At 40 weeks and 5 days, labor began exactly like my first birth with contractions beginning at midnight. With my first, I was able to go to sleep for about 5 hours, so after timing a few contractions and realizing this is probably real, I decided to get some rest. Unfortunately, I woke up after only an hour to strong contractions that I couldn’t sleep through. After trying to fall back asleep and realizing I couldn’t, I woke up my husband around 2 AM to let him know I was in labor. We decided to call my doula. I knew I was in active labor, but since I had only been laboring for 2 hours, I told my doula it was too early for her to come. I was so tired, and I was going to try again to get some rest. After about an hour and half, I was beginning to have to really work through each contraction. My husband began applying counter pressure on my hips, and I felt that I really needed him to get me through the contractions. I sent him downstairs to get me something to eat and had a few contractions alone, and knew I needed my doula with me. At about 4 AM, I called her and told her I needed her and she let me know she could get to my house at 5:45am. I then called Laura, the on-call midwife, to let her know I was in labor. When she heard me go through a contraction, she suggested I come in.

After being in labor for only 4 hours, it seemed too early for me to head to the birth center, but I did have a 35 minute drive. I decided Laura was right, and I told her I’d be heading there within the hour. In the half hour it took for my husband to pack up the car, my contractions really picked up intensity. My parents were staying with us and were awake at this point, and I vocalized through each wave while I hung onto my mom’s shoulders. We knew we couldn’t wait for my doula to get to me, so we phoned her to have her meet us at the birth center instead. My dad drove us to the birth center while my husband applied counter pressure on my hips. Thankfully, at 5 AM, there wasn’t too much traffic and we got there around 5:45. The ride was intense and my husband and my dad were concerned we weren’t going to make it!

We arrived to the birth center, and just walking into the building was difficult, as every few steps, I would have a contraction. I felt like I was losing control and was dreading each wave that hit me. I was in a terrible mood and wasn’t looking forward to having a cervical check. Laura was very understanding and made me feel like I was respected and heard. She checked me and I was 8 centimeters dilated! It felt so good to hear I was that far along that I started tearing up. Laura and nurse Emily started helping me decide where and how to labor. I labored leaning over the bed for a while while Emily applied counter pressure on my hips. I was in a lot of pain and had trouble gaining mental control so I decided to get in the tub, knowing it was a lot of relief in my previous birth.

When I got in the tub, I noticed immediate relief and finally got a chance to “relax.” Around that time, my doula walked in, and I was so happy to see her familiar face. She quickly got by my side and coached me along with Laura. Moments later, I began feeling the urge to push. I started pushing with my contractions, but I didn’t feel any progress and was starting to feel even more negative. Laura questioned if I was far enough dilated, stating that sometimes when you push and nothing is happening, there is a cervical lip in the way. Remembering that is exactly what happened at my first birth, I had Laura check me again and sure enough I was 9 centimeters with a cervical lip. We decided it was best to just have her push it out of the way during my next contraction. This was painful, but I was determined to get this baby out!! After that, I was at a 10 but with a bulging water bag and I was so exhausted, I agreed to have Laura break my water.