Angie's Birth Story

I am Angie, I’m 21 and this is my birth story.

I found out in January 2020 that I was expecting. We were able to do a blood test and found out in February that I was having a baby girl! I was terrified of going into labor. I truly didn’t know what to expect. My doctor told me I had three more weeks before I’d probably go into labor, but I knew I wouldn’t make it the additional three weeks. I really knew I wouldn’t-so much so that I worked the night before my water broke.

I woke up at 9 am the next day feeling like I had peed myself. I thought when your water broke, it was a gush of water, but little did I know that my water had actually broken. I kept thinking to myself, “I’m not ready, I’m not ready”. I paced around the hours, saying over and over that I wasn’t going to the hospital. Finally, my mom talked me into going and at least getting checked. My child’s father drove me to the hospital and the lady at the front desk checked me in. She looked at me and said, “Oh yeah-you’re in labor.”

I wasn’t in any pain at all, so they decided to give me Pitocin to speed everything up. I still wasn’t feeling any pain, but at 3 centimeters dilated I was finally feeling something. I decided I wanted to get the epidural before I started feeling anything more intense, so they gave it to me. I was so scared to get the epidural, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought.

I was seriously just chilling out in the bed for the next three hours, totally relaxed. At the end of the three hours, it was time to push.

Due to the COVID-19 virus, I was only allowed one person in the room with me, so my child’s father was there while I pushed. Surprisingly, pushing was a breeze. I did tear, which in my opinion, was the worst part. The stitching was painful too.

When she was born, she didn’t cry for an entire hour-she made no sounds, no crying, anything. It was super scary and I kept asking if she was alright but she was 100% perfect and healthy, just a quiet baby. After I gave birth, my “support system” only stayed for about an hour. I stayed an additional two days in the hospital by myself with a brand new baby. It was pretty messed up, but I had my baby girl.

Overall, labor and delivery for me wasn’t at all what I thought it’d be. I truly was lucky and blessed with an easy delivery. Layla Rose was born perfect and healthy on August 28 and I have never loved anyone more.