So, it all started 2 weeks ago on Wednesday, 9/25. My husband and I decided to get things moving since I was finally past 39 weeks and I did a lot of walking that evening.

I woke up that morning at 2am with fairly painful and regular contractions and was up all morning timing them and coping. They would not let up and were about 6-7 min apart. I was also having a great deal of spotting.

I finally decided to call the doctor for some advice later that morning and they asked me to come in for a check.

When I get there, they tell me I am still 1cm dialated (had been for 3 weeks) but my doctor asked if I'd like a membrane sweep as my body was acting like it wanted to be in labor but needed a little help.

Had the sweep done around 11am and 30 minutes later, my contractions got more painful. I labored at home in the tub, on my yoga ball, and attempted to sleep (yeah, right) until about 9pm that evening when I decided we should go to the hospital.

After getting a room, the doctor checked me and I was now at 3cm. I was so disappointed and expecting to be told to go back home. Instead, my doctor admitted me as she could see how strong my contractions were and put me on pain medicine for the night.

The next morning, the next doctor on call comes in to check and I am now at 4cm. Bummer.

He says, you can go home and wait or I can break your water. I chose the second option. I was already hooked on an IV, in pain, and determined that I wasn't leaving until I had my baby girl!

A couple hours after breaking my water. I hadn't progressed at all but the pain was much worse and they wouldn't let me out of the bed. The doctor then puts me on pitocin and I requested an epidural immediately after.

Thankfully the epidural was in within 20 minutes and after an hour on pitocin, I was 9cm!

Unfortunately for me, there were 3 other women in labor and progressing at the same rate.

By 5pm, I was fully dialated but taken off pitocin and told I could not push as the doctor had to perform an emergency c-section on one of the other women.

(He ended up having to perform 2 emergency c-sections that evening...)

Finally around 8pm, I was able to start pushing. At that point, the epidural was beginning to wear off on my right side.

At 10:17pm, my husband and I welcomed Mila Katherine.

We couldn't be more in love with our rainbow baby. She is such a precious gift. 💕

Good luck to all you mamas out there preparing to meet your little one! Rest as much as you can and enjoy every moment of your baby's birth! It may be difficult, exhausting, and painful, but the moment your baby is laid on your chest, nothing else matters. It was worth everything. I'd do it all over again for her in a heartbeat. ❤