Good Birth Stories

Both my precious boys were born in a hospital with an epidural. My first labor was about nine hours with a couple of hours of pushing. My first weighed 7 lbs. and was born with a tiny bit of blond hair on his very well shaped head(for a vaginal birth!). My second was born in the middle of the night after only a couple of hours of labor and a few pushes. He was a huge boy at 9 lbs. 13 oz. and still only weighs a little less than his brother who is 3 years older. Both left me with some physical imperfections, but put more love and joy in my heart than I could have ever imagined. Congratulations and good luck!!

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I had my son in a hospital and went into labor on my due date. I went all the way to 9 cm without an epidural, so if you know you are getting one, you will be out of pain well before I was. And I still made it!

I had not one problem with anything. No getting sick, no heart rate issues, nothing. My son was just perfect!

My son was born in 7 hours start to finish, even though I had to push for over an hour. I guess since I got my epidural so late, I was really really numb and couldn't feel to push! It was great! I had no tearing, no stitches, nothing.

I had the best birth experience.....I am pregnant with number 2 and I hope all goes well this time around too.

And remember when you hear their cry for the first time? How wonderful!

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My daughter was born after having a scheduled induction at 39 weeks. I had my water broken, started on pitocin and within a few hours was pain free. I remember there was nothing on tv other than Dog the Bounty Hunter so we watched that for a few hours (he'll always have a special place in my heart because of that!). I remember telling the anestheologist that I loved him when he came in! We were in the hospital for 2 days and it was awesome. My daughter didn't latch right away but she eventually caught on.

With my son, start to finish it took 2 hours and 18 minutes from the first contraction. I wanted to stay home and labor for awhile but my husband convinced me we should go to the hospital. Good thing because we were there less than an hour when I had him! I involuntarily started to push him out (couldn't stop it) and my water broke. Someone from admitting was trying to get me to sign paperwork and all I was saying was that I needed meds!! Two pushes and he was out! No meds - and it felt like a freight train ran though my 'areas' but once he was out, the pain was gone. NEVER thought I'd make it through that. I took a shower and healed VERY fast with him. I was only in the hospital for 30 hours with him - I wanted to get home to see my daughter!

I feel like I had more of the 'experience' with my daughter because it took more time to push and 'wait' around and also I was in the hospital for longer. The next time, I'm staying for 2 days...just to get sleep! LOL

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I had the easiest birth ever...I had a 16-yr-old girl do it for me!

No, really, my son's birthmom announced that she would deliver at 7:30 because she wanted to watch Gray's Anatomy, and damn if he wasn't born at 7:30 on the dot! She didn't have a bit of trouble; he just popped right out.

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I can relate to your worry. I had my second daughter five months ago. I had a super experience with our first daughter and being in a new town with new doctors and a different hospital, I was nervous/scared. We are a military family, so the hospital we delivered in was old and I had no idea what doctor would be delivering our baby. One night around ten, my water broke as it had done with my first daughter. I called and the nurses were incredibly nice. My husband drove us in. There was one more room available, a room they don't normally use unless they are full. I tried to hold out pain wise, but I wasn't progressing much and they put me on Pitosin (sp?) immediately. I asked for the epidural and from that moment on, I was more relaxed than I have been since before we had children! I just laid back on the bed, with semi-droopy eyes, thinking about our first daughter and wondering what this new little life was like. My husband and I reminisced about our first daughter. The nursing staff could not have been nicer or more helpful. The doctor and nurse practitioner were so kind. By six am, I was ready to push and two pushed later, we had our second daughter. It was a great experience. I felt more aware the second time around, which made it even more special.
Good luck! Enjoy your epidural! Enjoy the experience. Enjoy your new little one.

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My second birth was fantastic! I started having PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension) two weeks before my 2nd was due, so I went in for an induction. After waiting far too long for an epidural with my first, I decided the minute the cramps and contractions got too powerful, I was getting the epidural this time! SO -I did-and it was FANTASTIC! My first time, the epidural took away horrible back labor, but didn't deaden anything. This time I was in heaven -passed out and woke up 5 hours later with the nurse saying -"You need to wake up because it's time to push!" She had called for the doctor, but said, "Give me one push so we can see where we are, " and I did which prompted an "OH -NO MORE -JUST WAIT!!!!" The doctor arrived, gloved up, said "Give me a push," and my 2nd gorgeous son popped right out into his hands. It was a great experience! Good luck with everything!

