Second labour started slow but ended much quicker than i was prepared for!!

Two days before my due date on Oct. 19th I went for my checkup and was 2 cms dilated but could stretch to 3. The doctor stripped my membranes and said she had a feeling she would be seeing me later that night. Later in the evening I had some mild contractions, but after getting in the tub they started to go away. So i decided to get out and lay in bed to try and get some rest in case things started to pick up again. At midnight my contractions started again and this time were much more intense and were on average 5 mins apart. After an hour I called labour and delivery and they told me to come in and get checked. So I woke up my husband and off we went. I got checked around 1:40 am and was disheartened to learn I was still only 2.5-3 cms. They hooked me up to monitor my contractions which were still coming regularly and still intense. After an hour I was checked again with no change. The nurse told me I had two options, I could either get up and walk around, or try getting in the jacuzzi tub for an hour to see if my contractions would either go away or progress further. She recommended the tub so I decided to give it a try. I got in and at first my contractions seemed to get further apart. By this point I thought I was going to get sent home! But after 20 mins my contractions picked up again and got super intense. I lasted another 20 mins before I told my husband I needed to get out asap and see if I could get some pain relief. He helped me out and I was in so much pain I could barely get dressed. My husband thought I was going to run out of the room without clothes on lol Finally got back to the delivery room and nurse said I was 6 cms and she needed to call the doctor. I asked for the epidural since the pain was so intense and I had had one with my first and planned on doing the same this time around. She hesitated and said the doctor has to see you before they can order the epidural. I said ok so as soon as she gets here I can get my epidural? I knew immediately from the sympathetic look on her face I was not getting my epidural. She said there would be no time! 15 mins later I was fully dilated and screaming that I needed to push. So in about an hour I went from 2.5-3cms to 10! But the nurse said I couldn't push because the doctor wasn't even there yet but was on her way! That was one of the worst parts, feeling such an intense urge to push, but trying to wait for the doctor. As soon as the doctor got in the room she broke my water, I started full on pushing, and 15 mins later my son was born. All in all my labour was 4 hours. I seriously didn't think i had it in me to have a baby 100% natural, and while it hurt like heck, it was by far the most empowering experience I've ever had! In the end I wouldn't change a thing and am so happy that I gave birth to a healthy 7 pound 12 oz boy. We love our little Lincoln :)