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and watched Jeopardy with no problems. About halfway through Wheel of Fortune I started to feel a wringing sensation in my belly. Uncomfortable but bearable. By the end of Jeopardy the pain was coming stronger. "Turn off that damn TV, it's giving me a headache," I barked. Did they say something about painkillers, I asked the nurse. She said she would get the guy who does that. I waited. And waited. A guy walked past in the hallway. I looked hopefully after him, and I may have grunted. I felt like I was in a restaurant trying to get the inattentive waiter's attention. After what seemed like an eternity (although my husband later reported was only 7 minutes) Stadol was added to the IV that was already giving me fluids. Ahhh, sweet relief. I felt great. Like I was ready for best nap ever. The next thing I knew my doctor had arrived. She told me I was 7 inches dilated and progressing a lot more quickly than they had expected.

I could tell the painkiller was not working as well as it had been. I asked for more. They told me I was too far along for that now, but I could use the hot tub for pain relief. I mumbled that I had to go to the bathroom. "Number one or number two?" a nurse asked. I told her I had to pee, not that it was any of her business. So they had my husband help me into the bathroom. He kept making jokes trying to lighten up the situation. I did not have much of a sense of humor at that point.

When I came out they asked did I still want to get in the tub. Anything that will bring some relief, I thought, and started pulling off my gown. As the nurses lowered me into the tub I realized that here I was, almost completely naked except for this lycra thing that was supposed to hold the monitors on me and I am in a room full of people. There was the doctor, two nurses, one anesthesiologist, my husband, my sister, and my mom. Seven other people. Kind of like that dream where you are taking the SATs with no clothes on, except it's real.

Again, the tub was a relief. I slept in there for a few minutes and then woke up and told the nurse, "I'm sorry but I have to go to bathroom again." Again the question, "Number one or number two?" I told her number two.

That statement changed the whole vibe in the room. The doctor said, "Okay let's get her over to the table" Why do they want me to poop on the table, I asked. "My dear, that pressure is not poop, it's your baby," the doctor told me. "It's time to push. Two good pushes and that baby will be out"

As I laid on the table

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