Not only did dilation not progress nor the baby drop further, but Elizabeth’s back pain returned in force and she began to have other pains on one side that the epidural did not alleviate. After almost a full day of labor she is beyond exhaustion. Even if the pain were not the issue, she would have little energy left to push. I’m immensely proud of how hard she fought and she can be 100% certain that she gave it her absolute best. Almost every stage was unusually difficult.

In a way, this was our worst nightmare — that she would near kill herself and end up have a c-section anyway. But if she hadn’t tried, we would never have known. I know she is extremely dissapointed but after discussing the situation with her doctor and nurses, she has no other path. I should add that I have not been much more than a spectator (and sometimes irritant) through all of this.

She is getting her epidural replaced as I write this (7pm CST) and I don’t know when the operation will take place.