Even though this was my third baby, as I approached my 38th week of pregnancy I started that “over it” phase where you just don’t want to be pregnant anymore and are DYING to meet your sweet baby. So, around that time I started to do a few things to try to speed up the process. I walked, I did squats, I bounced on an exercise ball, I walked some more, I drank red raspberry leaf tea, I ate eggplant parmesan, I walked some more, I ate spicy foods, I did yoga, and I walked some more. I would have a few contractions here and there, but nothing consistent and I was getting pretty tired of the waiting. With my other two pregnancies, I had my babies 4 and 5 days before their due date, so when I hit 40 weeks and was still pregnant, I was shocked and a little discouraged. Even my doctor was surprised I was still pregnant. We went in for a check-up the day of my due date and I was still dilated a 2 and still 20%-30% effaced which is what I had been for weeks. My doctor then encouraged me to set up an induction for the following week, so we did. I left that appointment so sad. I desperately wanted to go into labor without being medically induced and the thought of being pregnant one more week seemed like an eternity.
We left my doctor’s appointment, Zach went to work, I went to the grocery store and picked up a few groceries and some castor oil. I still wasn’t sure if I was even going to take it. I took castor oil with my last pregnancy and it worked, so I was fairly certain if I did it with this pregnancy it was going to work again and we’d have a baby that day. So I went home and immediately went into full nesting mode. Mom and I cleaned the whole house and got everything ready in case I had the baby that day and all the family ended up coming into town to stay with us. During that time, I think around 11am, I decided to take one tablespoon of castor oil mixed with about 4 oz of orange juice. I shook it up in a mason jar and drank in through a straw (so my lips wouldn’t be greasy). It really didn’t taste bad. I continued cleaning and organizing and packing my hospital bag. Nothing was happening. I went for a walk, I tried napping, but couldn’t. Then around 2pm I took another tablespoon of castor oil and about an hour later I started having contractions.
I continued to have contractions through the afternoon but they weren’t too intense or very regular, but I was fairly certain this was it! We ate dinner, then told our family we were going to go to the hospital to get checked and if they kept me then the family could go ahead and come on into town. On the way to the hospital my contractions started to really hurt and get intense. I then text the family and told them they better go ahead and come. When we got to the hospital they checked me and I was still just dilated a 2-3 but I was 40% effaced so I’d definitely made progress since my doctor’s appointment that morning. Even though I was having contractions, the nurse said they wouldn’t be keeping me since I had taken castor oil and it appeared on the monitor my contractions were slowing down. The nurse said because I had taken the castor oil, it probably made my bowels contract and that was making my uterus contract but that I probably wasn’t in labor. I was livid! This was my third pregnancy, I know my body, AND this is exactly how everything went down last go round. I KNEW I was in labor and could not believe she was sending me home. I was so afraid I would end up having the baby at home or worse: in the car! My last baby cane within 4 hours of my first contention and within an hour of getting to the hospital, so I didn’t want a repeat of that crazy experience. I told the nurse we would be seeing her later and I could tell she didn’t believe me. When we left triage, I told Zach that I wasn’t leaving that hospital no matter what the nurse said. I did a few laps around the waiting room and my contractions had completely stopped at that point, so my mom encouraged me to head back home, have a bath, and relax awhile. I was hesitant, but agreed.
I went home, took a bath and laid in the bed with Zach holding me sobbing for about 2 hours because I was so sad my contractions had stopped and felt so bad I had made all our family drive so far for nothing. I was convinced the baby wasn’t coming that night, but around about midnight my contractions started back up again and were stronger and closer together. I labored in the chair in my room with Zach asleep in the bed and my sister by my side holding my hand for an hour or so and then I decided it was time to go back to the hospital.
When we arrived at the hospital, we realized that same nurse was going to be our nurse for the evening (I was thrilled). She checked me and I was at a 4 and 80% effaced. I was then taken to a room and we got settled and ready to have a baby. They set up my worship music which was so nice to have and really helped me mentally during labor. I was so excited and so extremely nervous at the same time. I was terrified of having a natural birth I think mainly because my last experience having a natural birth was so traumatic. Even though I knew I was prepared mentally and physically for it this time, it was still very scary!
I labored on a birthing ball with my arms resting on the bed for the majority of the labor except when I had to get on the bed for checks. It was so much more comfortable being on the birthing ball than laying on the bed and I was so thankful they let me do that. Zach, my mom, and my sister were all so amazing and so sweet to me the whole time. They helped massage me, put cold compresses on my head, hold my hand, and cheer me on! They were my rocks and I don’t think I could have gone through it all without them. We also got blessed with an amazing nurse named Emily who was a total Godsend. She was so compassionate, helpful, and just really knew how to help me labor naturally. I was so surprised at myself when she told me it was “now or never” if I wanted an epidural and I said nothing. I really thought I would end up getting one when it came down to it. But I just tried to ignore the pain, and take it one contraction at a time. I also kept reminding myself that I was so close and if I got that epidural that would most likely mean it would take longer for me to meet my baby. Two things really helped me deal with the pain: the thought of the boys walking in and meeting their baby sister, and picturing my contraction as a mountain I was climbing and once I got over the top, the pain would ease up. I remember looking at Zach after I had passed on the epidural and saying “I’m doing it!” I felt so strong, so capable, so proud of myself.
Just when I got to the point where I didn’t think I could take much more, I told the nurse I felt like it was time and so she checked me and I was fully dilated and ready to go. I pushed only a few minutes and our sweet baby girl arrived! She was beautiful and perfect and worth every single ounce of pain I experienced! As soon as she was born they placed her on my chest and I got to hold her for a long time. I just kept saying with tears rolling down my face, “my baby my baby my baby!” I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room. It was a precious, amazing moment that I’ll treasure the rest of my life! I’ve wanted a little girl since I was old enough to hold a baby doll and to be sitting there holding my own real, live baby doll was just so surreal! I feel like with each child I have my heart grows a little more in size. The love for my kids multiplies, the love for my husband multiplies, and my love for God multiplies! It’s truly the most incredible honor to be a mother and I feel so blessed to have three amazing, beautiful babies!
Watch us tell our birth story
here.
XOXO,
Anna
