... Birth factsBaby's nameEvelyn Helen Weight7lb 9ozLength of labourJust over two hoursPain reliefBach Rescue RemedyWorst bitProblems with breastfeeding, and the lack of communication because of the language barrier.Best bitThe fact that it was all so quick

. Birth factsBaby's nameLucas Victor Weight7 lb 14 ozLength of labour3 hours 10 minutesWorst bitThe contractions came on so quickly that I had no time to prepare myself for the pain.Best bitCuddling Lucas in the pool after he was born.For my second child

Clare Harrison, 29, from Watford is married to James and mum to eight-month-old Isobel. She bought a natal hypnotherapy CD to listen to before the birth and could not believe the results! Birth factsBaby's nameIsobel Daisy Weight8lb

centimetre dilated to four, and our son Finn was born just thirty minutes after we arrived. On the advice of a friend I'd been out and bought a bunch of stuff to distract Lucy during labour, but she rejected them all until I got the name book out, that worked

While there are many different kinds of birthing experience it's fair to say that, however labour pans out, it is usually an incredibly intense, emotional and eventually euphoric experience, but one that's rarely completely pain-free. It makes sense

Tracy Cook, 32, from Wiltshire is married to Andrew and mum to Sam, seven, Olly, five, and William, two. She reckoned she was going to have a New Year birth, and never imagined waking up with a new baby on Christmas Day. Birth factsBaby's name

Kirsten Taylor, 35, is originally from the UK but now lives in Bangkok, Thailand, with her husband Darren and children Thomas, two, and Patrick, 13 months. She tells us all about the Thai approach to maternity care Birth factsBaby's name

on the other side of the pond Birth factsBaby's nameQuinn Ann Weight9lb 7ozLength of labourLess than 10 hoursPain reliefEpiduralWorst bitBeing woken up both nights in the hospital for routine checkups.Best bitGetting to hold Quinn straight after the birth

factsBaby's nameBarnie Edward Weight8lb 3ozLength of labour3 hoursPain reliefTENS, water, gas and airWorst bitI suddenly felt very scared during transition, but Tessa helped me to focus on my breathing and administered homeopathy remedies.Best bit

they use loo roll shortly before labour.Pain ReliefThere are all sorts of things linked to pain relief in labour, which can leave a mum-to-be confused. Here are your basic options:Hypno-birthing A deep state of relaxation using breathing techniques (learned