Introducing Miss Imogen Juliet Yvonne Gray

When I had my 12 week scan, they gave me the due date of 28th November 2011, and then at my 20 week scan, they changed it to the 4th December 2011. I assumed that at some point in that week I would hopefully have a baby! Nonetheless, I felt hard done by, when I went past the first due date!! I was interested to see if we would manage another November baby or if we would be sneaking into December. As it happened, at 1am on the morning of the 2nd December, my waters broke, with an immense gush. I woke up and in the absense of any contractions, I called the hospital for advice, where they said to pop in for a check. (Side note - when I checked my mobile, there was a text from my mum letting me know that 2 of my friends who were pregnant had beaten me to the finish line the day before!! Becky Urie and Michelle Younce, thank you for kick starting my labour!)

We went into hospital for them to check me and they kicked me out because I was 'too happy'! Seriously, they said I can't be in established labour because me and Lee were joking and laughing! So I went home to wait for some contractions. So we tried to get some sleep, and I finally started some contractions about 6am. Mum was already here from earlier, so she took Isabelle to school and Kaelyn to her house for the day. Me and Lee chilled while my contractions got closer together. I finally called the hospital to say we were coming in about midday. We were in the labour ward by 12.30pm and I requested the birthing pool which they filled. I was in the pool by 1pm and then after some serious contractions, was pushing and she arrived at 1.55pm. We were so relieved to finally meet our little girl, who was very relaxed!



This is me just before I got in the pool, realising this was most likely (hopefully!) the last time I would be pregnant so needed photographic evidence of such! Sorry, not everyone needs to see this, but I do! Believe me, the close up was a lot worse!

Just after I delivered her, they asked me if I wanted to get out of the pool, and as you can see, I was really hot (temperature wise, NOT attractive!!) so I got out of the pool to cool down. I think it was a combination of pushing, which is hard work, and the fact the pool was like a very hot bath, lovely for contractions, but means I end up the colour of a beetroot! Anyway, I was able to finally have a real look at her and enjoy a cuddle, though she decided to do her first poo on my stomach, to the midwives and my husband's hilarity!

Here is our little princess after her first bath to remove black tar like poo from her body! Such a little cutie! She weighed in at 7lbs 10oz, so just a perfect size.

My Mum and Dad, and Lee's Mum brought the girls in to see us. By this time, I had been stitched up, got some pain relief, had a good bath, and cooled down! (Plus a little make up!) I am as happy as I look, because I have 3 beautiful girls and a husband whom I love, plus lots of lovely family! Lucky me! What a fantastic and possibly slightly crazy festive season we were in for!