I read every birth story while pregnant to try and imagine how mine would go - there is no preparing for the experience, but i promise it will end in the most magical way ❤️🎀

Long post alert 🚨

On Thursday 4/11 I went in to be induced at 4 pm. I was insanely nervous, not knowing what to expect and dreading being in the hospital. When my doctor examined be at first i was 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced and she “stretched and striped my

Membranes” (that hurt!). They started me on cervadil orally every hour - by my third dose my water had broken and they declared I was in labor. I wasn’t feeling much so i tried to relax, ordered dinner and get some rest. We were blessed with the most AMAZING nurse who made me feel comfortable and relaxed which I truly needed. I am a very private person and don’t like to be touched so this experience was truly humbling.

By 1 am my contractions were becoming painful and I was given a narcotic pain med in my IV - it was magical! 🦄 Within a minute I was smiling and ready to get some sleep! Mind you, my husband was sleeping through ALL OF THIS! 3 am rolled around and i was back in pain, after discussing it with my angel nurse she convinced me to get the epidural and get some rest since i would need my strength. By 3:30 am my husband was kicked out of the room and i was holding hands with the nurse through contractions getting the epidural. Here’s the truth- you feel it! I read everywhere women saying they couldn’t feel a thing...that was not the truth for me! But, it was over quickly and before you know it your legs are happily numb and you’re feeling comfy. The nurse then had to give me a catheter which added to the tubes and lines already hanging off of me.

My little girl contumely danced throughout the night making the poor nurse come into the room about every 10 minutes to move the monitors waking me up 😩 the upside was knowing that the baby was doing well.

Before i knew it, 2 pm rolled around and my nurse exclaimed it was time to push! I wondered what it would be like for so long... i was shocked to find how laid back the process was. I expected it to be hectic with people coming in and out but it was just the nurse, my husband and I with HGTV on and pushing when the nurse told me i was having a contraction. After every push i got to relax .....this pulled me into a false sense of how my babies birth would be (not painful)! My husband held my dead leg (yes, only 1) and watched TV through the whole birth!!- to be honest i told him not to look so he fixed his gaze and didn’t budge 😂 By 3 pm I realized the epidural did not work as completely as i thought (sorry for the wording) I was convinced my butt was going to explode!!! With every contraction and push, the pain built immensely and I was convinced my baby was almost there....no such luck! It was almost another hour before my nurse said “stop pushing!!” and i couldn’t stop! My body took over and all i could keep saying was “it’s happening, i cant stop!”. My nurse ran to get my doctor but it was 2 new doctors i never saw that came in, they didn’t even have time to put gowns on before Chloe Harper was born at 3:52 pm on April 12th at 8lbs 6oz!!

Apparently, my doctor was delivering another baby at the exact same time and couldn’t come. I ended up with 3rd degree tearing and took an hour, an epidural top off, additional narcotic pain med and local injection to stitch me up so i wouldn’t feel it. It’s true- at that point i did not care who was down there (3 doctors and a nurse). They told me my little girl had the cord wrapped around her neck but it wasn’t an issue. They placed her on my chest and she was blue- i frantically asked “is she okay?!?!” and a moment later the beautiful sounds of crying filled the room and my heart with love 💕

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