by Melissa Willets posted in Mom Stories

During my third pregnancy, I experienced contractions throughout my entire third trimester. So about 2 weeks before my due date, when I began feeling consistently strong contractions around bedtime, I pretty much ignored them.
But a few hours later, searing pain woke me from sleep. I hesitated to disturb my snoring husband, and instead, took a hot shower. If the contractions persisted post-shower, I'd wake him.
Oh yeah, things were ramping up.
We called my doctor, who told us to meet her at the hospital. She would tell me later it was the tone of my voice that gave me away: she knew I was in labor!
It was 3 a.m. when my parents arrived to stay with our two older kids. My husband and I headed to the hospital in the dead of night, with long, empty stretches of road spanning out before us. And wouldn't you know it, right around the time we pulled into the hospital parking lot, my contractions stopped, dead in their tracks.
Instead of going home, I decided to get checked out. I figured, we were here, so why not"
At about 5 a.m., I was 4 cm dilated, and my doctor wanted to keep me there because earlier that day at a check-up I'd only been around 2 to 3 cm dilated. This baby might come fast, and as she said, "You aren't having her on the living room floor!"
My husband and I began walking around the labor and delivery wing to speed up my labor. Around and around we trudged, and still, no contractions. My doctor decided...