So, my daughter is actually 10 months old, but I never got to share my birth story so I just wanted to. I am so proud of myself because labor/birth gave me so much anxiety throughout my pregnancy. I would be watching birth vlogs on YouTube and had no idea how I was capable of going through that.

But trust me, I was SO beyond excited to meet my baby since I found out I was pregnant. Now for the story 🙌🏽

I was due on September 30th, but princess was too comfy to come out. I tried EVERYTHING to induce labor. Sex, walking, bouncing on the ball, dancing, spicy food, but she wouldn’t budge. At 40 weeks I was 75% effaced, but not dilating. So I was going to be induced at 41w2d ( Monday, October 9th).

I was so excited, yet nervous because I had heard how hard some labors can be because of induction. I really wanted my daughter to come naturally on her own but I understood how important it was to get her out since I was so far along. I was also so tired of being pregnant at that point 😅 That Saturday night, I started getting pains that felt like cramps. They weren’t very intense, but they were consistent like coming every 7-10 min. I hadn’t lost my mucus plug and my water hadn’t broke so I wasn’t too worried. I had all my bags ready to go to the hospital just in case. Around 2am, the contractions were coming like every 5 min and I just decided to go to the hospital to be safe. I wasn’t in much pain but I thought it’s better to be safe than sorry. At the hospital, they said I was only 1cm dilated. The contractions started getting stronger. The nurses made me walk around to see if I would dilate more, but no luck. At 7am, they sent me back home and said I should just rest. I was so disappointed. Hubby was tired so he went to sleep as soon as we got home. I was so sleepy, but the contractions made it impossible to sleep or even lay in bed. I went out to the couch and laid down, but the contractions were too painful. I took a hot shower and that helped with the pain. This went on until about noon. I ended up taking 4 hot showers that morning because of the pain and I called my mom bawling because it hurt so bad. Meanwhile, hubby was still asleep and I didn’t wake him. (I look back and wonder what the hell I was thinking because I definitely should’ve went back to the hospital.) Hubby woke up at noon and saw me on the couch, just in a bath robe, and in so much pain. He tried talking to me, but I just couldn’t talk. He was worried so he ended up calling his mom because he was panicked. I went to the bathroom and was leaking so I figured my water had just broke. That’s when hubby said we were going back to the hospital. We got there about a little after 1. They got me in a room, checked me and told me I was 9 CM DILATED. Girl, I cannot tell you how shocked I was. They called in the doctor and honestly everything was kinda a blur. My oxygen was running a little low, nothing drastic. Obviously, I couldn’t have an epidural so I was like how in the world am I going to do this. Epidural was part of my birth plan from the beginning because I am not good with pain. Everyone was telling me I already passed the worst of labor, so I would be okay. At 3:30pm I started pushing and our little girl was born at 3:54pm!

God’s timing is everything and I’m so thankful she came the day right before we were supposed to induce! I never in a million years, thought I could give birth 100% natural. It honestly makes me feel like a superhero. My daughter is the light of my life and my saving grace. I never thought I would be a mom at 21, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Madilyn Kenley, 10/08/17, 6lbs 10oz, 19.5 in ❤️

And this is her now 😍