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BRITTANY MICHELLE'S BIRTH STORY

Friday May 1 1998, I went to take a shower and i thought my water broke.
So we packed up and went to the hospital.  My contractions were five
minutes apart, but they  were very light.  My doc said there were no signs
that my water had broken.

So my mother and I went back home (45 miles away from the hospital).
Saturday and Sunday my contractions continued at 5 min. apart.  Sunday
night I went to bed, and I was having really strong contractions and
couldn't sleep.  I wake my mom up at 3 am and had her time my contractions.
 They were 3 min. apart now.  She suggested that we call my neighbor who is
a nurse midwife.  So at 4 am here comes my neighbor in a robe and slippers.
 She said that I was in early labor, and to wait a couple hours before
going to the hospital.  It is now 5:45 Monday morning and we are off to the
birthplace.  My doc checked me and said I was 75% effaced but my cervix was
not dialating.  I was in so much pain so they offered me a shot of
morphine.  Being the wussy that I am , I said thanks, but no thanks.  So I
want to our old house because it was just 7 miles away.  I tried to sleep
but I was in so much pain, so I asked my mom to take me back to the
hospital to get the shot.  The Dr. did an exam and said I was 100% effaced
and almost 1 cm. dialated.  At that point I knew I was going to have a
rough day.  The hospital I was delivering at will not admit you until you
are 3 cm..  So I went back to the house and slept for a few hours, finally
some relief.  Keep in mind I have not slept or eaten in about 36 hours, and
I was really dehydrated, because I couldn't keep anything down.  Later that
evening we went back to the birthplace, only 2 cm., they said they would
keep me overnight in one of the birthing suites, but they would not admit
me yet.  So after another shot of morphine, I got a few more hours of
sleep.  About 5 am the nurse woke me up to do an exam, 3 cm. FINALLY :) .
They gave me an I.V. with some stadol which is supposed to take the edge
off yea right .  That stuff makes you dumber than dumb and nothing else.
about 9 am the nurse told me that my epidural was ready, I said I was never
going to have an epi, but just wait.  My next contraction came and I told
them to get that anesthesiologist in there NOW!!  So I was feeling great
then doc came in and broke my water.  He said " you will have a baby by
4:00pm, what a relief.  I found myself looking at the epi bag making sure
it was not about to run out.  At 11 am the nurse checked me and said it was
time to push.  I had not had an exam in 6 hours, and I think I was ready to
push well before that.  I kept telling her I could feel the head, but they
would not do the exam with out my doc's o.k., because my water was broken.
So I pushed until 12:31pm  and my beautiful baby girl was born.  After 39
hours of hard labor and 1 1/2 hours of pushing, it was such a relief.  I
named her Brittany Michelle, born on her due date, May 5, 1998.  Her and I
are a happy little family. I hope you enjoyed my birth story, as I have 
enjoyed all of yours.