I had a wonderful pregnancy. Nothing happened -- everything went perfect. I was due Nov. 30, 1998, which happened to be my birthday! What a great birthday present! I went in to labor on Nov. 28. I didn't think I was in labor, this being my first child. I had no idea what labor felt like or how it would be. I started having contractions about 4:00 p.m. that day. I didn't think anything of it because I had been having them for about two weeks. As the day went on, the contractions started getting closer together -- from every 20 minutes to about every 10 to 15 minutes. I was out with my husband and his family. I didn't want to say anything, thinking it was a false alarm.

We went out to eat that night. We were right across the street from the hospital when everyone realized that I was having contractions. They were begging me to go. I told them it was nothing because I've been having these for a while. So after we ate we went home (about a 30 to 45 minute drive). By the time we got home, I was shaking uncontrollably. We decided to go to the hospital and get checked. I still didn't think I was in labor.

When we got there I was 3 centimeters dilated. They decide to keep me for a while to see if anything changed, since the contractions were coming so regularly (every five minutes). Within an hour and a half, I was about 4 and a half centimeters. Wanting a natural birth from the time I got pregnant, I changed my mind when I was finally in labor. There was no way I could handle this long ride I was about to go on. I got an epidural and a sleeping pill to get some rest, because I knew I was going to be here for a while.

I was fully dilated, but my water never broke. The doctor came in and broke my water. I thought the contractions before were bad. They were nothing compared to after your water is broken. I know all this because my epidural wore off. Anyway, I had about two hours of pushing. They put an oxygen mask on me once because the baby's heartbeat dropped for a second, and they thought I was going to hyperventilate. Finally, the baby was starting to crown. Then they told me I couldn't push anymore cause the doctor was cleaning another lady up. I was mad, because you can't control that urge. Finally the doctor got there and after another 30 minutes of pushing they got the vacuum extractor, and suctioned him out. I was so happy to have him out. And the doctor and nurses were, too -- that meant I would stop yelling at them.

My son, Tristan, was born Nov. 29, 1998. He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces and was 21 inches long. He was absolutely perfect! That 15 hours of labor was all worth it. Even though it was so exhausting I would do it all over again!