I️ remember reading birth stories and thought I️ can’t wait until I️ get to write mine lol. Here we go.

At my 38 week appointment I️ was so miserable that my doctor performed a membrane sweep.

She told me that if it works I️ should start labor symptoms within 48 hours.

I️ went back to work after the appointment and felt fine.

That night I️ had so much energy.

I️ decided to go walking and also cleaned up my whole house which I️ never have the energy to do so it felt good getting stuff done.

That night I️ payed down went to bed and nothing. Not even Braxton Hicks which I️ had been having lots of previously.

The next morning I️ woke up felt better than I️ had in several weeks and went to work. I️ was so bummed because I️ thinking this membrane sweep obviously did not work and I️ was gonna be going all the way to my due date 😩.

When I️ got home from work I️ ate dinner with my oldest son and then decided to take a relaxing bath because my back was killing me and I was feeling pressure.

After the bath I️ laid down in the bed and noticed I️ was having contractions. They were not too painful but I️ decided to start timing them and noticed they were 3 minutes apart. I️ was laying there timing my contractions and I felt a slight popping noise and then felt warm fluid going down my leg 😳.

So I️ got up and looked down there and more fluid gushed out and my mucous plug came out (TMI I️ know lol ). So I go to the bathroom still leaking fluid and I️ start to panic and get excited at the same time thinking OMG my water really broke. I’m going go have my baby.

I️ called my baby’s father and told him and he said he was on the way.

Called my mom and told her that my water broke and I️ was going to head to the hospital.

I️ arrived at the hospital about 9:30pm and checked in to be evaluated. They did a test and determined that my water had indeed ruptured and I️ was starting contractions. I️ was then moved into labor and delivery and checked and told I️ was 3 centimeters. I️ decided to start to try to labor on my own but by 12am had not made any progress and contractions were not really strong. The doctor decided to give me pitocin and this really got my contractions going really strong.

I️ decided to hold out for an epidural as long as possible but by 2am I was in so much pain and contractions were 1 minute apart and was like I️ need an epidural!!! 😂😂😂

Around 230am the doctor came in to give me the epidural and as I️ was prepped and hunched over in so much pain she was poking and prodding and having trouble trying to place the epidural in my spine. She then told me that I️ needed to arch my back more and was really mean about it and told me she needed to start over. I️ almost lost it!! It was so painful with her sticking me and having contractions at the same time. I️ started crying and thinking I️ cannot take this pain and be still it was excruciating 😩.

Finally she got it placed correctly and I️ was waiting for the pain to start to go away but nothing I️ still felt the pain. She told me that it would take 15 mins for the epidural to work thru my body. So I waited and thought this should be over soon and I️ would have relief.

After 20 mins I️ was still feeling pain so I told my nurse and she hit the button to give me another dose.

After another 20 mins I️ was still feeling pain so she asked me to hit the button again for yet another dose. As I️ sat there and waited the pain started to go away and I️ started to feel numbness all the way up to my back and breast and I knew this was not normal. I told the nurse and she alerted the anesthesiologist who came back and told me they had given me too much of the epidural (ya think? Lol)

And they were going to have to turn the epidural down and also give me medication to reverse it. My blood pressure also dropped dangerously low. And I was having trouble breathing! It was so scary I started to think I can barely breath how am I gonna be able to push!

Finally after about an 2 hours the epidural had worn off enough to where I was not numb at my breast and after the nurse checked me I was 10 centimeters and it was time to push. By this time I was exhausted having been up more than 24 hours and not getting to rest any due to the epidural episode. I started pushing about 530am. I was still to numb to my pushes were not bringing the baby down. I pushed with a ball, on my side, with legs in the stirrups, with my partner with a sheet. I was thinking I might have to get a c section and was getting so scared. The doctor came in at this point and was like ok you are going to have to push harder to bring the baby down. She gave me a massage and then started to assist me by stretching the sides of my vagina so I could bring the head through. This gave me more motivation and I was able to push his head through and after pushing for about 2 hours my son was finally born at 7:22am at 7 Ibs 12 ozs and 20 3/4 inches long. He was perfect! I’m