Personally I found that the dilation period from about 6 to 10 centimeters was worse than the pushing phase.
except the baby and I both lived by some grace of God
Army medicine- Gotta love it - good preview of obamacare
The chief at the army hospital then didn't believe in epidurals - so they weren't offered
They didn't even give me a bullet to bite- no firearms training card in my pocket (ha ha)