Two Very Different Birth Experiences

I know it's a bit late...like 3 months... but I really want to share my experience giving birth to Benjamin.  First I should probably review my story of Clyde.  Go ahead and skip whatever sections you want below if you don't want to read everything.  I do tend to ramble sometimes.

Clyde's Story (a little miserable, but amazing and rewarding just the same):

Clyde was born a week before the due date.  I wanted to do a natural birth, but I didn't take any classes or anything.  I was pretty unprepared.  At 39 weeks, I didn't feel close to labour at all.  It was the day after Ryan's birthday.  I had an appointment where I was 98% effaced but barely 1cm dilated.  We spent the day grocery/baby shopping and then when we got home I made Ryan pizza for his birthday dinner.  I was beyond exhausted.  I wasn't having contractions or even feeling crampy, but just before 10PM I bent down to pick something up... and peed my pants!  And I mean I REALLY peed my pants.  My bladder was empty, so when I was sitting on the couch 15 minutes later and felt a gush of liquid, I knew it must be my water breaking!  I had the classic movie-type water breaking, where it all rushes out.  Sadly I was just at home, so only Ryan got to see it.  I called the hospital, and they told me I better come in so they could make sure.  I reluctantly followed their advice and headed to the hospital.  On the drive over I started feeling a little crampy.  Once I was there and the nurse confirmed that my water had broken, they suggested that I just stay.  I didn't want to (and I wished later that I hadn't), but I did.  I got set up to spend the night, Ryan crashed on the couch, and then the back-labour started.  ...Except it was only pre-labour.  It wasn't that bad yet.  It was just bad enough that, although I was worn out, I couldn't sleep---or even lay in bed---all night.  Lucky for me, there was a jet tub to labour in.  I spend the majority of the night in the tub.  The nurses treated me like I was ridiculous for staying in the tub so long.  I'm guessing they'd never had back labour.  Meanwhile, Ryan was sleeping soundly and peacefully on the couch.  To be fair, I COULD have woken him up, but I wanted him to be well-rested for the next day when things would really start happening.
At around noon the next day, things were very slowly starting to pickup.  I was so tired I could barely move... and I wasn't even in real labour yet!  I felt like I'd used up all my adrenaline stores.  I began to worry that I'd have no energy for delivery.
As I said, I had taken no birthing class.  I'd read a few things online but not enough.  One of the nurses suggested that I try to relax and work with the contractions.  I thought "of course!" and immediately followed her advice.  What a difference that made!  It felt much more natural.  Unfortunately, I was still exhausted.  As real labour set in, I decided to give in and get a epidural simply so I could sleep.  The midwives and nurses were surprised at my decision.  They saw how relaxed and peaceful I was and couldn't believe I wanted to change my plan.  I knew I needed at least a little energy for the delivery, and I didn't want to pass out and cause complications (yes, I really was THAT tired).  So I did it.  I got the epidural.  And can I just say... it was MISERABLE!  I'd heard about natural birth being painful and hard, but no one ever mentioned how terrible the epidural would be.  Yes, it allowed me to rest, so it wasn't useless.  However, as soon as they stuck that long needle into my spinal cord, labour slowed down.  I had to stay in the bed (which really wasn't an issue actually since I was so tired), and they had to hook me up to pitocin to get things rolling again.  I was only dilating on one side, so my midwife suggested I lay on the un-dilated side.  This really helped even things out, but it made all of the medication from the epidural go to one side, as well.
After a few hours of groggy sleeping-waking cycles, it was time!  I felt like I was half asleep, but I had a little energy again.  Ryan stood by, feeling a little useless but excited and engaged.  I pushed six times and out he came, a nice, easy 6lbs 13oz, 18 inch baby with an 11 inch head circumference.  Soon after, I got to experience using a catheter (lucky me!) because half of my lower body stayed numb for a while.
I really don't mean to make Clyde's birth sound like a negative experience.  It truly is the most incredible feeling when a new human being comes out of your body!  Biggest thrill of my life probably (and maybe Ryan's life as well).  Totally worth it.  It took longer to recover because of the epidural and tearing, but I was still able to love and enjoy the new person in my arms.  Ryan changed lots of diapers... while he was awake, of course. ;)

Benjamin's Story (A blast!  Yes, giving birth was FUN!):

With Benjamin I was determined to be more prepared.  I decided to look in to hypno-birthing.  I realized I already had experience using self-hypnosis. Without knowing I had used the same techniques for anxiety and other things.  Not wanting to spend any money, I searched for free downloads to listen to.  I found a couple great sites and practiced listening as often as I could.  That's the key: practice.  I didn't listen every day, but I started halfway through my pregnancy and listened quite a few times.  All these downloads really did was guide relaxation and focus.   They helped me learn to center my thoughts and helped me condition myself to relax when I heard the music and voices played.  I didn't know how much it would make a difference in pain, but I figured at the very least it would help.

