Oh my, Pene - I think I just gave birth again reading that story! I felt every contraction the way you so aptly decribed them. Especially love the analogy of the football versus a nostril!

Your first labor sounds similar to mine: sitting at 1cm forever and the exhaustion; thankfully I dodged the oxy and episiotomy though ( although I felt you being cut and sutured!)

Thank you for this real-life account of birth. These stories deserve a voice.