Here is my birth story:

mike and I went to the hospital about 7:30 pm to check in. They were supposed to give me one dose of cervadil then and one at midnight to prepare me for my induction at 6 am the next morning. We had family in town, and were late eating dinner and late to the hospital. When we got to the hospital, we were told that someone had changed our appointment from that evening to 1 am that night. They called my ob/gyn and verified that it was supposed to have been 6 pm, not 1 am. We finally got checked in and had our room about 8:30. They put the first dose of cervadil in then. Our nurse said I was 3 cm and 50% effaced at that time. About 11 pm I started having moderate contractions that were about 10 minutes apart. When my nurse came back at midnight for the second dose of cervadil, she told me that I hadn't dilated or effaced any more. Fifteen minutes after the second dose, my contractions started getting stronger and closer together. At 1 am I was 4 cm and 90% effaced. By 3 am I was 6 1/2 cm and 100% effaced. I asked for my epidural at this point. The contractions were so strong that none of my breathing techniques were helping me relax. Mike kept encouraging me and helping me through them until the epidural took effect. When it did, I couldn't feel anything from my chest down, and I really began to enjoy laboring. Mike would make jokes about how strong my contrations were getting on the monitor, but I didn't even feel them! By 4 am I was 8 1/2 cm, and by 5 am I was 9 1/2. My nurse told me at this point that I would start pushing soon. They got me ready and then told me to push. I did one good 10 second push and she told me to stop pushing, that they had to get my doctor because I had done enough. I said "what? Are you kidding?" she called my doctor who was at home asleep on call. While I was waiting for the doctor to get to the hospital, tru's heartbeat dropped to about 70 bpm, and I had to go on oxygen. There were about 4 nurses walking around the room checking various things then, and they were very calm when they spoke to me, but they were frantically trying to get in contact with my doctor when they weren't calming us down. She finally arrived about 25 minutes later and told me tru was beginning to crown and that I could push again. I got ready for another 10 second push and started. I had only counted to 2 when my doctor told me to stop pushing. Tru was out! She was born at 5:38 am, and she was 6 pounds, 14 ounces and 19 inches long. She cried a little, and they kept having to bounce her and tickle her to get her to cry more!

I couldn't believe how easy it was. I labored for 6 hours and pushed for 12 seconds - not even 2 pushes! I sustained a 3rd degree tear that was 1 1/2 inches long. I kept asking how many stitches I had gotten, but my doctor wouldn't tell me. I remember watching her stitch me, and I think I got about 20 stitches! Mike was freaking out because there was blood everywhere, but I felt fine.

Tru had a mild case of jaundice, but nothing serious. We got home at about noon today. She latched on immediately after being born and has been a great breastfeeder! My milk came in the first time I fed her after being home today. She is so incredible. She has my nose! She's such a good baby. She doesn't cry much, and when she does, its always because she's hungry or wet, and she stops crying immediately when you feed or change her. Its exactly like everyone says - you'll never know how much you can love something until you hold your child for the first time.

I'm very very tired and we've only been home for 2 hours, so I probably won't be on at all today or tomorrow, or maybe all week. Thanks to everyone for your notes and your prayers!!

Check out pictures at http://www.Spiceland.Org