The Dress-Rehearsal
At about 30 weeks I started feeling pretty strong, relatively frequent contractions.  Any time I tried to do physical things they would start.  They were even rhythmical.  I decided to take it easy until I reached at least 36 weeks, just in case.  36 weeks came and went with no baby.  I was still having regular contractions, but they always went away when I rested.  I stopped taking it real easy, but I was still careful not to push myself too far because I didn't want to be stuck completely exhausted before labour even started again.
At week 37 I was 4cm dilated and 60% effaced.  The midwife I saw predicted baby would arrive in the next week.  I felt like labour could start any day, any minute.  Ryan was working the grave shift, and I worried I'd be stranded alone (well, with Clyde) at home when the time came.  Ryan's family members were available and willing, but it would take 45 minutes or so for one of them to come pick me up and get me to the hospital.  I spoke to some follow women in my church, and they were happy to help.
I made it to my week 38 appointment. That's when the contractions started picking up.  That night I felt like it might be time, but Ryan was at work.  I decided, reluctantly, to spend the night at Ryan's parents house, along with Clyde.  They live 5 minutes away from the hospital, so it would be much more convenient for everyone.  I couldn't really sleep, so I kept track of contractions. I had them regularly every 15, 10, then 5, then 2 minutes.  Baby was low and in position to go, and I started feeling a bearing down.  I wasn't sure if it was the real thing, but I thought I should go in to the hospital.  So I woke up Bonnie and we headed out with high hopes.  Sometime on the way there, it seemed the baby rose.  When I got there, I was 4cm and 60%... still.  The nurse said, "It looks like your baby hasn't even lowered yet!"  Yes he did! I swear!  He went back up!  I stayed for about an hour and there were no changes, except the contractions started to slow down.  They sent me away and returned to my in-law's house.  Clyde was wide awake.  He must have realized something was going on.  Ryan's brother, Aaron, had stayed with him.  He didn't go back to sleep for at least an hour.  The feeling of approaching labour lasted about 30 hours, increasing in the evening again, and then started to fade away.  My mom, sister, and brother-in-law arrived (they drove up from Utah) right as things really calmed down.  I got to spend the next night at home, since I had people staying with me.  That was a relief.
Of course he wasn't born during the week they were visiting.  Baby's like to do things like that.  In fact, he didn't arrive the next week either.  Christmas came and went.  Maybe I'd had nothing to worry about at 30 weeks!

