A more detailed birth story:
Went in for my normal appointment at 39w2d (the 8th). I had my MW strip my membranes to see if we could maybe get things going. That was at 11am. I went back to work, then to the gym where I walked 3 miles and then home. When I got home at 6:30pm contractions started and were pretty regular (every 3-4 minutes, 50s long and mild to moderate). I went on with my evening and put DS to bed. As I leaned over to give him hugs and kisses at 9pm, I felt a large gush of warm fluid. I knew it was my water breaking. I called my MW and they told me to make my way to the hospital within the next 2 hours. I showered, called my mom to watch DS and we hopped in the car.
Arrived at hospital around 10:30ish. My contractions were still mild to moderate but not as regular (I thought your contractions got stronger when your water breaks!). I was only 2cm 50% at this point. They gave me until 3am to start active labor. I did everything (walked, yoga ball, walked). Nada. They started pitocin. I wanted to have a natural delivery like I had with DS. However, I told DH that if I had to do pitocin from the get-go, I was very open to the epidural. At about 4:30am, my contractions were very strong and coming 1 minute apart. There was nothing that was making them better. They checked me...3.5. I asked for the epi. About 30 minutes later I was in heaven. I slept and was checked at 7:30am...8cm! Woohoo! I was complete at 8:15 (the epi allowed my body to do its thing) and labored down until 8:45 when I was feeling a lot of pressure. I started pushing at 9. She was born at 9:16 on 7/9 after a brief, but scary,bout of shoulder dystocia that was quickly cleared by tipping me back and repositioning her. She also had a knot in her cord, which could have caused some major problems.
Stats: 8lbs2oz, 20" and apgars of 8 and 9.
I must say that the epi was heavenly and relaxed me enough to progress labor quickly. While I would have loved to go med free again, I am very happy with my decision. Also, no tearing and my recovery has been super easy thus far.
Picture from today when we got home:
Re: Anna Evelyn's birth story (Argonne)
It was so nice going into it knowing that I was open to the epi. I react pretty strongly to pit (had it at a level 1 at the very tail end of my labor with DS since my labor stalled at a 9.5 CM) and knew that the pain (for me) was not going to be manageable.
Married 07/2012
DD born 07/2014
DD2 born 10/2018
DS born 10/2022
IF history:
TTC #2 since January 2016
June-Aug 2017: 3 IUIs w/Clomid = BFN
Sept 2017: Dx w/Endometriosis
Oct 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN
Nov 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN
Dec 2017: pre-IVF testing
Jan-Feb 2018: IVF--17 eggs retrieved, 13 fertilized, 9 frozen and 1 transferred on 2/10 = BFP on 2/19!!! EDD 10/29/2018
FET Oct 2021: BFP on 10/31! MC at 5 weeks
FET Feb 2022: BFP on 2/15! EDD 10/29/22
DD born 7.27.2014
BFP 09.2015 - m/c 10.21.2015