One year ago

This time last year I was anxiously awaiting the call from the hospital telling me I could come in for my induction.  I had called at 7 a.m. as directed, but they were too busy to take me.  I was sooo disappointed and didn't think this baby was ever going to come out!  I cried when S contemplated going to work since he didn't know how long we'd be sitting around waiting.  I had spent all weekend with contractions that weren't going anywhere (only at night of course, so I was incredibly sleep deprived), and I was ready to finally meet our little girl. 

Eventually, when I put the phone down just long enough to use the bathroom, they called.  I actually thought S was lying to me, and I was going to be very mad if he was!  But it was true.  So we hopped in the car which was already packed the night before, and drove to the hospital.  Check in was a breeze because I had been there 3 days before in labor (or so I thought...after walking the maternity floor for 2 hours with no progress I was sent home).  I got up to my room, had the IV antibiotics started (strep b+), and waited.  By 1:00 they started me on pitocin.  I started feeling the contractions more, but I could still talk through them.  At 5:00 the doctor broke my water and that's when all hell broke loose. 

The contractions started coming right on top of the other with no rest in between.  I was in a lot of pain.  They gave me something to take the edge off which just made me feel nauseated.  An hour after my water breaking, I begged the nurse to check me, and I could tell she didn't think I would be anywhere near ready for an epidural.  But she did it anyway out of sympathy and the first thing she said was "Oh baby I'm so sorry, we're going to get you that epidural right away."  I had gone from 3 to 6 1/2 in an hour.  I had been so scared of an epidural before labor, but I couldn't wait now.  I remember being in so much pain I was shaking all over.  I almost threw up so many times.  I really wasn't sure how he was even able to get it in, but within minutes I felt incredible.  I was able to nap for a while and around 9 p.m. the nurse said I could start pushing in about an hour.  I couldn't believe how close I was.  I guess I just assumed that I would be in labor for days with an induction.  And now here were were just 9 hours after starting pitocin and ready to bring my sweet girl into the world....