by Janita Boatner

Created on: February 10, 2009

It was on a Monday afternoon that I went into labor with my daughter. She was due to be born on the ninth of September. I remember that the first pain hit me right in my stomach and quickly went to my back. There it stayed the rest of the time I was in labor. I was having contractions every few minutes. Hard contractions. It kept up all afternoon. I ended up in the emergency room in the middle of the night, where, once I got there and they hooked me up to the baby monitor, my contractions promptly stopped! I was sure that I was going to have my darling daughter that night, but she, obviously, had other ideas.

So, my family brought me back home, and not thirty minutes later, here they come again. I tried to get comfortable and get some sleep. Who can sleep when it feels like their back is going to explode with pain? However, I tried anyway and managed to get a little rest. The contractions would ease up and then start again. I went through this, all day, every day. At nights, I would end up in the emergency room feeling sure that this was the night. It wasn't, though.

I went through this every day for three days straight! I had an appointment with my obstetrician on that Wednesday. He was going to send me back home. I was determined to not go back home until this baby was born! I begged him to put me in the hospital and get this baby out of me! I had only dialated three centimeters, though. But, he complied with my wishes and put me in the hospital and told me that I was to be induced first thing the next morning.

Thursday morning, September 9. My contractions were regular, but I was still only three centimeters dialated. I was holding on to the railing of the hospital bed, trying not to cry out in pain, but, not having much luck. I was supposed to be first in line for the labor and delivery room, but they never came for me. I couldn't understand what was taking so long. Finally, late that afternoon, the nurse came in the room and asked me if I was ready. Was I ready? Was she kidding? I was ready four days ago! Anyway, she told me that when they were about to come and get me that morning, they had an influx of spontaneous deliveries and she apologized for putting me last. What was I supposed to say? It's not like I could control it any more than they could. So, I told her it was okay.

She got me into the labor room and proceeded to hook me up to a bag of antibiotics. I had this strange infection that needed strong treatment before the baby was born. If I didn't

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