The epidural equipment was then wheeled in by the anesthesiologist. I was told to sit up, felt a prick of the needle at my back and tiny electric currents in my legs. There was a tense moment as the doctor was inserting the needle in my spine and I could feel another set of strong contractions coming and the nurse warned me not to move. Was that even possible when a few minutes before I was clutching the bed's side rails writhing in pain? But by sheer willpower and a prayer I managed not to. I was told that once the drug takes effect I shouldn't feel the pain but the pressure will still be there. A few minutes after lying back down, Sandy told me that I was having contractions. I was amazed because I couldn't feel anything at all. The blessed and mighty epidural is working.

Disposable undies. Not that sexy isn't it? I initially mistook them for diaper cloths.

Sandy told me that she was going home and that my nurse will then be Maria. I thanked her for letting me hold her hand. A few minutes after I met my new nurse. She was asian, in her mid-twenties, looked like a filipina without an accent. She told me that I was going to have a catheter inserted in me. I have now so many tubes in my body, what difference does another one make?

For a while everything was blissfully peaceful until an hour later I felt the pounding of bricks within my stomach and back once again, it was mostly uncomfortable where the catheter was too. I called Maria to do something, several times she she did some adjustments but it persisted. She checked and saw that I was already 7cm but the baby's head was farther down than what it was supposed to be. She told me this would explain the unusual pressure I was feeling at this stage and urged me NOT to push or I would tear my cervix.

At this point I couldn't tell if I am the one doing the pushing or not. My body was no longer in my control. The pressure was so intense that I thought my pelvic floor and bottom was going to burst anytime. So it was back to square one. I wailed like a professional chinese mourner as I alternately fiercely grab the railing and Tom's hand for every contraction.

After an hour or so I was checked again and at last, I was pronounced ready to push. A slight hitch though, the Ob wasn't around. Maria called her and asked if we can both start the pushing. Thank goodness she was given the go ahead. So Maria told me to grab my knees in a lying down squat position, bring my chest and head up in a crunch, take 2 deep breaths and push using my pelvic muscles for 10 counts. We were going to do this 3 times for each contraction.

After several pushes Maria told me encouragingly that I was doing very well. In between contractions I heard her tell Tom that usually pushing takes a couple of hours, but the way I was going I will be done in less than an hour.

To be continued...

Currently listening to: Michael Buble's CD
Currently reading: What To Expect In The First Year
Currently watching: Parrots On Telegraph Hill