My Due-date
The day arrived.  I didn't feel any closer.  In fact, I felt further from labour than I had a couple weeks before!  We were at Ryan's parents' house, and Ryan had to work again that night.  So we just waited around until it was time, then left Clyde asleep with his grandparents to drive Ryan in to work.  As I was driving the contractions seemed to be a little stronger, but that was nothing out of the ordinary.  The thought of Ryan missing the fun made me anxious and often triggered contractions.  I dropped Ryan off, drove to the store to get him an energy drink, then brought it to him.  By this point it was past 11, and I was debating about staying at Bonnie and Steve's again.  Ultimately I decided it was best for Clyde to stay asleep... and besides, you never know what could happen!
When I got back I decided to try keeping track of contractions on an online program.  That was nice.  All I had to do was click one button at the beginning and end of each, and it would keep track of length, frequency, average length, an total time keeping track.  I also started listening to my "Birthing Affirmations" audio.  I was surprised at how frequent (5 minute average) and long my contractions were getting, but I knew it could be another tease.  I paid close attention to whether or not they were increasing in intensity (which they were, a little bit).  I'd been told that when you have these kinds of contractions for an hour, it's probably time to go in.  So I was trying to keep track for an hour, just to be sure.  I didn't make it!  Right around 12:15 (so, literally RIGHT after my due date passed), I felt a particularly strong squeeze and a glug, glug, glug as my water broke.  So it was official!  They couldn't turn me away now!  I decided it was time.  In the 10 or so minutes it took to get out the door and to the hospital, the intensity of muscle contractions increased dramatically.  I wouldn't call them painful, though... more like a tight hug.
I was all checked in at around 12:45.  I had brought my headphones and computer, but I didn't bother setting them up.  I was already relaxed and focused.  The nurse kept saying, "You look exhausted!" and "Are you falling asleep?"  I was too... how should I put this... too inside of myself to really respond, but I wanted to say, "Of course not.  I feel energized!  I'm not tired at all!"  Really I was just very relaxed and focused but didn't even realize it.
I had to get into a bed so they could put the monitoring belt on and listen to baby's heartbeat.  I wanted to hear it, but I soon regretted being in the bed.  Somehow it must have triggered back-labour, or it just coincidentally started then.  It was worse than it had been with Clyde.  I was basically alone.  I called Ryan a few times to update him, but he couldn't leave work.  He would have to have someone come relieve him, but there was no one available and his manager was on vacation.
I figured I could hold out for a little while, but there was no way I could make it like this all night!  You're supposed to get a break between contractions, but the back pain was constant.  I started to give in to the idea on an epidural.  (If only I'd realized what was happening!)  I reluctantly agreed to get one, and the nurse suggested I labour in the tub for a while.  She helped me in and then left to call the anesthesiologist and Regis (the midwife on call who just happened to be one of my favorites).  The jet tub was great.  I could point the jet right at my back and almost have some relief.  After a while I started feeling like there was no break at all between contractions.  Just squeeze after squeeze.  Then, while I was by my self, in the tub, I felt the need to push.  Excuse the reference, but it really just felt like I had to poop!  I thought I should probably wait for Regis, or at least the nurse, but the feeling was over-powering.  I gave in and let my body push a little.  It felt so good!  Instant back relief.  I made a little bit of a groaning sound.  After two or three held-back pushes, the nurse returned and informed me that is was time to get set up for the epidural.  I laughed inside but said nothing aloud.  I could think very clearly, but I was so buried deep within myself that communication was extremely difficult.  She said I needed to get out of the tub, and I managed to say, "I can't."  Really, there was no chance of me climbing out of the tub with the things my body was doing.  She called another nurse and together they basically dragged me out of the tub to the bed.  I was then told to lay on the bed, on my side, but another push was coming so I climbed on the bed on the hands and knees.  After the contraction they tried to get me on my side.
"The anesthesiologist should be here soon.  Regis is close, too."  I laughed inside again.  She really needed to forget about the epidural thing.
"Umm.." I worked out quietly, "Baby's coming now."
She looked thoughtful for a moment.  I was afraid she was going to argue with me, but she just said, "Try not to push," and ran to see if Regis was in the building.  Now, I think she understood that telling me not to push wouldn't do much.  I couldn't really help it.  My body was pushing by itself, even with me trying to hold back.  Conveniently, though, she soon returned with Regis in-tow.
"What anisthsia has she had?" my midwife asked the nurse.  She raised her eyebrows in surprise when the nurse answered "Nothing." Then she looked at me.  I asked them to help me sit up more, so I was in a half-upright squatting position.
"You can push now," she said.  So I relaxed.  That's when I realized how much fun I was having!  Pushing felt SO GOOD!  Sorry to be all crazy-dramatic, but it really was a blast.  It was exciting, relieving, thrilling, and downright fun.  After three relaxed pushes, at 2:47AM (two hours after I checked in), Ben slid painlessly out: beautiful, fat, and healthy.
They caught him and quickly handed him to me.  Then they wiped him off a little and I cut the the cord.  I felt proud, blessed, and content.
Turns out I had a perennial tear.  I never felt it happen, but I wasn't too surprised considering how quickly things went.  The stitching-up was not all that pleasant, but it was ok because I had my very own homemade, brand-new human in my arms.  (Oh, by the way, he was 8lbs1oz, 20 1/2", with a 14" head circumference.)
Then the nurse and midwife left for a staff meeting and other duties for a couple hours, so we got to be alone.

Clyde was (and still is) the most loving 2-year-old big brother imaginable.
Ben and Clyde are both thrilled with each other.  

Here are the hypno-birthing links for the audios I used:

http://archive.org/details/HypnoBirthing

https://positive-birth.dpdcart.com/cart/deliver?purchase_id=2442567&salt=9faf765ca792eb450405bdb6e0162430697b21b5

At first I practiced just the "rainbow relaxation" on the first site and the free trial download on the second. Then in the last weeks I started listening to "birthing affirmations" more and more.