C. Jessica’s Natural & Epidural Free Labor

C. Jessica 💞 Birth Story

Born at 5:46pm on November 17th

Weighing in at 8lbs 1.6 ounces

5 hour labor - intervention free!

I arrived at the hospital at 10am initially to be induced at 41+4. I was bummed because i really wanted a med free labor and I thought that being at the hospital would probably hinder that from happening. I intended to go to a birthing centre. They checked me at 1230 and saw that my cervix was very soft and 3cm- she was able to bring it to a 4 and came back shortly after to break my water. I was then brought to my room where we settled down. I was told to walk as much as possible to see if contractions would follow. So i began to walk and suddenly contractions were coming on but with no real pattern. Some of them sweeping me off my feet. So for the next couple of hours I am in between walking the halls and back to the room bouncing on the birthing ball, which helped ease the pain of the contractions. We decided that if they did not become consistent enough they would have to induce me with some Pitocin by 5. I feared this would happen, in fact I thought for sure this would happen. God had other plans! In the meantime I am asking my midwife when I am able to get into jacuzzi, really hoping for a water birth. She said to wait until they’re closer together. At 4pm they began to get closer/ stronger. I begged for her to check me and was thrilled to learn I was 6cm at this point. Jacuzzi time! I hopped in the tub at 4:40 - contractions getting stronger! It helped a bit at first but I began sweating and in severe pain that I threw up all over the side of the jacuzzi and all of it washed back in. Midwife had stepped out for a moment to grab a towel. Unfortunately had to remove myself from jacuzzi at 5:10 so she can clean up with the hopes of potentially going back in. I got out and went straight to my bed as the contractions were becoming quite challenging. I had to tell my husband to please take my 3 year old out of the room as he was screaming to watch paw patrol and was stressing me out!🤦🏻‍♀️ A total of 30 min in the jacuzzi brought me to 9cm! She checked me at 5:12 and said there’s no way I can go back in the jacuzzi at that point. This is where the pain heightened. I felt paralyzed at one point in the bed, yelling at my mother to help me get up 😅. I felt a small urge to push but I lied and said that to my midwife because I couldn’t deal anymore. I got on my hands and knees and she put pressure on my lower back which helped tremendously. Then I switched to my back. I was fully dilated and began pushing at 5:40. After about 5 pushes out came my princess!! I wouldn’t have done it any other way and would do it all over again for my baby girl 💞 yes the ring of fire is a real thing! The end.

Ps - guys it is totally possible to go intervention free. Believe in yourself and it will happen. Our bodies are made to do this and it’s quite incredible to be able to do such a thing 💕