On Wednesday morning, around 4:00 AM, the contractions started...15-20 minutes apart, lasting about 30 seconds to a minute. I started taking EPO capsules that day, in the hopes that the contractions would get closer together.

The whole day went by and they didn't get any closer together. The next morning (Thursday), more of the same -- only they were starting to get a lot stronger and last longer. After lunch, we decided to go into the hospital. This was our 2nd visit to labor and delivery, so we knew the routine.

They monitored my contractions and the baby's heartbeat for about 20 minutes. When she checked me I was 4 cm dilated and 90% effaced, which was where I was at my last check up. I thought, "Great. They are going to send me home."

My OB was out of town, so they called the on-call OB from the same office. He said that I could walk around the hospital for a couple of hours, and then they could check again to see if I had progressed at all.

Doug happened to have a dr's appt so I told him to go on ahead while I walked around. Also, my parents arrived in town, and my sister picked them up from the airport and was driving them to my house. I told them to wait there, since I wasn't sure if I'd be sent home.

I walked laps around the hospital for about an hour and a half when I started experiencing back labor. The pain was so intense, that I went back to the little triage room. I ended up leaning my head against the wall in tears. Finally the nurse came back in and found me crying. She said, "It's not getting any better is it? I'm sorry." Then she checked me again and I had gone to almost 5 cm. Whew!

I called Doug, and he came back to the hospital where I was finally admitted and given a delivery room. We called my sister and parents, as well as Doug's parents and gave them an update.

I had a wonderful nurse who made me feel really comfortable. The staff was sensitive to my birth plan. One thing I found out at the last minute, was that I wasn't able to deliver in the birth chair without previous doctor approval.

The delivery nurse suggested that I try the shower to help with the back labor. Since the back labor meant that the baby was facing the wrong way, I leaned forward against the rail, let the water hit my back, and rocked my hips from side to side to try and get the baby turned around.

While in the shower, I called out to Doug whenever my contractions stopped and started. At this point, they were still about 5-10 minutes apart. I stayed in the shower a long time. I came out after a while, used the birth ball, leaned up against the bed, went back in the shower... My contractions never got closer than 5 minutes apart, but they were very intense, and lasted 3-4 minutes each. That's not what the books said would happen!

Family came to visit during this time. Mostly they came and gave hugs and words of encouragement. Then they went to the waiting room. After a few hours, we sent them home and told them we'd call when it was closer. Also, the night shift came in and I was assigned another nurse. I had requested no IV in my birth plan, and she was okay with that.

At some point, I experienced some intense pain, and then the back labor was gone. The baby must have turned around. Now it was just regular contractions.

After a long time, we finally got to see the on-call OB. He breezed in, wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt, my chart in hand, "Okay, we're going to break your water and see if that gets things going."

"Yay!" we both said. He left to get what he needed.

When he came back, he was apologetic. He didn't realize that we had a birth plan that said we didn't want medical intervention unless absolutely necessary, and said that breaking the water was considered intervention. We quickly reassured him that we understood and that we wanted him to do it. He broke my water, and I couldn't believe how much fluid was in there!

By now, our family was back in the waiting room. I didn't want anyone else but Doug in the room with me as I labored. Hours passed.

At some point, I got to 8 cm. We called my sister and parents, as well as Doug's parents and gave them an update. Still, the contractions were 5-7 minutes apart and 3-4 minutes long. After a while, the OB suggested Pitocin to help things along. We agreed.

The pain got very intense after that. After more hours, I finally got to 10 cm! I was ready to push. I pushed for about 40 minutes, on my back. No progress. I asked about the squat bar for the end of the bed. The nurse was obviously not experienced with it and said that it probably wouldn't make a difference. I insisted. I pushed for another 30 minutes with the squat bar. No progress. I was exhausted.

I finally asked for pain medication, so I could rest for a while before I tried pushing again. She administered it directly into my veins in my hand. That was unbelievably painful... definitely not worth it. I wouldn't ask for it again. I tried to rest so I could push again. The contractions were now 3 minutes apart and very intense. After an hour, I decided to try pushing again. After nearly an hour...no progress. And I was exhausted and frustrated. The OB came in, and checked me. The baby was still at -1 station.

He finally said that we should do a C-section. I immediately agreed. Doug looked at me and asked if I was sure. "I'm so done," I told him.

There was a flurry of activity after that. The anesthesologist came in and told me all about the spinal he was going to give me. They got Doug dressed in scrubs. I was moved to the operating room. Doug waited outside as they performed the spinal. My arms were strapped to the table and a drape was placed in front of me. Doug was allowed in, once the spinal was administered. It was a weird sensation to be tingly and then completely numb, from the chest down.

At one point, the doctor poked me with something and asked if I could feel it. I said no. Doug's eyes opened wide. The doctor had poked me with a scalpel! They started the C-section. I told Doug not to look, but he said he was okay with it. There was a lot of pressure as they pushed on my belly to get the baby out. They got his head out first and I heard him crying! More pressure, and then they had to increase the incision size to get his shoulders out.

Once he was out, they handed the baby to Doug so he could show the baby to me. Then the baby was cleaned up, and Doug cut the umbilical cord. "It feels like pasta." he said. He brought the baby back over to me, all bundled in a blanket. His APGAR scores were 8 and 9. He was 9 lbs 7 oz! He had a little ridge around his head where I was trying to push him through my pelvis. He just was too big to pass through.

Zander Alan Carpio Scott was born at 6:45 AM on October 25, 2002. I'm so glad to be able to hold him in my arms. :)