Ready to push? For real?!

Here’s the thing. As a first time mom, you’re told about all these crazy long labors and how the first labor/delivery is the hardest (for various reasons). I wanted to share my story with you ladies because it came as a HUGE shock to myself and ... well ... pretty much everyone.

First things first. Every woman in my family went, at least, to 41 weeks and had L&D lasting anywhere from 20-30 hours. Also, nobody’s water broke on their own; they were all broken in the hospital. So pretty typical for a first time mom. That being said, at my 40 week appointment I was 2-3 cm dilated and 70% effaced and my doctor performed a membrane sweep and stretched me to 4 cm. He didn’t want to induce me because I was progressing so well naturally (unless I went past 41 weeks. Then he would). So here I am PRAYING to not be induced at 41 weeks lol. Might I also add, my entire pregnancy, I had ZERO Braxton Hicks or anything. The only similar discomfort I experienced was cramping and back pain.

So now here we are, 40 weeks & 3 days on Sunday morning. I went to bed around 3 am, woke up at 5 am to severe diarrhea. Like Idk. It was rough. lol. Then back to sleep and woke up again at 1030 am because I had to poop again... but when I swung my leg out of bed, a fluid followed along. I literally thought I pissed the bed guys 😂 so now here I am “peeing” in the toilet but realizing that no poop is coming out. So while I’m focused on that, I start to notice that this “pee” is still steadily leaking and I can’t hold it back! So now I’m like. Shit. I think my water broke. So I stand up and leak on the floor mat and see that this fluid is pink! I had a mini panic because nobody told me that when you dilate, your cervix sheds blood therefore tinting your fluid!! Anyway, I wake up my boyfriend and call my mother to tell her I’m going to the hospital (which is 35 min away).

I finally put together that I don’t have to poop at all but that these are contractions!! Thank the lord for back labor, am I right?? (Not really.. it’s awful). So I try to quickly shave my legs and shower but omfg. You have to believe me when I tell you that these contractions were STRONG and sometimes not even giving me a break!! I got out and finally was able to time them. These contractions were 2 minutes apart and lasting 1-2 minutes. I could only time 2 before they starting being back-back again.

Now riding to the hospital and they start moving toward my abdomen. We get there and a nurse is waiting for me in the hallway with a wheelchair. I’m now in the hospital bed, getting an IV and unable to answer anyone’s questions due to these irregular ass contractions!! To keep everyone on track, I got to the hospital around 1230 pm. I emphasize wanting an epidural, etc. she checked my cervix and I was 6 cm dilated and she confirmed that my contractions were very strong and irregular (sometimes not catching a break for a solid 7 minutes or so). Anyway. We *finally* get to the epidural!! This guy is taking forever and I literally feel like I’m going to die lol. I’m hunched over in agonizing pain and having to stay as perfectly still as I can! The epidural is in and now it’s about 230 pm. By now, my contractions are regulating and actually giving me breaks of about a minute (doesn’t seem like much but was the biggest relief after consistent ones!)

He pushes the medicine through my epidural and my lower half goes TOTALLY numb!! Couldn’t move if I tried. My nurse checks my cervix again and gives me a catheter. She explains that she won’t be checking too often since I’m a first time mom and labor always lasts forever. We laughed from her commentary and I was prepared to take a nap, tbh. But then she looks up and says “oh... change of plans. I shouldn’t have even given you the catheter because you’re 10 cm! You’re ready to push!”

Guys... my heart dropped. I was so nervous, excited and literally overwhelmed with different emotions. Words can’t even describe.

So here we are. 245 pm and the doctor is telling me to push. However, I can’t feel shit down there so it’s really a guessing game of whether or not I’m actually doing anything. But I guess I was doing pretty well because at 310 pm , my beautiful baby girl arrived healthy with a flawless complexion, eyes wide ass open and able to hold her head up!! How the hell, right?!? 7 lbs 4 oz and 20 in long.

I did have a bit of a problem after delivery where I wasn’t bleeding enough or something ?? So they had to start me on a pitocin drip to encourage my uterus to contract. And the massage SUCKED after the epidural wore off. Probably because they massaged me more than usual since I wasn’t bleeding enough. So I was in the delivery room until 11 pm. Boo, I know.

But my whole point in sharing this is because even tho most people have it one way and it’s likely that you may have a similar story to tell, your body may surprise you and have a different labor in mind haha. I am very grateful for my first labor/delivery and now kinda nervous that my next one will be too short for me to make it to L&D 😂 but yeah! First baby...about 4.5 hours from water breaking to baby! Keep your head up guys. Even if it’s long, It doesn’t last forever and the reward is worth it all.

My sweet baby, Brooklyn Aubrey Woods, is now 2 months and I can’t believe how fast the time is going!