Livial Reese was born 12/27 at 6:42pm. She weighed 6lbs 13oz and was 18 inches long.

I was induced early due to GD. This was my fourth time with GD and being induced. I went in at midnight and was dilated to about a 3 and 50% effaced so they skipped the Cervadil. They got me hooked up to monitors and started my antibiotics for GBS and I tried to rest some since I knew it would be a long night/day and I had only gotten like 5 hours of sleep the night before also.

At about 4am they came in and started my pitocin. At about 8am my doctor came in and broke my water bag. I hadn’t dilated any more. 😕 The next 7 hours or so were so slow and dull and frustrating because my contractions wouldn’t pick up enough to dilate me. I only went to a four in that whole time. They weren’t hurting too bad, but I was ready to get it over with and meet my baby. I was also starting to worry because I hadn’t had that issue the last couple times and I didn’t want to end up needing a c-section.

They decided to stop my pitocin for 30 minutes and restart at half the strength I was at to reset my body’s receptors. Finally around 4:40 I started having a little more intense contractions. It went pretty fast from there. I changed positions a lot from rocking on the peanut ball, to standing and swaying to resting on my knees against the back of the bed (my favorite). I had decided to go all natural this time, but once I got to the transition phase of labor the pain was almost unbearable and I was barely having any break between contractions. At 9cm I started asking for the epidural. My whole body was shaking from the pain, I was sweating, I was exhausted, they put the oxygen mask on me, I just wanted to be done. They were trying to tell me I was almost there, which I knew because that’s when I had always caved in the past and my transition phase only last like 30-45 minutes. My nurse was THE BEST, and kept encouraging me. She held my hand through each contraction, got to eye level and said “look at me” you can do this. I said I couldn’t and to give it to me. Lol. They said I would have to sit on the edge of the bed for at least 10 minutes and not move. I knew I couldn’t have done that at that point so I dug deep with everything I had a breathed out those contractions.

I could few baby moving down and they wanted to check me, but I was on my knees so they needed me to turn and lay on my back. I refused because I knew it would hurt more in that position and that it was time to push and I wasn’t ready. I had a few more contractions and knew I had to do it, it was time. I got on my back and they were like, she’s right there. They got everything ready super quick, said to push on my next contraction and in the most painful burst she was out in one single push! It was seriously the most exhausting and painful, but amazing experience.

I am so happy I finally had a birth I wanted (even though I tried to cave again in the end). Support makes all the difference...my last birth the nurses kept asking ME if I wanted the epidural every time they came into the room even though I told them from the beginning not to ask me. 😡 I hired a doula this time for extra support, but it was the nurse I connected with. ❤️

It’s been a whirlwind since birth as well. Immediately after I was hemorrhaging pretty badly and it took a shot on the leg, some pills up my bum, and IV meds to get it to slow. I could feel it gushing like my waters. After we got home, baby girl developed jaundice and we had to go get blood draws every day. Today is the first time we get to just stay home and relax. I am thankful it’s going down and she didn’t have to be re-admitted. I can’t believe I’m not pregnant anymore for the last time. It’s a little sad, but I’m so in love. Thanks for reading my birth story. ❤️