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Main Page Site Index Getting Pregnant Pregnancy Parenting Pregnancy and Parenting Journals Fertility Nutrition Pregnant Moms Morning Sickness Women's Health Child Health	Ocean's Birth StoryBy Maggie Ocean was due on August 11, 1998. The expected day came and went with no signs of labor. On the night of the 12th at about 11:00 p.m., I noticed that my braxton hicks started to feel a little uncomfortable. Marcos and I went to bed hoping that we would get some sleep. The contractions came every 15 to 20 minutes so I felt that I rested a bit. At about 6:00 on the morning of the 13th we relaxed in bed and burnt our beautiful candles. The contractions were about five minutes apart so I decided to call our midwife. Betty Kay said it sounded like the real thing so we could go to the birth center whenever we were ready. I didn't want to go in too early. I called my mom who was six hours away and told her she should leave. I thought for sure that she would miss the whole thing. Boy was I wrong. I labored at home until around 10:00. We called our friend Shawna who was going to video the birth. When Shawna arrived we left for the hospital. At the hospital they put us in a room and checked to see if I was dialated. I thought that I would be about 4 or 5 cm. Well I was 80% effaced and about 11/2 dialated. Very disapointing. The nurse said I wasn't in labor and to go home. I left feeling very unhappy. I was scheduled to have an appointement at 1:00 to check my fluid level. I had Marcos call to cancel because I was feeling very unhappy. The contractions hurt fairly bad and I wasn't even in labor. I thought that I would have to have an epidural because if this wasn't labor how would I deal with the real thing. I had planned on having a natural birth so I was very upset and couldn't help but to cry. My midwife said that I should definatly come to my appointment. Right as we got ready to leave again my mother arrived. My midwife examined my told me I was 4cm and that I was in labor and I wasn't a weenie. She said to go ahead and go back to the hospital and check in. We checked in a 2:00. The contractions were getting stronger and closer together. At about 3:00 my midwife came in and we decided to go ahead and break my water. Since I had labored through the night, we didn't want it to go on too much longer. After my water broke things got crazy. I started getting sick and the contractions were really strong. Marcos and I sat in the shower for almost and hour. The hot water felt so good. They practically had to drag me out to check my progress. I had dialated to 6cm and all was going well. The contractions were coming fast and strong and I was having a difficult time catching my breath. I decided that I need help. The nurse hooked up an I.V. and I received Nubane. Although it didn't take away the pain it did help me to relax and get a little sleep. After the Nubane wore off I had decided that I wanted an epidural. Betty Kay came and checked my progress. I was 9cm!! and and epidural would make pushing really long so I labored on. I never felt a strong urge to push. Betty Kay told me I was fully dialated and I could go ahead and push. After an 1 1/2 hours of pushing my little angel was born. Ocean Staley Lumbreras 6lb.14oz. 21 1/2" Born at 8:07 p.m on August 13, 1998 P.S. It was 107 degrees on the day she was born. Ocean is now 4 months old and as beautiful as she was on that hot August day. Search the Birth Stories Match All Terms Any Term and show results in Standard Form in Compact Form Hint! Enclose phrases in quotes. For example "home birth" [ Return to Section Twenty Birth Stories Index ]