I thought I'd let you all know, we welcomed our precious princess, Rebekah Eve, July 5th! 7lbs 11oz. I had TONS of false labor (contractions 2-3min apart for hrs on end at least once everyday starting at 34wks). We (my midwife and I) decided to induce 3days after my dues date as I was having a serious skin reaction to the hormone change that leads to labor and we were afraid it could get infected and harm our daughter.
I went in the morning of the 5th having my usual contractions every 4mins and, after being hooked up to the moniter, we realized they were peaking as high as active labor contractions (which I already knew that as I had been having them for 6wks straight!) so my midwife decided to start with just breaking my water (9:15am) to keep things as natural as possible.
By 9:45am labor was fully established. I spent the first hr leaning on the windowsill to keep my brain occupied inbetween contractions. After an hr I asked to use the ball as I was having a hard time standing. I spent the rest of my labor there.
After about 30min on the ball I started getting hot (a sure sign that I'm in transition) and asked my husband to cool my back off (it's our 3rd so he knew what to do!). As he was laying the cold wash cloth on my back he asked me if I was in transition. The ccbe part of my brain thought "why of course! Do you really need to ask?!" But the logical part of my brain thought "No way! I've only been in labor for an hr and a half." I have never experienced a labor so intense! I was having contractions that were triple and quadruple peaking. After another 20mins I heard myself say "I just can't do this anymore." (hint #3 that I was almost done) and we asked to see our midwife since if I was only 5cm or so I would take a little pain relief (even though I really didn't want it, there was no way I could keep at that intensity for 2-4more hrs)
Well, I had to get to the bed for the midwife to check me. That 1 1/2ft was the longest walk I've ever taken! The second I stood up I realized our princess was coming! The ball had taken all the pressure away so I had no idea I was that close. I panted my way to the bed and as the midwife walked in at 11:42am my husband caught our daughter as he was the only one nearby. I didn't push once. Actually, I was panting trying to slow the process down as I felt it was going too fast.
Through it all though, I remember early on repeating the verse "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." and then replying with "Jesus, give me strength." I truly believe that is the only reason I made it through this labor as it was so much faster than I ever dreamed it would go. I am also very grateful we decided to induce since if I had gone into labor on my own, by the time I would have realized I was in labor, to call my husband home from work (he works 35mins away) and gotten a sitter for our older 2, I would've never made it to the hospital before I had her. The Lord was looking out for us!
