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On 10/26/24 I started having contractions at about 7pm that were about every 5 minutes lasting about a minute, but were far from painful. We were just leaving a Halloween event and decided to take the boys to get pizza and look at Halloween decorations. We got home about 8:30 and I took a shower while Wyatt put the boys to bed. I showered, blow dried and curled my hair, did my makeup and put on some comfy clothes. We turned on Sister Wives (IYKYK) and I bounced on a ball for awhile. About 11pm my contractions were consistently 3 minutes apart, still lasting about 1 minute and still not painful. I decided to go for a walk around the block to see if they would start to get more intense. After a walk and about 600 laps around my house 😅 I noticed a slight increase in pain. At midnight we called my mother in law to come sit with the boys so we could go into the hospital to get checked.
We got to the hospital about 12:30 and was put into a triage room. We also were told that my Midwife was “off call” at 6am. Which gave me extreme anxiety!! At 12:50 the nurse checked my cervix and I was dilated to a 4. She said that they would monitor me for an hour and if there was no change that they would send me home. She returned about 1:45am, checked my cervix. I was still a 4, but told me that baby girl’s heart rate was a little “off”. She had talked with my midwife and was advised to keep me fore about her hour to monitor her heart rate and then let me go home to labor more at home. After another hour, she came in the room and told us that her heart rate had not improved and that my midwife was wanting to get an ultrasound. At this point, my contractions were still consistently 3 minutes apart with no increase in pain. I was walking and talking through them without any difficulty. The ultrasound tech got to my room about 3:10am. I am not sure if it was from the tech pushing pretty hard on my stomach or just coincidence, but during the ultrasound my contractions increased significantly in pain and frequency. The ultrasound lasted about 35 minutes which was unbearable. She did not say more than 5 words the entire time which was very alarming to Wyatt and I and we knew something was not right with baby girl. After she was done I went into the restroom and only found some pain relief from sitting/hovering over the toilet.
At this point my contractions were a 10/10 on the pain said and I felt as if I had no break in between. At 3:50 am I told my husband that there was NO WAY IN HELL I was leaving the hospital and that if I was still only dilated to a 4 that I wanted the epidural NOW. A nurse came in and noticed my significant change in pain and recommended that my nurse checked my cervix again. I told her that I needed the anesthesiologist to get to my room ASAP. She began to put an IV in my arm to prepare for the anesthesiologist to get there and told me “ it would be good to have an epidural in case of an emergency C-section” which freaked me out!!!!! My nurse came in a few minutes later, checked my cervix and to her surprise I was dilated to an 8! She went out to call my midwife and to see where the anesthesiologist was. At 4:05am she came in and told me that she could not get ahold of my midwife…….. at this point I was in so much pain. I couldn’t sit, stand, walk, talk or breathe. A few minutes later, I heard my midwife voice!! Praise the lord!! I had never been so happy to see someone in my life lol. She told me that she had let the anesthesiologist know that he could leave….. She asked me if my water had broken, and I told her it had not. She checked my cervix and found that I was at a 10!!!! She broke my water and told me to push when I felt like I was ready. After a mild panic attack, I pushed through 3 contractions and our Stevie girl was here! 4:28am on 10/27/24 , 22 inches long and weighed 8lbs 13oz. The best day of my life.
Every birth story is unique, and for many, the option of unmedicated birth can be both empowering and challenging. In this article, I share the detailed experience of my labor on 10/26/24. As contractions began, my emotions ranged from excitement to anxiety with every milestone. The decision to pursue an unmedicated birth meant embracing natural methods like movement and relaxation techniques, which can often help ease labor pains. The importance of effective communication with healthcare providers during labor cannot be overstated. I found myself at a critical juncture when my midwife was off-call, leading to feelings of uncertainty. However, with the right support, everything fell into place. Facing the intensity of contractions and navigating hospital protocols can be daunting, but it ultimately culminated in a moment of pure joy when our baby girl was born. As I reflect on this journey, I encourage other expectant mothers to consider their own preferences for childbirth, gather support, and prepare for an experience that is both intense and beautiful. Whether by planning for an unmedicated birth or opting for pain relief, every decision should reflect what feels right for each individual family. Birth is a celebration, and each story deserves to be shared and cherished.
