Better late than never!

I had an appointment with my OB when I was 38+3. Since I was measuring ahead she offered to do a stretch and sweep, and I agreed. All that night I had mild but consistent contractions. The next day, my husband and I went walking around the mall for hours to get things moving. I had stronger contractions the whole day, but they were very inconsistent. All that night, they kept getting stronger and stronger. On Sunday, they got to the point that I couldn't focus on anything but the contractions. They kept getting stronger and closer together. We stayed home for as long as I could tolerate it. I took long, hot showers with my birthing ball to help ease the pain until I was ready to go. At about 12:30 Sunday afternoon, I told my husband it was time, and we left. The nurses checked me and I was 3/4cm. They said I didn't have to stay but suggested I didn't go home, so we walked around the hospital for a few hours. It got to the point where I was screaming through each contraction. During each contraction, I would lean over and my husband would either squeeze my hips or push down very hard on where my hips met the center of my back; this helped a lot with the pain. We went back upstairs to L&D and the nurses checked me again. It was 5:00; I was 5 cm, and they admitted me. My OB wasn't on call that weekend, but came to deliver my baby as a favor to me. They called and told her I was in labor. She took her time getting there since this was my first child. My waters were bulging and it was very painful. They expected my bag to pop at any moment, but it didn't. The contractions were pretty painful. My husband kept squeezing my hips and putting pressure on my back. I also asked for a fan and ice packs. The ice packs on my lower stomach helped with contractions, and I had one on my head, too. In just a few short hours, I told the nurses that I had to push. Since my OB wasn't there yet and my water hadn't broken, I had to fight the urge to push. That was the hardest part. Finally, at 8:00, my OB came through the door. She checked me, I was fully dilated. She popped my bags and told me I could push. Finally! I pushed as hard as I could, and my baby flew out in a matter of seconds with just that one push. We were shocked! I had a second degree tear, and she stitched me up. Within 6 minutes of her walking in, I delivered my baby. She stitched me up and was gone within 30 minutes! My baby was born vaginally with no epidural or pain medications on June 5, 2016 at 8:06PM. She was 7lb5oz, 21.5" long. It was the most rewarding experience of my life, and my husband was an enormous help!