If you need a positive labor and delivery story:

We were set to be induced on Tuesday the 15 at 0400. I had a scheduled gallbladder surgery for that very next day because my gallbladder has caused me so many issues during my entire pregnancy. We drove to the hospital and got there only to be told there was no bed. We got the call to come in about 1130.

I was already 3 cm dilated. They started me on pitocin. I could feel the contractions but they weren’t painful at all. They checked me about an hourish later and I was at 5 cm. My midwife came and broke my waters. About 30 min passed with contractions that still weren’t really painful. Compared to my gallbladder attacks all through pregnancy, contractions felt like nothing! I had 2 heavy contractions and asked for an epidural. I had it done about 4 contractions later and felt amazing. I didn’t even feel the numbing injection. I did have a hotspot that we corrected with positional changes. Baby girl actually turned “sunny side up” during my labor and we did multiple position changes and finally got her to turn ROA.

I progressed pretty slow and steady after that. I actually stayed at 9cm for over 2 hours because my right cervical lip just wouldn’t completely efface. I started to feel pressure in my bottom and was finally 10 cm! I pushed for about 20 minutes, maybe. With my epidural I could feel my legs but could barely move them. I felt exactly where I was supposed to push and knew her head was coming out but felt absolutely no pain. The “perfect epidural”. No rips or tears or stitches. She was 7lb 9 oz and my second baby, my first being over 8 years ago.

That first post birth pee was pretty awful. And so was the post birth contractions from the remaining pitocin infusion and breastfeeding. My surgery was postponed to Friday because I labored for longer than planned. By the end of day 2 postpartum I felt almost back to normal. I was still sore but up and moving around like normal. Then I had my surgery on Friday and went home 2 hours later.

I had so much anxiety about my labor and delivery when in reality everything went absolutely perfect. So just know, it is possible to have a good birthing experience!! I honestly thought it was impossible!