‘I could feel the contractions increasing like the volume on a TV’

The most memorable thing about giving birth were the contractions, which became increasingly painful, like the volume going up on a TV. With each contraction, I felt like I needed to hold my breath and my vagina at the same time. Eventually, I felt like there was a ball in between my legs and I had the urge to push. Baby came out like wet soap slipping out of my hand, and all the pain disappeared. The midwife had to stitch me up immediately, which I started to feel because the pain medication was running out. Still, that was small fry after experiencing contractions without an epidural. Ayanda, 27, Polokwane