More News

Continues from [here][].

[here]: http://www.uborka.nu/rise/2006/06/news/

**13:00** My phone starts buzzing on the desk. *Hello?* “Come home now.” *Right away.*

**13:15** I’m at home. One of Karen’s friends, who had been invited over for lunch, is offering moral support. I start timing contractions. They are already only 5 minutes apart. I suggest that we phone the hospital. They invite us in.

**14:20** We arrive at hospital. We had anticipated bad traffic, but in the event it was plain sailing. We get settled down in a room.

**15:00** Contractions start to get more painful. We apply the TENS machine.

**15:30** or thereabouts. Contractions still getting more painful. Entonox has been applied.

**16:00** or thereabouts. Entonox is making Karen feel incredibly dizzy and spaced out. She uses it a bit less.

**16:30** or thereabouts. We request an examination. 7cm dilated. This is much more than we were expecting at this stage, and the good news gives us a real boost.

**17:00** or thereabouts. The contractions undergo a change, and Karen yells for a midwife. Pushing is going to be occurring soon.

**17:30** or thereabouts. The top of the baby’s head is visible, but we’re only seeing a little more with each push. Karen begins to get disheartened. Heck, I begin to get disheartened, but I try not to show it.

**18:00** or thereabouts. We’re getting damn close. Karen’s absolutely knackered. I throw everything that I have into my pep talk. Bless her, I can tell that she wants to call me names, but she’s very polite.

**18:20** The baby’s head reaches the point of no return. The next contraction will push the head out.

**18:23** The baby’s head is out. The next contraction will push the body out.

**18:26** The body comes out. I break down into tears.