I knw straight away that the first person I would be calling to tell the news would be my mum, Sharon, I also knew without doubt that she would be my midwife even though she left the decision to us.

Sharon ( Mum) was my sisters midwife also and I knew that even though I am her daughter I would be given professional and impartial advice to any questions we had. My partner, Adam and I were unsure about breastfeeding and the importance of anti D, as I am rhesus negative. We were able to talk through all of these issues at any stage we needed to and make informed decisions for when the time came.

I know I can be a massive wimp at times and am also needle phobic so I was getting myself into a bit of a state about the thought of blood tests and the birth, but my mum was so great at making me feel at ease that I had no problems when it was decided that regular blood tests were needed towards the end of my pregnancy as i had blown up to the size of an elephant and there was a worry of pre eclampsia. We had already decided that we would have a waterbirth at home and as our flat was too small it was agreed that when the time came we would be at my mum's house.

Just before my due date I was advised that pineapple would help bring on my labour, I wasn't informed, however, that it needed to be fresh pineapple and I had been force feeding myself the tinned stuff for nearly a week! The day after my due date I went to my mums house to spend time with my family and eat the real thing. We went out for a long walk through the woods near to the house with my brothers and sister. About an hour and a half later we came home and I was exhausted and got in the bath.

As I stood up to get out of the bath, I felt a pop and my waters had broken! I called my mum up the stairs who reassured me everything was fine and that we would wait for the pains to begin. I came down into the kitchen and as i got there I felt my chest tightening and I was having a panic attack because I was scared about what was happening to my body. Mum just put her arms around me, calmed me down and made me a cup tea. The simple act of making tea reassured me that there was nothing to worry about and I would be ok. Mum was unfaltering in her manner and because she was taking it all in her stride and there was no panic I felt able to tell her exactly what was happening with my pain which started about half an hour after my waters broke. As it was my first baby, things were taking their time and mum made the call to my partner to be prepared with my bag and Peter Kay dvd.

Mum examined me on the sofa and I was two centemetres dialated so she arranged for Adam to come on over as it was going to being to be a long night and I would need his support and we went up to bed for some sleep. I tried to sleep but the pains became so intense that I decided to get back in the bath which at this point was cold but I didn't care! My sister arrived and was downstairs helping to set up the pool and Adam called my mum up the stairs who was covered in water as the hose had come off the tap and gotten everyone wet. Despite this she took one look at me and asked if she could examine me, I didn't want to get out of the bath but she couldn't examine me in there although she did try! By the time I was back on the bed I was now eight centemetres. Mum went down to finish the pool with my sister and the second midwife, Jill. I tried again to get some sleep but needed the toilet so Adam helped me onto the toilet and it was at that point that I started to feel the need to push. Adam was totally freaked out by the noises I was making and I must have been loud too because my mum appeared at the door and sat infront of me and could see the head. As soon as I heard this I began to panic again and mum calmed me down once more and talked me off the toilet as we didn't want him born into the pan! I tried all sorts of positions to get comfortable and to help the pain as I hadn't had any form of pain relief except a couple of blasts of gas and air. Mum noticed that my baby was back to back and that was what was making the pain in my back so intense and the pushing exhausting. During all this time she was very calming and supportive, alway's ready with words of encouragement when they were needed and words of strength when I needed the last burst of energy for the final push.

My son was born at 6.45am and was placed straight onto my chest and with my mum as my midwife rather than my support I felt safe and secure in the knowledge that every decision was made in a professional way and had everything explained to both Adam and I as it was happening. My lasting memory will be looking up at my mum and feeling so proud to have had her share the most precious moment in my life and I can't wait for the next time!

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