (7lb11oz)
54cm (crown to heel)
Born at home 17:01 September 11th 2004.

Pictures to follow.

O Great Saint Gerard, beloved servant of Jesus Christ, perfect imitator of thy meek and humble Saviour, and devoted Child of the Mother of God: enkindle within my heart one spark of that heavenly fire of charity which glowed in thine and made thee a seraph of love.

O glorious Saint Gerard, because when falsely accused of crime, thou didst bear, like thy Divine Master, without murmur or complaint, the calumnies of wicked men, thou hast been raised up by God as the Patron and Protector of expectant mothers. Preserve me from danger and from the excessive pains accompanying childbirth, and shield the child which I now carry, that it may see the light of day and receive the lustral waters of baptism, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

We saw the midwife this morning. Not a great day. I was actually sick first thing, which I'm not every day. Then after having some crackers, twenty minutes before my appointment, I threw up everything I'd eaten so far (crackers and drink), violently. I had planned to walk to the surgery but was feeling too ill so had to call James for a lift.

We saw the midwife as planned, and surprisingly this was a midwife we had already seen (last visit but one) so we've actually seen one midwife more than once! She pretty much confirmed everything so far. Baby is not fully engaged. However, this could happen as labour starts - it can happen quite quickly in second and third pregnancies, apparently.

Everything seems to be well, other than the fact that I am still pregnant and still ill with it. I have another appointment for next Wednesday when, if I am still pregnant, I will be over the due date and so will get a referral to the hospital clinic for the following week. Once there, we'll discuss induction. I hope it won't come to that because I've heard some horror stories and that would also scupper our plans for a home birth. Alix was born the day after her due date, so I'm hoping this baby will come close to the due date also.

I'm feeling totally depressed this afternoon again, after trying really hard to be positive all of yesterday. I'm so tired of being ill and really would like to be back to normal again - to be able to eat normally. It also doesn't help when Alix decides it will be amusing to pretend she is throwing up into her bucket of bricks when asked to tidy away. She shouldn't even be aware of that but for it to be something routine for her... it's horrible.

It should be easier, knowing that the end is in sight, but in some ways it's harder because nothing's happening and this is just dragging on and on. I wish it was all over.

...and, quite frankly, it's getting boring. Anyone know any reliable ways of getting labour started? And keep it clean - this is a family site, don't you know!

So this week is National Pregnancy Week. Seems like as good a week as any to give bitrth, wouldn't you say?

I'm suddenly realising how much nicer the prefix "post" is than the prefix "ante"!

I saw the GP this morning. Just a routine check-up: these are now weekly in the last stages of the pregnancy. He confirmed that Baby is partially engaged, although not fully. However, he did say that in many cases the baby only becomes fully engaged when labour commences.

There's nothing else new to report. Everyone is being very sympathetic because they all appreciate (if only because they've listened to me complaining) how frustrating these last few days are. Roll on the birth...

Not quite yet. Although I can't help but feel that we're not far off this phrase being used. Claire is now huge, and really looking forward to not being pregnant, being a relatively normal shape (takes a couple of weeks to shrink everything back, you see), being able to eat normally, and above all (I think) being able to cuddle the little (although I am not sure little is the right word anymore) bump that is currently Barry properly.

Alix has taken to patting Barry and saying things like 'come on Baby, time to come out now'. Claire is now willing labour to hold on until Wednesday at least (meaning that the baby will be into September and hence older rather than younger in his/her school year), but is happy for Barry to make a grand entrance any time from then on.

I've been a little bit too tired to do anything for the last week. Work has ramped up a bit and I've done some long hours. On top of that I am having to make sure that others know what I'm working on so that if I disappear for a couple of weeks things aren't just put on hold. Hopefully things will calm down a little this coming week - we had a virus outbreak at the end of last week and I've spent long periods this weekend on the phone to a colleague who has been in the office resolving it - combine that with a few good nights sleep and I think I'll be ready for Barry too. That said, the birth can't come too soon now...