Unexpected Epidural-less Birth

Wed 9/10/25

Rea Y.

6lbs 11oz, 19 in

11:40am

     What a wild wild day. Waited a tad bit too long to go to the hospital and I missed my window of epidural!!! I came to L & D at 10:50am and then she was born 11:40am. I WAS SCREAMING like they do on TV! It was wild!!!!!!!! I feel like my soul has left my body. 

     I waited until the contractions were about 5-10 minutes apart. Went to McDonald’s on the way because I thought they would starve me once I got to L & D. In McDonald’s line the contractions were getting SO intense. Once I got to L & D, it was already starting to be really strong and in triage room my water broke while doing intake. Nurse Jennifer checked me and said I’m already 8cm dilated and she would have to wheel me to delivery room and I’m not allowed to walk. By the time I was in delivery room, I was fully dilated and the urge to push was so strong. Dr. C was like 13 minutes away but Dr. G was already in the hospital in NICU so he ended up delivering the baby.

     It was the most physically painful experience I have ever felt in my life. Not getting the epidural was not in my plan. Also, because we were just pushing and had no time, I ended up getting a 2nd degree tear (whereas Junie is was 1st degree). 2nd degree is not so bad, but I just worry that Dr. G didn’t sew me up well. I just don’t know him.

     Because I felt everything during delivery, I could feel that something got pushed out of my butthole and I thought I may have pooped. Unfortunately, I had pushed out multiple hemorrhoids. It is so annoying and uncomfortable… 

     But the good thing about not getting the epidural was that she came out so much faster than Junie (although, Junie came out withi
n just 45 minutes of pushing and 4.5 hours into labor). I guess now I get to say that I’ve really done natural delivery (but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone).