I think I am finally in labor

I have been having contractions all night and morning long. They started about 9:30 last night. They are getting stronger and more frequent, like 5 minutes apart now. I had my scheduled OB appointment this morning for my non-stress test and everything was good with that but I am only dilated to 1cm and about 50% effaced. The doctor said I am probably at the beginning stages of labor but I have a long way to go.

So Kent and I went shopping, I cut his hair this morning, I think I will get some other things done and just wait it out.

So I will have a question/answer session with myself:

What is my biggest fear? 1) Fainting in the middle of my delivery. I am known to faint at the site or loss of my own blood. 2) Getting an episiotmy; my flesh being cut in any manner makes me cringe. 3) Having to get a C-Section. Oh man, I definitely would not want this to happen!

What will we name her? We still don't know. The name I love the most is Amelia but Kent thinks it is old fashioned. The name we both like together the most is Grace. We also like Anna and some others. I guess I want to see what she looks like before we give her a name.

Am I ready? Well, I spent the whole day yesterday organizing and cleaning the apartment from top to bottom. We spent the whole week doing errands and such like finishing our taxes, etc. They call this nesting syndrome. So I think I am ready. I finished my last scheduled shift at work Wednesday and I sent all my young women off to the Stake retreat yesterday. And my bags are packed.

What will it be like? I have no idea. I have never had a child before or even been in labor before...for all I know I might not be in labor, but this sure feels like something. I am planning on just riding it out and being open to anything. If I want an epidural maybe I will get one, but maybe I will enjoy labor and not get one, who knows. :)

What is your opinion of labor and pain? That is interesting. I spent a term in Argentina, while in nursing school, in a poor public maternity hospital. For weeks we worked with the laboring Argentine mothers and went in with them during their deliveries. For them there was no pain meds, epidurals, family support, or anything to ease the pain. They did not scream, or cry, but endured and birthed. In our culture we have a different outlook and on the labor and birthing process. I wonder if it is all cultural.

When do you think she will come? Probably tomorrow afternoon.