For those curious, birth story below (it's a little long, sorry):

Scheduled for induction at 39 weeks exactly (due to my "advanced" maternal age). Reported in at 7 am, was on pitocin drop starting around 8 as I was only about 2CM dilated and -2 station.

Went through 9 hours of the pitocin with nothing for pain and increasingly intense and frequent contractions. For those that don't know, apparently you cannot eat on pitocin. Had I realized that in advance, I would have had a MUCH bigger breakfast!

Around 4 pm I asked to be checked and for an IV drug for the pain-entire goal was to skip an epidural as I had a horrible experience with my daughter's birth 19 months ago.

Turns out the pitocin was working and I was now dilated to a 5 and at 0 station! They gave me something for pain (narcan, I think), which frankly only made me feel fuzzy and a little nauseous. Contractions went from 2 mins apart to barely being able to catch my breath between them in under ten mins. At that point, after almost breaking my dear husband's hand with the pain, I finally called it and asked for the epidural.

Apparently baby boy had other plans, because at the same time I seriously had to push and my body started pushing whether I wanted to or not! Turns out there was no time for the epidural, he was ready to come out! I think it was only about an hour of pushing (which hurt like holy hell, as the narcan did almost nothing for pain), but in the end I have a grade 3 tear and they resorted to a vacuum assist to get baby out. According to hubs and moms, things got a little tense toward the end there. Frankly I barely understood what they were doing at one point.

At exactly 5:49 pm, Evan Gregory was born at a healthy 7 lbs, 12 oz and 20 inches long. I actually feel pretty fantastic after a Motrin and a decent meal, though the stitches hurt like crazy when I sit down. We are truly blessed and grateful for that. Pic below:

Hope this helps someone and may give peace of mind! Good luck to you all and congrats to all you new Momma's out there!