Induction day was approaching and I was trying every single natural induction method to avoid it. I was induced with Ever and never wanted to go through that again.
But at last, my body and baby just weren’t ready in time.
11 days past my due date, I woke up at 3am to call the hospital to make sure they had a bed for me (like I was told to do) and noticed that the contractions I’d been feeling for the last few days were getting stronger and consistently 6 minutes apart. We got ready, had a good breakfast, cried giving Ever kisses, and headed to the hospital for our 4am scheduled induction.
Our nurse was incredible and so respectful of our wishes and my birth plan. There weren’t any other options besides pitocin, so I told her I’d like to start with the smallest amount of pitocin possible and since I was already having contractions, she took her time getting us checked in and set up and didn’t hook up the pitocin until 7am. Before that, our doula Amalia got there and contractions had gotten strong enough that I had to focus on my breathing through them, so we walked the halls in hopes things would naturally speed along.
I was 3cm when we started pitocin, and it was such a small amount that it didn’t seem to do much to the contractions I was already having, except make them a little irregular. My experience with pitocin with Ever was that it made my contractions hard and fast out of nowhere with little breaks between at like 1cm dilated.
At 8am my doctor came to break my water. Because I was 11 days past my due date I had hardly any fluid left, so this didn’t do much to make labor progress either. It seemed to be progressing gradually much like a natural labor would, which is what I wanted and the reason I was afraid of induction to begin with.
We continued walking and stopping for each contraction, I would lean on Jesse and focus on my breathing and letting my body relax. As the contractions got stronger I wanted to know how far I was so we had the nurse check and I was 5cm. This made me feel really discouraged, because I thought I was definitely further than that given the strength of my contractions. I told jesse I didn’t think I could do 5 more cm.
From there things progressed quickly (40 minutes) and it’s all kind of a blur. Looking back, it’s crazy to think what a woman’s body does during labor. It’s like she turns into an animal and instinct takes over.
We stayed in the room now as contractions were very strong. It hurt more to sit so I stood most of the time, and each contraction tried hard to relax my body and moaned through my breathing. In no time at all I felt like I had to push, which shocked me because I thought I was only 5cm still. The nurse checked again and I was 7. At this point it seems like I had a couple contractions per cm, and NOT pushing was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. At one point I remember I couldn’t sit because it was more painful, but the pain was so strong that I could stand up so Jesse and Amalia had to hold my entire weight 🙈
All of the sudden everyone was rushing to move me from the ball to the bed and the doctor was coming in and I was like “it’s time? Am I there?” It went so fast. I could finally push and I was so relieved.
One contraction, 2 pushes. Second contraction, 2 pushes and at 12:11pm there she was, our little Sola Glory. I cried. Jesse cried. We did it.
After the placenta was delivered, the blood wasn’t clotting. It got a little scary for a second as the doctor got really serious and told Jesse to hold onto baby so I didn’t drop her. I didn’t tear from delivery, but as he was trying to stop the bleeding, I tore on the inside a little bit.
Recovery has been much easier this time. Not sure if it’s because of the natural birth or because it’s the second baby, but I’m feeling pretty good.
My hips and pelvis were the most in pain this time (not my vagina) because it felt like they were out of alignment. My hormones haven’t been RAGING, though I do feel foggy brained and had a couple of emotional overwhelmed moments the first couple days. We’ve all been sleeping, which 100% helps. Lack of sleep makes postpartum so much harder.
Thinking about both of my births in comparison, they were so different yet similar. With Ever, from when they started induction to when I was 3cm took 18 hours. The pain was already so strong from the liti I went from 4-10cm in 30 minutes after I got the epidural, which I always attributed to the epidural. But since the same thing happened this time I think that my body just goes lightning speed after it hits 4 or 5cm. So good to know for future babies, if there are any.
Natural birth was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I could not have done it without Jesse and Amalia there supporting me. Seeing the way Jesse handled the whole thing, and feeling that support from him made me fall in love with him even more, and I told him during labor that I felt so close to him.
I wanted to see what my body could do, and it was definitely both an empowering and a humbling experience. Empowering because I did it, but humbling because it was so so hard. But I’d do it again. Especially if it’s only 4 hours 😜
We had Ever come in to meet Sola during the goldenhour. She was speechless at first, but so happy. The first thing she asked was to hold her. We told her she had to wait (because I needed to still do skin to skin) and when it came time for her to hold her, she didn’t want to anymore 🙈 we kept asking her all day and she finally said yes that night, if I helped her. It was the sweetest moment.
Sola Glory Suarez
april 22, 2019
12:11pm
7lbs 2oz & 20 inches
we are so in love with you, little one. Glory to God alone!