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My water broke while I was getting ready for work. Exactly 38 weeks. But then nothing, no contractions, nada. Went to my OB who said go home and if nothing happens come in at 7pm and we'll induce you. This was ideal for me as I am the 11th hour girl and hadn't put the crib together, unboxed the stroller w/ car seat or did baby laundry. I think I was in denial that he was ever coming so I put things off. I washed my last dish and hubby said we gotta roll. I was in a teaching hospital so I got all these young residence coming in and checking on me and they were awesome. There was no TV in the room and my normally chatty hubby was mute. Fear had gotten him and he sort of sat in a corner and watched me. I had music all ready for the birth, I was so into D'Angelo with his silky R & B voice and musicality. After 10 hrs of nothing but mack truck contractions the angel I have been hearing about entered my room, yes the man with the epidural. Ahhhhh, bliss. Even though I was numb from the waist down I felt the need to push and my boy was born 5 hrs after epidural. They swaddeled him up and when they gave him to me I only saw his hair and fat cheeks everything else was under the blanket I felt like they were handing me a giant egg roll. It was an all around awesome birth and I happily recant it to anyone about to go into labor. Best of luck to you and positive energy to you.

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I had to get induced, because Pres. Bush was going to be speaking at my hospital the next week and I didnt want to risk not getting to go there and have my doctor because they werent going to be admitting new patients. So I went in at 7, got my IV, and started to feel some crampies around noon. As I was super scared of pain, I asked for my epi, and they checked to make sure I was dilated enough, and gave it to me. I was super hungry, but they wouldnt let me eat anything, so my nurse kept me supplied with orange popsicles until they ran out. :-) I finished the 2 books I had been reading, had a nap, and since my parents had warning, my dad got to be one of the first people to hold my daughter after they got us both cleaned up. It was stress-free and awesome. The only bad part was how hungry I was, but my aunt got me some awesome, yummy pot roast afterwards. :-)

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Hi Amy - I had my little guy on 4/11/07 and it was not bad. The only bummer was I went into labor in the evening and had to stay awake all night (Sigh!). Water broke - or should I say "spritzed" around 10pm. Went to the hospital about 10:30-11ish. I wanted to be as drug-free as possible and was freaked out by the concept of an epidural. Also wanted to be more "involved" in the pushing. I decided to go with Stadol if I needed medication to get through the pain. I asked for "help" at 5cm and 7cm. Then got to 9cm after 7 hours of labor, then 2 hours of active labor - had my son at 8:30am :) I would say on the pain scale, I never got higher than 7 out of 10. Very little tearing, no episiotomy. I also found out I'm more of a grunter than a screamer (seems like the TV births are all screamers LOL). My hubby said that the nurses in the birth ward start a pool when a mom comes in saying "no epidural for me" - I think I cost some people some money since I didn't get one :)

Enjoy! Hope it's easy for ya!

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I was in active labor for about 8 hours. I had an epidural after 5 hours and it was AMAZING :) I dilated from 5 to 10 in like 15 minutes! I pushed for about 20 minutes or so and had my perfectly healthy son exactly a week before my due date. 6 pounds 6 ounces 21 inches.

I am due with my second in October and hope I have a similar experience. My mom went really fast with me (I was her second child) and didn't have time for an epidural, I am terrified that will happen to me!! I hope you have another good birth experience, good luck!!! :)

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hehehe, you make me laugh!

I had two hospital (w/ epi) deliveries. The first was MUCH harder...pushed for 3 hours and tore and the recovery was pretty tough.

Let me tell you...the second is sooooooooooooooo much easier!!! My dr kept telling me that it would be a lot faster, and boy was he right! I was induced, so the laboring part for me took a while but the delivery was a breeze. I literally said "OMG, if that is what it is supposed to be like I can do this many more times"!!! The nurses were laughing so hard, they said they never heard someone say they wanted to do it again minutes after delivery!!

I pushed thru 3 contractions and he was born. 1 stitch and recovery was beautiful! The nurses kept pushing me to take pain medicine, but I truly didn't need it!!!

Best of luck to you! I bet this one will be even easier than your first!

