I went in for my apt. on Wed. morning, and the doctor checked me again...I was at a full 4cm, 60% effaced, so the doc. called the center to make sure there was room for me, and as there was plenty of space, he told me to go straight in. We arrived at the center at around 9:30, and I was put on the monitors to see what was happening. I was having ctx. at about 6 min apart, but not terribly strong. They kept me on the monitors for the next couple of hours, and while the ctx did pick up a bit in frequency, to about 4 min apart, they didn't really get any stronger. Around noon, the doc. had me put on Cervadil...that was a lot less gnarly than pitocin! My ctx. almost immediately began to gain in intensity, and were down to every 2 to 3 min. We went on like that for the next 6 1/2 hours, and while ctx were stronger and closer, when I was checked again at 6:45, there hadn't been a ton of change...I was at about 4 1/2 cm, and 80% effaced, but baby's head, and my cervix were still quite high. My doc removed the Cervadil and broke my water, and immediately thinks changed! The pain was way more intense...way, way more...the frequency picked up, too, so ctx. were now coming every minute. The nurse checked me after 30 min, and I'd dialated to 6 cm and 90%...another 15 min and I was at 8cm, still 90%, 15 min more, and I was at 9cm and 100%...10 more min...10 unbearably looooong min...I had never felt this kind of pain in any of my deliveries, and just HAD to get him out NOW. When the doc checked me, he said there was still a rim, but I wasn't about to hold back anymore...I don't think I could have if I had tried. It had taken every ounce of willpower I had to hold off for the preceding 10 min! He said if I had to push, then to go ahead, and though it was excruciating, I managed to move him from -1 to nearly a +3 in one push! Now something just wasn't right...I pushed and pushed and pushed, but he was moving down soooo slowly. I honestly began to feel like he was never going to come out. He finally started to crown, but he definitely wasn't decending as fast as my girls had. 5 or 6 pushes later as his head finally emerged, it was evident why...he had one hand on his cheek and one under his chin!! 2 more pushes and he was at last out!! It was 8:17pm. Remarkably, I only had the tiniest of tears...not even enough to stitch! Almost immediately the shakes started, and while I desperately wanted to look at the still slightly slimey, squirming bundle on my chest, I couldn't open my eyes! It took about 15 min before I could open my eyes to see my new son. He was puffy and bruised, and his little hands were purple from being compressed against his face and neck for so long, but he was beautiful! The nursing staff let us just chill for a long time...we lay skin to skin, and he nursed for the first time, instantly a little champ. It wasn't until almost an hour later that they finally weighted and measured him...he was 7lbs 15.3 oz and 19 inches!! Another 9 days, and he would have been at least 9 lbs...making me even more grateful that we had gone in early!! The after pains are definitely worse this time around...that is one thing that definitely doesn't get any easier the more kids you have. I didn't end up with a c-section, for which I am glad, so didnt' end up with a tubal either, since that was the stipulation I had put in my paperwork. My doc wanted me to stay at least until today, which was lovely, as they treat you fabulously at the center, and would have kept me longer if I had wanted to stay, but my little Reilly really wanted her mommy to come home! We had planned on having Aidan circumsized today, but since it was a cash only procedure, and for some odd reason, the hospital ATM wouldn't accept my debit card (???) we have held off on having it done, and at the moment, we are back on the fence on that issue. I had to endure pharmacy torture on the way home...our Walgreens had received my prescription orders from my doctor at 9am, but still weren't done filling them when I arrived at 4pm, and somehow, my info wasn't in the computer anymore (even though that is the only pharmacy I use up here, go figure), so I had to stand there for 45 min, during which time all I wanted was my medicine and to go HOME!! I was seriously near tears, when I begged the desk pharmacist for the 3rd time to PLEASE get me my medicine NOW so I could go home!! It's not like it wasn't clear I had just gotten out of the hospital...I still had my blasted id bracelets on!! That finally got things moving, and we at last were able to get home. My little sweetheart is sleeping next to me in his basinette as I type...he is just perfect...worth every second of pain. At last our (not so) little family is complete!