From 2 to 7 1/2 centimeters in an hour

by Anna Simmons

I went in to labor 3 days before I was due and I started to feel contractions for a couple nights before that. I was starting to get really annoyed because everytime I felt contractions I would think this is finally it. Then they would stop and I would be crushed. So the day I went into real labor I decided to go for a walk. I walked for a 1/2 a mile and that night I finally went into labor! We were so excited.

So after about two hours of regular contractions about 5 minutes apart we went in. The nurses put me in the little triage room and hooked me up to all the monitors and checked my cervix and it was only 2 cm. They told me that I probably wasn't in labor because I stayed at 2 cm for almost 5 hours. I had to stay in that little room the whole time and they wouldn't give me any medication even though I was in excruciating pain.

Then finally after being in labor for 6 1/2 hours they came in and checked me and I was 7 1/2 cm! The nurse was shocked because I went from 2 cm to 7 1/2 cm in 1 hour and the rushed me into the labor room so I could get my epidural before it was too late! By that time my contractions were about 1 minute apart and I was in so much pain. I was so happy to be getting my epidural! Only about 10 minutes after I got to the labor room the anesthesiologist was there and I was so thrilled to be getting some relief!

Only a 1/2 an hour after my epidural I got to start pushing! I pushed for 3 hours and finally the doctor said I'm going to use the vacuum and the forceps and if they don't work you are going to have to have an emergency c-section. The vacuum didn't work and then with 1 push while the doctor was using the forceps my son was born! He was 7 lbs 9 oz, 20 1/2 in long and he was so beautiful.

Even though labor wasn't what I expected it to be it was all so worth it and I would do it again in a heartbeat!