Nicole Richie was two doors down from Christina Aguilera in the maternity ward at Cedars-Sinai on January 11, and while Christina labored for a full 24 hours before a C-section, Nicole had a vaginal birth and it sounds like it progressed quickly for her as she left the hospital the next day. She also sent a note to her laboring neighbor Christina wishing her luck, according to Star Magazine, which quotes a source as saying “It [the note] was sweet!”

Like Christina Aguilera, Star has the intimate details of Nicole Richie’s labor and childbirth. It sounds like one of the maternity nurses at Cedars Sinai (or maybe a doctor, there are just more nurses) needs a suspension. Star even knows that Nicole watched on a mirror as her baby was born. She also had an epidural to ease the pain after her water broke, and was calm the entire time. Her father was kind of freaking out, though, and confused Richie’s fiancé with his twin brother.

Sources tell Star that the new mom, who delivered nearly two weeks past her due date, was sweet to the staff at Cedars-Sinai… and kept them in stitches with her jokes.

But while Nicole remained cool and collected, her famous father, Lionel Richie, was a bundle of nerves. He was so jangled as he awaited the birth of his grandchild, says a source, that he kept confusing the baby’s father, Joel Madden, with his twin brother, Benji, which “everyone thought was so funny!”

Even as the contractions got more intense, Nicoel handled the pain like a trouper. Only after her water broke, says the insider, did she start begging for an epidural. “Once it kicked in, she was so relieved. She was joking that it was a miracle.”

Just before little Harlow, named after movie star Jean Harlow, made her debut, a nurse handed Nicole, 26, a mirror so she could see the birth, says the insider. At first she was too afraid, but she watched during the final few pushes. While the delivery went smoothly, there were a few moments of panic, with Harlow looking a scary shade of blue, says the insider. “But the doctor got her breathing and quickly placed her on Nicole’s chest. Joel then cut the cord, but he was so nervous he had to try twice! When he succeeded, he looked so proud.”

[From Star Magazine, print edition, January 28, 2008]

Star repeats the Enquirer’s claim that Nicole and Joel were fighting before the birth of their baby, but states that newborn Harlow brought them closer together and that they’re doing fine now. As for how Nicole is faring, Star says “she’s completely exhausted and cries at the drop of a hat.” Do you think they’re just guessing? I know that’s how I felt right after my son was born too.