Baby Reagan was born November 11, 2009 at 12:50 am. I had gone into the hospital Sunday night and been sent home Monday morning with false labor. So, I stayed home from work Tuesday (I was 39 weeks). I took a long walk, drank some raspberry leaf tea and started having contractions around mid afternoon. They were getting painful around dinner time and much more painful and closer together around 9 or so that night.
We went to the hospital around 9:30 or 10 Tuesday night and by that point it was hard for me to walk and the contractions were very painful. It is true that when you are having contractions you will just know. When I went in earlier in the week, the contractions were very mild and not painful at all- probably Braxton Hicks. Tuesday they were very painful and definitely the real thing.
Shortly after I got to the hospital they checked me and I was 5 cm dilated and said it was the perfect time for the epidural. While waiting for the epidural, the contractions were closer and closer together, almost right on top of each other and I began feeling like I should push. I told the nurse this and she said that if she checked me before the epidural and I was ready to push they wouldn't give me the epidural. So, I got the epidural and then they checked me- I was fully dilated. It had only been about an hour or an hour and a half since I checked in to the hospital. But, right after the epidual the baby's heartbeat dropped dramatically. They had me change positions a few times and her heartbeat rose again.
 I pushed for about 30 minutes and Baby Reagan was born! She is beautiful and we are getting adjusted. I hope everyone had a quick labor like me. I also fully support epidurals!! 
Re: Quick delivery- Had my baby!- Birth Story
She's lovely. Luck you on the quick l&d.
Oh, and not to sound at all b*tchy or squelch the joy of this, but did you know that the decrease in your baby's heart rate could have been from the epi? Did they say anything along those lines because I've read that can happen.
Me: 37
DH: 36
Married: 08-25-07
DS: 11-20-09
Name change alert: Formerly Lisswastaken
What an absolutely beautiful bundle of joy.
Congrats on your quick birth and your gorgeous little girl!!