It’s time to share another birth story! If you had told me when I had my first that 12 years later I would be writing a birth story for my seventh baby, I would have laughed hysterically. I had no idea I would become a large family mom way back then, and now I wouldn’t trade it for the world. This is going to be a positive induction birth story. I know induction is scary and isn’t always the best decision, but I want to share with you that it doesn’t always end badly either!
Pregnant with 7th Baby
I found out I was pregnant with my seventh baby in March 2020, right at the same time that the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning. We weren’t planning to get pregnant again. My husband and I were using natural family planning and I was tracking my regular cycle with an app on my phone.
Finding out I was pregnant was quite the surprise, but I was relieved that my youngest baby would be three years old when the new baby was born. Having had my last three babies in three years was very difficult mentally and physically. I was thankful for the chance to breathe a little bit, and to go through the process of having another baby with older kids.
Morning sickness was terrible. I spent the first several weeks laid out on my couch all day. We ordered a lot of take out. I had no energy and everything made me nauseous. My husband worked from home for several weeks while we were in lockdown because of the pandemic. I hardly noticed because I was so sick, but also thankful he was home.
My pregnancy was relatively uneventful. I took a baby aspirin per my doctor’s orders to prevent high blood pressure and never dealt with it. Everything went beautifully except for my migraines. My doctor told me try magnesium and B-2 supplements. They worked!
At-Home Induction Techniques
I did all of the usual things I do in my third trimester to prepare for labor. I was concerned I would go into labor between 38 and 39 weeks. I drank red raspberry leaf tea, bounced on my exercise ball, and ate dates. None of these things actually put me into labor, but I do believe they helped my hospital induction go smoother.
Deciding to Induce Labor
My husband and I decided to induce labor with my doctor at 39 weeks 1 day. I had gone into labor naturally three times and been induced three times, all before my original due dates. Since we now live in a different state away from family, we wanted to make sure my in-laws could be at our house when I had the baby so my husband could be with me at the hospital.
Positive Induction Story
We arrived at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. on November 18, 2020. We were taken my room and I was started on pitocin. My doctor tried to break my water around 9, but not much water came out. I also requested an epidural during this time. It was a bit painful having it placed, but it took my pain away entirely.
My nurse was so attentive. She hardly left my side. My baby’s heart rate was monitored and any time it dipped she had me change positions. She ended up shutting the Pitocin off around 10 or so, and my body continued to labor on its own.
I was ready to push at 11:55. I pushed for 15 minutes and my sweet Adelaide Joan was born at 12:05 p.m. weighing 7 lbs. 3 oz. and 20 inches long. She was my smallest baby by far.
They put her on my chest and I got to kiss her while they wiped her off. She was absolutely beautiful and barely made a peep. She had a lot of fluid in her throat, but it cleared pretty quickly with skin to skin.
The hospital was amazing and Addie never left my side. We came home two days later and her siblings were beyond excited to meet her. My experience with my seventh birth was absolutely incredible and I’m so thankful to God it went so smoothly!
Krysten Traylor says
She is a beautiful baby!