I get to finally share my birthing story

I get to finally share my birthing story! On Monday April 23 was my 36 week appointment. I lost my mucus plus at about 9am and went to my appointment at 1015. I had my cervix checked and everything was still normal. My OB said “you are boring! Don’t worry your body will rejuvenate another plug.” So I sunbathed all day and went to my birthing class at 630. I was having what I thought was Braxton Hicks all day but at 730 my water broke at the vending machine. I instantly went upstairs with my mom to get checked and I was 3 cm dilated and 100% effaced. I instantly got on the phone with Red Cross since my husband is deployed in Kuwait. I called and told him the crazy news that our girl was coming 4 weeks early! My birth plan was to go all natural with no meds or epidural... and I did just that! I used the birthing ball to breathe through the contractions and when it came time to push I requested the squat bar and a mirror. Once I got the mirror I was able to tell what kind of pushes were effective and which were not. I felt so much better being upright than in bed. Once I got my girl down the birth canal it was time to bring her into the world. I laid back in bed and grabbed my knees and watched in the mirror as I pushed. I pushed for about an hour total and that’s when we saw her cord was around her neck. This is why it was hard to get her out sooner. He clamped and cut the cord immediately and she was out. Delivering the placenta was very painful since they push super hard on your belly. My body shook uncontrollably for about 40 min after from the shock, adrenaline and pain. But it was all worth it. My husband and I face timed the whole birth since he was not able to make it home in time. I labored for 6.5 hours from the time my water broke and she was born April 24, 2018 at 216 am. She weighed 6 lbs 3 oz and was perfectly healthy. My husband made it home to meet his little girl Wednesday at 730 pm. Our family was reunited and so in love!