Ciara in the Bathroom

It was May 3rd, just 3 days before my due date. I came awake in the morning, aware of contractions. Being my third child, I was sure I was in labor, and asked my husband to stay home from work that day. We my daughter ready and off to school, and set my son up with some breakfast and some Barney. I took a shower and dressed, and headed to the hospital. The contractions were about every 5 minutes, but not exteremly painful. When the doctor on call checked me, he said I was about 2 cm dilated, and 70% effaced, but I was not in hard labor. He figured I work enter true labor later in the night, or perhaps even the next day. Now, I had had very short labors with my first two children (5 hours and 2 hours), so I was a little disappointed. We headed home, and my husband fixed me a grilled cheese sandwhich and some chips. I laid down in the bed to eat and watch a some morning talk shows. The contractions were still not very painful, yet they were very close, every 2-3 minutes. All at once, I heard a popping sound in my lower back, and a very strong urge to use the bathroom. I jumped up and headed for the toilet. I reached the bathtub and felt something slip out of me. I sat on the edge of the tub and told my husband to call an ambulance. Im still not sure what slipped out of me. Maybe part of the amniotic sac. My husband called 911, while I laid down a towel and settled myself on the floor. At this point, I knew I wasn't moving anywhere else. My husband then telephoned the hospital and got the doctor on the line. He put me on the phone and the doctor told me that probably it was just my mucus plug, and to come on back to the hospital. I didn't reply and hung up the phone. Just moments later I heard footsteps on the wooden stairs at the front door. I relaxed then, knowing that help had arrived. I remember the paramedics coming in, and one of them kneeling down saying, "Don't push, don't push.....oh". I was trying very hard not to push, and I don't think I did actually, though the baby's head was on its way out. My husband help my upper body as the urge to push subsided, all the while saying in an awestruck voice, "ok honey go ahead and push". I tried to tell him I couldn't, just as another contraction arrived. I grabbed his arm, and my body took over. There she was, little Ciara out and yelling at the world. My husband cut the cord, and they laid the baby on my tummy. I was concerned for her warmth, and had my husband get her little hat out and put it on her. The paramedic was concerned about delivering the placenta, and since I didn't need to push, decided to wait until they got me to the hospital. The paramedics were just as excited as we were. The baby and I rode to the hospital, while my husband and son followed in the car. When I arrived, they took me to labor and delivery, and the baby to the nursery. The same nurses were there. When I expressed my displeasure at being sent home, the nurse replied, " I guess you should have yelled louder when you were first here". I never did see the doctor. In the space of less than one hour, I went for a 2 to delivery. Im expecting again, due in the spring. I plan to spend the last week before my due date in the hospital waiting room!

Crystal