A Birthing Story

I'm two days overdue, and the excitement was just over whelming! At this time we were doing everything to get me into labor. And I mean everything! I ran 4 miles almost everyday during the 8 months of my pregnancy, to prevent too much of weight gain. (Didn't work!) So its about 6 o'clock Sept 13th, and Brian and I decide to go on a 4 mile hike. Can I just say that I have had the absolute best pregnancy. So when we are walking I start feeling what I thought were to be Braxton hicks, because Ive never felt anything like this before. They weren't too painful, just felt like mother nature cramps. (P.S. one of the best things about pregnancy is not a monthly reminder that you are in fact a woman!) So I just brushed it off.  So its time for bed, and these braxton hicks are now very noticeable and I'm starting to consider that they aren't braxton hicks but actual contractions!!!But I'm trying not to get my hopes up, because it is so depressing going to bed when your overdue every night with out your baby in tow. On the other hand, do you know how hard it is to sleep being THIS pregnant to begin with, let alone knowing that you are going to see your son for the very first time very soon! Well it was soon, but not very soon.
I woke up at 3AM in pain. Like the pain you imagine when someone on Ridiculousness gets whacked in the junk. Except when the shooting pains subsides and they cant feel that huge lump of throw-up in their throat anymore, well then it started all over for me. Except this was anything but funny. I got up, nudged Brian, and told him I was hurting. I then went to go soak in the bathtub when I discovered "the show". I got very excited and scared all at the same time!!! I got all of our stuff ready, my bag, Brian's bag, and baby H or S's bag. And Brian's basket but that's for a different post.
I finally was ready to get to the hospital. We arrived around 5AM.
They put a heart monitor around me and his heartbeat was perfect! They checked my dilation and I was at a 1 1/2 cm. REALLY?! That's it!? They told me to walk around the hospital and they'd check my progress in a couple of hours, if I didn't progress they would send me home & I'd be "that" girl. The girl that goes to the hospital one too many times before the actual shebang!
After two hours they checked my progression at I was at 5cm! They immediately got me my own room in labor and delivery & said he would be here shortly with how fast I was dilating.
Liars!

... 11 hours later...
With unbearable pain.  Awkward Yeti noises escaping my lips. A million laps around the maternity quarters. Scared looks. And a "I cant do this 9 more times" confession, I got rechecked.
5cm.

I was trying to have an all natural birth, but that number, that wretched number 5, crushed all strength and determination I had left!
"Give me the epidural!"
Well Brian and I had this pack that if I asked for an epidural, he would talk sense back into me so I wouldn't get one. One more contraction solved that "debate". Haha!
 The anesthesiologist came in and gave me the 411 on how they were going to put this huge needle in my back, yada yada. I was okay with that, until he mentioned that I would need a catheter, because I wouldn't have any control of my legs once I was numb, and going to the bathroom would be impossible. I bawled.
By this time I wasn't afraid of a huge needle in my back or that a baby was going to force its way out of my Va jay jay, but the very mention of a catheter was too much for me!
( I had allot of bladder surgeries when I was a child, to correct my ureters, but after the first couple I knew how painful a catheter was. I remember my hospital bed as a child being surrounded by doctors, nurses, and my parents holding me down to insert one. I was one strong kid because they eventually gave up and put me under that and every surgery since)

I refused. And after much time, I won that that debate too! I promise I'm not high maintenance, just scarred.
The epidural was given (which wasn't painful, to any of you are scared of it...especially when you're having contractions)
A couple contractions later and I felt nothing.
They let me sleep for an hour and a half to relax. They popped my water. Then told me I was fully dilated.

My body started pushing naturally. My legs were completely dead.  My doctor wasn't there yet, so a nurse and Brian were holding my legs up. The absolute weirdest experience: Being told to push your baby out when you cant feel a thing! It was bizarre, it was like pretending to have to poo,  to do a lifeless situps, grit your teeth even though it felt unnecessary because you don't feel the pressure, it was sort of hilarious. About an hour later, Brian was feeling he top of his head. I felt it too! Gross but so magical! That was my son! It rejuvenated me & a few minutes later we had our son!