My anesthesiologist inserted the needle into my spine right in the middle of a contraction. The combination of the two types of pain coming together HURT. I practically squeezed my husband's forearm off. I also had a sudden drop in blood pressure fairly soon after receiving the injection, which was scary, because for a moment I felt like I couldn't breathe; so they put an oxygen mask on me and laid me down on my side with my head flat, and then I was fine, fine, fine. I have pictures of me lying there, relaxed, laughing and talking with the mask on my face, my best friend and my sisters hamming it up next to me. (Hubby must have gone out to get something to eat...)

When it came time to push, I couldn't feel enough to do it effectively, so they let the epidural partially wear off. I know some women can still push, but I wasn't one of them.

I also know a woman who had her baby very fast -- in something like two hours -- and barely had to push. I've seen the video where she's saying, calmly, "Okay, I'm gonna push now...little uncomfortable...one more...(grunt).." and then the baby cries. Pissed me off like you can't believe!