Better late than never...my birth story. :)

LindsE143 · December 2009

I was 39 weeks pregnant the weekend before I was induced and had been experiencing signs that I was about to go into labor at any time. But?Kaylee Grace just wasn?t ready to make her debut yet. So, Monday morning 11/23 at 8:00 a.m. DH and I arrived at Sharp Mary Birch hospital for our scheduled induction. I was really nervous, and although I had slept the night before I already felt physically drained. Soon after we were brought up to the Labor, Delivery and Recovery room the nurse gave me an I.V. filled with the labor-inducing drug Pitocin. She also checked my cervix, and I was happy to hear I was beginning the process at 3 centimeters dilated. I had planned on getting an epidural pretty early on in the day but once I was at the hospital I decided to wait until I really needed it. Throughout the day my cervix was checked repeatedly?unfortunately though things were not progressing as quickly as I would have liked. By 5:30 p.m. I was still only 4 centimeters dilated and I had yet to have an epidural. My doctor, who had been checking in intermittently throughout the day arrived at the hospital around that time and proceeded to break my water. Let me tell you, that was the weirdest feeling ever. I knew it would almost feel like I was peeing my pants but I didn?t expect for the water to be so warm! Anyone who has had their water broken before knows that once it happens, the contractions usually get much more regular and much more intense. That?s almost an understatement though for the amount of pain the contractions began to cause! I had wanted to get the epidural before my water was broken, but the anesthesiologists were called to an emergency, which obviously pushed my relief back a bit. At 6:30 p.m. I finally had my epidural but really soon after I noticed that I only had relief on my left side; the right side of my body was still feeling the contractions full force! We weren?t sure if I would have to have it ?readjusted? so the nurse had me continue switch which side I was lying on to ensure the medicine was moving throughout my body correctly. Finally I began to feel relief on both sides of my body, but beforehand I definitely experienced some of the most intense contractions imaginable. And at about 8:45 p.m. I found out why: I was more than 9 centimeters dilated and my doctor told me it was almost time to push! I was so elated (even though I felt extremely out of it!) that after almost 12 hours of induced labor we were on the final stretch. About 45 minutes later I was fully dilated and began to push, and at 10:01 p.m. our little Kaylee Grace made her entrance into the world wide-eyed and looking around. Her cry was the most beautiful thing I?ve ever heard, and her 7 pounds 8 ? ounces and 19 ? inch body was the most beautiful thing I?ve ever seen. I?m fighting tears myself right now even thinking about the first time I saw her. I?m not going to lie?the contractions were excruciating at times and the pushing process was so draining, but somehow I found my strength. And the post-delivery process is WAY more painful than I was expecting. But you know what? I?d do it again every single day for the rest of my life. It was honestly the most wonderful thing I?ve ever experienced! I can already tell you that being a mom is something I feel like I was meant to do, and the love I have for her is unlike anything else. I hope all you ladies getting ready to give birth have as good of an experience as I did. Good luck to you!