4th Feb, 38w5d

1:30am I started getting irregular contractions which slowly progressed to about 5 to 7mins apart by 4am. Being a first timer we phoned L&D and they told us we could come get checked. About an hour after arriving and being hooked up to the machine (one that records contractions and baby's heart beat) the contractions stopped. Nurse did internal check and I was barely a cm dilated but cervix was very thin. They sent us home and told me I should come in when the pain becomes unbearable and I have 3 contractions every 10mins for at least an hour.

The irregular contractions (prodromal labour) continued on and off until 6th February at 39w, it became incredibly intense and I stuck it out till about 10am and we went in. I was having really bad back pain with each contraction.

They checked me and I was 3cm. My Wonderful doctor told me I can stick around in the labour room to see if I would progress where I will have pain management options or I can go home and try get comfy till I progress. I decided to stay at the hospital, got a shot in my but cheek for pain and started to bounce on ball and take walks around the hospital parking lot.

Doctor came to check me at around 5pm and I had only dilated to 4cm. My birth plan included an epidural so he told me that I should try get the epidural before 10pm as the anesthesiologists might not be immediately available after 10pm and I would have to wait for them to arrive for the epidural.

I decided to get the epidural at 9pm.

The epidural was a quick pain free procedure. Best decision ever. Honestly the pain shot I got in the but cheek earlier that day was more painful.

I had not made any progress by then so I approved getting my waters ruptured to speed things along. My doctor waited for the epidural to kick in then came around and broke my waters at around 11:00pm.

Progress was still very slow after that so I agreed to pitocin.

At 7am on 7th February I was finally 10cm and they lowered the epidural dose so that I can feel the urge to push. Before feeling returned my doctor injected local anesthetic in my vagina so that if I tore I would not feel it and he would be able to stitch me without me noticing.

Feeling returned to only half my body and I felt the contractions in my hip. It felt like someone was stabbing me with a knife in my hip. I have never felt pain like that before.

Around 8:20am and I was finally ready to push. I pushed for about 15 to 20mins and with the assistance of a vacuum out came Jack.

3,455kg 52cm 8/10 apgar score in first minute and 10/10 after 5mins.

He was posterior which is why I had prodromal labour and why it was back labour and why progress was so slow.

I had 3 superficial tears and received 3 stitches.