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My first birth was pretty easy and the second one was even better. My Dr said she wished she could tape it to show how it "should be done" ;-) Childbirth was MUCH easier for me than the pregnancy! I think for most people, if the first one goes well, there is a greater chance that the second one will as well. I just remember that we were so relaxed b/c we knew what was going to happen. And the childbirth itself was very fast and easy (as easy as childbirth can be of course!). I feel very bad for all those women who have such a hard time with it, and have several good friends who did, so I know I am very fortunate. My sisters all had easy births as well, so I wonder if it is soemwhat genetic?

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I like that. . . Alrighty then, her's mine!

Actually #1 was a nightmare so I'll spare you the details.

#2 My water broke at home a little after midnight and I immediately went into regular labor pains so we headed to the hospital. I did get an epidural (with both) and can't remember when I dilated to what, but she was born without incident and just about 20 minutes pushing at 4:37 am! So just a little over 4 hours start to finish, easy peasy!

I do remember thinking that I probably could have done it without the epidural the second time because it was so easy and quick. But as a registered nurse (who does believe in alternative/natural medicine too) I do think there are certain things God gives us the technology to use. We all have to make the best decisions at the time with the information and environment we have to work with. Do not make any apologies for your decisions!

My kids are almost 20 and 15 1/2 so details are kinda sketchy after all this time.

Good Luck! It will be great and everyone will be just fine!

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No problem getting birth stories, huh?

First: Stripped membrane on Thursday followed by eggplant parm and hot wings! (They were going to induce b/c of high blood pressure on Tuesday so I was trying to go on my own) Contracted all day Friday at work. Got home, took hot shower and contractions came on strong. Dh was playing golf and I told him to finish his round and get some supper then we would head to the hossy. Got checked in around 8. OB got there around 12:00 am and broke my water. No epidural, but some demerol throughout. Pushed for maybe 20 minutes and at 1:03 am my beautiful 7 lb 5 oz girl was born.

#2: 38 weeks, contractions woke me at 2:30 am. Got up got on the computer an played around thinking they would go away. They were 4-7 min apart, but not 'that' strong. Dh woke up around 6 to go to work. I told him to go ahead and I would call him when I thought we needed to go to the hossy, but he wouldn't listen and made me get ready! He even unloaded the dishwasher b/c I insisted it needed to be done before we left! Took dd to the sitter and realized I forgot the diaper bag...back home to get it. So finally got checked in at 9:45am. I made sure to call in and cancel my 10:30am 39 wk appt! Got checked and I am 8cm and my water sack is bulging! Nurse freaks, calls the midwife. Midwife gets there and says I am ready, just have to wait until everyone can get set up then she will break my water. Broke water pushed maybe 3 or 4 times, soaked everyone in the room and out comes my 9 lb handsome precious son at 10:54am. I was told I was lucky my water did not break or I would have delivered at home!

I think labor and delivery may be the best part of pregancy!

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Well, I had a C-section but you just never know what’s going to happen so I’ll share too. My C-section was great. I was able to nurse my baby within an hour afterwards. I was up and walking the next day and recovery wasn’t bad at all. Obviously, recovery after a natural birth is easier. I only had to take Ibuprofen for two days after surgery and the incision healed up just fine. So…if it happens don’t worry, it’s not all that bad. One thing I always liked to remember before I was to give birth (I had planned a natural vaginal birth) is that God designed our bodies to do this and millions of women before me did it just fine and millions of women after me will too. Best of wishes and congratulations!

Oh i just had a baby girl 3 weeks ago and it was great! My first girl is 24 months. I thought my water broke with her so i went to the hospital at 2am only to be sent home! By 1030 am i was in HARD labor out of nowhere and was sooo scared to be sent home again. When i got back i was only 4 cm and screaming for the epidural, before labor started i had BIG plans to deliver natually...ha! Ahhhh bliss after the epidural. Layed around dreaming about my baby and after a few hours, was ready to push. She came out in 13 minutes and was 5 lbs 10 oz, full term.

