Hard Labor pt. 1

It was the morning of April 22, 2020. I remember it as if it was just yesterday. The sun hadn’t even kissed the sky and before a chill could sweep the town I tossed and turned in bed searching for the perfect position. It was a night like any other. I was hot, heavy, and huge. After moments of playing tetrus with my body and the bed sheets I finally settled into a comfortable nook allowing me to fall into somewhat of a sleep. And all of a sudden there is was. The trickling of liquid down my right thigh. Am I dreaming? I jumped up in a hurry and ran for the bathroom but nothing. There was no urine to follow this leaking sensation. I got back into bed hoping my body would fall back into its place and sure enough it did. But there it was again. After many failed attempts at naturally inducing my labor and going in to false labor just a few days prior , I refused to believe that this was actually happening. I walked to my mothers room and let her know what I was feeling. "Did my water break?" I asked. Sleepily she responded "Im not sure Daphnee" how about you call the doctor. Reluctantly I found the number and asked for the physician on call. I explained to him my symptoms and he told me to come in.

After getting into the car and making our way to the hospital my mom asked "Did you bring a bag?". "No , I won’t need one. They’re just Going to monitor me for a few hours and send me on my merry way." I said. "Then should we really even be going" she replied. It was at this moment we decided that we rather be safe than sorry. For some reason this 45 minute drive to the hospital felt like forever. Not because I was in pain but because I knew I had a long night ahead of me. We arrived to the hospital and a midst the Covid-19 precautions , I hugged my mother goodbye at the front doors and told her I would see her soon since she would not be allowed into the building with me. They checked my temperature and had me answer a quick questionaire before sending me up to the triage. I knew the drill. Fill out the paperwork, recite my symptoms and check the vitals. Leave a urine sample and hop on the monitor for contractions and the fetal heartbeat. She checked my amniotic sac and informed me that my water had not yet broken. That was all I needed to know. I texted my mother and told her I’d be headed out shortly. Carter‘s heartbeat was a little slow and the doctor gave me apple juice for a quick dose of sugar in hopes of waking him up a little. She also ordered an ultrasound just to make sure everything was okay in there. He had this issue before so I was SURE that I was going to be discharged in no time. Click, click, click. She was quiet. Hardly spoke a word but they always are. It was approximately 4 in the morning and nobody in their right minds wanted to have a conversation at this time. Suddenly came the contractions. They weren’t anything I hadn’t felt before so as soon as she left the room I got dressed and called my mother. “I’m coming out now" I said. Or so I thought.

Patiently waiting,

Labor pain Daph.