'I could feel them rummaging around, but no pain'
'I never even considered the possibility of having a Caesarean but that's what ended up happening when my son Freddy was born. I'd been in labour on and off for 48 hours but I was only five centimetres dilated.
We tried everything to bring the birth on - walking around, a drip, I even had my waters broken - but nothing worked. I'd had an epidural too and was terrified that when the time came to push, I wouldn't be able to because I couldn't feel anything anymore.
Eventually the doctors said they'd give me a Caesarean and I was so exhausted, I was delighted! They put a sort of tent made from sheets up so I couldn't see what was going on and told me I wouldn't feel any pain. They did warn me I'd feel them rummaging around though!
It all went really smoothly. The song 'Young Hearts Run Free' was playing on the radio when when I saw the doctors lift a bright red baby into the air. Everyone said at the same time: 'It's a boy!'
The operation itself was really simple and my scar's so low you can't even see it when I'm wearing knickers. The only hard thing was having to stay in hospital for four days while other mums who'd had natural births could go home. It's painful sitting up on your own at first as well, as your stomach muscles have been cut, but the nurses gave me a sort of rope ladder for me to help pull myself up from lying down to sitting up.
I'm hoping to have a natural birth with my second baby but if I have to have a Caesarean, it wouldn't be the end of the world.'
Polly Wrenn, 34, from Brighton, East Sussex
By Polly Wren
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