Length of labor (not pushing)
5 hours
Length of pushing
15 minutes or less!
Who was with me
Mom and baby's father
What I would do differently next time
I don't think I would change a thing.
What I did to prepare for birth
I was SO scared of child birth for months every day I just thought about it wondering how I was going to get through it. This may sound like a crazy cliche but prayer really helped me through it all
How my birth happened
My water broke at 11:30 am on July 4th, went to the hospital by 12:30 and had my baby girl at 5:05. My birthing experience was amazing nothing like I'd imagined it and better than most people's. I was one of the lucky ones. I was already 3cm dilated weeks before so I had a feeling it wasn't going to be so bad or take to long. The first time I was checked in the hospital I was already 6cm dilated I heard the nurse tell the other one to look at her head! From there I was instantly admitted into the delivery room. When we got into the delivery room they let my mother come in and she hadn't seen that my contractions were coming on and off so when they asked if I wanted the epidural right away she said "You're doing fine without it!" so I didn't take it. Yet, I knew I wanted one but I didn't want it in my system longer than I needed it. Shortly after my contractions started getting a bit stronger and I wanted the epidural but it took a little while to get. Finally the anesthesiologist came and started the procedure, I really hated it. I had to sit slouched over the side of the bed with my neck down without moving AND I was having contractions also I can actually feel the thing touching my spine which was not cool at all. But finally it was done after a few attempts because he said my spine was crooked like an s and asked if I had scoliosis (I don't.) and the nurse said my shoulders were probably uneven from carrying purses on one side. I figured I was just tense and doing it myself so I tried to relax and he finally did it. Once it kicked in I was walking on the moon and relaxed I was so glad I did it. Shortly after that I was checked again and was dilated all the way and they started prepping me to push! I texted my friend at 4:45 telling her it was almost time they came in after that and 5:05 my baby made her grand entrance!
Lessons learned
- One of the biggest lessons learned was if you're at the hospital and they offer it you should most likely take it. I did and I don't regret it one bit.
