My birth story 💕

So my son is almost a month old and I'm finally getting around to sharing my birth story!

Before sharing my story I will disclose that I FULLY intended to go completely natural no pain meds...ladies I'm here to tell you that while it's not impossible to have a natural birth...everyone's situation is different and I recommend keeping your mind open 🤗 anyway here's my story!!

I got my membranes swept at 39 weeks exactly, on the afternoon of July 28th, I was 1 cm dilated 0% effaced. I started getting menstrual type cramps almost immediately and by 11pm that night I was experiencing painful contractions 6-7 mins apart, I didn't get a wink of sleep that entire night and around 1am my contractions were 4 1/2 mins apart. We went in to labor and delivery only to find out these killer contractions were not helping me dilate, I was still 1cm and 0% effaced. I spent a couple hours walking around in labor and delivery's hallways with contractions 3 mins apart (most painful thing ever 😓) and ended up getting sent home to progress. I got home and took the hottest shower of my life (highly recommend this during labor it really helps w contractions!) then laid on the couch and had hubby cuddle me, my contractions were 3 mins apart for two hours before I just could not handle the pain anymore and went back in to L&D; around noon. They checked me when I got there and I was 2 1/2 cm and 50% effaced (YAY progress), normally my hospital does not admit first time mom's until they're 5cm (unless high risk of course, which I was not)...THANKFULLY I was admitted. I was in full on back labor and was given a shot of morphine, of which did not do a damn thing. I ended up taking the epidural after 16 long hours of back labor. After the epidural I was feeling great! While I don't remember a whole lot I know I got some good sleep during full blown contractions 😂 I went from 2 1/2 cm to 10 cm in 9 hours. When I reached transition stage of labor my epidural machine ran out of batteries (took us almost 2 hours to figure that out) and I was feeling contractions 2 mins apart. My anesthesiologist had just finished his shift and we barely caught him on his way out, he came and replaced my machine and gave me two bolists of meds, which numbed me up completely and didn't wear off for almost 6 hours! Anyway it came time to push at exactly midnight on July 30th and I pushed for an hour and a half whilst watching shark week and eating ice chips 😂 then out came my son at 1:30 am July 30th, original due date August 4th! Born two days before my 23rd bday 🤗 and I'm absolutely in love w my little booger!

Jace George Sestak

July 30th 1:30 am

6lbs 13oz 19" long

Last pic is him now at 3 weeks!