With this one it was even better. Water broke around the same time also on Friday nite/saturday morn. Waited a couple hours to see what else would happen cuz didn't want to get sent home again. Got there praying that my water had for sure broke because had to call me neighbor at 1 am to come stay with first baby. After check in around 230 am it was confirmed!! Waited until 9am to see if labor would start on its own but didn't so started pitocin. Having my water break was great bc i didn't have to be in horrible pain before being admitted. I was hooked up to the iv and ready for epidural whenever i gave the word. By 1pm had another precious girl after maybe 15 min of pushing. 6 lbs 5 oz and precious! There's more to my story but don't want to bore you anymore. You are going to have a great labor and delivery!! Good luck : )

I know you already have sooo many answers but I love sharing my birth stories. :-)

For my 1st pregnancy, I actually went into labor at around 1-4AM. I didn't know it at the time though lol. I went to bed around 4:30am, and woke up to contractions around 10:30am. After talking to my mom and my boyfriend, we went to the hospital around 12-1pm. I was extremely afraid of the pain and wanted to be in the hospital and get an epidural more than anything. Unfortunately, we were sent home. the nurse told me I wasn't really in labor that maybe I was dehydrated. So I stayed home until around 6:30-7pm because I didn't want to be sent home again. But during this time, I was laying in bed screaming my lungs out during contractions and falling asleep inbetween them. Finally on the way to the hospital my body was making me push during contractions. As we pulled up to the ER entrance, I was midcontraction yelling with the windows up and people outside the ER turned to look. I thought it was funny even then. Lol. Well, needless to say I did not get an epidural and had my daughter less than 30 minutes from arriving at the hospital.

My 2nd pregnancy, was less scary and less dramatic.

I labored all throughout the night again knowing I was in labor this time. I really thought I had left in time to make it to the hospital in time for an epidural. I was worried about having all the pain again. As soon as I got to the hospital I was 4CM and they called for my epidural, but I swear...as soon as my body heard the word epidural, my labor got extremely rough. I progressed to 10CM in 30minutes. I gave birth to my son before I was at the hospital for an hour. Oh and the killer part is...as I was pushing, in walked my epidural...ha ha ha.

But I wouldn't change a thing. I love my birth stories no matter how bad they may seem to other women. They are real! I plan on having 2 more children down the road. I also plan to have them without an epidural, only because I have done it twice now and am pretty sure I can handle it. :-)

Thank you for letting me tell my stories.

I had twins so I had been told C-section from the get-go and my cousin had one and comforted me about having one so I was totally okay with it. What I didn't want was to have one vaginally and then the other via c-section. Who wants to hurt from both areas? Anyways my doctor knew I wanted to deliver vaginal if possible. I made it to 36 weeks and both babies were in the correct position so now it was just up to me pushing them out. Granted this was my first pregnancy too so they broke my water at 1:00 p.m. and after a little while I asked for my epi.
My parents were there, my sister and her husband, my cousin and her husband, my sister-in-law and brother-in-law, my in-laws as well as my husbands grandmother that just flew in from Florida! Everyone was in my room and all of a sudden I started to feel my pain again. My mother swooshed everyone out and they had to come back in and re-do the epi. This time around I didn't feel nothing and it was wonderful!
At 9:30 p.m. I began to push and after quite some time my doctor explained that we could use a vacuum to help assist in getting baby A out. He explained that I would still have to push but that the vacuum would help get the baby here. Finally at 11:43 p.m. December 14th my first baby girl arrived. The second however was not dropping down into the birth canal and I overheard the "word" C-section. Somewhere in the depths I found every ounce of strength I had left and my doctor was finally able to push her down into the birth canal and she came out with no assist with the vacuum because I pushed so darn hard because I was afriad of my worst fear coming about. My second baby girl was born at 12:21 a.m. on December 15th and out of ALL the pain and the trials and tribulations I went through -it was ALL so worth it and it wouldn't have really mattered how they arrived. They were here alive, healthy, and thriving little babies and they were the most beautiful things I had ever seen in my entire life! I still look at them today at 7 years old and think they are the most wonderful and beautiful thing God and my husband has ever given to me no matter what card I am dealt with life.
I don't even remember the exact pain-I do remember it being present but I can't explain to someone else how the pain compared because I don't remember it because once those babies arrived there was nothing else in the world that could have kept me from holding those two precious beings and I was so happy that I got hold them without them being rushed over to NICU. They were so healthy! Their skin was so beautiful and they were just all around beautiful and I will remember that day till the day that I take my last breath and remember when my two girls took their first and keep it close to my heart because no one can ever take that memory away from me. Good luck with your next birth you have already done it once before so you know you CAN and WILL do it! I'm sure others had horrible experiences but in the end ask them that one question...Was it worth it? I bet their answer would be an absolute YES and I woould do it ALL over again!

I'll share the birth story of our third, and youngest.

I was induced at 38 weeks because of high blood pressure. My husband and I arrived, nervously at the hospital at 5:30am. I hadn't slept at all the night before - expecting this day. It was still dark and cold.. middle of January.

