Charlotte Pearl birth story

marathonmommy82 · August 2014

(I had an emergency C with DS almost four years ago and was planning a VBAC with my MW for this LO)

My EDD was 08/21/14, but DS came almost a week early, so I was hopeful that she'd come early, too. I had court on Friday (stuffed my fat little feet into heels) and kept telling everyone I was trying to go into labor over the weekend to avoid doing my Tuesday docket. I really didn't think I'd go into labor over the weekend, though.

At around 2:00/ 2:30 I woke up with wet underwear. I thought I peed myself. I went to the bathroom and found a small amount of blood on the toilet paper. This is EXACTLY how I went into labor with DS, so I was pretty confident I was in labor. I called the MW and she told me to come to L&D (GSB+) I woke up MH, called my mom, and showered. ... and then the contractions started. They were coming every 3-4 minutes and they HURT. I was in so much pain during the drive to the hospital. We got to L&D, got checked in, and I was 5 cm. I requested an epi, and they took blood (apparently they had to test something with my platelets? I don't recall this happening with DS but it was a different hospital). Contractions were coming every couple of minutes and I kept saying THIS REALLY HURTS and then I put MH's hand in my mouth and bit it. I don't know why but it seemed like a good idea. I also kept asking WHERE IS THE EPIDURAL.

And then, after laboring for about 30 minutes, I felt the need to push. I told the MW and she checked me --- 10 cm! I distinctly remember thinking "I guess I'm not getting an epidural." I pushed for 20 minutes and out she came! Oddly, the pushing didn't hurt that much (not that it was super duper fun times) but it felt like a relief (unlike the contractions, which felt like satan squeezing my uterus).

Born at 5:36 am, weighing 5 lbs 13 oz, 19 1/2 inches (peanut!). I tore a little so the MW stitched me up. We were discharged from the hospital Sunday night, which was nice because I missed DS and I wanted to be home. DS is doing well with his little sister -- tells us he loves her, wants to hold her, says "it's okay, baby Charlotte Pearl" when she cries. He's convinced covering her in a blanket cures all.

Thanks to all A14 ladies for everything over the past several months. It's hard to believe we were posting our nausea remedies and hoping for bumps and now we're posting baby photos and birth stories !