I had my baby at 34 weeks and 6 days. I loved being pregnant. However my labor was a different story. I was in labor for four days as doctors had to give me tablets to stop the baby from coming out, in the meantime I was still having contractions and not able to sleep.

I was very naive when it came to the pain and seemed to not even consider it previously. I really wish someone (midwife) had been considerate enough to sit down and explain how painful labor actually is. (Painful would be an understatement! It was like something out of hostel or saw!) My partner started crying because he thought I was going to die halfway through. I did not think I would come out alive!

I feel the midwives and doctors failed me terribly at the hospital. The fourth lot of tablets they gave me to stop my baby coming out should not have given to me and the doctor was angry about this. Hospital workers do not want you going into labor in the middle of the night and with me they did everything they could to stop it, for their benefit.

I was in the labor room for 12 hours. Contractions were excruciating, babies head was crowning for half an hour. I ripped right next to the most sensitive area and this was with a baby that was born at 4 pound 2 ounces. Preemie babies are known for hurting more than others because they don't push and your body is not ready for the baby to come out. From what I have heard the size of the baby does not matter when it comes to pain and through experience I would definitely agree.

I am sorry if I am too honest as I don't want to frighten people, I would like to help and say make sure that you plan your labor early on so that you do not have to suffer a labor that so many women have to go through. I wish someone had told me rather than them trying to be nice by keeping it to themselves because in the end it isn't nice when you realize you could have had it different by planning for it if someone had just told you. (People told me afterwards that it is painful). It has put me off having another child. However now I know what I could go through I will plan as best I can next time.

P.S. Just because you are at the hospital does not mean nurses will have your best interests at heart if they do something you do not think is right, speak to someone because as a woman in hospital about to have a baby you are very vulnerable and they will do whatever if it suits them.

From one woman to another, sort your birth plan out!

Going onto my baby I love her to pieces! Being premature has not made any difference to her at all! Just be careful when midwives are filling in the weighing sheet with a preemie baby though as they seem to get it wrong a lot!

Rachel is from the UK.