There was something I’d been dreading but now, as I dashed to hospital, events took a more dramatic turn. By Loren Cash, 25
It was 1.30am and just as I was nodding off, I felt something.
‘Andy,’ I hissed to my partner. ‘I think it’s happening!’
But he was already in a deep sleep and barely replied as I waddled off to the bathroom.
I was a week overdue with our second daughter who we’d already decided to call Luna.
Andy and I didn’t have family nearby so, when I went into labour, the plan was for him to drop me at the hospital so he could go home and look after our eldest, 20-month-old Nova.
Nova’s birth had been pretty intense — I’d turned up at hospital screaming in pain, only to be told I was just 1cm dilated and needed to go back home — and the truth was, I was dreading giving birth alone.
But this time I reckoned I had time on my side.
I ran a bath and had a long soak, breathing through each contraction.
When I got out, they were six minutes apart, but still bearable.
But by 5am, the pain was pretty full on and the contractions closer together so I said to Andy: ‘It’s time I went to hospital.’
I called the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend and a midwife said: ‘Come straight in.’
I changed into some leggings and a jumper, and headed downstairs.
Andy followed, carrying Nova.
But then I felt a popping sensation and a wet patch.
And I knew.
‘She’s coming!’ I shrieked to Andy.
‘Not yet she’s not!’ he replied, telling me to get into our black Ford Mondeo while he strapped Nova into her car seat.
I got into the passenger seat, then rang the hospital and put my phone on speaker.
'The baby's definitely coming'
‘The baby’s definitely coming,’ I panted. ‘And I might be bleeding…’
‘I’ll stay on the phone with you,’ the midwife replied. ‘Although, if she’s coming, it might be better to pull over and call an ambulance.’
Andy looked at me, but I shook my head.
‘No,’ I replied. ‘We’re coming to hospital.’
I was still confident I could make the 30-minute drive from our home in Maesteg, Bridgend, and with the midwife still on loudspeaker, we headed off.
‘Keep calm,’ Andy soothed when I cried out from another contraction.
‘I’m trying!’ I said through gritted teeth.
But the baby was trying to come out with each contraction, and it felt like I was sucking her back in!
Around 10 minutes in, came a contraction so powerful I couldn’t stop her any more.
‘She’s crowning!’ I cried.
‘Pull over,’ the midwife told Andy over the mobile.
‘I can’t!’ he replied. ‘We’re on the dual carriageway!’
With no other choice I used my right arm to lean on Andy, as he drove. Then I hoisted my backside off the passenger seat and with my other hand pulled my leggings and underwear down to my knees.
Almost immediately baby Luna’s head slipped out, followed by the rest of her!
She’d landed on the seat underneath me, but I couldn’t see or reach her.
I knew if I sat down again I’d squash her.
‘She’s out,’ I told Andy.
He quickly stole a glance at the seat, and his face went ashen.
It was only adrenaline giving me the strength to stay in my awkward squat and I was shaking with the effort.
'I'll stay on the phone with you'
After what seemed an eternity, but was probably five minutes, Andy finally pulled over at the railway station.
‘Get a towel and give baby a rub,’ the midwife called out.
Andy got the towel from my maternity bag, scrambled round to my side, then scooped Luna out from underneath me.
A moment later, at last, I heard her cry.
‘You OK, love?’ I asked, checking on Nova in the back, too.
Silent and wide-eyed, she looked as traumatised as I felt.
Andy hurriedly laid Luna in my arms and got back into the driver’s seat. Minutes later we pulled up at A&E where a huddle of midwives were waiting.
They cut the cord in the car, then took Luna inside to warm her up, before I was wheeled in too.
At 9lb 9.5 oz, Luna wasn’t small and I needed stitches.
Afterwards, Andy was briefly allowed to bring Nova in, then they went home.
It was only when he came back later that day that he shared his terrifying side of the story.
‘When we got to the station Luna was face down and blue,’ he told me, eyes welling. ‘She wasn’t moving and I thought the worst_…_’
At first Luna and I had to stay in the hospital because she was struggling with her breathing and feeding but six days on she was well enough to come home.
Seven weeks on, she’s none-the-worse for her dramatic entry and we all adore her.
I’m so thankful to all the staff and midwives who helped during the birth and in hospital.
I’d been so worried about giving birth without Andy, so in a way it was nice that he was there in the end.
But I definitely don’t ever want to do that again!