Now it's time for Annie to start pushing. Contractions are actually a little less intense here. She might have to push for a while, since this stage typically lasts 30 minutes to two hours. Annie may be awake, alert, and euphoric. She may be tired or exhausted. She may be overwhelmed. In short, the books don't seem to know what she will be. I will probably have fainted by this point, so Dottie will be in charge.
Yep, seems like there's always one more stage to go. Baby will be evaluated, right there in the room if we're at Women's East, and given to Annie for breastfeeding. Baby should be alert and articulate. As difficult as labor is for the mother and father, you have to give a little credit to baby, too. After all those sleepy months in the womb, just when you've about figured out how the game is played, birth has got to be a bit unsettling.
After a day or two of relaxing in the resort atmosphere of Women's East, it'll be time for baby to go home for the first time. After all these months of pregnancy, life will finally get back to normal.
Of course, all of the above is just theory. The proof will be in the pudding..