39+2 had an elective induction that started at 9:30AM. I was already 3cm, 90% effaced, and baby was -1. Started off with a COVID nasal swab- that was god awful and made me tear up. A little painful, but mostly just super uncomfortable and challenging to breathe, but it only lasted a few minutes. At 10:15 I was given pitocin to kickstart labor. Just felt a lot of pressure and some cramps but nothing that was unbearable. At 2:30 I only progressed to 4cm so they broke my water and I asked for an epidural. The epidural was not what I thought it would be AT ALL. As I sat on the edge of the bed gushing fluid and having a strong contraction the doctor pushed in the epidural and I got sharp pressure and some pain down my right side. Maybe just from all of that happening at once was very overwhelming but I lost it and bawled my eyes out. However, the epidural worked great and I could still move my legs, but couldn’t feel a thing. I was checked at 4:30 and was at 6cm. The nurse put a peanut ball between my legs to help open me up- well that worked because at 6:30 I was fully dilated and ready to push! Holy crap that was exhausting!! Also, pretty sure the epidural wore off because the last few pushes I felt EVERYTHING and once again started crying and grunting with every push. The doctor gave me a local to help get his head out. Finally at 7:54 my big baby was born- 8lbs 1oz 20in.