I thought it would be nice if we all share our birth experiences. It is such a powerful thing to go through, and there are so many perspectives. Love to hear from some mommies of multiples as well. I mean, can you imagine having three little people making their way into the world all at once? Breathtaking!!!

I actually had a good experience. I believe the reason is prayer, taking classes and knowing what was going on with my body, and walking alot while pregnant. I went 5 days over my due date. My husband and I walked ALOT right there at the end. I was due on a Friday, and had an appointment the following Wednesday morning. So when my doctor checked me, I was already almost 4 cm. and he said I could go on to L & D or we could go home and wait on my own. I am sure I would have been back that night or the next day. We decided to go on. So we got there about 11:00 am and the nurse gave me an enema, which caused me to start having contractions. Contractions to me felt like strong menstrual cramps. Around 1:00 my doctor came in to put the epideral catheder in (but not the medicine except for a test dose, to make sure it was working correctly) and broke my water, and I kept contracting. At 4:00, I was stalling at 5 1/2 cm (since 3:00), so the nurse told me they were going to have to give me pitocin and asked did I want the epideral. So I told her go ahead, because I've heard pitocin can be very painful. So before they started that, my doctor gave me the epideral medicine and it worked wonderfully. After getting the pitocin my contractions were stronger and more regular and my son was born 4 hours later after pushing for 45 minutes. Our son was born healthy, and got to stay in the room with us. I was in pain for several days after having him, but my baby was worth any pain and I will do it all over again, even if it's worse next time! I am just thankful to God that everything went as well as it did.

I am living proof that every pregnancy and every delivery are different. My son was born 14 years ago, was a week over due and weighed 9 pounds.I was in labor for 18 hours and pushed for 4 of those. He was a forcep delivery and almost a c-section because he just didn't want to come out. His shoulders caught on my pelvis and when they pulled him out his collarbone snapped, and his apgar was a 2 for the first few minutes.Now he's 6 feet tall, extremely athletic and a great student even after such a dramatic start. My daughter was born 2 years later, on her due date and I was in labor for 6 hours, pushed for half an hour and had no complications even though she was 9lbs 4 oz. My next daughter was born 2 years after her sister. I was induced at 8 a.m. and had her 3 and a half hours later. I never pushed and the nurse delivered her because the doctor couldn't make it in time. She was 8lbs 8oz. My current pregnancy has been relatively different because i'm older and it's been about 9 years. I've had some contractions already and I may have to be put on bed rest. I am hoping this labor and delivery goes as well as my last...keep your fingers crossed for me

I was due on Nov. 13th. They scheduled me to be induced on the morning of Friday, Nov. 17th. At my appointment on the Tuesday before the doctor did some exteremely painful stretching thing to hopefully get things started before the induction. I had some discomfort Thursday morning and decided to stay home from work. I was in labor all day Thursday and went to the hospital that evening with such extreme back pain I couldn't keep track of my contractions. At the hospital they were going to send us home because I was only 1cm, but they kept us because we were scheduled for induction. I recieved two shots to try and lessen the back pain while in the temporay room. When they moved us into our delivery room I recieved another shot and requested an epidoral. They told me the epidoral problaby would not help my back pain but I was desperate so I did it any way. It did lessen the pain and make things bearable. My husband and I both tried to sleep. A few hours later a bunch of nurses came racing into our room and started rolling me all over the place. They were trying to get the baby's heart rate back up. This happend about 3 or 4 more times then the doctor broke my water and attached a monitor to the baby's head. I made it to 5cm. and the doctor recommended a we do a c-section because they were guessing she was laying on her cord but they didn't know that for sure. I have no idea how much time past but they started preping me for surgery then they wheeled us in and she was born at 7:53 am on Nov. 17., 8lb. 13oz. The doctor said we probalby would have needed a c-section either way, her chest measured 15 in. and there was a good chance she would have gotten stuck. I am glad everything worked out o.k. but I was very disappointed I had to have a c-section. It is just not how I imagined it would be.

CArainnDS - Wow, amazing! The important thing is that the baby came out fine. C-section or not, the result is what matters.

Silversky32 - Best wishes for an easy delivery!!!! Keep us posted.

happy2bme - Thank you for sharing! "my baby was worth any pain and I will do it all over again" - I think any mother would agree

Nikkster, what is your birth story?