I just had my baby this past Saturday.

Everything went as great as we could have expected. The hospital we were at was very supportive in my unmedicated labor and delivery and my Midwife did an amazing job keeping everything on track.

I came into the hospital 8 cm dilates and 90% effaced. Slept through most of my early labor. Did almost all of the transition at home (sort of an accident. I assumed it would hurt much worse for some reason). I had minimal monitoring. Did some laboring in my hospital room with my midwife and husband. Had very few people in the room, only those medically necessary. Everyone supported and respected my birth plan.

I ended up pushing for 4 hours, but everyone was so encouraging. My baby came out at 9 lbs and 5 oz (lol much bigger then anyone assumed). I had my golden hour. And while I did hemorrhage a little bit after they fixed it with pitocin and a shot to the thigh. I also only had minimal stitches (a few for inside vaginal lacerations, and my right labia tore a little). But no tears to my perineum (midwife was amazing in helping protect it and the long time I spent pushing helped my body stretch too).

It was an amazing experience and while difficult at times, I really feel good about the whole thing. And I can now just focus on my baby and bonding and recovery and such.