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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	Paige Nicole's Birth Story By Amy I was very anxious, as every pregnant woman is, to see my little bundle of joy. When my due date came and went, April 30th, I was frustrated to say the least. I was suprised I lasted that long because my OB told me 3 weeks before that, I was 2cm dialated and thinning out. She gave me false hope and told me she bet she would see me that weekend. Well like I said, it came and went. All I can say to all of you expecting, natural induction, stimulating the nipples, walking miles, castor oil (i did not attempt this), sex, etc. will NOT work unless you are good and ready to go - ripe ! I waited for a sign of true labor...I wanted pain so I couldn't mistake that I was in true labor. May 4th, 4am I woke up with pains in my legs that left me unable to sleep. I chalked it up to a nerve the baby had been lying on for the past 2 mos. I sat awake in my bed and I started to have a few back pains. I got up, roamed around the house and at 6 am called my OB to ask her if I should head to the hospital. She told me to try and hold out until I was sure this was it, to relax and try and get some sleep. Well I was feeling a lot more pain in my back and new I was having back labor, the worst ! I was convinced, woke my husband to get prepared in case this was it. In the next 20 minutes I was walking around, and every 4-5 minutes, falling to the couch, the bed, whatever was around me that was comfortable in a fetal position blowing in and out. My contractions were a little erratic, and after the contraction would pass, I would get right up and continue gathering stuff for the hospital as if nothing happened - it was so bizarre to be in pain at one moment and then feel great the next. At 6:45 I felt we should get a move on because I read many birth stories where women did not quite make it to the hospital on time, or were too dialated that the window for the epidural was shut...and I wanted that epidural ! We arrived at 7:30 - they could see by the look of my face I was in true labor. (The ride was the worst to the hospital - stick shift ! If you have a choice go in an automatic car !) The contractions were strong but bearable. I signed paper work, got in bed and was on my side squeezing my husbands hand every 4 minutes. The nurse examined me and found I was only 3 cm dialated but 100% effaced. She felt I would have the baby that morning. I decided to get stadol - awesome drug that allowed me to drift in and out for 2 hours straight. I highly recommend it if you are in early stages of dialation. I say early because you want it to wear off before you give birth, that is if you want to be with it and alert. It lasted 2 hours and I woke with pain, but I was 6 cm dialated... yeh ! They decided to give me a little petocin because my contractions were spreading out and I asked for the epidural. This was not painful. I was expecting this to be the worst. It might have been because of the stadol, but they numb you where they insert the catheter so you only feel pressure. It was now 1:00 PM and I dialated to 10cm within that hour. Absolutely no pain because of the epidural. At 2pm I stared pushing. At first it was a breeze because my contractions were spread apart enough that I could relax between them. The last 15 minutes I was exhausted and strated feeing faint and thought I would throw up. My OB decided to cut me a little and I was fine with that as long as it brought my daughter to me faster. The doctors told me they could see the head and that kept me going. The head came out, the doctors told me to relax, not push, ya right ! I could not help it and I pushed so hard the baby shot out. The last push was the worst and the best because, altough it is a weird sensation, a little burning and a lot pressure, when the baby's body comes out you feel an awesome weight has been lifted off your stomach. My husband had grabbed the video camera and shot close up - I haven't watched it yet. But my mom was there as well and took pictures of the arrival. Paige Nicole, born 7 lbs 11 oz, 19.7 inches long after pushing for 50 minutes. Born at 2:52 PM. I am so lucky I have no horror stories to tell. The birth was so beautiful. I encourage women to get an epidural so you can appreciate the birth of your baby - there is no reason to be in pain ! Postpartum...feeling awesome ! The episiotomy does not bother me and I did not get hemmeroids, which I hear are worse than the episiotomy. Paige is a wonderful baby, so beautiful. I wish all you expectant moms the kind of birth I had. 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"