On December 27th, 2022, I went for my last OB appointment – a bittersweet moment – and began the process of my labor story…
I was 39 weeks and 3 days pregnant and I was just ready to meet our baby! We decided early on that we did NOT want to know the gender of our baby (yes, no one in the medical staff told us either), and it was the best surprise. I highly recommend it. During my last OB appointment, I had a midwife that I adored from the beginning of our conversation. After talking with her and considering how healthy the baby and I were, I opted for a membrane sweep; it was for personal reasons as I wanted to help induce labor before using medicine, etc. The midwife was awesome though, she was pretty gentle and walked me through the entire process. It definitely wasn’t the most pleasant thing I’ve ever felt, but the membrane sweep was painless to be honest. Before leaving the room, the midwife joked about being at the hospital on Saturday (my actual due date).
Now, I know that having my membranes swept does not guarantee that labor will begin, but it definitely helped get the ball rolling. I lost my mucus plug later that night. Those couple of days after the sweep, I was very uncomfortable and contracting here and there. However, my contractions were not close enough for me to rush to the hospital. My favorite activity I did that week to help me prepare for labor was a three-mile walk. Walking helped alleviate back pain and prepared me mentally. At this point, I had been having contractions for the whole week, and the baby was sitting pretty low. Holy pressure and the “lightning crotch” pain!
On Thursday evening, my husband and I took a walk with our dog. I could barely walk due to contractions, so we decided to go to triage for a check-up. Unfortunately, I was only 3-3.5 cm dilated, and the hospital refused to admit me unless I was contracting regularly every 2 minutes or dilated up to 4cm. We returned home, and I went to bed.
The next morning, I went to work, but I felt uncomfortable and could not sit properly due to how low the baby was and all the pressure. I had a hard time moving around and felt like I could sense the baby’s head every time I sat down. During lunch, I suddenly felt a little gush but wasn’t sure if my water had broken. I completed my shift but later that day, I went back home and told my husband what happened. I didn’t think much of it because I was not “contracting regularly” and it wasn’t a BIG gush – like in the movies.
Saturday morning Matt and I went to the gym to try and walk this baby out. I did another 3 mile walk and I had another gush. I told Matt and I ended up calling my OB office, they advised me to go to the hospital immediately.
On Saturday late morning, which was also New Year’s Eve and my actual due date, we arrived at triage in a state of shock and tears. I was trying to call and tell my mom, “I have a feeling they are not going to let me go home today.” In the midst of tears, nerves and excitement, I was trying to get everything situated as I walked across the parking lot to labor and delivery.
I walked into labor and delivery, checked in, and they took me back to a triage room. I changed into a hospital gown and waited for the nurse to come in.
About five minutes of being in triage, I had an amazing resident who checked the fluid, and sure enough, the test strip turned blue. She told me that the “gush” I felt was more likely my water breaking. The resident informed me that we were being admitted, and I felt many different emotions. We walked to our room, which would be our home for the next 12 hours or so, and got comfortable.
The labor and delivery unit was huge, clean, and spacious. It was a Saturday afternoon, and I had Karen, the midwife from Tuesday’s appointment. I was ecstatic to see her! Her calming demeanor and gentle approach were precisely what I wanted for the delivery of my baby. The nurse put my IV in and hooked up a bag of fluid. Since I was contracting, we decided to start Pitocin to regulate my contractions.
At that time, my mom came to the hospital and stayed in the delivery room. I felt so bad because she and my dad had New Year’s Eve plans, but she wanted to be at the hospital to support Matt and me. It was about 3:30 in the afternoon, and every 30 to 45 minutes, my mom and Matt walked the halls with me. Walking the halls really helped pass the time. I would bounce on the medicine ball and just began to relax.
At 8:00 pm, I started to feel exhausted, and my body grew tired. I remember feeling worn down, and my contractions were pretty regular and intense. As the pressure grew within me, I became unsure of whether I would like to receive an epidural. Due to my prolonged ruptured membranes that had lasted almost 24 hours, I was at high risk of infection. Hence, I didn’t get checked very often according to the hospital protocol.
At 9:00 pm, after my last walk, I finally turned to the midwife, informing her that I might need an epidural.
At 10:50 pm, I decided to get my epidural, and after receiving an entire bag of fluids via IV, the anesthesiologist quickly came in to give me the epidural. I panicked for a moment, but my midwife, nurse, and Matt quickly calmed me down. The epidural was painless.
At midnight, I was quite overwhelmed, anxious, and exhausted. However, I was relieved that my contractions were regular and my baby’s heart rate was steady and strong. The midwife checked my dilation again and broke the rest of my water. I was 8 cm dilated, and the delivery staff came in, getting me ready for delivery.
At around 2:00 am, she came back and told me, “I am 10cm and 100% effaced and can start bearing down.” Before I knew it, it was time to push. I had the mirror down and kept hearing my midwife and nurse say, “there is so much hair.” After about 1.5 hours of pushing and no progress, my midwife suggested that the baby’s head position and my pelvic bone were not aligned correctly. She had been telling me throughout my labor process that the baby was sunny side up (facing up towards the sky rather than down at the floor).
We tried different positions from side to side, and finally, my midwife asked my permission to have a doctor evaluate. The doctor and his resident came and assessed the way I pushed and discussed a plan. He suggested using forceps to help position the baby’s head in my canal better. I was mentally drained. My midwife explained to me and then suddenly mentioned that my fluid was a darker stain. This meant that the baby had a bowel movement called Meconium (which can be common). They had to call a code pink. Code pink is when several NICU nurses, doctors, and other labor and delivery nurses come to the delivery room and evaluate the baby post-birth. The doctor told me to push and placed the forceps on the baby’s head to turn it more.
The room went from four medical staff members to about 12, according to Matt and my mom. I was freaking out! I was crying and was so scared. Thankfully, my mom was in the corner of my delivery room, repeating positive affirmations and telling me to breathe and push, “YOU GOT THIS.“
I remember looking at Matt and hearing the nurses telling me to push AND push hard.
Six big, breathtaking pushes later, Memphis Alexander Parnell was born at 4:40 in the morning on January 1st, 2023.
Hearing my baby cry for the first time was a moment I will never forget. I instantly burst into tears and Matt did too. The doctor let Matt announce the gender of our baby to the whole room. ‘IT’S A BOY!’
The next hour is a blur, and I’m so glad we have pictures. I remember just staring at Memphis, watching Matt gaze at him, and hearing my mom crying tears of joy in the corner. It was the most amazing moment of my life!
The NIUC nurses evaluated Memphis, wiped him off quickly, and then placed him on my chest for skin-to-skin contact.
Matt went over with the nurses and got pictures of Memphis’s weight and measurements: 7 pounds, 9 oz, and 20 inches long. They also told us he was the third baby born and the first boy born of the New Year.
Giving birth was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but by far the most rewarding.
This little boy brings us so much happiness, and I can’t imagine life without him. January 1st, 2023, was the best day of my life.
Now let me tell the story in pictures for y’all.
