April 14th 1989 a day that was to change my life for ever and on so many levels it started out as such an inconspicuous day.
I remember the spring sunshine streaming into the cottage and feeling good as i basked in the sunshine happy that the warmer weather was on its way. I was extremely fit and healthy 33 yr old and 33 wks pregnant and the only cares i had that morning were how long i could rest in bed before i felt guilty! Zorro my faithful Collie and partner in crime was streched out close by and keeping an eye on me whilst my partner was up and hard at it preparing for a function in the adjacent hotel he managed.
Deciding i better shake a leg rather than remain rooted under the duvet I rose walking into the ensuite to run a hot bath prior to waddling off to the wardrobe to select an outfit to wear that supported me disguising the bump whilst simultaneously removing feelings of being beached whale look alike! a challenge in itself. Still full of the joys of spring and completely oblivious i had a sudden urge to go to the loo however immediately i sat down to relief the sensation it felt different more of a gush than a trickle (is that tooo much information) plus a gloopy discharge something i did not expect at this stage. Sensing something was not just quite right i decided to seek the advise of my sister who was busy working in the hotel bedrooms, she'd had two kids so to me was potentially more worldly in such matters.
I dressed quickly and trundled off on my mission to locate my sister. I did not want to alert my partner or any of the staff to my suspicion that i had started labour early and luckily for me hubbies focus was on ham and beef joints and they were all busy with tasks. i wandered round the maze of corridors located sister and divulged my suspicions she confirmed she felt i may be right and off we went to alert hubbie who was gob-smacked and very concerned about his ham!!
Leaving him to sort out his culinary creations i went off to phone my doctor who instructed me to go straight to the Maternity Unit and to phone them in advance of my arrival. I hung up phoned, packed a bag and off we went the journey had begun.
We arrive at the Maternity unit apprehensive but excited at the same time knowing it was early than expected but feeling secure we were in the right place........after a few checks i was left to get on with the business of labour by 5pm with a cervix playing up i was whisked to RNLI by ambulance clutching at the air/gas full of trepidation.
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