DH and I went out for a nice dinner with another couple last night. I had a couple of good contractions at the restaurant, one in the car on the way home and a terrible back ache once I got home. As soon as we got in the door they were coming every 5 minutes, We called the midwife who came about 30 minutes later. It was a hard, but fast labour with not a lot of rest in between contractions. I spent an hour in the shower and then got into our jacuzzi tub. I wasn't comfortable sitting down when pushing so I had to stand up in the tub as he was being born. I caught him myself (with DH managing to hold me upright) and then sat back down where he promptly fell asleep and we had a good cuddle in the warm bath until the placenta came. The whole thing from walking through the door to baby in arms was about 2 hours. It was my hardest birth and the most painful by far of the three. Thank goodness it was short or I couldn't have carried on. He weighed 9 lbs 14oz and came out with his hand up over his face and his elbow across his chest (which is why I think it hurt so much). I didn't have any tears, which seems unbelievable to me with such a massive baby (his head was 37cm). I had read Ina May's guide to childbirth prior to this birth and really focussed on keeping my mouth loose and letting my uterus push the baby out rather than pushing him forcefully- even though the pushing felt soooo good! He is nursing well and we are all just hanging out and enjoying his newness. 
Follow Mothering