Positive Birth Story (Cytotec, born 40+6) FTM
TLDR: Even though it wasn't my exact birth plan and some things went wrong, I was flexible, able to trust the hospital staff, and still had a positive birth experience with a healthy baby. Be mentally prepared for all the possible paths, if you can, and roll with what comes.
My beautiful baby is finally here and I am so relieved at how her birth went. I was so ready for her to come and had 2 membrane sweeps that didn't quite do it (They were not painful as much as very uncomfortable btw - just a longer and intense cervical check). My birth plan was not to be induced and to wait and see if I needed the epidural, but I was flexible on all of it. I was scheduled to go in for induction at 40+5 but the hospital was busy and they didn't get me in until about 3:30pm. I was at 3 cm dilated and 50-60% effaced and they decided to give me cytotec to soften the cervix. I was not planning on this because my OB said I was more effaced last time I saw her and that I would not need this step, so I was a little thrown off and did not know much about this drug. The nurse was really nice, explained the drug and the process, and made it clear that it was my choice and I did not have to do it or could wait until my OB came and talk to them about it. But because it was already so late and cytotec is usually 3 doses, each 4 hours apart, I wanted to get things going and was reassured by what I had learned. 15 minutes after my first dose, my OB had just finished answering my question about when people need to have their water broken for them when my water broke while I was talking to her (yay for manifesting magic). Unfortunately, there was meconium in the water so I was glad we were getting things going. Even though I had not been feeling my contractions, now they were extremely painful and already only 2 minutes apart. I had learned breathing techniques and positions and things to help with contraction pain but because it was so intense and so sudden, I did not last long before I demanded to be checked again and requested the epidural (the nurses did not understand how quickly things were happening- I was 100% effaced and 5 cm). The anesthesiologist came really quickly and was amazing. He did it easily and quickly and, wow, that was the best relief I ever felt in my life. From there I was able to relax and let the contractions progress and was ready to push quickly. I did throw up a few times but apparently this helped with pushing her down and it honestly wasn't too bad. The nurse said that people who struggled with nausea in their first trimester or longer often throw up. It felt like I had the urge to poop and like she was hanging out of me by this point. The urge to poop is normal but it lasted longer for me because she was facing my spine instead of face up (the nurse called this). I only pushed for about 30 minutes and she was here! I had a couple of minor, vaginal tears, but nothing bad and the recovery is better than I expected so far. I used a mirror to see and really think it helped me focus and push better (and it was so cool!). Her cord was wrapped around her legs and torso and I believe also around her neck but it didn't seem to impact her and they unwrapped her quickly and turned her face up as she came out. She had to be suctioned before she cried because of the meconium and it was scary for a second with her not moving at first, but the NICU team in the room was efficient and they got her to me pretty quickly after she started crying. They had to clean her up due to the meconium (my plan was to let her skin soak in the vernix). I was still able to be the one to cut the cord (which was my plan) and that was amazing. The whole thing started around 5pm and she was born around 2am. I did raspberry leaf tea and ate dates daily starting around 36 weeks and I wonder if this helped me have a quicker labor. I am so relieved that the whole process was quick and thankful there were no bigger complications. The hospital staff were all great and I lucked out with an incredible L&D nurse on the night shift who I was able to chat and laugh with the whole time and she knew her stuff (like my uncontrollable shakes could be stopped temporarily by sticking my tongue out!). I am now home with a healthy, beautiful baby and we are figuring things out together, one day (and mostly sleepless night) at a time.
Even if things don't go as planned, stay positive and flexible and your baby will come the way that it wants to. Also, speak up for yourself and know it's okay to ask questions for each new step (which helped keep me calm). Good luck, fellow moms - you've got this!