Our son Max arrived on Wednesday after a 24 h induction marathon. I was 41 w and 3 d. Had an epidural for the last 12 hours and ended up needing stronger anesthesia a few hours before pushing. Because I felt pretty much nothing down there and pushing was VERY fast (literally 2 pushes since I had dialated to 10), I tore badly and ended with a 3 degree laceration. A doctor who stitched me up said I made it to the 3 "lucky" per cent:) I wish I could just say like many other moms "it was hard but it was worth it" but right now, five days into a rather painful and unpleasant recovery, I still do not mix the two feelings together. I am in love with our baby - but this birthing business has been a total mess for me and I feel it's been unfair that I had gotten such a bad experience when other women just get to walk out of those delivery rooms... Nobody plans on having complications and maybe I was expecting too much of my "healthy and strong body" which in the end made me disappointed. Despite all these mixed emotions about delivery, I love my baby and my husband greatly and enjoy caring for both of them as much as I can. Sorry, maybe not the happiest snapshot of postpartum life but it's my honest account:)