My Birth Story, Part 2

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 In Case you missed My Birth Story Part I

    So, there I was, on my hands and knees in our cool dark bedroom, thinking that it was too early to go to the hospital.  Thankfully, my husband started packing the car and encouraging me down the stairs.  So, with contractions about five minutes apart, I hugged our two sons and my mom and headed off to the hospital.  I had a few contractions on the way, which was particularly uncomfortable, due to being trapped in the car, but we made it to the hospital in about fifteen minutes.  As we sat in triage answering questions about where I worked an what my phone number was, I had one mild contraction and I was afraid that I had been right.  I wasn't really in labor, and now here I was, trapped at the hospital and my water had broken.  I was nervous about being pressured into using pitocin to speed up labor since I was already in the hospital!
     Finally, we were admitted up to the labor and delivery floor where I answered more questions, signed forms - all things NOT conducive to labor, and my progress was checked.  I was about four cm. dilated and 90% effaced.  After I was comfortable, my husband went to park the car and I requested a birth ball from the nurse.  As soon as everyone left, the contractions started coming back.  I was amazed at the difference in my labor, just minutes after I was alone.  When my husband returned to our room, even he was surprised to see the difference in my laboring.
     At this point, my husband, who is a Greek Orthodox Priest asked if I would like to receive communion.  He prepared the Holy Gifts, as my labor continued to intensify.  In the room, was a large leather easy chair which I would kneel in and then lean over the chair back.  So, I positioned myself in this chair as my husband started saying the communion prayers.  This was a very emotional time for me and I cried as I received communion.
    By this time, it was getting late, probably closer to 10 or 11pm.  My contractions were so strong that I was back on the floor (yes, the dirty hospital floor) and could not speak through them.  Our wonderful nurse called the midwife at this point so that she would be ready.  When Mary our midwife arrived about midnight, she wanted to check my progress.  The exam was extremely painful and I was so disappointed to find that I was still only 4cm dilated.  I felt that my labor had become so much more intense and was frustrated that my cervix had nothing to show for it.