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Clear the Way, Please
-Ruth, Ireland

I was two days past my due date and my husband kissed me goodbye that morning as he left to take his Dad on a scenic driving tour. I planned on packing my hospital bag that day, although I didn’t think I’d need it yet. My other pregnancies had all gone well past my due date. Then I went to the toilet and was surprised to see what looked like my mucus plug in my knickers. This was my fifth baby and I had never seen a mucus plug before!

Even though I wasn't having any contractions I got really excited and phoned my husband to tell him that he might need to cut his trip short and come home. I started packing my bag and then felt some really strong contractions coming on. These didn't stop; they carried on, getting a little more intense all the time.

When my husband came home we went for a lovely long walk along the sea front and stopped in a café for some cakes and tea. I had to stop walking for a few minutes every time I felt a contraction.

When we got home I said I'd better call the midwife and tell her I might be having the baby that day. I told her not to panic as the contractions were still really easy. The midwife came to my house at about eight o’clock in the evening so she could check my blood pressure and listen to the baby.

While we were sitting on the bed I got a couple of whopper contractions, one after another. My midwife felt my tummy while I was having a contraction and was surprised how strong they felt. They were coming about five minutes apart and lasting a couple of minutes each. She thought it would be best if we made our way to the hospital.

When we got to the labor ward I had a few more strong contractions and my midwife had a look. She said she could see my water bag bulging so she popped it for me. Then I had two really strong contractions back to back. My husband asked me if it hurt, as I wasn't really showing any signs of pain. I tried to tell him that I wasn't really in pain, but I couldn't talk as I got another contraction straight away.

''I feel like pushing,'' I said to my midwife. ''That's okay,'' she said. ''Go right ahead.''

''I need to blow my nose,'' my husband announced and was about to go over to the tissue dispenser on the other side of the room. I started to get another contraction and wouldn't let go of his arm. During the rush I just went with it and pushed like you would naturally when you are having a poo. When it was finished, I turned to Sean and asked him, ''Did you blow your nose yet?''

''No, I'm okay,'' he replied.

''No!'' I exclaimed, ‘‘You have to blow your nose, quick!'' I had this strange idea that if his breathing was congested I wouldn't be able to get the baby out. The midwife gave him a tissue and he did what he was told and blew his nose. I got one more contraction, gave a big push and our new baby boy was born.

It’s amazing what clearing the airways can do!

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Labor in the Legs
-Anonymous, Oregon

I was two days overdue with my second child and was scheduled to be induced the following morning. I woke up at 2am with somewhat strong contractions, mostly feeling them in my back. I called the doctor, who got back to me at 2:30, and was told to go ahead and come in.

My husband and I had to wake our oldest child, take her to a friend's house and then go to the hospital. When we finally got there, my contractions were very strong and close together. I had to keep stopping while we were walking into the ER. I let the nurse put me in a wheelchair and we got up to the maternity ward around 3:00am. Then I changed into one of the oh-so-flattering hospital gowns. The doctor checked me and I was only dilated to 3cm. Then he went ahead and broke my water.

I was moved to another room at about 3:30, as they thought it would be a while before I gave birth. By the time I got situated in the new room the pain got so intense I couldn't stand it. I wanted a spinal block immediately! After I was given the shot I didn't feel any different except that the muscles in my legs started contracting wildly. They were contracting so tightly that I thought they would rip in half. "What's up with my legs?!" I wondered. "Labor is not supposed to be in the legs." I hurt so badly. The nurse told me that I was "deferring my pain." It did stop after a couple of minutes, thankfully.

The next thing I knew, I was in the delivery room and pushing. It took a whopping 15 minutes and out she came! My daughter was born at 4:56am, just four minutes shy of a three-hour labor and delivery. The head nurse came in to say she hadn't even known I was there yet.

I am now pregnant with my third child, seven years later, and I am hoping this one goes quickly as well, but not TOO quickly.

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