My Birth Story

The two weeks before I went into labor I had felt generally crampy with a backache (different from your typical pregnancy backache), but I wasn’t feeling any distinct contractions. I told my friend, “I feel like he’s going to come early.” Little did I know, I would be giving birth 8 days later, 12 days before my “due date.”

Fast forward to Sunday evening February 23rd, I noticed some bleeding. I immediately called the midwives & they wanted me to come in the next morning. They said it was likely a bloody show, a sign of cervical ripening & nothing to be concerned about. In fact, it was a good thing. Once at our appointment, my midwife did a cervical examination to be certain about the cervical ripening. It was—I was just 1 cm but very effaced. She gave me the option to have a membrane sweep. She said if I was in early labor it would kickstart the process. They don’t do them a ton (nor do they do cervical examinations routinely), but I was a great candidate for the membrane sweep at that point. The only reason I was apprehensive was because I knew it would be uncomfortable/painful… and I thought… that’s not a reason to not do it. So I went for it. I will never forget how my husband held my hand and whispered how strong I was in my ear. He gave me so much confidence and comfort & I got a preview of how amazing he’d be in the labor & delivery room.

Afterwards, she told us to make sure all our bags are packed, in the car, and to eat & rest. We went to First Watch for breakfast & by that time, I was having real deal contractions. I began to time them around 11am. First they were 8-9 minutes apart & then 5 minutes apart for a few hours. The goal for me was to labor at home as long as I could. This way, I could avoid as many interventions as possible & rest as much as I could. Joe picked us up Olive Garden for dinner & I called my parents while laboring, pausing the conversation for contractions. For me, the spinal & back pressure was the most intense, so standing and leaning over the couch was the most comfortable. After dinner, we called the midwives. Around 10pm, we went to hospital because they were very strong and regular still. Once in triage, they examined my cervix. I had progressed to 3cm that day. Labor was definitely moving along. However, once at the hospital, my contractions began to slow down. The midwife talked to me about going home & trying to fall asleep for as long as I could. Since we were only 15 minutes away from the hospital, I felt very comfortable going home. I was actually able to fall asleep for an hour or so at a time while the contractions were mild. I woke up with them a bunch, but I was managing to get some rest. I know I wouldn’t have been able to do that in a hospital, however. What a gift that extra night in our own bed was.

I went in to an already scheduled midwife appointment the next morning, and almost immediately I was sent to the hospital building to be checked into a labor and delivery room. I remember waiting for the elevator being so excited in between each contraction, which I held onto my husband’s neck for. We called my mom, and she left for the hospital. Once in labor and delivery, my contractions were incredibly strong, but my cervix wasn’t dilating as quickly as we had hoped. They broke my water and gave me a low dose of pitocin and things began moving again. I went from 3-4 cm to 7 cm. During this time, I was still mostly standing while Joe applied counter pressure to my back. Things began to slow again.

I labored in the shower for a while & when I got out they became so strong again that I got into the bed with a peanut ball. I had to pull out all stops to get through the next contractions. I had a birthing comb in my hand, a tens machine on my back, Joe was applying counter pressure and my mom was pressing/holding onto my feet. I wasn’t able to breathe through these ones as well as I had earlier. I started moaning & they were coming on top of one another. I could tell when their peak was, but they didn’t seem to stop coming. It was at this point where my husband said, “I didn’t talk to you for four hours.” They checked my cervix again during this time only to discover that I was still only 7cm… they tried one more natural intervention. They had me push while the midwife tried to dilate my cervix with her hands. Before that, however, they emptied my bladder with a catheter. It didn’t work. That intervention was extraordinarily painful. I knew at that point that if things were going to go faster, I had to get an epidural. I told my husband our safe word. 

The man who gave me the epidural was the kindest, most competent person who praised my determination for laboring naturally for so long. I felt so good about my decision—- especially when my husband & mom looked so relieved. They gave me a heavier dose of pitocin to move it along again. I was able to rest through the contractions even though I could still feel pressure (totally normal for an epidural). Within one hour, I was ready to push & fully dilated. I pushed for 45 minutes & he was here on my chest. Hardest & best thing I’ve ever done.