Collin's natural birth 4/18/17. 8lbs8oz 22inches

Long and detailed but I hope it gives someone insight or relief in their own delivery. On 4/18 at 1230 am the hospital called to say it was time to induce. I was 40w4d and had been experiencing contractions for several weeks.  My doctors were initially concerned they would need to intervene to stop labor but our little rainbow stubbornly stayed put.  They wanted to induce on my due date as they thought he was getting large and wanted to avoid complications.  I was certain he would come on his own but agreed to 04/18 for health of of us both.  I was excited but apprehensive about the induction and receiving pitocin.  I was 4cm 90% effaced but had been for several weeks.  I also wanted to go natural but I was open to receiving an epidural if I felt I couldn't do it.  My birth plan was very short and simple.

Things don't always go as planned and our birth was no different. The nurses hooked me up and determined I was already having good, strong contractions on my own.  They checked my vitals and my blood pressure which has always been around 102/60 had shot up to 170+|90's.  They said if they couldn't get it down I would need the epidural and maybe magnesium. I had a couple high BP the last two weeks in the dr office in the 140's which had gone down to normal after lying on my side, so I requested to try this and refused the epidural,  babies vitals were looking good.  This helped but it was still high.  They decided to give me the pitocin and monitor the BP which we kept down by rotating from side to side whenever it would get too high.  I had been there several hours and was stuck at a 4.  My contractions were painful and I was still sticking to my plan , refused intravenous pain meds and epidural, due to the BP I wasn't allowed the freedom of walking around. I did feel some pain relief/control when I was able to get up and use the bathroom or stand for short periods. I will also admit to being greatly relieved when I had a BM in the toilet.  😂 I was definitely one of the moms not wanting that to happen during delivery.  I tried several positions on the bed, peanut ball, knees, hands and knees but my pain was far beyond anything I had imagined.  At this point my doctor finally showed up and said the baby was facing the wrong direction and was not dropping into my pelvis due to his size.  I was now really wanting that epidural but the anesthesiologist was in surgery.  My husband was trying to rub my back and rock my hips but the slightest pressure on my back was agonizing.  This was apparently due to babies position and size.  My contractions were long and had very little time between them.  My water had not broken and the doctor said we needed him out.  He broke my water and attempted to turn him without success.  He numbed the perimium and used I think mineral oil in the birth canal area.  At this point it was hard to concentrate on anything more then making it through each contraction and pushing. I'm not sure how but baby finally made it into the birth canal and I was able to push him out.  Tons of support from my husband, doctor and nurse who all were telling me what an amazing job I was doing and doctor who was praising how hard I was pushing to get him out.  I admit that I didn't feel I was doing that great of a job and was wishing for that epidural.  I was also terrified that a c-section was coming as they were really watching both our vitals and the fact that he was stuck,  I can't tell you how amazed my husband and I were when he finally came out and they put him skin to skin.  We were both so overcome with our love for him and each other. 

Other unanticipated events have been continuing to battle high BP and hemoraging.  My blood count is pretty low and they kept us for an extra day. It took me two days to decide that for me the pain was worth the natural birth, although my doctor did say it would not have been so bad if not for his position and size.  Don't get me wrong, I support anyone wanting intervention and believe everyone should make the right decision for themselves and their baby based on their unique situation.  Wish you all the best and hope my experience provides some insight.  BTW the nurses and hospital staff are just amazing and it seems like most people are experiencing the same from their hospitals.