I didn’t say I wasn’t in labor, I should have included that info. I was in labor for about 18 hours. I just didn’t go to the hospital until the last minute and I never had any Lamaze or such classes.
I heard horror stories about labor from family and so I was waiting for things to get really, really bad not realizing I was at the worst part already.
I didn't want to take Lamaze but it was a requirement if I wanted to forgo the scopolamine. (That was 35 years ago.)
I would have done much better had they said “The last part will hurt like hell, but it means you are almost done. Once the head pops out the pain is but a distant memory.” I ended up having a saddle block. Jekyll and Hyde. :-)
They wanted me to take a “refresher” with my second baby. I them to get a life. :-) He popped out with but one primal yell.
My third labor was the toughest, probably because I was 36. “Don't push? What the hell do you mean, don't push. You can shake hands with him.” The ER doctor delivered him.