Today we welcomed our little girl Elise Brielle. After much stress and worry about a due date deadline she finally came at 40 wks 6 days. Here is our story.
I was a mess stressing OUT about a c-section deadline at 41 weeks. My EDD was January 31st. I had already made up my mind that a c-section wasn't gonna happen before my appointment last Wednesday. When the appointment rolled around my OB said he would "allow" me to go to 41 weeks 2 days and then instead of automatic c section we would induce with a low dose of pictocin. I actually was going to cancel this appointment and reschedule later if it came to that. Anyway my doctor did a membrane sweep during this appointment and I was 50% effaced, 1 cm dialated, and baby was at -2 station so there was not a whole lot going on. Thursday came and went, no baby. Friday came and I lost my mucus plug and had a few contractions but they stopped and no baby. Saturday came and I went on a long walk, again no baby. I was getting discouraged.
At 1:30 am Sunday morning I woke up to use the restroom and when I lay back down my water quietly broke. Contractions started around 2am, not bad but regular. I called the doula at 2:30am and she came around 3am. At this point the contractions had become uncomfortable but manageable. We decided to go to the hospital at 3:30am (which is literally across the street) because the contractions were coming really close together. When we got there I was between 5-6cm dialated. My OB came shortly after and I was making my way to 7 and my cervix was very thin. I discovered that I am a VERY vocal laborer. I moaned a very high pitched sound through most of my contractions, it made the pain manageable and I thought I can do this...until I got to 8cm When I got to 8cm it was more guttural and if it wasn't for my doula and the great hospital staff I would have caved for the epidural but they thankfully talked me out of it. At this point it was about 5 am. At 5:30am I was fully dialated and ready to push. It felt so good to push. I did not even notice a ring of fire or tearing but I did tear, third degree. She was placed on my tummy right after delivery. My bottom is sore but we are both doing well. I am very fortunate because labor lasted about four hours. If she had not shot out so fast I probably could have avoided tearing.
I am so proud of myself and feel so accomplished. It is a world of difference from my c-section birth. I can't believe that I have a daughter and I brought her into the world exactly like I wanted 
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