When I entered the delivery room, I faced an unexpected change in my plans, forcing me to navigate feelings of disappointment intertwined with relief.
Growing up, my mother had nine children, with eight of her births being unmedicated. Inspired by her experiences, I envisioned my own unmedicated birth in May 2021. I had heard that staying at home during early labor could help me avoid pain medications, so I did just that. By 7 a.m. on Saturday, my husband and I arrived at the hospital, where the nurses informed me that I was already 7 centimeters dilated. A wave of surprise and relief washed over me—I couldn’t believe how far along I was!
I felt a grin creep across my face and let out a nervous chuckle. Everything seemed to align with my birth plan, but as the saying goes, “make plans and God laughs.” Once I settled into the labor and delivery room, my hopes for an unmedicated experience began to fade. Hours later, when the option of an epidural was presented, I felt cornered into saying yes.
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In summary, while I had envisioned a natural birth experience based on my mother’s journey, the realities of labor led me to make a choice I never anticipated.