While pregnant with my fourth child, I submitted my third child's birth story. I got a lot of responses on that story, so I thought everyone might like to hear the next one. On March 30th, I spent most of the night awake, feeling contractions pretty regularly. I didn't think too much about it because I had been having Braxton Hicks for weeks. In fact, the week before I went to the doc, because the contractions always became regular at night. The doc said I was 1cm and 70% effaced. Nothing in other words. At any rate, I was still 3 weeks away from my due date, so I didn't really think too much about the contractions. Around 3:30am I started thinking that maybe this was the real thing. The true test of labor, IMO, is if you can sleep through contractions, its not real labor. So, I went to bed, figuring if it wasn't true labor, I'd know, and if it was, I wouldn't be able to sleep. I did fall asleep, only to awaken at 5:30, in pain. So, I woke up hubby and asked him to get the kids ready while I showered. He kept asking, are you sure, are you sure. So, I said, if you don't want to have another one on the floor, get moving. When I got out of the shower, I saw my 9 year old daughter still in the bed. I told her to get up, and she said, "You can't fool me. I know this is an April fool's joke." I said, "NOT!". We are still laughing about that! We called the doc and she said she'd meet us at the hospital, and we were on our way. We got to the hospital around 6:30. I bet the nurse that I was 5cm, and she said 6. I was only 2!! I told her I wasn't leaving, no way. She laughed and said of course not. The doc arrived a few minutes later and checked things out. The hospital and staff were outstanding. They let all three of my kids stay right in the birthing room. The nurse even turned on Nickelodeon for them. The doc left to get some coffee, and get cleaned up, as she had rushed straight from home without even showering. A short time later, I went ahead and asked for stadol. I was hoping that it would let me sleep, since I hadn't slept the night before. I thought I would be in labor awhile, since I was only a 2. I was able to sleep for a bit, but not too much, as the contractions still woke me up. The doc came back about 45 minutes later, and determined that I was 4cm, and she broke my water. Within the next few contractions, I was asking for more stadol. I shouldn't have let her break my water, as contractions rapidly become MUCH more painful after that. My hubby left then, to take the kids downstairs for breakfast. I labored the next hour in the company of a British nurse, with the coolest accent. She kept insisting that I needed to urinate, because of the IV. I was unable to do so, because by this time I was seriously feeling the urge to push, and was afraid to relax enough to go. So, she got me up to go to the bathroom, where I was still unable to go. I had a contraction in the bathroom doorway that was unlike any other I have ever felt with any labor. The nurse still insisted that the pressure I was feeling was due to the fact that my bladder was full. All I could think, was what a bonehead she was being. Anyway, she decided to try a catheter. When that was done, I asked her if she was ready to catch a baby, because this one was coming. She checked, and turned on her little intercom thingy, and started yelling for help. I actually laughed because she looked frightened! I know it was because they really like to have a doc in the room, so they don't have to take responsibility if something goes wrong. She was yelling yelling at me not to push til the doc got there. I told her no way, no how, the baby was coming whether I pushed or not. Right about then, with zero pushing, out came her head. My hubby returned just then with the kids, so he didn't miss the whole thing. The rest her came with barely a pause. I heard her cry .... I lifted my head so I could see her, and there she was laying on the bed, yelling her head off. Some doc I didn't know came in and peered over the nurses shoulders, and wandered back out, muttering how everthing seemed to be under control. My doc came in while they were doing the baby's apgar, and delivered the placenta. She was laughing the whole time, saying how easy the delivery was. Yeah, for her!! The baby was 6lbs 10ounces, and perfectly healthy. I had zero problems, no tearing, nothing. I'm a little miffed with hubby for missing the worst part, transition. But, when you have kids, that happens. They were getting antsy, and he didn't want to the staff to get annoyed and make the kids leave. I spent the next two days in the hospital, hearing from lots of staff members how great my kids were. I felt pretty darn great! The doc told me I should deliver babies professionally, since things always go so easily for me. That started a little seed sprouting, and now I'm considering being a surrogate.

Sean & Crystal