Wow! Looks like this was the week for babies to start a-comin'! After having regular BH for an hour and a half Tuesday night, I crawled into bed thinking they'd stop like they had in the past. I felt fine otherwise so didn't think anything of it. Woke up a few hours later at 11:30 with cramps but nothing I'd still call labor. But baby had other plans and by 2:30am, we were at the hospital, I was dilated to a 4cm, and my contractions were so strong I was begging for IV meds. The IV meds worked and I was so happy because my contractions at 4cm were as bad as transition cramps were with my other kids and the cramps had been moving down my upper thighs. Think of the worst leg cramp/spasm you've ever had and multiply that feeling by 20. That's what it felt like. The IV meds worked but I was quickly disappointed to find out the effects wore off within 20 minutes and I was back in agony again. After 2 doses of IV meds and only progressing 1cm in just over an hour, I got an epidural. That worked amazingly well. I was disappointed that I couldn't get my natural birth but I've always said I aim for natural but know my limits so if I need meds, there's nothing wrong with that either. And the epi helped TONS. It was put in at 5am. I had been at the hospital for 2.5 hours, was in excruitating pain, and had only progressed 1.5cm. The epi was inserted, I relaxed through my contractions, and things picked up quick. At 7am, the dr broke my water, they prepped the room, and after one push, my little girl arrived at 7:48am. Def keeping the epidural as an option for future deliveries. We're home now and just enjoying this time. She was 6lb 9oz, 19 inches long, and very alert for a newborn. Even the dr was surprised. SO in love with my little Rita.