They put me in a birth room and started the pitocin. My best friend showed up around 7:30am to keep us company. Slowly but surely I started to dilate. I hadn't had my epidural yet, but the slow beginning contractions were pretty minor. My doctor came in to check on me, chipper and happy, starting his day across the street at his OB clinic. He checked me, did a sono to see where the baby was -- because he wasn't sitting very low. Baby was head down but hadn't really "dropped" low. All was looking pretty good though and he said he would be back around lunch.

My father arrived with my 5 year old around noon. I was dilated to a 4, and started discussing an epidural. The labor was going slower then my previous inductions but smoothly. Around 2PM my doctor broke my water to speed things up - he had put it off because I had extra amniotic fluid, he was concerned the cord would come down first and that could get in the way for a vaginal birth. Very carefully and slowly, he punctured so the water seeped out. He checked for the cord -- just felt baby -- All was well. The contractions got much more powerful.. and it was time to ask for my epidural I had my first dose around 3PM, they did it assisted with a sonogram machine and it took right the first time (yay!) At 5, my doctor stopped in again... I was about a 7. He said he was going to his house to have dinner with his family, he would be back in a few hours -- and they would call him if he was needed immediately. He lived close, and had checked on me a bunch. I loved that I didn't feel rushed.

At 7:30PM things got interesting. Our first year nurse checked me and her face went white. She got flustered and left the room. She came back with a senior nurse, who also checked me. They had something in their hand -- fecal matter. My baby was breech. The nurses started talking about a c-sec. They called my doctor. He came up in less then 15 minutes. More examining. My doctor explained, our son had flipped to breech while I was in labor! The extra amniotic fluid had given him the "room" to pull it off... so when the nurse "felt" she poked him in the bum and he went to the bathroom. I was dilated to a 10, his little bottom was at the 2 station. He was halfway down the canal as it was.

It was around 8:30 now. He got a sonogram machine. He measured my sons shoulders and head. He told us that my sons head was actually narrower then his ribcage, what that meant is that if I could pass his body he wouldn't get "stuck" by the head. My doctor starting asking us what we wanted to do. We had the choice -- a c-sec, or a vaginal breech birth. I asked him what his professional opinion was -- he said, "Given this is your third child, and with the size of his body actually being larger then his head, the ONLY reason I would tell you not to do a vaginal breech is if I was against them under all circumstances." He left my husband and I to talk, but said we needed to decide. It was about 9pm. Ironically, I was a breech birth. I spoke with my husband, my Dad and Mom weighed in their thoughts, my best friend as well. We were nervous, of course. We told my doctor we would do the vaginal breech birth.

There was a buzz on the floor. Many of the staff had never heard of a vaginal breech being done, much less seen it. My first year nurse told me, older, senior nurses were upset she got to be in the room - when they wanted to. People were fighting for who got to be present. My doctor explained that we would move to the OR, so that if he had to go in and get the baby, he could do it fast. My epidural had worn off, the anesthesiologist showed up and told me it would take "full effect" in 20 minutes. It was 9:45PM.

I was rolled into the OR. In the OR, it was full of people. My husband was there, he took a few pictures. My doctor said we need to do this. The doctor gave instructions on how this would be different from a typical headfirst delivery. 9:59PM I started pushing... and I was never allowed to stop pushing. The way the vaginal breech works - one the baby is in the canal they want him out. So even after the contraction help is over they said KEEP PUSHING. I felt like I was pushing sandpaper out of my vagina. My sons legs and body came out, they dropped the table to change the angle of my hips to make passing the head easier. My son was born at 10:01PM. Two minutes of straight pushing! Perfectly healthy, with a slightly bruised bottom.

It was a great experience. It didn't go perfect to plan, but it's a wonderful story with a happy outcome. I love that my doctor has actually done other vaginal breech births, I feel very fortunate that he has experience in that.. and that didn't become a huge surgery. I saw my doctor just a few weeks ago and brought my youngest son. He said people still talk about his delivery.

