Here is our little man and the longer version of DSs story.
My water broke at 12 right after I went to bed. I thought DS was moving around so weird and then there was a popping feeling. I woke DH up and said I think my water just broke! I jumped into the bath while DH called the LD floor to tell them what was going on. By the time we got to the hospital my contractions were very close and very strong. I was at 3cm so I labored for a while just walking around. The contractions were still close together and getting stronger. When our nurse left at 7 we got a new nurse and she had a student nurse with her. She hadn't seen a birth before, so I was nervous about her being there!
I was able to use the birth ball which was comfortable but the pain started getting worse the longer I used it. Which was a good thing because I was progressing but I
felt like I was going no where. I sat in the shower for about an hour and a half after that and went another 2 cm. I felt like I was going to be able to go drug free once I got to 6cm but the pain was so unbearable at that point I opted for the epidural. It was the best decision for me because I have no idea how much longer it would have taken to go 4cm or how much longer I could really handle the pain. DH said he doesn't know how I held out because I almost crushed him a few times squeezing his hand so hard.
My doctor was in a c-section with the ans. dr so I had to wait 20 minutes for them to come to my room. Our nurse was a lamaze teacher so she did everything to help me stay focused. I felt so silly in the beginning about being so vocal but I really could have cared less at that point. The louder I yelled the better I felt. Those 20 minutes felt like an eternity. Finally the ans. dr came and did the epidural. He did my first son's as well and surprisingly remembered us and our son's name. The contractions were so close we had to start and stop. I was shaking so hard DH had to hold me along with a nurse just to get me to hold still. The student nurse looked like she was going to hide behind the curtain. I had to stop looking where she was standing! I hope she doesn't change her mind!
After about 30 minutes I was totally comfortable and able to sleep. My whole left side was numb from toe to shoulder so they had to adjust the epi but it remained that way until Cam was born. I did read a few of the questions about the epi wearing off. I guess it is different for everyone (even for this birth it was different for me) because for my first it wore off as I was in back labor and I felt everything for the last hour. They didn't turn it back up because I wouldn't have been able to push effectively. This time I felt nothing this time from 1130 to the minute DS was born. I could feel the pressure sensation and had enough feeling to push but there was no pain.
After I woke up around 1 the nurse came in and said the doctor was coming in to check me. She was on her way to a c-section, after doing 1 more v* delivery and coming out of another c, and really just stopped by to say she would check me after the other delivery. I did feel some pressure so when she told me I was complete and she could see him I was so surprised! I pushed enough to get her to deliver me before leaving. Thank goodness because if she had left I would have ended up with a different doctor or having the nurses deliver him. I was able to sit up this time instead of laying flat and he was born 10 minutes later.
I got to catch DS which was just amazing. If your doctor offers that to you or your husband, I would totally do it! The epidural lasted long enough to make a few minor repairs and we were able to nurse right away. After an hour I had feeling back so I could get up. We came home today and it was so beautiful out. The boys didn't get to wear the matching outfits I got them because it was only low 70s with a breeze. But we're home and resting. I wanted to post before it got crazy around here.
I didn't think I would have DS already here at home but I'm so happy with the way things went. I hope everyone has a great delivery. I see the list is growing longer and so many of you I chatted with are near the top! I will pop into the new new mom's thread and hope to see your photos too. Good luck to the new crowd! Thanks for all the well wishes, I very much appreciate them.
Congrats, Piecey! I'm so happy that everything went well for you in the end. I'm sure you were relieved once you heard the baby cry. You were right about Lucas being a big baby. See, your mothers intuition was working even before you had him!

What a cutie. I hope you enjoy every minute of being a new mom. Congrats.