my FTM birth story! its a little long

I started having contractions around 11pm on the 22nd but I didn’t know they were contractions at the time. They were uncomfortable but tolerable. Around 12 they started to get more intense and I could actually time them. They were lasting 5-7 minutes apart and after an hour I decided I was probably in labor and to wake my fiancé up. As a first time mom I did not know what to expect when it came to contractions but they HURT. By the time I got to triage it was around 1:30 and after I got hooked up to the monitors I had my cervix checked and to everyone’s surprise I was already 5cm. The nurse left to inform the doctor and came back to start my IV and by this time I was in so much pain I was begging for some IV pain meds. She said she had to check my cervix again and if I was 6cm I wouldn’t be able to get any and would have to wait for the epidural. I was already at at 7 so I had to wait. I wasn’t put into a labor and delivery room until around 2:45 and was still waiting for the anesthesiologist who took his sweet ass time getting to me. It was 5am by the time he got to my room. The epidural was painless but it was so hard sitting through the contractions as he was sticking me. The epidural was INSTANT relief and was the best decision I ever made!! I was numb from the waist down completely, and couldn’t feel my contractions at all. At this time I was 8cm and they left me to labor on my own. Around 8am the nurse decided to put me on my side with a peanut ball between my legs to help my cervix finish opening. I decided at this time to have the anesthesiologist come in and turn down my epidural because I was so numb I couldn’t move my toes and was afraid I wouldn’t be able to feel myself pushing. At 9am they came back and told me it was time to start practice pushing as baby was in position and needed help getting passed my pelvic bone and I was finally getting feeling back in my feet so I was ready. I still couldn’t feel my contractions so my nurse had her hand in my cervix the entire time telling me when I was having a contraction so I could push. Ayvion De’Angelo was born at 10:35am on August 23rd weighing 6 pounds and 13 oz 20.5 inches long. I was 38 weeks and 6 days. My labor lasted 11 hours and I only pushed for an hour and 30 minutes. It was so worth it and we are in love with him.