I was 19 when I met Dan and within two months found out I was pregnant. We were both shocked but were delighted.

I had a trouble-free pregnancy and we enjoyed an amazing sex life throughout – although some positions were not always the best!

We live in a council flat, which is pretty grim but is a palace for us. On November 12 last year I woke up wracked with pains and the bed was soaked. I had such an urge to push – I got on my knees and held my tight belly. I have never felt so sensual and earthy – I groaned primeval noises and knelt on the bed. Dan made love to me from behind and I held the bed throughout the contractions.

At 7 a.m., I crawled into the bathroom and bathed – I had to push hard quite a lot. From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. I paced about clutching an even tighter lump – Dan and I were naked and just the two of us was amazing.

At 3 p.m. I knew something big was happening. I clutched the table and groaned a horrendous noise. The pains were unbearable and I fell to the floor. Lying on my back with my legs open I pushed harder and harder. Nothing happened. I started to panic because by 6 p.m. one contraction was rolling into another and I was bleeding a bit. Dan wanted to get help but I was a bit arrogant and wanted to be earthy. He massaged me in private places and checked me out internally, which was so erotic.

At 7 p.m. I need to push and push. The pains were terrifying and I was violently sick. Dan got me to the bed and I rocked back and forth on cushions and pillows. At 7:15 p.m. I nearly fainted through pains. Dan was scared. We had been birthing for 12 hours. My labor carried on with huge contractions and pushing until midnight when I knew we had to go to a medical center. However, we couldn't get help because our flat was on floor 14 and our neighbors has gone and we had no phone.

At 1 a.m. I was violently sick again and my belly felt like it was going to explode. I tried to labor in various positions but despite all my pushing, I could not seem to birth. Dan held me until 3 a.m. when I knew I had to squat, which we did. I hollowed and groaned and honestly thought my body was splitting. Still no baby.

By 4 a.m. I was absolutely exhausted and could barely push. I crawled into the hall and lay on the floor with my legs open and feet pushing on the walls. The contractions were unbelievable – one after the other and Dan was rubbing my rock of a belly.

At 4:10 a.m. a leg appeared – our baby was coming breech. I knelt again and pushed literally until my insides popped! At 4:35 a.m. our boy was born. He slid out in one final surge of pain. I just fell to the ground. Dan held Ando and he let out a scream. I was just exhausted and wept with joy.

After a bit we got into the bathroom and washed Ando and me and I birthed the placenta.

This was a very long birth that should have been assisted. It has left me with damage and although it was a close and relationship-deepening time, when I look back it was really dangerous. I lost a lot of blood that day and spent two weeks in the hospital. I am all OK now and I am 8 months pregnant with my fourth. However, the other three have all been assisted home births.