Lydia's Birth Story (Long)

Raesofsunshine1 · October 2014

Im doing this from my phone so sorry about typos or lazy spelling.

Lydia Jane was born 10/15 at 7:37 pm. 7 lbs 15 oz 20 in. I was 40w2d.

After having prodromal labor since 36 weeks, I had dilated to 3 but hadnt changed in the 4 weeks. At my 40 week appt, Monday the 13th, I had him check me and I was still a 3 but he said my cervix was super stretchy and he could stretch me to a 3.5 or 4. He also stripped my membranes.

I was very crampy and was having mild contractions but nothing worse than what I had been having for weeks.

Tuesday night, I started having bad bad cramps but wasnt noticing many contractions with them. Wednesday, I was still crampy but started noticing contractions early at about 6-7 minutes apart. They hurt walking around but not while I was laying down. So I took it easy, and took a hot bath. The contractions and cramps never stopped. I laid down while DD took her nap around 1:30. They started to get more intense, coming every 3-4 minutes and just a little more painful. The whole time my pain level was only about 2 or 3- it varied. I lost a huge amount of mucus plug with a little bloody show. Called DH at work and told him it might be time, but was stressing out about going in since I had had so many false alarms so far and because they weren't hurting too badly.

We decided to go in about 4:00 and on our way I called the hospital. They told me to go to my OBs office first. I went there and he checked me at a 5 and said Im sending you over to L&D. It was a huge relief.

We check in to L&D and the monitors were picking up contractions 2-4 minutes. I could barely feel any pain, just very uncomfortable and crampy. They gave me fluids since I said I wanted an epidural whenever I would need one. We walked the halls and then the Dr said he wanted to either break my water or I could go home.I did not want to leave since I was already overdue, lived 25 minutes away and didnt want to take the chance of not making it back in time.

He checked me right before breaking my water and I had progressed to 5.5. Everyone kept saying how tough I was and they couldnt believe I was still feeling good. Im a whimp when it comes to pain but these just werent hurting much!

They broke my water (such a weird feeling) and immediately got terrible contractions. My pain level went from about a 2 to an 8 in minutes. I was feeling a ton of pressure like I had to push and when they checked me I was at a 6. I was thinking Id be in labor for awhile yet and was hurting so bad. I practically yelled "give me my epidural!". My pain reached the roof with contractions back to back. My epidural came quickly. Things were going crazy as everyone was talking, things were being set up for delivery, and the anesthesiologist was giving his required talk about the epi.

As soon as I got my epidural I felt like I needed to push. I was practically screaming. They checked again and I was complete! After about 15-20 minutes of pushing, I delivered a healthy (although very purple baby-Dr said it was because she descended so fast) baby girl we named Lydia Jane. I deliverec her at 7:37-only an hour and a half after breaking my water!

I was able to immediate skin to skin for quite a while followed with nursing. She has been latching perfectly but my breasts are so tender with cluster feeding and my milk coming in. I had no tears and recovery has been a breeze.

Here she is at 3 days old on our first full day home.