Updated March 05, 2015.

I was due on Sept. 20 but that day rolled around and still no baby. I went in to see my obgyn that day and was 90% effaced and "a good" 3 centimeters dilated. My doctor thought I would go into labor soon but scheduled me to be induced the following week anyway. I was so excited about that...I thought I would be one of the unlucky few who are 2 weeks overdue.

My husband and I went out to eat that night and I remember not eating very much.


At 8 pm I started to feel very tired but didn't go to bed because I thought it was too early...in hindsight I think this was a sign of the need to get rest for the hard day ahead.

I finally went to bed at around 11 pm and woke up at 4 am and felt constipated. I went to the bathroom and just sat there for about 10 minutes. Then I went to the kitchen and made a PB&J sandwich. Then back to the bathroom....

Finally at about 5:30 am I realized that I was having contractions. Duh! I started timing them and they were about 10-15 minutes apart. At 9:30 am they were 5 minutes apart but I wasn't in any pain so I didn't think much of it. The doctor's nurse called to give me the inducement information and I casually told her, "I think I'm in labor now."

I went to the hospital at approximately 11 am and was 4 centimeters. Still no pain, just a tiny bit uncomfortable. An hour and a half later I was at 5 centimeters and really focusing on a pidgeon sitting on the windowsill outside! Ha! I think that pidgeon sat there for hours....

At 5 centimeters I decided I was ready for the epideral. I had no plans to be superwoman...I wanted the drugs! Got it and very quickly went to 10 centimeters. Started pushing at 2:30 pm and pushed for 3 exhausting hours. Baby was at +3 station and the doctor had to use a vacuum to get her out. Hello....she came flying out and I was left with a 4th degree tear. Of course at that moment I didn't care about anything other than my beautiful little girl who we named Elaina Kate. She is God's greatest gift!

- Jenna