8 hours labor with 4 hours of pushing

It was the afternoon of December 12, and still 6 days before my due day. I was surfing the Internet when I felt something quite unusual in my waist. (Yes, it's waist!) It was like a little rubber balloon "flowing" toward my bellybutton. Anyway it did not bother me.

Suddenly my waters broke, with pink show.

"Oh...it's about the time to see the baby...but I don't want to leave any spot on the carpet..."

So I had to crawl because I could not get up onto my feet. I finally got my cell phone, made the first call to Jason, then left two voice mail to my colleagues because they might be waiting answers from me. Jason will come home in 20 minutes, and I can crawl to the bath room to take a shower before going to the hospital.

I was excited because it has been 39 weeks. It's boring to stay at home but WAIT. I knew the baby has to be out in 24 hours even though I did not have any contractions yet.

Yes, no contraction! I was singing and drying my hair, and Jason knocked in.

"Yah...we can go to the hospital...."

"Did you call Labor and Delivery?"

"Not yet...but I believe I won't be rejected because the waters broke... :p"

I was lucky to finish cleaning myself home alone. It could be dangerous if I fell down during the shower as contraction was coming. I never knew what contraction was because it was very minor during my pregnancy. My diarrhea was 10 times worse.

4:00pm we checked-in, still no contraction but the leaking embarrassed me. I should put diaper on instead of pad.

"You are pregnant, in the hospital, everyone knows that is water, ok?"

Yeh, I was almost in labor, in room # 7, a lucky number. We are going to meet Leon here.

The next two hours went past and nothing had seemed to happen, except I went to bathroom many times. It was the most comfortable position than lying down or standing up.

6:30pm contractions started but were only 7-10 minutes apart, and still better than my diarrhea. I knew it was not a real one.

It was too slow and I knew it was not good to Leon, either. Doctors decided to drug me, and the contractions started, stronger and stronger, and finally I took whatever pain relief because it is really unbearable. I spent most my energy to resist the pain and it was about my time to go to bed -- 11:00pm! I was so sleepy and tired. After the epidural, I could finally focus on something right: rest and push!

Yes, I rested for a little bit and even took nap between contractions, and push when it came. However not much progress I made until hearing doctors saying the word "vacuum" and "forceps".

"No!!! You can not do this to my baby!!!! You can open my belly but you cannot vacuum him!"

"Give us another 30 minutes and see how it goes. It is really scary even though it is safer than cesarean."

I knew it was Leon's last chance, I pushed on every contraction now and Jason could see the hair of the baby. Finally the baby was out! We had a beautiful son, Leon, born December 13, 2007, 3:38am.

Leon with cord

30 minutes fresh baby, 6lb (2710g)