I was up the Chase on a long dog walk with my mum when the first contraction started, it was 2 p.m. It was Sunday, January 9, 2000. The baby was due on the January 1, 2000 (it was not planned, although we had been trying for four years). We had been walking for about three hours in the wrong direction and we were totally lost. I had not told my mum although I was in quite a lot of pain.

We finally arrived at my parents about 6 p.m. and I arrived home about 6:45 p.m. I went straight to the bathroom where I noticed that I had had a show. I had a long soak in the bath and tried to rest. I carried on having these contractions every five-to-six minutes until Tuesday morning. I phoned the hospital and they asked if my waters had broken and when I said no she told me not to worry, it could be hours yet. I did not want to wait any longer, I was already 12 days overdue.

Wednesday morning at 3:30 a.m. I was in severe pain so my husband phoned the hospital, again the same questions, Have her waters broken? Has she had a warm bath? He explained that I was coming into hospital no matter what they said. I arrived at 6:30 a.m. The midwife examined me and said that I was 9 centimetres dilated. I had gas and air as a pain killer. I gave birth to an 8-pound 2-ounce girl called Danielle. I had to have 12 stitches and could not walk without hurting everywhere for weeks after, but she's worth it. She has lovely dark hair and the most gorgeous smile that could melt the coldest of hearts but most of all she is ours.