Baby girl born at 38 weeks

So time for my birth story.

I had gone to the doctor Friday for regular 38 week check up. He checked my cervix and I was dilated to 2-3cm. He said that was great especially being a first time mom so I knew I probably wasn’t gonna to all the way to my due date. Come Monday afternoon around 4:45-5pm I lost my mucus plug. So I took a shower around 5:30. While in the shower I started having sporadic contractions so after my shower I finished packing my hospital bag. The contractions kept getting stronger and more rhythmic so around 6:30 I started timing them on my phone app. After 4 contractions lasting 45 seconds only 5-6 minutes apart the app said to go to the hospital. I woke up my husband and off we went to the hospital. Around 7:30pm they check me and I’m 4cm but 50-60% effaced. They have me drink a lot of water to make sure it’s not just dehydration and to help ease the contractions. Water didn’t help at all. Around 8:45 they check me again and within an hour I had gone from 4cm to 6cm, so they admit me. Once they get my iv and all that set up I ask for some pain medicine because the contractions were only like strong period cramps but I didn’t like the feeling of my back and abdomen tightening. Also the pain was making my blood pressure high and my body shake. After they gave me the pain meds I felt totally fine. They put in my epidural order and around 10 checked me again and I was between 7 and 8cm. At 10:30 or so I got my epidural and it was amazing to not feel anything. Around 11:45 my ob broke my water. Then at 12 they started having me do the practice punches to lower baby. By 12:25 little Eleanor was born. All of the nurses and my doctor were surprised with my pain tolerance and how fast I progressed for being a first time mom. I only have 1-2 stitches.

Eleanor Lynn-Marie. Born November 14, 12:25am. 6.13lbs and 19 inches long.