labor part 2

Triage this time around was a much shorter visit and pain of a different sort. I was lying on my back on the triage bed with contractions going deep into my lower back. These were NOTHING compared to the braxton-hicks I had been having for the past few weeks. I think both my husband and I were a little shell shocked. I never could have imagined that the contractions would be this intense and come this hard so quickly. My contractions were still only a few minutes apart, and once they got me hooked up to the machine thingys, you could see my contractions going up and OFF the chart they were so hard.
To give you some background, I had been hoping to go natural. My husband and I took a course on different breathing and techniques and I even bought an exercise ball for me to sit on during contractions while at home. But, in my mind I was expecting to go through the first part of labor with contractions that are like 30 minutes apart and slowing getting closer together over a ferw hours. That way I would have long breaks inbetween them and have time to get the hang of the contractions and I would make progress on how to deal with the contractions as they came. But, going into labor as quickly as I did, I did not have time to relax and regain composure inbetween my contractions. It just felt like they hit me like a wall over and over again.
I know it sounds like I am making excuses, but it is what it is and I gave in before I even left triage to the idea of getting an epidural.
Triage was a short visit, they checked me, saw that I was 5.5 cm dialated and I was checked into a room shortly thereafter. By the time I got to my room I was 6.5cm along and waited another 15 minutes or so for the epidural. The epidural guy was amazing. He was super sweet and compassionate towards my plight. He really helped calm me down as he gave my the epidural. And within a couple minutes the pain from my contractions went from a 9 to a 2. And then within a few minutes I could not feel the contractions at all. I could just watch them happening on the screen...
Once I had the epdirual, I was able to just lay there and soak in what was happening. It was the middle of the night, and at some point I would be delivering my baby. I was super chill and just layered there. It was the middle of the night, but I didn't ever doze off, after all this was an epic moment in my life. It was a really surreal experience for me...realizing that the baby was finally coming and that I was already in the hospital several cm along.
I think my husband was almost more glad that I got the epidural than me. I think it took the pressure off of him being my coach. I love my husband to death, but he definatley was not looking forward to walkinbg me throught contractions and I don't think he was prepared to handle it either. Either way, I'm glad I had the epidural because it allowed me to stay calm, whereas with the contractions I was stresssing out big time.
I did allow my mom in the labor room with me and my husband. To be honest, I did not mind if she was there or not. But I could tell she wanted to be there, and I was happy to make her happy and include her in this. Afterall, this was her 4th grandchild, but the first one she had been able to be a part of the birth process for.
so, we got to the hospital a little before midnight and it was about 2:00 when despite my epidural, I felt this sensation on my leg and I said, "I think my water broke." A quick check by the nurse confirmed it and it was go time.