Birth story! 37w0d induction

So I will start off with I had such bad anxiety about labor and birthing my baby. I have chronic HPN and had always been told I might have to have an emergency c section is my blood pressure gets out of control.

I got induced at 9am at 37w0d 10/29. I was already 3cm dilated and 60% thinned. I had ZERO contractions and Braxton Hicks so I was really worried about Pitocin.

I got started on Pitocin at around 11am (they had issues getting a good IV in so that took awhile). I didn’t get really bad contractions, it felt more like cramps but barely felt them. At 3:15pm they broke my water and I was at 4cm and 75% thinned. They kept upping my Pitocin so at this time I think I was at 12 out of the max of 20. At 5pm I got my epidural. It was a BREEZE and barely hurt. I got the epidural for two reasons. 1. I wanted a labor process that wasn’t super painful and 2. It would help keep my BP down so I could have a better shot of having my daughter vaginally.

At around 6/7pm I was still at 4cm and my Pitocin was at 14/20 since I was having regular contractions 2 min apart just slowly as barely dilating. After the epidural I had zero pain, just a little bit of pressure on some epidurals but so manageable. They had me rotate to my side for 45min each and at 8pm the Doctor came in and I told her I kept feeling like I had to poop (tmi) but I the pressure of her moving down. They checked and I was 9cm and 100% thinned and really close to pushing. At 8:30 I couldn’t handle the pressure and really felt like I had to push. Well at 8:43pm and 6 sets of 3 pushes she was here! 6lb 11oz and 19.5 inches long. I had a 2nd degree tear but overall the process of labor and induction was amazing easier than I expected.