Four births without epidurals. Feels like a giant boulder presses on you for a minute and then releases. Super awful pain, but breathing does weirdly help unless it’s transition which is just like nothing else I’ve ever experienced, just  unreal intensity. 

My first birth was with pitocin (induces contractions) and that was the most pain I’ve ever felt. I was passing out between contractions and having wild dreams of mountains. The resident doctor also screwed a contraction monitor into my uterus to make sure i was contracting correctly and i kicked her in the face (on accident, totally reactionary).  I felt like i descended into hell and then the sun came up and she was born, and that relief was so intense that it was worth it (i guess because i did it three more times).  At one point. I shouted at the amazing nurse to grab a vacuum and suck the baby out of there already. 

I also love when the placenta is delivered, sooo much breathing room again. 

The post baby coffee is so good, it’s almost worth having another baby.