AN: I watched an unhealthy amount of 16 & Pregnant episodes trying to put this chapter together and I had a lot of trouble portraying the labor in the form of text. I still don't love how it turned out but it's the best I could come up with. Please let me know what you think :)

38 Weeks Pregnant

Today is my baby shower. My mom and Ashley went early so they could help set up so Ben dropped me off a little later. I didn't even make it in the door before my water broke! I'm a little disappointed that I had to miss my own shower, but babies don't always follow a schedule. My mom and Ashley drove me to the hospital right away and my dad met us there. Ben's best friend, Alice, was at the shower and called him and told him to meet me at the hospital. I figured someone at the shower would tell Ricky too, but since He and Ben are getting along a little better now, Ben said he would probably want to be here so I called him and he showed up shortly after. Honestly, I didn't really want either of them there, or anyone other than my family, but I do appreciate their wanting to help.

2 Hours into Labor

Dr. Kposowa: Hi Amy, how are feeling?

Amy: It hurts and I'm really scared.

Dr. Kposowa: Don't be scared it's a natural process. I'm just going to get your IVs started and all check you out. It'll be a while

Amy: How bad is it going to hurt really?

Dr. Kposowa: Let's not think about that right now, let's just focus on this little guy.

Since the baby is coming a couple weeks early, I never got a chance to go to a birthing class. It's suddenly occurring to me that I put so much time in making plans for after the birth, that I never gave any thought to the actual birth itself. I'm really scared and I don't know what I'm doing.

4 Hours into Labor

Labor came with a lot more pain than I had expected. I knew it was going to hurt, but I had no idea it would be this bad. The Doctor keeps telling me that it's going to be a long time and she won't even let me get an epidural yet.

Anne: What are you going to name him?

Amy: What am I going to name the baby? I'm going to name the baby?

Anne: Well, yeah who else did you think was going to name the baby?

Amy: I don't know I'm a minor. I thought maybe you and Dad. I thought I would suggest a few names but really a name is a serious thing. He's going to be stuck with it his whole life and now is not the time for be to be coming up with some name. I'm busy here.

No one here seems to understand the pain I'm in and no matter what they try to do to help, I'm frustrated with them. Especially my mom for never making me go to that class when I should have and Ricky for putting me in this position in the first place and probably the doctor since she won't give me the pain medication. My dad and Ashley keep making stupid jokes thinking they're funny, but nothing is funny at a time like this. Ben is trying to be supportive but he is making me mad too. He claims to want to be there for me but he obviously can't handle the sight of pain and passes out every time I have a contraction which is really a slap in the face since I'm the one actually going through it, not him.

6 Hours into Labor

Dr. Kposowa: The thing is we don't want to give you the epidural too soon.

Amy: Yeah I'm worried about too late.

Dr. Kposowa: I've done this before, I bet I know just about the perfect time.

Amy: I guess you do know better than me since I never went to that stupid class.

Dr. Kposowa: That anger is good useful energy and it might speed things along. You feel free to let it go. I'll let your mom know it's going to be a while longer.

Amy: She's the one who didn't make me go to that class when I should have.

Dr. Kposowa: Just like that, let it go. I'll be back.

8 Hours into Labor

I'm finally allowed to get an epidural and it made a world of a difference. The doctor says it won't be that much longer but she's been saying that for the past few hours so I don't even know what that means anymore. I'm trying to take a nap but it's not really working out since I keep having dreams about band camp and that is the last thing I want to think about right now since that's how I got into this mess in the first place. My parents keep arguing and I wish they would just stop at least for today; or at least not do it in front of me. The doctor also keeps reminding me that this a natural process, but it seems like the most unnatural thing ever.

12 Hours into Labor

After 12 long hours, it was time to push. I decided I wanted my mom, dad, and Ashley all in the room with me when the baby was born. Since for the most part we've all gotten through this together so far, we should finish it together too. After another hour and a half of pushing, he was finally here. My dad went to tell Ricky and Ben when he was out and they waited outside until he and I were ready to be seen.

Ricky came in first and even though he was hesitant to hold the baby right away, when he did, he looked so comfortable with him. I felt a little better after seeing them together. Ben came in next and it made me a little nervous when he was holding him since it did not look as natural and the baby cried the whole time. I don't think he's ever really been around a baby before, but he'll learn. I was exhausted but visitors kept coming in left and right. My friends, Ricky's friends, my parents friends, and even Ben's friends all came in and wanted to see him.

1 Day Old

I get to take the baby home tomorrow. I still haven't figured out what I want to name him, and I'm going to have to before I leave the hospital. When the excitement finally died down a little, my family went home to get some rest but they're coming back now. My dad is moving out of our house today and Ashley is moving in with him since she and my mom don't get along. Thankfully, he bought the house next door, so they will still be around to help when I need them.

Ashley: So how is my nephew? What's his name?

Amy: You know what? Why don't you name him? You're the one who talked me into keeping him.

Ashley: hmm. How about John?

Amy: I like John. Do we know a John?

Ashley: You need a nice, clean, simple name. That kid's life is going to be complicated enough.

Amy: Hi there, John.

Anne: So do we have a name yet?

Amy: John

George: I like it. It's classic. Can't go wrong with John.

I'm excited that my baby finally has a name that I really like and my family all likes it too. My parents and I agreed that it would be more appropriate to give him my last name rather than Ricky's since we don't know for sure how involved he is going to be yet and John's going to have it for the rest of his life. Even though Ricky has said many times that he wants to be involved in a situation like ours, you can never really know for sure.