All three of my other babies came before their due date. Mary was a week early, Hanna two weeks early, and Peter four days early.  Alice ended up coming a day before her due date, but it took a bit of convincing.

With Alice I was contracting quite fiercely for five weeks, and I was sure it was "it" about once a day for those five weeks only to have my contractions stop or slow down every time. A month before I had her my hips were so spread apart they felt as though they were buckling and slipping out of their sockets when I would stand or walk. While these two situations sucked and were emotionally and physically difficult, there was something else really troubling me. When would she come? In the middle of the night? Who would watch the kids? Would my mom be able to come up that day? The unknown was driving me nuts.
So at my appointment on Friday the 17th I asked to be induced. I jokingly (but secretly sincerely) suggested we do it that afternoon, and my doctor agreed. I couldn't believe it. I was relieved and scared all at the same time. We set the appointment for 3:00 that afternoon. I couldn't have asked for a better set up. My mom was able to come up and could stay the entire weekend while I was in the hospital. (And she wouldn't have to worry about getting the girls ready for school and taking them in the mornings). I was able to run some errands, get the house spotless, prepare a dinner, pick the girls up from school, explain to them what was happening and say goodbye.

The hospital ended up calling me a few times to push the time back but at 5:00 they were ready for me. It was quite strange to be going to the hospital without any contractions. To walk into the front doors, go up the elevator, crack a few jokes, and talk to the receptionist without any painful pauses.


It took awhile for things to finally get going but at 7:30 pm they started me on my first dose of antibiotics for Group B Strep. During this time it felt more like a stay in a hotel than giving birth in a hospital. We watched some interesting TV shows and hung out. At 9:30 my doctor came and broke my water. At this point I was still a 5, like I was at my appointment that day, and 50 percent effaced.

I began contracting after about half an hour, and at 45 minutes I was is in active labor. My contractions were very strong and close together from the start. At first I thought I could handle them but after about an hour of contractions that were only about three minutes apart, I was waining. The contractions got me fully effaced but I was only dilated a bit more. Imagining going through this pain, which may even increase, for 4 or 5 more hours, was a horrifying thought. Poor Dario was stressed out  seeing me in so much pain, so eventually I asked for an epidural.

By the time the anesthesiologist came, about 45 minutes later, I was probably already at an 8 and in transition. The epidural ended up only numbing my right leg and was a complete waste of effort. (It's not easy to stay perfectly still while experiencing the worst pain of your life).  Only about half an hour after the epidural was in I was ready to push.

My labor with Alice was so painful and intense I went from 5 cm dilated to needing to push in under two and a half hours. My contractions were so horrific that by the end of things I almost threw up from the pain a few times and I became completely delirious from the pain. My contractions didn't seem to cease. They would climax then go down a bit, but never stop. It was so agonizing, but one (well two) good things came from it. It really helped me feel better about this being our last baby because I NEVER want to go through that kind of pain again.

My Alice was born at 12:37 am on Saturday, September 18.  She weighed a hardy 8 pounds 14 ounces, and was 20 1/2 inches long. She didn't come out crying, but pooping and she definitely hasn't relented. She is absolutely sweet and the definition of beautiful. I love her deep brown, down feather hair; her soft fluffy cheeks, and each and every noise that comes from her rosebud mouth.

We are so lucky to have our little Alice. She's the perfect addition to my beautiful family, she makes us whole. She completes us- completes me.