Following a very long and arduous labour with my first child, a daughter Ella, I remembered making a mental note that this had been the first and last time I would do this. Yet, there I was, less than two years later

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Assignment  1  October 2002

                                Jane Pilling                         

Following a very long and arduous labour with my first child, a daughter Ella, I remembered making a mental note that this had been the first and last time I would do this.  Yet, there I was, less than two years later at the onset of another labour with my second child.

Feeling frightened was an understatement.  The pain and difficulties I had experienced in the final stages with Ella had haunted me.  You know, people try to convince you that you will forget the pain afterwards.  I never did.  I remembered everything.

That morning had started like most, feeling very tired I wearily dragged myself from my bed.  Ella had been tearing around for the last half an hour, repeatedly requesting her morning milk. “Milk Mummy please”, I must have heard her request at least a dozen times within the last ten minutes. “Yes sweetie, in just a moment” was my consistent reply through a forced smile.

I must admit I wasn’t the most enthusiastic mother that morning.  I had been awake most of the night, my heavy load was aching and the heat I felt and radiated could have defrosted the Antarctic.   In addition I had tossed and turned trying to find the best position to comfort the whole of my expanding body, my husband Mark could have been forgiven for thinking I had ants in my pants!

My goal that morning was the same as most over that period.  I wanted Mark waved off to work and more importantly Ella dressed, fed and packed off to nursery school.  I needed quiet time. I didn’t have the energy to keep up with a child of nearly two, either mentally or physically.  Carrying additional weight of four stone takes some doing you know!

Once everyone was on his or her way and within minutes of embracing the emptiness of the house, I knew the time had come, my second child was on the way.

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I suppose like most people you go from past experiences.  I’d previously had a very slow starting and eventual twenty seven-hour labour.  So feeling those familiar twinges didn’t panic me, I would say I felt a sense of relief at this point.  However, I was sure this was it.

I decided to call Pam.  Pam is my sister - in – law who is married to my older brother Gavin. Since we both have girls of the same age we have become close friends and rely on each other very much.  I had arranged with Pam to look ...

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