I have mostly been a passive reader of this board but have been helped a lot by the other messages and the help that other people have recd here. The labor stories posted here also made a big difference to the way I viewed my own labor and gave me some confidence to face it..*this being my first*..:)

So here's my own labor story...:)

My due date was Oct 3rd...but I hadnt dilated at all by then..So my dc told me that she'll induce labor on friday (oct 6th). On Oct 5th night I got admitted to the hospital where they put a vaginal insert in me to ripen the cervix (which again was not ripe at all)...

Oct 6th morning at around 7:00, I was woken up and started on IV liquid... I also asked for an enema (as my friend had told me that it had helped start her contractions faster)..I was a little scared about this because had never used one before..but fortunately it wasnt that uncomfortable at all...After that the nurse started me on pitocin at around 8:30 am...within 5 minutes I could feel a little cramping in my stomach (like mild period cramps)...the monitor was showing contractions happening every 2 minutes...but the intensity was low..However in a couple of hours it started getting painful...some of the deep breathing exercises I had learnt in the labor prep classes did help in getting through the contractions..I was ready for the epidural...but didnt want to take it too early as in the labor prep classes they had said that ideally it should be taken when the cervix is dilated a few cm and the contractions have become regular...

When the doctor came at 1:30 pm to check on me for the 3rd time, I was 4 cm dilated...I couldnt believe it because I was thinking that I might be only 1 cm dilated (if at all)...I asked for the epidral immediately..the anesthesiologist came in about 30 min...by that time I was holding hubby's hand and was near about crying wI felt immediate relief...the pain subsided amazingly...and the contractions felt much much lighter now...in 5-10 min..I was lying down comfortably on the hospital bed looking at the monitor at the increasing contractions and feeling happy that I no longer was facing any pain..:) Even the really high intensity contractions didnt make much of a difference and I could call up my friends on the cell phone and chat with them while all this was going on...At around 4 pm I was 9 cm dilated..at 5:45, the doc said that I was 10 cm dilated and ready to push..I pushed for about 40 minutes (this was kinda like holding your breath for a long time and rying to push the baby out of my body...it wasnt painful at all...just holding the breath was a little difficult (coz I had a bad cold and cough) and my nose was blocked...:) After a lot of pushing, the baby was out by 6:29 pm...

when I first saw her, I couldnt believe that she ad actually been inside me for so long..it just seemed so surreal and amazing...:)

We got her home Sunday night...still getting used to her schedule and learning by trial and error...:) I feel tired, sore and sleep deprived but when I look into her face, I feel so happy that I forget everything...:)

My total labor time from start (when I was given the pitocin) to end was about 10 hours...and after the epidural, all of it was totally painless...

I had also been walking a lot during the pregnancy (about 30 min a day)..and in the last week, I walked about 3-4 miles a day along with climbing stairs and drinking raspberry tea 3-4 times a day and eating some pineapple...for swollen feet, I put them in epsom salt water..plus put my feet up whenever I got tired...did my kegels also regularly...

Hope this helps some of you....:)

sowdha replied. Hi preeti,
First of all congrats and thanks for taking out time and writing your labour story. It was really informative and take care off yourself and the little angel.

sowdha archie replied. Dear Preeti,
When I read a post by \" preeti\" started wondering did I know anyone with this name on Oct 2006 board and found no memory of such message, either you never left a message or very sporadic.

Hey but you are an excellent learner without bringing concern to communittee. It was a great attitude and your grasp combined with patience helped get uterus toned (may be raspberry trick) and easy labor (walk trick). Whan an amazing labor story!

Hearty congratulations to you and family on your daughters arrival.

I am sure you know that tiredness, sore and engorged breasts are normal around this time and will subside in coming days.

Enjoy motherhood.

Archie