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A lot of birth stories you read can be pretty intense—placental abruptions, emergency C-sections, you name it. But this isn’t that kind of story. This is more of a standard, almost textbook birth, and I’m here to share a bit of the reality of what that looks like. Hopefully, this reassures you that not every birth is a dramatic, high-stress event—sometimes, things go smoothly, and that’s okay too.
The Lead-Up
At 38 weeks and 6 days pregnant, I was completely over it. I was barely sleeping, my baby was pressing into my ribs constantly, and worst of all, I was still working. Don’t you just love America? It was a Friday, and I was in a terrible mood because, once again, I was at work—pregnant as ever.
At one point, I went to the bathroom (TMI WARNING) and saw a slimy, mucusy substance in my underwear—my mucus plug had finally come out. I was so excited!
The next morning, I woke up with a strong feeling: Today is the day. My mom had traveled from my hometown to help me wrap up last-minute tasks. As we worked, I began experiencing contractions. At first, they were mild but consistent, and my mom grew concerned. I, on the other hand, was hopeful and excited that this might finally be it.
We ran a few errands, and while out, my contractions became more intense. My mom was on high alert, but I remained calm—more than ready to meet my baby.
Eventually, she convinced me to cut our errands short and head home to clean. As we tidied up, my contractions continued, and I had to pause to breathe through them. Curious about their timing, I started tracking them—five minutes apart. The contraction timer recommended heading to the hospital, but I ignored it, preferring to labor at home for as long as possible.
I gave my then-fiancé (now husband) a heads-up so he could notify work. Meanwhile, my mom insisted I sit down and rest, but I was reluctant. For weeks, every time I sat down, my contractions would stall.
Eventually, the contractions became too intense to ignore. While they weren’t unbearable, I decided to listen. I took a quick shower around 7:30 PM, then rested on the couch until I went to bed around 9 PM. Before lying down, I inserted an evening primrose oil capsule to help my cervix progress.
It’s Happening!
At 12:59 AM on July 28, 2024, I woke up thinking, Did I just pee myself? I got out of bed to check, and—GUSH—my water broke. I quickly put on a postpartum diaper (highly recommend) and went to tell my mom. She asked if I had informed my husband, which I hadn’t yet. Fortunately, he was just down the street.
When he got home, he took a quick shower, packed a bag, and we headed to the hospital—but not before stopping at McDonald’s. I knew the hospital would likely restrict food once I arrived, so I wanted to eat while I could.
On the drive, I asked my husband if he was sad about it no longer being just the two of us. His response? A simple “no.”
At the hospital, they triaged me and confirmed that my water had broken. I had been leaking the entire drive there—something I wasn’t expecting. Pro tip: Buy postpartum diapers. I used the Always brand, and they were comfortable, not bulky, and kept my car seat dry. I have them linked for you Here.
Once they confirmed that my baby’s head was still positioned correctly, the doctor (who lacked the best bedside manner) outlined the next steps. At this point, it was 2 AM, and I was only 1 cm dilated. She explained that they would start with Cytotec, followed by Pitocin. I had no interest in Pitocin, but I kept quiet for the moment.
They transferred me to the delivery room, gave me two Cytotec, and I went to sleep.
The Pain Kicks In
Sometime around 3 or 4 AM, I woke up in excruciating pain. The contractions were intense. I had initially planned to labor without an epidural, but at only 5 cm dilated, I felt like I was being torn apart.
The nurse informed me that the anesthesiologist was in surgery and that I’d have to wait an hour for the epidural. That felt like an eternity.
I relied on the breathing techniques I had learned from YouTube, which helped take the edge off, but the pain was still overwhelming.
Helpful Tips for a Smoother Labor and Delivery
While every birth is unique, there are a few things I learned along the way that might help make your experience a little easier or more predictable.
1. Listen to Your Body
When I noticed my mucus plug coming out, it was a sign that things were starting to move, but I also knew it wasn’t necessarily go-time. Trust your body and don’t hesitate to track your contractions to get a better sense of timing. If something feels off, don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor.
2. Plan for the Unexpected
As much as you may have a birth plan, things can change quickly. I had planned for a certain birth experience, but there were plenty of unexpected twists. Focus on keeping an open mind and maintaining a positive mindset. After all, the ultimate goal is a healthy baby and a healthy mom!
3. Prepare for Pain Management Options
Even if you plan on getting an epidural, it’s important to have alternative pain management strategies. My epidural didn’t work at first, so I had to rely on breathing techniques that I learned ahead of time to manage the pain until it was fixed. It’s always good to have a backup plan for pain relief just in case.
4. Be Ready to Adapt
Things don’t always go according to plan, and that’s okay. My labor wasn’t the picture-perfect scenario I imagined, but being flexible with the process made the experience much smoother. Whether it’s a change in how you labor or a shift in the timing, staying adaptable will help you focus on what matters most—your baby’s safe arrival.
An hour later, the anesthesiologist arrived and administered the epidural—except it didn’t work. To make matters worse, another patient needed an emergency C-section, delaying any adjustments.
The breathing techniques were a lifesaver as the nurses worked to fix the epidural. After another hour, it finally took effect, and I was able to rest.
Time to Push
I woke up during the morning shift change and was introduced to my new nurse—who was an absolute gem. She had excellent bedside manner and made the pushing phase feel so much more manageable.
Around 8 AM, she checked my progress—I was fully dilated, but my baby was not yet in the correct station. She adjusted the bed, and within 30 minutes, it was time to push.
As I started pushing, she remarked that I was making great progress and decided to call my doctor.
Then, my baby’s heart rate began to drop. To stabilize it, they had me push while lying on my side, which helped. This was the only truly concerning moment, but thankfully, it was short-lived.
Suddenly, my doctor walked in. I pushed five more times, and at 9:26 AM on July 28, 2024, my beautiful baby boy was born.
He had a full head of hair and let out a strong cry the moment he entered the world.
Do you want to know the first thing I said?
“Is he still a boy?”
Followed by, “Did I tear?”
I had a first-degree internal tear, but it wasn’t bad. And yes—he was, in fact, still a boy.
Final Thoughts
I was pregnant for 9 months.
My labor lasted 8 hours and 27 minutes.
I pushed for about 40 minutes.
It wasn’t a perfect labor, nor was it the labor I had envisioned, but it was a positive experience. My baby was healthy, and I was healthy.
If I could offer any advice, it would be this: Don’t focus too much on a rigid birth plan—focus on your birth mindset. Things can change quickly, and being too attached to specific details might leave you feeling disappointed. Go into labor with the mindset that as long as my baby and I are healthy, everything else is secondary.
Have you had your own birth experience you’d like to share? Was there anything unexpected in your journey? Leave a comment below—I’d love to hear your stories and thoughts!
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