A birth story....

Contractions started on May 19 around 10 pm, but at that moment I didn't know I was in labor; I just felt weird and had something like menstrual cramps.

I told DH what I was feeling and then I called my Mexican OB (It was late in France and the French one doesn’t have an “emergency number”, in cases like this you need to go straight to the ER) and he said “Ok, you can pack your things and go to the Hospital; you’re going to meet your baby! Congratulations!” We were so excited!!!

When we arrived to “L’Etoile”, the midwife put me 2 sensors, the first one monitored the contractions and the second one the baby’s heartbeat (everything was ok!), and she checked my cervical progress, I was only 3 centimeters dilated so we had to wait… We did some Facebook and Twitter (in order to let our friends and family knew we were at the Hospital)…

Two hours later my contractions were getting worse but I still was 3 centimeters dilated, we slept at the hospital and my OB checked me in the morning. I couldn’t believe it but nothing had changed except for the increasing pain!! They told me I needed to walk and to do some exercises in order to help dilatation but it was all for nothing so they sent us back home.

At home I took a bath, changed my clothes, ate a little of something (I can’t remember!), and went to my bed. I stayed there less than an hour because the contractions were very intense, very long lasting and closer between each other so we went to L’Etoile again.

I was admitted to Hospital because of the painful contractions but -believe it or not- I was STILL 3 CENTIMETERS DILATED!! Around 5 pm, the midwife gave me some pain medicine, I slept a little bit but when I woke up I was and again in pain!! My contractions escalated, the midwife checked my cervical progress and I was 6 centimeters dilated! Some good news huh?!

At 11 pm (May 20) I was at the “birth room” and finally get the epidural!! We started the “real labor” but I wasn’t pushing enough (I was really tired) so my OB (who – Thank God- was in guard that night) showed up and helped me (this was great and its uncommon here). N was born 2 hours and 8 minutes after (1:08 am, on May 21st), I felt her being born and it's been the best experience of my life!!!

And this is our story! It was a long birth – 27 hours total -, it was really painful but was worth it!! When I saw N for the first time and held her in my arms I realized the love I have for her is more than I could ever imagine!!