My birth story... just a little late

I'm going to start by saying, I didn't know it could happen that fast! I remember going to work on May 31, and nonchalantly dismissing several classes throughout the day saying, "maybe I'll see you guys tomorrow, maybe I won't. Who knows!" Well, apparently I won't. I remember feeling like crap and crampy all day. I don't know what contractions feel like. This is my first child after all! And I notice some blood when I used the bathroom. That's probably normal right? I did just have an exam the day before. Something must have gotten disturbed.

Well, my mother calls and it's like she knew. She tells me to call the doctor. "Yea... ok mom. I'll call the doctor." I call, and we go to the hospital to get checked out. Apparently those cramps were contractions and I'm still only 1 cm dilated. I'm in "early labor" and this can last for days. Go home. It's ok to go to work tomorrow. Come in when your water breaks or are having contractions 5 minutes apart. At 11:45 PM on May 31, we went home. We should have stayed.

June 1, 3AM: wake up to use the bathroom, feels liquid running down my leg. "Well, they said I would experience some leakage. That's what that is probably." (No. That's your water breaking. 🤦🏻‍♀️)

5AM: feeling really uncomfortable. Husband says, "I don't think you should go to work today." I think you're right! I call into work and tell them, "I don't think I'm making it in." Then, I call my mom. "Yes you have enough time to shower, just come over and hang out with me. I don't want to be alone." *Husband takes pillow downstairs to sleep. Apparently I was grunting a lot in my sleep.

7AM: I call out to the husband sleeping on the couch. "I don't want to be pregnant anymore! This hurts!" Husband says, "I think we need to go to the hospital." I think you're right!

8AM: We get to the hospital. "Did your water break?" No. They check, yes it did. "You're 7 cm." What?!?!

8:22AM: With no time for an epidural, the baby arrived. We went the whole pregnancy not knowing gender. "It's a girl!" What?! I had convinced myself it was a boy!! But, how perfect was she?! She came into the world without any hesitation. Dawn Marie. 6 lbs 15 oz and 19 inches.

I'm lucky I didn't have you in the parking lot, and I still can't believe you're a girl 💖💖