[JarBax]

My labour was very short too - between four and five hours.

It was Christams day, my grandparents and family were seated around the Christmas table, we'd just started soup, having opened the crackers. Interestingly I got a stopwatch in my cracker, and used it for half an hour, as I was aware that either I had acute diarrhoea, or was in labour!!! After several trips to the loo for the former, the stop watch let me know that as the contractions were coming every 4 minutes, I was indeed starting labour!!

You have your head screwed on, whilst not knowing what'll happen, I know you will handle it in about as sureheaded a calm manner as possible!

My friend and neighbour is a school nurse (a heart ward nurse at the time of her kiddos). Her daughter was breech, and she made the decision to have a cesarean, even though turning the baby was a feasable possibility. Not a decision I would have chosen, but she has had two by c-section now, and wouldn't have had it any other way.

My cousin is like me - a bit of an 'earth mother', but because of tiny pelvic proportions, has had both her daughters by cesarean too. (The first after a 30 hour labour).

Both made swift recoveries, with minimal discomfort. My cousin would have liked a natural delivery, but realised that the health of her babies came first. She expected to feel more disappointed and guilty that she didn't do it naturally - but their health during delivery was ultimately most important, banishing any other feelings completely.

I know that there was a brief moment when I didn't think I could continue with the pushing business, but when the midwife began to sound a bit anxious, and said that I must push, and NOW - some primal instinct came over, and I PUSHED!!!

I know what I'm trying to say, though maybe not putting it across very well! I know that you really would rather not have a c-section, but know that if that is what is going to be the best for your baby, there is no alternative! I do hope that things go exactly as planned though!!!