A little hope for all of you waiting mamas- after spending three weeks dilated to a three and 70% ef...

A little hope for all of you waiting mamas- after spending three weeks dilated to a three and 70% effaced, a couple nights of false labor during week 38, water broke at 39+4 at 2:30 am with zero prior indication.

Labor didn't go as planned, I'm gbs+, so had to go in to l&d immediately. Baby was sunny side up, and although I wanted originally to go natural, 11 hours of back labor later at only 6cm I decided I would have an epidural. I was exhausted, because sitting or lying down made the contractions twice as bad, and changed my labor plan so that I could better cope. Finally at 7pm I was at a ten, and ready to push! I couldn't feel a thing, so opted to have them turn off the epidural- this was not painful, ladies, but allowed me to feel what I was doing and push more effectively. It's probably not for everybody, but I also found that a mirror really helped! It brought me back to the labor process, which I felt that the epidural sort of disconnected me from.

After an hour of pushing, my son arrived at 7 lbs., 15 oz., 21 inches long. He's absolutely beautiful! Doing excellent and latching like a champ!

I did beat myself up a little after my epidural, but it allowed me to cope, and to be present and functioning after my son's birth. My husband was incredibly supportive, and although I would have loved to do it without the epidural, I feel that my sons birth was a positive experience. Major props to ALL mamas- however your birth unfolds.