My daughter was born on Chinese New Year. I was as surprised as anyone that she was a text book natural birth. I envisaged I was on a raft and each contraction was bringing me closer to the shore.

I gave birth to her twenty minutes after lying down on the delivery bed, after being practically handcuffed to it, as I spent the previous four hours walking around the room as it felt 'more comfortable'.

Having no drugs meant I could and can remember every detail as though it was yesterday. As she was born I could see the fireworks in the dark sky from the hospital's fourth floor window. Perfect.