My labor started late Saturday night, about 3 a.m. Sunday morning really. I could still sleep through most of them, so I tried to rest. I was alone except for my 3 1/2 year old son Bobby. The contractions were very strong by about 7 a.m. I decided to get up and do dishes to keep my mind off the contractions. By 7:30 that was no longer working, so I made some calls. I called my husband, my doula and a few friends & family to put them on alert.
I got in the tub and labored there until my husband got home. I felt very peaceful in the tub and could handle my contractions easily. When Bill came home, I was laboring pretty good, but starting to get a little overwhelmed with the contractions. I decided to go to the hospital, I arrived and was checked in. I was at 4 cm. I immediately wanted to be up and walking, so they didn't keep me in triage long. It hurt to lay down. When I got back to the regular labor room, I continued to stand.

For the remainder of my short labor, I stood leaning on my doula or slow dancing with my husband Bill. It felt good to rock back and forth with the contractions.

Still Standing! The bed was untouched. I couldn't even think about laying down! It felt sooo good to be moving! The person taking the pictures was  my hubby. :O) He works for the hospital and was on call, so he's the one in the blue scrub top in the next few pictures.

I was feeling quite bit of pressure. I mistook this for pain and thinking I was still at 4-5 cm with a long way to go, I asked for a walking epidural. This allowed me to be up and mobile again. It wasn't  working and the pressure was worse, so the nurse decided to check. She is saying I only had a little cervix left!! I was 9-10 cm!! It had only been about 2 hours.
I started to feel a definite urge to push, so my doctor, who was standing across the room, said go for it! I didn't really want to, I was tired! But the urge was so strong I couldn't help it. So I pushed half heartily one time.  The nurse checked me to see if that kind of pushing was okay or if I needed more directed pushing (holding your breathe and pushing) and said loudly "don't push", but I couldn't help it!

Tj was Out! In 1 1/2 (really involuntary) pushes he made his appearance to the surprise of the nurse and to the doctor still standing on the other side of the room!

The doctor handed me my baby immediately and I looked him over. I was amazed he was here!

I put him to my breast for his first nursing. We were skin to skin, covered in a blanket once he latched on. I still had to deliver the placenta. Which I did with him at the breast. He didn't really nurse, he just laid there and looked at me, while he tried to suckle a little bit. This was my favorite moment!

Here he is! Thomas Joseph Mattox (Tj) weighed in at 7 lbs. 4 ounces and 20 3/4 inches long. His apgars were 10 and 10 (he came out screaming and pink!)

First moments with Big Brother Bobby and Grandma. I was glad Bobby was there to see his brother for the first time. Grandma was Bobby's support person for the birth. They didn't watch the delivery (no one knew I was gonna deliver that quick) but they were their immediately after.

All and all it was a great experience. This birth was 6 hours total, not counting the contractions I could sleep through. 3 hours at home in the tub, 1 hour for the ride over and triage before I was admitted, and 2 hours after I was admitted.

If I do get pregnant again my next birth will be at home. I am looking forward to a peaceful birth, and not the  "hospital atmosphere" of this birth!

NOTE: Jan. 4, 00 - I had the 3rd baby! Christopher was born at home, in a wonderful water birth. You can see that story by going to: www.birthsavvy.com and clicking on the announcement.