Very positive birth story
I am 41 + 2 today. I’ve been having a lot of prodromal labor for the last 6/7 weeks. I’ve just been so incredibly uncomfortable. I didn’t want a sweep, but I finally caved and got one today.
I got my sweep at noon today at the midwives. Immediately started feeling crampy. Contractions started at 12:50. I figured it was probably more prodromal labor, but they felt a lot more intense so I double checked with my midwives and asked if the sweep can work that quickly. They said yes and monitor for an hour or so. I couldn’t lay down, because I was so uncomfortable. I labored standing for a bit and then moved to the toilet. Around 3 I really wanted the tub, so I asked my midwives to come and they got to my house about 3:40. Labored on the toilet while it was filling, and got in about 4. The water definitely helped, but they were getting more intense. I really had to talk myself into relaxing through them and not tensing up. I felt my water break and after a bit I started pushing from the pressure. I pushed about 3 times, and my baby girl was out at 4:55pm, so about a 4 hour labor. She weighed 8lbs and 2 oz. I didn’t tear at all. My midwife said it “doesn’t even look like you had a baby”. I didn’t tear at my last homebirth either, so I assume the water helps with that.
Obviously it was uncomfortable, but that was pretty much a picture perfect birth for me. I don’t think I could think of a single thing I’d change. Baby girl latched well right away as well, which is completely different from my other two kids.
I’m super thankful 💕