I was in denial that I was in labor...
My due date was April 27 and by April 20 I had already lost my mucous plug and was 3cm. Around 2am on April 24 I awoke with contraction-like pain. Up to this point I had maybe 5 Braxton-Hicks contractions so I really wasn't sure what I was feeling at 2am. I was able to go back to sleep for a bit and when I woke up again at 5, I told myself I would get up at 6 to get ready for work and if the pain stopped I would go to work. Once I started getting ready the pains subsided so I went on about my day.
I had a Dr's appointment at 11:30 and the first thing the Dr said was "you look tired". I told her I had been up since 2 with contractions and she decided to check me. Turns out I was 4cm, 100% effaced with bulging waters. So she told me to go right then to L&D. I was shocked and in disbelief because although my pains were real, they really weren't that bad and they were not consistent at all.
I called my doula and she suggested I go home for a bit to labor at home but I felt unsure about going against the doctors instructions. I didn't feel like I was really in labor and I hadn't had lunch yet so I went back to work to grab my things and eat. After I said my goodbyes I drove back to the hospital and went up to L&D. I thought I would be taken to triage but instead they took me straight to a room.
I labored in the hospital from 2pm until 8pm at which point I was 9cm and they broke my waters. I decided then to get an epidural because the thought of pushing without one suddenly terrified me. In retrospect, I should have tried to push without the epidural. By 9pm I was 10cm and because I couldn't feel much it took 2 hours to push her out.
I was insanely exhausted by the end of it and ended up passing out right after she came out which was super scary. Over the next 12 hours I passed out 4 times due to low blood pressure and had 2 panic attacks. They eventually figured out that I had been given too many IV fluids that cut my hemoglobin level in half.
Needless to say, she was totally worth it. Please welcome little Miss Harlow Jaims, born 4/24, 7lbs 4oz, 19.5" long.
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