BLOG Post #13: Oh, the Birth Story! (With a Side of Spicy Chicken Sandwiches)
Ah, the anticipation of giving birth for the first time. If you're anything like me, you probably spent months gathering every birth story you could find, like a squirrel hoarding nuts for the winter. "Will my water break like in the movies?" "Will I be that woman who ends up giving birth in the bathroom at home because she didn’t feel a thing?" My mind was a wild tornado of possibilities, each scenario more dramatic than the last.
I was ready for anything: the Hollywood water break, the last-minute mad dash to the hospital, or maybe even a surprise home birth because why not? And of course, there was the birth plan—a lovely little list of all your preferences that you discuss with your care team, as if your baby is going to politely follow along. Spoiler alert: babies don’t care about your plans. They show up when and how they please, kind of like uninvited guests at a party.
So, here's one more story to add to your mental stash. Whether you're pregnant and want to use this as your “this one girl I knew, BLANK happened to her” story, or you're a new parent comparing war stories, buckle up.
My pregnancy was pretty average. No Hollywood-level morning sickness, but I felt like I had been hit by a truck for the first trimester. The second trimester was the classic "more energy, less nausea" situation, and the third? Spent sweating through the New York summer with an extra 60 pounds strapped to my body. Yeah, I gained more than the recommended amount—shocker. I worked out the whole time because it kept me sane, but honestly, I was more into soft serve than my husband during those 9/10 months.
The plan was to work up until my due date, then chill at home until my little guy decided to make his grand entrance. My due date was July 23, and my last day in the office was July 21. My boss and I celebrated with a luxurious lunch at La Pecora Bianca in NoMad. In case you love food as much as I do, I ordered their Garganelli with roasted wild mushrooms, arugula pesto, garlic and pecorino. Afterwards we had an afternoon gelato at Anita Gelato in the shadow of NYC's tall buildings. It was delicious, heavy, and exactly what I needed.
Feeling social, my husband and I made plans to meet our closest four guy friends at The Commodore in Williamsburg for spicy chicken sandwiches (beer for them, none for me). We piled into a booth at the dive bar, and about 30 minutes in, I felt something… different. Did I just start my period? Pee myself a little? Nope. I scooted out of the booth and rushed to the bathroom.
As soon as I pulled down my Lululemon biker shorts, it was like Niagara Falls—my water had broken. In public. At a dive bar. All over me. Surrounded by four of my closest GUY friends. I found myself in a graffiti filled bathroom, my clothing soaked in amniotic fluid with my husband in complete shock but laughing. It was showtime!
We told the crew it was baby time, and they sprang into action, offering everything from a ride to the hospital, stopping traffic and packing our spicy chicken sandwiches. After a quick call to my doctor to check in on what we were suppose to do, we opted to head home, tidy up, have a shower, pack our hospital bag (which we still hadn’t done), and savor those spicy sandwiches one last time as a duo. Our last meal just the two of us.
We were told to make our way to the hospital within 6 hours of my water breaking due to a risk of infection as time past so after our home hang, we hopped in the car and headed to NYU Langone. Driving to the hospital, I was waiting for those intense contractions. But nope, nothing. No cramping, no pain. We checked in, went through triage, and they checked my dilation (which, by the way, is as painful as everyone says - I nearly smacked the nurse right in her face). I was at 2.5 cm, with the option to wait it out for a couple hours or start Pitocin.
My birth plan did not include Pitocin but here I was, deviating already and making the most of my limited options. Pitocin it was, and let me tell you, it took me from zero to 100 real fucking fast. I labored without pain medication for as long as I could, but by 4:00 AM, I was exhausted and in serious pain. At this point, weighting my options: sleep or be a hero. We have a saying in my house, “you know what a hero is? A sandwich.” I decided on an epidural, which was a game-changer. For me, 10 out of 10 - highly recommend, would do it again. I took a 4-hour nap, woke up at 9 AM, and was 10 cm dilated—showtime!
Quick story break here to go over a couple of things:
Pitocin is a synthetic form of oxytocin, a hormone naturally produced by your body that causes the uterus to contract during labor. In medical settings, Pitocin is commonly used to induce or speed up labor if it's not progressing on its own. It's administered through an IV, and once it kicks in, it stimulates the uterus to start contracting more regularly and strongly. While Pitocin can be a helpful tool in getting labor moving, it can also make contractions more intense and painful, which might lead some people to opt for pain relief options like an epidural. It's one of those interventions that can be a real game-changer, but like everything in childbirth, it comes with its own set of considerations
When it comes to managing pain during labor, there's a whole menu of options to choose from, depending on your preferences, how your labor is progressing, and any specific circumstances. Here's a rundown of some common pain relief methods:
Epidural: This is the big one you’ve probably heard of. An epidural is a regional anesthesia that numbs you from the waist down, providing significant pain relief while allowing you to stay awake and aware during labor. It’s administered through a catheter in your lower back, and you can usually control the dosage with a button. The relief is almost immediate, but it can also come with side effects like a drop in blood pressure or limited mobility.
