This is my mums birth story when she had me. Her waters broke while she was shopping, so she went straight to hospital, she was having very extreme contractions but hardly dilating. She tried a waterbirth, and lasted less than 5 minutes in the water as she said it was too cold and uncomfortable. So then She had the epidural which she said was awful, it didnt help her pain and she hated them putting it in. After many more hours they said she could have pethadine, so she agreed. Well her body reacted badly to it somehow, as it temporarily paralysed her. She was laid on the hospital bed numb in her whole body, she couldnt move her arms or legs, she couldnt talk or open her eyes but she was awake and could hear everything. My dad thought she was asleep and she said the nurses were saying how peaceful she looked now she could get some sleep, but she wasnt asleep at all and could hear everyone AND she could feel every contraction still, but not move. She said it was the scariest thing ever. After a few hours she got her feeling back and was able to push. After 32 hours of labour I was born, on my duedate. My mum immediately got rushed away to have several blood transfusions straight after my birth, and she had over 170 stitches. She was then in hospital for a week until she got sent home. It didnt stop her having 2 more children though! I am due in less than 2 weeks and am praying I do NOT experience what she did with me lol