Baby number 2, due date October 7, 1999

This pregnancy was great except for really bad morning sickness that lasted about four months. I went in for my appointment about two days before my due date. I was getting tired of being pregnant and ready for him to come. While she examined me -- I think that I was 3 centimeters -- she separated the water bag from the cervix. She said that this would probably cause my water to break in the next 24-48 hours, and if it didn't we would set up induction for October 8. I didn't want to be induced, given my experience with my first baby (induction, epidural, three hours of pushing, and forceps), but I was ready to have a baby, and I thought it would come before then.

On October 7 at 2:30 a.m. I awoke to realize my water had broken, I got up and went to the bathroom and felt crampy. (Again, this pregnancy had very little contractions before this time, just a few Braxton-Hicks.) I had a couple of cramp-like contractions while in the bathroom. I woke up my husband and told him that my water broke, so we would probably be having a baby that day. He wondered if he should call his mom to come over and watch our daughter, so we could go to the hospital. I didn't want to get there too early, so I said to wait for the next few so we could time how far apart they were. The next one came five minutes later and lasted about a minute, and kind of hurt, so I suggested he call her. Then I called the doctor to tell her the information, and she said that she would meet me at the hospital.

My mother-in-law arrived 15 minutes later (3:15 a.m.), and we were off. (Before she arrived, I was making the bed between contractions, so she would have a made up bed to rest on. My husband insisted I was crazy and made me stop.) On the way to the hospital, I said that I was pretty sure I wanted an epidural, this was kind of hurting. Of course, it would depend how far along I was.

We arrived at the hospital at 3:30 a.m. and had to go around to the emergency room door. Everyone who passed us was staring at me leaning against the wall breathing so deeply. They had me sit in a wheelchair as they pulled up papers and sent someone down from labor and delivery to get me and push me up. So I continued to breathe deep and concentrate on getting through them.

At 3:45 a.m., the nurse came down and brought us up to our room. She told me to change to a gown, and give a urine sample, then they would check me. Before she left the room I asked if I could get a throw up container, as I was feeling queasy. I changed, but I wasn't able to give a sample, which she said was OK. Then I told her that I sort of felt like pushing. She immediately said, Don't, don't. I wasn't going to! I just thought that she should know that information. I came out and got on the bed and I was fully dilated and ready to push.

She said that she would go find a doctor, and I asked her if she would RUN! I could feel this baby really wanting me to push him out or he would come all by himself! My doctor had not arrived yet. A couple more nurses came in to help set up and get the bed ready, etc. -- all the while, telling me not to push and to just pant and breathe. It was like trying to hold a train back. I just could not stop that baby from coming down that canal. The doctor came in sleepy, and fumbling with his gloves, and moving slow. All the while I said, Can I push now? Can I push? I'm going to push with the next one. Can I push? Please get ready because I'm going to push. They never got the bed ready and I never really got a concentrated push, he just came out into the world at 4:10 a.m. Less than two hours of labor! And no drugs or even an IV! Gavin Sterling Petersen was here.

He had a little trouble breathing at first, so after a few minutes, my husband and baby went to the nursery to examine him more closely and give him oxygen. The birth was even a little fast for him! He was 8 pounds 8 ounces and so cute.

My doctor showed up just in time to stitch me up, probably the most painful part of the birth. She said that when I called her earlier I said, I THINK I am in labor. I won't make that mistake again! I don't know why I said think, I did KNOW I was in labor. Oh, well!

Gavin is now 1 year old, and such a cute boy. We love him lots.

I definitely would try the natural way again, but hopefully it won't be so crazy and hectic and too fast paced again!