I have a little boy who is 3 (4 this June). At his birth I was under the Midwife led Delivery Service, assuming that this is a facility/service used up and down the country. Anyway..... I didn't opt in my mind from day one to use a birthing pool, which as it turns out in the end I didn't, however, I did have the facility there and I used it from very early on in my labour as my contractions were very close together from early on. My first contraction being about 4.25pm following on 15mins later and then 10 mins or so. one after the other without much give in between. Although I will say that for being my first I didn't suffer with much discomfort or pain. I was, like i said, in the birthing pool, that lasted (in my mind5 mins) as it was a fairly fast labour, in comparison to other woman that I've known/heard of. I had my little boy at 10:20pm that night so fairly quick! Not complaining. Using the midwife service meant that there wasn't the facility of an epidural, if, however, i felt that I wanted to have this I would've been moved to the labour ward. the room i was in, was lovely, breezy, airy, sun was shining and very peaceful and calming. I only had gas and air for the birth. In the end up i asked the midwife to "help me in some way". she asked what I meant by this as I felt i was loosing energy and the whole "pushing" part wasn't going so well with the contractions. When being told to push, the contraction had gone. they weren't lasting long. So i got an episiotomy, the only thing being that this led to me having a third degree tear which led me to being taken to theatre for an epidural to have stiches - was gutted at this, but one of those things. All in all I had a lovely experience and a gorgeous baby boy at the end of it all.

All the best.

L. Jane

Hey Amy!
I will share my first birth experience with you. It was great! My son was due on April 11th back in 2003. Well, when I went to my 38 week appt, I was already three cm dilated. The doc said that was great for having your first baby! We headed to the hospital shortly after the appt. Now the funny part is that the date was April 1st and when we started making calls to friends and family, nobody believed us because it was April Fools!!! :) So when I got to the hospital, I got some pitocin, they broke my water, I got my epidural, did not feel a thing, and had my beautiful baby boy at 11:55pm April 1, 2003!

Good Luck with everything!!!!!

My first son (3 1/2 years old) was suppose to be a scheduled induction (38 wks and 5 days), I got to the hospital at my scheduled time only to find out that I was in labor he was born less than 12 hours later after 2 failed epidurals and 2 hours of pushing (I was way in experienced and he had a big head LOL). My baby boy (8 months old), I was scheduled again for an induction (40 wks and 2 days). We got to the hospital after 5 hours are active labor the day before my scheduled induction, I was diated to a 7 1/2 and opted for no pain meds and he was born an hour and a half later. We left the hospital 33 hours after his birth. My boys are my life and I wouldn't change either birth experience.

I'll add mine..... I have four children, and each birth story is unique. I can say though that each one came a little faster, and with each I was more confident in my ability to get myself through the birth. I have never had an epidural so I can't relate there. Honestly, I am more afraid of that needle than I am of birth! lol. But, let's see, my second, since you are on your second...let me remember him.

I went in for my 37 week appt and was 4 cm dialated. (Which is normal for me at the end. I can stay there for weeks!) The Dr stripped my membranes and before I even left the office I began having contractions every 2-5 minutes. I went ahead to the hospital and was monitored. I walked for an hour or so, but contractions did not increase. I probably should have gone home and lied down then and it probably would have gone away, but hey, I was there and impatient for me baby. :) So the Dr. started pit and broke my water. Aidan was born about 2 hours after that. He came quickly, leaving me with a small tear and the great relief of not being pregnant anymore! Looking back there are things I would do so differently, but at the time it was a great birth experience and in the end I had my little guy and that was what ,attered.

All 3 of my babies were born vaginally in the hospital with an epdiural. With the third one, when I went into labor, I hopped into the bathtub to relax while things were starting out, which was great and helped with contractions. I even snoozed a little, I think. After a while, my water broke, so I got up and got everyone moving (5 am or so) and the contractions got pretty intense. I started asking for the epidural immediately upon arrival :-). Took a while to get it. Basically as soon as they got it in, I wanted to push. The doctor was still getting ready and one push and there he was. My mom said I looked stunned by the whole thing, cause man, it was not like the others, which were much slower. I am not sure if that helps, though. Just be ready for anything!

I have 3 kids; 10yrs, 6yrs and 4yrs..all delivered vaginally and w/ an epidural. The most comforting thing was that all 3 deliveries progressed exactly the same!! Only a little faster each time..it was like my body knew exactly what to expect, I did have to have petocin w/each one and my only advice is to get the epidural as SOON as you possibly can, you already know what to expect and so does your body so this time just relax and enjoy (as much as could possibly be expected). Also, each time my recovery seemed to progress more quickly as well...women have been doing this since the beginning of time and your body now knows what's going on, why not take advantage of medical technology in pain relief..good luck and congrats!