Our due date came and gone. There were no signs lovebug was ready to make her appearance. Barely even dilated. Time to move on to every other day appointments and non stress tests to keep an eye on her. The Tuesday after our due date I was finally 1cm dilated and able to do a membrane sweep. Still working but remotely. With increased appointments an hour each way it was time for me to make my exit from work and go on leave. Try to do the last bit of relaxing before baby girl made her arrival. Plus all the tips and tricks to naturally induce labor were not on our side and I was exhausted.

The decision to stop working is all that it took. Thursday morning 5am my water broke. Not like they depict on TV. I woke up to use the bathroom and felt a trickle followed by a pop. I waited a few minutes before waking B and calling the midwives. I was told we could come in then but opted to wait a little later until our already scheduled 9:30am appointment.

I woke B and told him my water broke. The contractions started pretty instantaneously once my water broke. They were coming just about every five minutes. I decided to shower and take in these final moments at home, just us.

8:15am came quickly. We packed up the final items into the car and headed to the birth center. We were on time for our appointment where they verified indeed my water had broken and I did not need to be induced the following evening. We were admitted to the birth center.

The midwives on shift were Lillian and Leslie. They checked in hourly with us to see how things were going. We were encouraged to eat, drink and change positions.

Around 2/3pm contractions started to lull but the intensity was increasing. The midwives encouraged us to change scenery and get outside while it was still daylight. Walking during contractions was not my favorite but seemed somewhat effective.

Once we came back inside I decided to get in the shower to warm up. Being in the shower/ water is what felt best.

7pm was shift change. I had midwifes Alys and Lila. Student midwife Madeline and nurse Rebecca. Rebecca and Madeline were huge helps in trying to ground me, provide counter pressure and remind me of the breathing techniques. I stayed in the shower a majority of the time. Crazy that once in labor most of your modesty goes out the door.

Closer to midnight I was having a difficult time managing the contractions. Alys suggested I get in the bathtub and try to relax. I would relax real well until a contraction would hit. I was starting to anticipate them and the uncomfortableness which was making it worse. I was telling B how much pain I was in and that I didn’t think I was going to be able to do it.

B went and got the midwives for me. I told them it need some assistance with the pain. At 1:30am I started nitrous oxide. Many have stated it doesn’t really provide pain management but it does make things a little less intense when you have a hazy/ high feeling. I had difficulty inhaling the nitrous oxide while in the middle of a contraction which would be most effective. I was having difficulty wanting to eat, all I wanted to do was rest.

4:30am came around and I was finally 5cm dilated and fully effaced. Alys noted we could stay at the birth center as they feel I was approaching active labor and still coping fairly well or we had the option to transfer to the hospital . They gave us some privacy for B and I to discuss.

I understood the reality that we rapidly approached 24 hours where my water had been broken and that I really had not have rested. B provided some encouraging words and noted I tried what I wanted but now it’s time to go to the hospital and get an epidural.

To be honest, I was most afraid for the epidural but I agreed it was time to transfer to the hospital as chances of infection or problems statistically increase by the hour.

B packed up our car and we followed the midwives down the road to the hospital. I was offered a wheelchair but the thought of sitting just sounded awful. Even in the short car ride I didn’t want to sit. All I could think about is how would I have managed the hour drive from our house to the birth center like this. Heck the walk from the car to the ward was just as awful with contractions. Back labor is no joke.

I was admitted into the hospital just around shift change. My nurse at the time was Megan and she was not my cup of tea. For a nurse working in labor and delivery she had no patience for me being in pain and uncomfortable. She was not very organized when trying to get my IV placed. B was getting ready to say something because her actions were getting to both of us.

6:45am I received my epidural. It wasn’t painful or as bad as I thought it was going to be. Almost instantly I had relief. Not long after the midwife on duty inquired about starting pitocin. I declined starting it as I knew it would make contractions more intense.

Thankfully 7am was shift change. Nurse Anna and nurse Jennifer, who was in training, were working with me. Both were heaven sent. They offered me food and drink. I completely forgot that if you have an epidural you’ll need a catheter. I was so nervous for the catheter but I didn’t feel anything due to the epidural. I always thought with an epidural you wouldn’t be able to move your legs or wiggle your toes but I was able to do just that.

Shortly after 8am another midwife came in to ask about pitocin again. Since I had pain relief and was able to rest I was able to make a more informed decision. I was so worried to utilize pitocin if I didn’t have an epidural because I would feel the more intense contractions. Since I had an epidural now it made sense to try and use pitocin.

