I wanted to share my birth story to help those moms to be (like me) who were petrified of giving birth and scared of the upcoming long labor and pain I was sure was just around the corner. Sometimes reading these birth stories can actually make you even more scared then you were before, but I’m happy to share that my birth was relatively pain free and much shorter than expected!!

I went into labor on Weds this week (at 38weeks 5 days). I had experienced some sickness and loose stools over the weekend and on Tuesday noticed increased back pain, but didn’t really pay any notice to them as upcoming labor signs .

On Weds around lunch time, I started to get my usual Braxton hicks contractions (I have had them since week 28 and lots of them per day) so didn’t think anything of them, but then started noticing a pattern (they were coming ever 15-20 mins) and accompanied with some period type pain and back ache. After a few hours I called my doctor and she told me to go the hospital to get checked.

Funny story is that my husband works on the other side of town, so in order to meet him at the hospital as soon as possible, I got an Uber and the driver was so nervous when he saw my big belly and destination set as the hospital. I was just hoping my water didn’t break on the way and was willing him to stop nervously talking during my contractions on the way!!

Once I was at the hospital I was told I was already 4.5-5 cm which was so unexpected. My obgyn had not previously checked and I thought I was surely only a 1-2 if that. So things can progress quickly ladies!! I was then sent to a room and I asked for an epidural. I knew I wanted pain relief and can not recommend it highly enough. It really did not hurt very much, it kind of stung a few times like a bee sting but you can’t feel the injection and it’s more of a weird sensation in your spine. I was a bit worried I wouldn’t feel a thing but I could still move and feel my legs very well it’s just the contractions felt more like pressure rather than pain.

I then very quickly dilated from a 5-10 cm in the space of around 4 hours. I was on the phone to my mom in England when my water broke at 7cm - it was so surreal. I was told my contractions were crazy long and close together which helped push the baby down. I did have to have oxygen a couple of time when the baby’s heart rate dropped as she didn’t like the intense contractions but apparently this is very normal.

At 10cm the pushing began, I was told to focus on pushing like I was having a bowel movement and after 6 contractions and 20 mins baby Aria was here!!

I hope this gives some of you comfort that not all births are crazy long and may go a lot smoother than you think 😊.

So in love with her!

!