11/20/2025
Looking back today! ✨
The first picture is my last pregnancy selfie at 36+6 weeks. The second picture was shortly after the start of induction due to hypertension at 38+3, this was 10 years ago today. The night before I had started to have a back ache that felt different than the others, it reminded me of when my period was going to start. I made myself comfortable on my couch with my heating pad until I went to bed for the night, which I lived in heart burn city so that wasn’t pleasant. The next day I had my prenatal visit with my midwives which I knew they would be checking up on my blood pressure, blood work and protein in my urine levels again as it started to spike the visit before. The levels came back higher and they asked about checking my cervix to then talk about a possible induction. I was 3cm/80/-2 and after our conversation was okay with the induction. For me this was because I was happy that my body had already started the laboring process and my main goal was to remain calm for labor with the hopes and preparation of it being unmediated. The only issue I had was that since I agreed to the induction I had to sign agreement that I would go right to the hospital L&D triage where they would be waiting for me. I didn’t have my bags with me and I was planning to go for dinner after my appointment lol. I sat my annoyance aside and knew my partner would get the bags, food and join me at the hospital. Once I gave my other key people the update. My support showed up ten folds. I remember my mom was at work, she immediately went to her supervisor and said I’m leaving my daughter is in labor, get someone else to cover me and click 😆. My Godmother honestly was my doula support without her or I knowing it then. We literally had a birthing party from the room to the waiting area. I come from a big family so it wasn’t overwhelming to me as I know how it can be to others. I also trusted my care team and was apart of all the decision making throughout my labor until the first person to call me Mom, my mean mugging baby (peep the pictures) came into world the next day. 🥹🥰
The methods used in this induction was Pitocin, Rupture of Membranes and Fetal Scalp Electrode. During my transition phase I was really pushing involuntarily after we did position changes to get baby to turn from OP to OA and reached my threshold. I held on tight to my midwife as an epidural was placed. She said you know you’re probably sitting on your baby’s head right? I replied with, he will be fine and took the best nap of my life to this day. Then woke up feeling like I had to p**p and we began pushing. I never had fear, I was excited. Yes, labor was hard and it hurt. I told my midwife to cut him out of me more than once during my transition. Focusing on my breathing and knowing it would be over got me through it mentally along with the intentional preparation and knowledge seeking I did early on in my pregnancy.
Birth is transformative and etched in the memory to last forever for those able to experience it.
As I reminisce and share my positive birth story I can’t but help to feel the pit in my stomach for everyone whose story is negative, traumatizing, who didn’t get good care, who aren’t listened to, who feel afraid, who are alone and the list goes on. Anyone working in this field who doesn’t feel that way shouldn’t be in it. Period.
Alright, I’ve ranted for long enough now. See yall in who knows when with the way I post on social media.