In my mind, I figured they would slowly increase pitocin, however that was not the case. Around 10am, an OB code was called to my room. Love bugs heart rate dropped and was not improving, she was in distress. It seemed like 20+ people were immediately in my room. Nurse Anna was fantastic and she was kind and explained what was occurring. She and Jennifer flipped me to try and get lovebug’s heart rate to increase.

I was starting to cry and get nervous. Everyone in the room assured me it is okay and a natural response to cry. Within two minutes of everyone being in the room it was decided that an emergency c-section was going to be needed. I gave my verbal consent and they started prepping to take me to the OR.

In true lovebug fashion, I guess mentioning the OR her heart rate started to come back up and stabilize. I was given the option not to proceed with the c-section and to continue to try for a vaginal delivery. If her heart rate dropped again though we would be going to the OR.

The c-section was canceled but my body was already numb. I had to be provided additional medication to counteract the medication previously administered. I was so overwhelmed emotionally. I felt like I was having a hard time breathing. I was assured my oxygen levels were fine but it was a side effect of the medication. I did not like not feeling anything from the neck down for nearly an hour.

Once that subsided, I had a popsicle and some soda. B worked on getting a nap and I was encouraged to do the same. Despite the epidural, I could still feel gushes of my waters between my legs. Working in a healthcare setting I felt bad for asking to be cleaned up yet I also understood that’s part of the job.

It was discovered that there was mecconium mixed in with my water, meaning lovebug had her first bowel movement still inside of me. It was a possibility I would develop and infection and that she would need intervention at birth due to inhaling the mecconium.

An into uterine pressure catheter (IUPC) was placed to help monitor contractions. I was asked to start up pitocin again. I requested that we gradually increase it as I really didn’t want to have a c-section.

Towards the afternoon, I started to not feel the best. I was tired of course but I started to feel warm but didn’t have a fever. Anna was an amazing advocate and even noted the same concerns to the midwives.

Around 3pm I was 9cm dilated and fully effaced again. They were hopeful by 5pm (36 hours since my water broke) baby girl would have made her arrival. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Lovebug was very comfortable and in two hours I had regressed.

I was informed if I wasn’t fully dilated by 8pm I would need to have a c-section. I was getting checks hourly at this point. Shift change came again at 7pm. Nurse Katie was with me now. I was checked and was almost fully dilated but there was a cervical lip. I was given IV Benadryl to help with the cervical swelling.

IV Benadryl was wild. I thought the curtains were spinning, I couldn’t recall if I was actually responding or the thoughts were just in my head. I was tired. Another nurse Laura came to help Katie. I started to spike a fever. Laura and Katie took turns doing the baby spinning technique. It was very difficult to participate with the epidural and Benadryl.

Around 8:30pm I was checked by one of the midwives. They thought the cervical lip resolved but wanted a second opinion to be safe. An OBGYN came in to double check. Once confirmed the cervical lip was resolved they said on the next contraction I was to push.

Whether it was the epidural, Benadryl or both I was having a hard time discerning when I was having a contraction. I was just guessing when to push. I didn’t originally want to deliver on my back but at this point I didn’t care.

B held one leg while Katie or Laura held the other. The midwives inquired if I wanted a mirror to look. I declined but they said to look anyway. I was unsure how to look because I for sure was using my strength to push and I couldn’t do that with my eyes open.

They encouraged me to feel her head. I didn’t want to but did it anyway. I did feel the ring of fire. It wasn’t the worst but an insane amount of pressure. I was coached to breathe softly as I pushed.

9:23pm our baby girl was finally here! She ended up not needing any intervention whereas I developed an infection and needed antibiotics. My placenta didn’t want to come out. At that point I wasn’t shocked by that news. I was amazed to hear I didn’t tear and pushed less than thirty minutes. Good news after being in labor 40 hours.

I would do it all again to get to out baby girl. She was perfect. I laughed because my induction was scheduled for later that evening if I hadn’t already gone into labor. Maybe we were meant to be at the hospital with the staff in duty at the time.

Around 10:30pm I was encouraged to walk and use the bathroom. I couldn’t wrap my head around trying to use the bathroom so quickly after birth. Using the bathroom wasn’t horrible like many said it would be.

Around 11:15pm we made it to our maternity room. Just in time for our first night together as our little family. I had to have antibiotics throughout the night into the morning.

My parents ended up surprising us at the hospital. I wasn’t mad even though I previously mentioned they didn’t need to come. They were able to provide B some relief to go home and shower considering we did not pack for a hospital admission.

In the end, it all worked out. I’m thankful for my experience and my support system. And for now, that’s all she wrote 😉

-A