Throughout my pregnancy, everything went smoothly—perhaps the most uneventful pregnancy ever, and I felt incredibly fortunate. Yet, looking back, this should have hinted that my delivery experience would be anything but ordinary, and indeed it was.
My labor began as a long but quite standard ordeal. My partner and I decided not to find out the gender of our baby before birth, which added an element of excitement. I was considered low-risk, and since there were no concerns, my 20-week anatomy scan turned out to be the only ultrasound of my pregnancy. During my 37-week appointment, my doctor noted that I was 70% effaced and 2 centimeters dilated, leading me to believe that labor was imminent. However, days passed without any change. Even at my 41-week appointment, I remained the same, prompting my doctor to recommend induction.
By that point, my hospital bag had been ready for two and a half months because I was convinced I would deliver early. Once at the hospital, I was quickly connected to an IV with Pitocin, kicking things into gear. When my doctor broke my water, I finally understood what everyone meant about the intensity of contractions. I opted for an epidural, and the relief was instantaneous—I felt like I could run a marathon! I spent the afternoon napping, chatting with my partner, and keeping family updated without a hint of discomfort.
Around 1 p.m., everything felt manageable, but by 7 p.m., I was given the green light to start pushing, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled. I was ready!
After about two hours of pushing, I was shocked when they placed my son, Finn, into my arms. He weighed nearly 12 pounds! “He’s perfect, just a lot more to love than we anticipated!” I said, beaming at my partner. It turns out that having a larger baby can be a challenge, but I was grateful that we had some resources to help us navigate this new journey together.
If you are considering starting a family, there are many options available, including at-home insemination. Companies like Make a Mom offer reusable options for those interested in this method. For more information on how this process works, check out how at-home insemination works. Additionally, if you’re dealing with conditions like endometriosis, it’s important to know that you can still conceive. You can read more about this in our post on conceiving with endometriosis.
For those who prefer assisted reproductive technologies, Healthline provides reliable information about in vitro fertilization (IVF), which is another avenue to explore. And for anyone looking for comprehensive resources on pregnancy and home insemination, our article on Modern Family Blog is an excellent read.
In conclusion, the experience of bringing Finn into the world was a whirlwind of emotions and surprises, but he is truly the joy of our lives—and I wouldn’t change a thing.