My birth story!

Reaching the end of my pregnancy, I was getting eager to just wanting to meet my baby! I had a doctors appointment Monday, Oct. 14th which put me at 39 weeks and 1 day and I had her check me just curious if I was dilated or anything. Turns out my cervix was super soft but I was quite posterior (high) so I would only be a fingertip dilated. Leaving the appointment anxious for labor to start soon so I don’t have to be induced, I continued to wait. The next day it looked like I was losing my mucus plug or I thought it was from her checking me. Nothing too exciting for the rest of the day and understanding it may be nothing. Then Wednesday, the 16th, around 8pm I started having this pain that felt like really severe gas pains or as if I was constipated. Not knowing they were contractions because I was under the impression they were similar to menstrual cramps and I never really dealt with cramps.

Anyways, I tried going to the bathroom a couple times ending with no difference and then I tried going to bed thinking if these pains continue I’ll time them. Trying to sleep, I couldn’t. And it turns out they were coming 8 to 10 minutes apart. I continued to time them and just relax but they were quite uncomfortable. Fast forward, 3 am I told my husband I think I am in labor and that I was experiencing contractions that were now around 4 minutes apart. I called the hospital and went in to get monitored. Fortunately I live only 10 minutes from the hospital. At the hospital, it took some time for the contractions to start again, it was really weird, like I felt them all the way there and going up to the OB ward but stopped when I got hooked up. So, it ended up that I was in early labor with my contractions four to five minutes apart and I was 90 to 100% effaced and 3cm dilated! It was exciting, but the pain was something quite new as it continued to feel like I had really bad gas pain that wrapped around to my lower back and hips.

At 7am - 8am, with no change, I had a choice to continued to be monitored or I could go home and labor. I chose to go home so I could eat, relax, and I knew I could easily come back at anytime. They told me as a rule of thumb to come back when contractions were 2 ish minutes apart and stronger. We got home and contractions definitely had not backed off, but I tried to relax as much as possible. I made it to around 11am / noon when my husband urged me to go back to the hospital as my contractions were definitely stronger and two minutes apart.

Back at the hospital I went right to a labor room where the nursing were thinking I would end up staying. Turns out I was 4cm dilated and 100% effaced with never ending contractions. I got in the shower to see if that would ease the pain and it certainly did help. Lost time in there, they checked me a couple hours later and I was 5-6cm. The nurse talked me in to the tub, which I am so glad she did because it helped tremendously. So I moved to another room with a birthing tub to labor in it. Eventually it started not to help so I got back in the shower. I had such amazing support from my husband and my nurse was absolutely great. My mother eventually joined to help too. Maybe around, 4 pm or 5pm the pain got so unbearable I needed something. Going into labor I knew I did not want an epidural and wanted to go as natural as possible but keeping my options open. So, I ended up getting a form of morphine to take the edge off, which is administered intravenously. I felt as if I could finally rest my eyes. From that point I was 7cm and stayed in bed for the rest to labor. The medication wore of an hour later, from this time to getting to 10cm seemed so long. It was all a daze to me and I can only remember glimpses as if my eyes were closed the whole time and when they opened they took a picture that is what I vaguely remember.

Nonetheless, there was a time when they checked me and said my water was bulging but had not broken. Around 8-9 cm they ended up breaking my water and it felt like I was instantly surrounded in a pool! It was so weird and with every contraction thereafter more fluid would come out and it felt as if I was peeing myself.

At one point I was on all fours leaned up against a birthing ball to see if I can flip baby to face down. All I remember is that I had so much pressure in my butt. Some time later the pressure became so much that I felt I had to actually push. My midwife checked me and I still wasn’t quite a ten yet, still more of a nine. The pressure was so intense I was on the verge of hyperventilating because all I could do is breathe through them because it wasn’t time to push yet.

The time is probably around 9:45 going off of what my husband said how long my pushing lasted ( which he said 10 min.) suddenly I said I need to push and my midwife checked me again and said, “ you know what, let’s go, you can start pushing with the next contraction.” I felt so relieved, so the next contraction I pushed and it kind of felt good. The pushing definitely feels as if you are pooping! Then pushing a few more times there came this pain down there, obviously the baby but then I was like now it hurts! My midwife was so impressed with my pushing she was shocked how fast it went. I got baby down to where you could touch his hair and right after I felt him, I knew it was game time and that I could do this. One more push and I got him out in one sweep! 10:04pm! The most pain I have ever felt but it stands true it was all worth it.

Here he is! Born 10/17/19 7 lbs 13 oz

First time mom to a beautiful baby boy❤️