I went for my (almost) 40 week check up on Tuesday morning...I think the ob had had a chance to mull over my concerns regarding a fast delivery, and agreed to send us straight in to the birth center in order to get plenty of antibiotics in before labor really began. He'd hoped I'd start on my own, but after the first double dose of antibiotics was in, and walking around the center hadn't hastened things any, he ordered pitocin started at about 1:30pm. The pitocin really didn't do much of anything...it did regulate the contractions I'd been having since Saturday, and increase the frequency, but dialation was going incredibly slowly. I'd stalled at 4 cm for nearly 5 hours...I wouldn't even call it labor...just annoying, LOL. Add to the irritation with 2 more doses of antibiotics...that stuff BURNS! Every member of Mike's family came in at one time or another....my MIL was there the whole time...she was determined not to miss this one, LOL. At about a quarter to 7, the doctor asked if I wanted him to break my water...I said that would definitely speed things along...I just knew it would go super fast after that, and I was right. I had my SIL and FIL take the girls to their house...the big girls would have been ok, but I didn't want Natalie to see me in pain...she is just too sensitive for that...and I didn't want anyone upset by letting some stay and not others....Mike's aunt Lucy showed up right after they left. By 7:30, contractions were every 2 min, and incredibly intense...I'd gone from 4 cm to 8 cm in only 45 min!! For the next half hour, contractions increased in frequency, and by 8 pm were coming right on top of of each other. I had a pretty good idea that she was going to be a big baby...after the doctors estimate at 38 weeks, I had no doubt.... I just HAD to push at about 8:05, waiting longer was not an option, LOL...Push one...she was starting to crown...push 2...she got stuck half way through the push...she has pretty bad bruising across her cheekbones and nose, and has a couple busted capillaries in her eyes...head out...Push 3...sholders...and again she got stuck! I was begging for help by this time, LOL...but within a few seconds (at 8:10pm) she was out! She was quite purple for a while...Apgars at 1 min was a 6...at 5 min was a 9...once they got her breathing and crying, she did great! I got the worst case of shakes I've ever had in my life...couldn't stop shaking for a good half hour! I ended up with quite a few stitches..she tore me up pretty bad when she got stuck the second time...but honestly, its not nearly as painful as the episiotomies I had with Kayla and Natalie...the cramping on the other hand is the most intense I've ever had! I couldn't believe my eyes when they put her on the scale...8lbs 10.8ozs!!! And I'd thought Madison was big at 7 lbs 10 ozs! Reilly is HUGE! Everyone is just thrilled with her...her sisters want to be with her all the time. I think she is just beautiful...she is a champion nurser...and Daddy is already being super protective.