Ah, the joys of childbirth! Let me take you on a journey through my birth-day experience with my third child. Buckle up, it's going to be a wild ride!
So, it all started on Easter Sunday, when my water decided to break at the not-so-convenient time of 37 weeks and five days. Talk about timing, right? I had been feeling those sneaky Braxton Hicks contractions all day, and by 11:11 PM, my water broke. I guess my baby wanted to make a grand entrance.
Being the brave mama that I am, I had planned to go through the whole birthing process without any medication. I called my midwife and off to the labor and delivery I went, arriving around 1 AM. But hey, I was only 1 cm dilated. It was like the doors of progress were playing a little April Fools' joke on me.
Now, picture this - in the delivery room, I had my husband, my mother-in-law, my 11-year-old daughter, and my 18-year-old son. It was like a full-on party! We even decorated the room with fairy lights, diffused lavender and clary sage essential oils, and I had my own fancy labor gown. I mean, if I was going to be in labor for a while, might as well do it in style, right?
My son was supposed to leave for out of state that morning. He didn't want to miss the birth of his little sister, but I convinced him to go. Thank goodness for FaceTime, though! Technology to the rescue!
As the early stages of labor dragged on, I encouraged everyone to take a nap. Of course, I couldn't sleep. I was too busy preparing for the main event. Around 9 AM, the intensity of my labor started kicking up a notch. So, what did I do? I became a hallway superstar, doing laps and grabbing onto rails during each contraction. It was like a labor-themed workout routine.
By 11 AM, I was only at 4 cm dilated. Talk about a slow and steady race! But hey, I kept on going. I walked the halls, breathed through contractions like a pro, and even took a bath for a couple of hours. I was determined to rock this labor thing.
But let me tell you, by 7 PM, I was in excruciating pain. The contractions were coming at me like a freight train, and I tried every trick in the book for relief. Yoga ball? Check. Bending over the bed or the couch and swaying my hips? Check. Tens unit? Check. But guess what? That tens unit decided to backstab me. It felt like a knife digging into my previously fractured sacrum and tailbone. Ouch!
At this point, I had been awake for 36 hours and in labor for 20 hours. I was ready to know how far I had progressed, even though I knew that dilation wasn't the be-all and end-all. But guess what? I was still at 4 cm. Talk about a labor party pooper!
With the pain reaching unbearable levels and my mindfulness and breathing techniques failing me, I made a decision. I asked for an epidural at the 22-hour mark. It was like a heavenly gift. Finally, some relief! Well, except for the immense pressure down there. My midwife told me I would feel like I needed to poop and it wouldn't go away. Ah, the glamorous side of childbirth!
Here's where things got interesting. About 20 minutes after the epidural kicked in, I felt something strange down below. It was like there was an object in my vaginal canal. I kept mentioning it to my husband and the nurse, and they finally decided to check it out. Turns out, it was my baby ready to make her grand entrance!
The nurse's face lit up with excitement as she announced that I was fully effaced and dilated to 10 cm. It was go-time, baby! They called for my midwife, and it was all hands on deck. My husband, bless his calm and collected soul, was about to deliver our baby girl. He was a mix of dignity and nerves, but our midwife guided him through the process like a pro.
And just like that, within seven minutes of finding out I was ready to push, our baby girl was placed on my chest. It took one push for her head to crown, followed by a brief pause, and two more calm pushes, a twist, and a turn. And voila, our little bundle of joy arrived into the world at 10 PM, exactly 23 hours after my water had broken.
Phew! What a whirlwind of a birth-day experience. It had its ups and downs, twists and turns, but in the end, it was all worth it. Our little April Fools' Day prankster decided to make her grand entrance in true style. I guess she couldn't resist the opportunity to add a touch of mischief to our lives.
As I held my baby girl in my arms, exhausted but filled with joy, I couldn't help but appreciate the irony of it all. April Fools' Day had taken on a whole new meaning for me. Sure, the labor was no laughing matter, but the timing of it all just added a sprinkle of humor to the mix.
So, here's to our little April Fools' baby, who taught me that even in the midst of pain and uncertainty, laughter and joy can still find their way into our lives. As we celebrate her birthday each year, we'll always have a special twinkle in our eyes, knowing that she came into this world with a mischievous spirit.
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