Elizabeth Noelle Martinek

5lbs 8oz, 16.5 inches, born at 4:56pm Feb 18, 2019.

Went in at 39 weeks exactly for an induction due to us measuring 4 weeks behind. Admitted at 7am started pitocin at 8:30am.

I was 3.5cm dilated upon arrival, 85% effaced, and didn’t feel contractions until around 5-6cm!! Asked for the epidural at 1pm because my contractions were so close together they were about to say we were at the cut off for requesting one so I decided to be safe than sorry and not feel the more intense pain.

I was going to take a nap since I thought I had hours to go until I pushed... An hour into the epidural my waters ruptured on their own and I was at 9cm so no nap for me!!! I had to call our birth photographer and tell her to hurry because she was an hour away and when i got my epidural she was on the way but was afraid she was going to miss it!!

Her head was visible without any practice pushes and 30 minutes of pushing and our little girl came in this world!!

I was told repetitively that I had the ideal birth and was a doctors dream for labor - and I honestly didn’t find it to be that horrible!! But around 5cm I have to admit I was uncomfortable with the contractions and just tried to breath but don’t think I could’ve gone natural.

Doctors said if I would’ve come in a few days earlier they would’ve admitted me anyways because I was having regular contractions and was dilated pretty far without even realizing it - or I would’ve gone spontaneously into labor within 1-2 days after my induction date!