Labor & Delivery w/ my 2nd

I’ve been wanting to write my birth story so that others may read & feel encouraged!

My birth story starts at 37 weeks, I went into my weekly appointment, got my vitals checked, everything looked great, they asked if I would like to be checked for dilatation, I responded with a “Yes!”. Because with my 1st pregnancy I was already 1cm dilated at 35 weeks, than 2cm at 36, and so forth. After being checked the OB was shocked to tell me I was a 4cm & almost completely effaced. She said “I’ll be surprised if you don’t go into labor in the next few days”…

Well a week went by & still no further dilation, and trust me I tried, walking, spicy foods, pineapple etc! After my 38 week appointment my surprised OB asked if I’d like to schedule an induction after I hit 39 weeks which would be that Friday the 8th. I said “absolutely yes!” I had an induction with my son and everything went smoothly.

And then Thursday night I was cooking dinner & dishing up plates at around 6:30, when a sudden burst of water come flooding out, I wasn’t sure it was my water, so I called the nurse line & they asked some questions. I was instructed to wait an hour, lay down for 30 minutes & once I stood up if I felt another gush it was my water. So an hour later, we finished packing the hospital bags, got myself, husband & toddler in the car, went to Aunties house to drop off my toddler (that’s a whole post of its own!). Off to the hospital we went, I was expecting our 20 minute drive to consist of me having contractions & me and my husband doing breathing exercises… but nope didn’t feel one contraction the whole drive, we arrived at the hospital right around 8 or so, got settled in our room, met our nurse (who was awesome btw!) and took some selfies! (Side note: myself, husband & son all moved to Maui 2 months before we had our daughter.) my sister happened to be visiting & we had planned to get together Friday before they were headed home, I sent her a selfie of us all comfy at the hospital with the caption “I think we may be a bit busy tomorrow.”! She of course responded with good luck & too bad we aren’t staying longer lol

Anyways, after sitting and waiting for my contractions to become consistent on there own they never did, so around 10:30-11pm I was put on a Pitocin drip! 2 hours went by & I wasn’t feeling contractions, I let my husband and take a nap… and about an hour and a half later I had to call him to wake up, he had his AirPods in and was comfy as could be, I called him & frantically told him to come over to me because contractions were starting to get BAD! A few moments later my nurse came in & said she was going to check to see how dilated I was, well I was 8cm dilated. I asked if we could get the epidural going now that I was really starting to feel contractions. She said “of course!“ left the room & not EVEN 5 minutes later she came back on to tell me the epidural was on the way, a little relief was finally coming (because just in those 5 minutes my contractions were heavy!) just as she was leaving all I remember saying was “can I go poop?… I really have to go” as I was trying to get myself off the bed to the bathroom, the nurse immediately turned around & said “No No No, do not move that’s your baby”, and sure enough I had reached a 10 cm and she already saw her head. I was absolutely horrified, scared outta my mind… I had to push this baby out with no epidural… started to try & breathe & do my best, I was screaming like I was getting an exorcism, the most intense pressure I have ever felt, I felt so bad for any other momma that had to hear my screams lol I’m sure it sounded like I was getting murdered, the OB barley made it into the room when my husband & a nurse held my legs as I pushed once, twice & then she was there. She didn’t even come into the world crying, she was so beautiful, AND THE RELIEF I felt immediately after was relaxing (I know it sounds weird but it’s true.) I DID IT, I did what I NEVER thought I could do. If I can do it the lady who cries when I stub my toe, when I pull a splinter out…

I will say my recovery went much smoother not having an epidural, I felt in tune with my body the whole time!

All of this & I was rewarded with such an amazing little girl. She is now 2 months & just has my heart along with her brother. & the bond they are beginning 💕