Natural birth hopes turn to excellent epidural

[Shandelion]

My Lucas was born perfect at 10:24 am today, 8.2 pounds, 21 inches, nursing quickly, a quiet and intent baby. I was in labor from 7 pm Sunday until birth today. Was at 4 cm dilated for...oh, at least 15 hours? Wanted a natural birth, in a pool. My hospital doesn't do pools. After feeling certain pain levels, I knew I didn't have the ability to take worse contractions, especially being stalled at 4 cm for so long. I calmly decided to do Nubain, then an epidural when that was fading. No regrets whatsoever, I think it saved my life and my son's. At the end of labor, the nurse convinced me to heighten my epidural...when I couldn't take the pain anymore, I finally agreed. My birth was painless, even though I had 99% of my control. Weirdest thing was that soon after arriving at the hospital I started having uncontrollable shakes except for when pain meds were freshest. Full body, tooth rattling unending shakes. Ah, and remember when my son stopped moving three weeks ago? Cord was tight around his neck. My first nurse called it, watching his heart rate. I was there through three shifts of doctors. My boy had an Apgar of 9 The staff was amazing, from anesthesiologists to midwives.

Could not have been a better birth, despite none of it turning out as I expected or wanted.

 

[AC1987]

congrats!!

both times in my labour I wanted to go natural but opted for an epidural no regrets here either

 

[Misscalais]

Doesn't matter if you go natural or have an epi as long as mum and bub are healthy at the end of it all that's all that matters
Congrats on your baby boy!

 

[Eline]

I agree, the only thing that matters is that you're both ok! Congratulations on your little boy Lucas. Thank you for sharing your story!