At 41+3, I conceded to be induced

With an initial cervix check at 4cm and not *fully* engaged, my waters couldn't be broken to start Labor because the baby's head was not yet locked into the birth canal and there's always a risk of cord prolapse if the baby is not fully engaged. With hesitation I took a pit drip @9:30AM to get the baby engaged, which was gradually increased to 12ml/hr by 12:00PM. For the first couple hours, contractions are about 5 to 7 minutes apart and very tolerable. They felt like the sort of contractions I have when I'm going on a walk with my 18-mo old son. Between 12 to 1230, I had two or three contractions that I had to moan through. Then the next contraction got to the point where I had to lean over the bed and went and focus on getting through it. I told the nurse, "wow that one really hurt," and she goes, "oh girl, you're just getting started!" At this point, I started to feel discouraged that I couldn't handle labor anymore. These next few contractions were 2-3 mins apart. After the following contraction, My moaning changed to a more violent growl, I found it very difficult to focus through the pain, I was shivering & cold-sweating, and I felt quite a bit of pressure to push. That dumb OB poked his head in to "check" on me and I gave him the worst stink eye. I was afraid to tell the nurse That I thought I was in transition since she'd kinda shut me down prior, but after another contraction with a ton of push pressure, I groaned/screamed, "I feel like I need to push!!" She said motherly, "ok well roll over lemme check you" and she looked at me and said, "wow, you're complete!" Finally feeling validated, I begged to roll over again so I could get relief on my knees while she got the midwife. My husband applied counter pressure to my back which have me just enough relief that I could get through "just on more."

For the next 5 minutes, everyone was in a panic. I was delirious at that point, but all I could hear was, "where's the cart?" "It's still being prepped!" "I've got to break her water!" "Get the ped, there's mec in the water!" They told me to turn around, sit up in the bed, grab my knees and put all my energy into pushing. I was so crazy w pain, I could barely comprehend what they were asking me to do. It was SO HARD to not push when they said to stop pushing! The midwife was pretty blunt and barked at me a couple times, but I'm glad she pushed back at me because she helped me ease the baby out and not tear at all! If I hadn't listened to her, I would've just shoved my baby out and torn again. It took about 7 pushes from start to crowning to out. I heard him cry the moment his head popped out!

Baby was put on my chest and pretty purple. They immediately suctioned him while he was on my chest. When the cord stopped pulsing and they clamped & cut, they took him to the ped table for a minute to suction all the meconium out; thankfully he didn't inhale any of it.  Poor baby was wrinkly and his skin was peeling, so I'm glad we got him out, since he looked a little over cooked. I felt him pushing his head against my cervix for weeks and now I know the little guy was trying to get out. 

So pit started at 9:45a, decent contractions by 11:30a, excruciating pain at 12:30a, then transition, pushing, birth at 1:04pm. Pretty intense day!

Baby is a champ nurser, gets all he needs in a couple minutes. We're doing great and I'm ready to get back on my feet!

Moral of the story: sometimes you get the midwife/OB you need, not the one you want. Trust your body and mama instincts, but also know when to trust others. If you have a fast labor, make sure your team is ready to support you!!