Positive Induction Story Giving Birth Alone

This is my second baby and my second induction. My first induction took just under 24 hours 3.5 years ago.

I was originally supposed to be induced on Sunday at 40 weeks. I went in for my 39-week appointment and my blood pressure was higher than normal. Not pre-eclampsia high, but gestational hypertension high. I also mentioned to my doctor that my baby was moving less than she had been. I had noticed a change roughly two days ago that kind of worried me a bit.

I had already been getting NSTs twice a week after being sent to L&D for a late decel. They were always normal, but the last one she took a long time to be reactive and she seemed lazier than usual.

My doctor sent me to L&D to be evaluated and told me that I would most likely be having a baby today.

I headed to the hospital, was hooked up to monitors and my blood pressure was taken. Again higher than it should be. The doctor on call decided to keep me and induce me.

I waited in triage for a couple of hours for a labor and delivery room to open up. I was already 3cm dilated, so luckily didn’t need the balloon inserted or any Cytotec. We went straight to Pitocin. I was on that for about 2 hours and only dilated one more centimeter. The doctor checked me and advised to break my water now rather than wait. I decided I wanted the epidural before my water was broken because I waited with my first until after my water was broken and was in agony.

I got the epidural which made me freak out because the first dose is so strong and it really numbed me up. I forgot how weird it feels to be able to wiggle your feet, but not feel your vagina or pelvis at all.

Then they broke my water. My blood pressure dropped a lot from the epidural, so I needed to get some meds to increase it. The baby was doing fine, but I felt strange, so that’s why I asked for the meds. I hung out for an hour Zooming with my mom.

Then the nurse came in to adjust my legs on a peanut ball to open me up more. I asked her when they would recheck my cervix and she said in about four hours unless I felt pressure. The moment I was on my side with the peanut ball between my legs, I felt insane pressure. The doctor just happened to walk in and so the nurse told her to check me. I was fully dilated only an hour after my water broke. I went from 4cm to 10cm. With my first it took me around 8 hours to go from 4cm to 10cm after my water was broken.

I was in disbelief. We started pushing and my baby was born in five minutes, around 4 pushes. She wound up having a double nuchal cord and was purple, but after a minute turned pink. I know that nuchal cords are considered common and not serious, but double ones are more rare. Obviously I will never know if that caused any movement issues, but I’m still happy I delivered when I did.

I had to give birth alone because there was no one to watch our 3.5 year old and my partner had to. I feel exceptionally lucky that my birth was so quick, especially since I did it by myself. I also got to cut the cord myself, which was really cool. They told me I did a better job than the dads.

With my first I felt really lightheaded after pushing, this time I felt none of that, which was nice. I did have a 1st degree tear, with my first I had a 2nd degree tear. I am just as sore though as I was the first time interestingly.