My Second Labor and Delivery Story

My little girl is here! Little Aiyla made her appearance this Monday at 11:38 am. My story this time around was a little unexpected and the complete opposite of my labor with my firstborn, Zidaan.

The story starts off on my 37th week appointment last Thursday.

I went in for my regular check up and my blood pressure reading was 140/101. For those that have been following me for a while, you would know gestational hypertension was the reason for my induction with Zidaan at 38 weeks. My doctor came in (same OB as last time) and gave me the “AGAIN!?” look. Ha. She told me I had to get induced next week since I was prone to preeclampsia. We discussed dates and I was either to go in Tuesday or Thursday to start my induction. She also checked my dilation and told me I was about 3-4 cm so induction shouldn’t take long. This put my mind at ease and I left the office happy. At least I knew what to expect - I had been induced before, I know my body would respond to it and now I could prepare all weekend!

The first thing I did was tell my boss and wrap things up at work. I was to start my maternity leave on Friday! Next, I finalized any orders I needed to put in for Aiyla, got the house deep cleaned and got my hospital bag ready. Our weekend was busy. I made plans with some friends and booked some beauty appointments. Hey - if I’m going to get induced, I’d much rather go in with my hair, nails and brows done.

On Saturday, we had a Halloween party and on Sunday, we went to a Fall Festival with some friends and family. I was holding my nephew when I had a very painful contraction and had to hand him back. I had been having tons of Braxton Hicks all throughout my pregnancy so I didn’t think much of it. After the festival, we headed to my niece’s 5th birthday party. I remember feeling extra exhausted and having lots of lightning crotch pains. Again, this had been happening for the past few weeks and my doctor told me it was normal so I didn’t think much of that either.

I was exhausted when we got back and called it an early night. All night, I had horrible pains that would come and go. It honestly felt like really bad constipation pains. I had had a lot of snacks earlier that day so i blamed it on my crappy food choices. I kept going to the bathroom, but …nothing.

Around 5 am Monday morning, the pains were keeping me up. I woke up Ebad and told him this may be contractions and that I wasn’t sure myself. I downloaded a contraction tracking app (yeah - I didn’t even have one downloaded) and started timing them. They were exactly 1 min long and 7/8 mins apart. In the meantime, I got in the shower to see if it would ease the pain and to get ready for the hospital in case we had to go. To me, the pain was about 5/10. Painful, but bearable. I had Ebad call my doctor who told us to immediately go in since I was already pretty dilated at my appointment last week.

We called my in laws so that they could come stay with Zidaan and were on our way. I called my doula and told her I’d call and let her know what happens at the hospital and that this could totally be a false alarm (oh how wrong I was…).

Of course, it was storming in Houston and traffic was insane. The contractions during the car ride got more intense. Now I was at about a 7/10 pain wise.

We got to the hospital and the doctor checked me right away. To our surprise, she tells us that I’m EIGHT cm dilated and that this baby is coming in the next couple hours. To say we were shocked is an understatement. I thought they would tell me I was in early labor and tell me to head back home and come in tomorrow. Or they would tell me I was at a 5cm right now and admit me to let me slowly labor at the hospital. I did not expect to be told I was at my last stage of labor. I FREAKED out. I needed an epidural now. Pain now was at 8/10.

To get an epidural at the stage I was at during my labor required emergency rushed labs and an IV in quick to give fluids. If you know me personally, you know I’m terrified of needles. My entire pregnancy I had been dreading the IV and researching how to make that easy on myself. I chose to get it in my forearm instead of my wrist this time and you guys… a WORLD of a difference. I also requested the best IV inserter at the hospital do it (I was screaming this in pain).

After the IV, they rushed me into my room and started me on monitors. At this point, my pain was at a 10/10. I was screaming in pain, holding every nurse I possibly could, telling everyone I was going to die and begging for the epidural. All I kept hearing were the nurses talk amongst each other about how in the world I didn’t recognize contractions all day yesterday and come in dilated at freaking 8 cm. I was being referred to as “the lady who came in pretty calm at 8 cm” in the entire labor and delivery ward. The anesthesiologist finally walked in and gave me my epidural. During the insertion, I had a crazy contraction and THAT was the most painful part of my labor.

The next hour and a half was comfortable. My doula came in and was wonderful at making me feel at ease. The only little annoyance I had now was that for some reason my epidural wasn’t working on my left butt cheek so i was feeling every contraction in that specific spot. About 30 mins later, Aiyla started crowning on her own and the doctor barely made it to catch her. The nurses kept asking me not to push her little head until the doc was in … but my body just couldn’t hold it any longer. I let go and there she was!

We checked into the hospital around 8 and my little girl was out in less than two pushes at 11:38 am.

She was an angel. And perfect. And I was over the moon.

To any momma out there about to go through induction/labor/childbirth in general - I hope my story teaches you to not be scared. I am NOTORIOUSLY known as the person with the LOWEST pain tolerance in my family. I’m the girl that numbs my arm before a flu shot and has to look away. I had lidocaine cream in my purse that I was rigorously putting on my wrist cause I was terrified of the iv in the waiting room before the doctor called me in.

The first thing I said to my mom after I delivered Aiyla was that I never want to be made fun of again for having crappy pain tolerance! Ha.

Your body does wonders when growing a child and while giving birth. Go in confident and know not everything you plan/expect will go your way! No matter if you get induced, go into spontaneous labor or have a C-section, your journey will end with your baby. The pain may be tremendous, but once you set sight on the little angel you’re bringing into this world - it really is all worth it.

Thank you so much for reading! :)