Planned a home birth...

Called my midwife & she said I had to go to hospital.  Called my doula, and she came to my house to help us - we weren't packed & didn't even know where the hospital was!  We did triage, got to our L&D room, started monitoring baby, and barely got any sleep that night.

The first day at the hospital, we tried to start labor naturally, with massage, walking & nipple stimulation.  The nipples stim got me contracting - I was very surprised - but my body didn't take off with it. 

The second day was Cytotech (sp).  My contractions hurt so bad, and the pressure was so bad, I just wanted to sit on the toilet with heating pads in my groin.  My doula talked me into getting the shower with my husband, and that took my pain level down about a half a point.  Finally got a room with a tub, but they said the water therapy was slowing down my labor & I was only at 4cm.  Give me an EPIDURAL or I'm jumping out the window! 

Epidural & pitocin time!  It was what my natural birth classes taught me to avoid at all costs... so my husband was devastated, but I was in heaven!  (I used the peanut ball between my legs, had the cath in the whole time, and felt like I was pooping all night, but I could rest and enjoy being pain free!)  I watched baby's heart rate on the monitor all night, and talked to him, and really bonded with him for the first time in my pregnancy!  I was so scared he would go into distress, but we made it all night... By day 3, it was time to push!  

Pushed baby out in an hour; I could feel my contractions.  My only regret was the last push, I didn't wait for a contraction, which caused me to tear.  Ugh, why didn't my midwife or doula slow me down?!  (I think I was in a hurry tho because I was so scared of meconium or shoulder dystocia.) 

Cormac Allen was born at 36+6 - one day premature - 5lbs 15oz.  We are so in love!!! (And so grateful for the wonderful hospital!)