Nitrous Oxide: Also known as "laughing gas," this option is inhaled through a mask and takes the edge off pain without completely numbing you. It’s a quick and flexible option—you can use it as much or as little as you like, and it doesn’t interfere with other pain relief methods if you decide to switch later on.
IV Pain Medications: These are systemic medications administered through an IV to help take the edge off contractions. They don’t provide the same level of relief as an epidural and can make you feel a bit woozy or out of it, but they can be a good option if you’re not ready for an epidural or want something less invasive.
Local Anesthesia: If you’re having a vaginal delivery and your doctor needs to use tools like forceps or perform an episiotomy (a small cut to help deliver the baby), they might use local anesthesia to numb a specific area. This won’t relieve contraction pain, but it’ll help with the discomfort during those specific procedures.
Spinal Block: Similar to an epidural, a spinal block is a single injection of anesthesia into your lower back. It’s often used for quick pain relief, particularly in cases like a cesarean section. It works quickly but doesn’t last as long as an epidural.
Non-Medical Pain Relief: Techniques like breathing exercises, massage, water therapy (like a warm bath or shower), and changing positions can also be effective in managing pain. These methods are often used in combination with medical options or on their own for those aiming for an unmedicated birth.
Important Considerations: If your water has broken, some options might be off the table. For instance, using a balloon catheter to help dilate your cervix is usually avoided due to the increased risk of infection once the amniotic sac is ruptured. This method is typically used to mechanically open the cervix when labor needs to be induced, but once your water breaks, your medical team will likely steer clear of it. Each pain relief option comes with its own set of pros and cons, and what works best depends on your situation and preferences. .
Okay, Okay - back to the personal stuff:
It was showtime! I wrote in my journal one last time before I became someone’s Mom, turned on Sturgil Simpson Cutting Grass album, and waited for my doctor to finish delivering another baby before it was my turn. At around 10:15 AM, with my doctor coaching me through, I started pushing. She was the perfect match for me knowing exactly how to coach my breathing and body movement. I was told I had hypertension but most everything during this hour and a half I felt like I was listening with my ears underwater.
Hypertension during labor refers to high blood pressure that occurs while a person is in labor. It can be a serious condition and may indicate the presence of pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders like preeclampsia or gestational hypertension. During labor, high blood pressure can pose risks such as reduced blood flow to the placenta, which can affect the baby’s oxygen supply. It can also increase the chances of complications like placental abruption (where the placenta detaches from the uterus too soon) or even lead to a stroke in severe cases. If hypertension is detected during labor, the medical team will closely monitor both the mother and baby. Treatment may include medications to lower blood pressure, and in some cases, the labor may need to be expedited, either through induction or a cesarean section, to ensure the safety of both mother and child. I have another “fun” story on this but will save that for another time.
Luckily for me, everything was moving so quickly, my doctor just continued to monitor me and baby until we got to the finish line. By 11:55 AM, my sweet healthy boy made his grand entrance one day early. My husband cut the cord, they placed my baby on my bare chest and I delivered the placenta without issue (minus that one tennis ball sized blood clot). Everything from here on is a beautiful, emotional, life changing blur.
After the grand finale, we moved to our recovery room, where my fourth trimester began. It truly is the fourth trimester ladies! We spent 48 hours at the hospital, where the nurses—literal angels—helped us figure out how to be first time parents. Neither of us had ever changed a diaper before, so our learning curve was extremely steep. When it was time to leave, it was wild to think we were going home just the three of us.
The more birth stories I hear, the more I realize just how many wild and wonderful ways there are to bring a baby into the world. Compared to some, my story was pretty textbook, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful. I went in with a birth plan, did my homework, and had plenty of chats with my doctors. But I also knew enough to not cling too tightly to any one plan. I hoped for an unmedicated birth, but I was ready to call an audible if needed—and that’s exactly what I did, with zero regrets.
One of the first lessons in parenthood, it turns out, is learning to let go of control. Totally against my usual Type A tendencies, I had to let things play out as they would and just roll with it. I think that mindset was what made my labor experience so positive; I kept my cool enough during the whole process to actually consider doing it again without shuttering away in fear. It was easily the most intense and magical experience of my life. Sharing birth stories is important because pregnancy, labor, and the fourth trimester can feel like one big mystery. Even a “normal” story can give someone else a clearer picture of what to expect, helping them navigate the twists and turns with a bit more confidence and a lot less stress.
So, if you want to share your story—whether it’s wild, normal, or somewhere in between—email us at hello@freshdiapiesocialclub.com.
Stay fresh, have a laugh, and join the club!
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