The Strength of a Mother | Meet Amanda & Juniper

I didn't know my last day of pregnancy was my last day. I was approaching my due date with no signs at all. I was very pregnant, very uncomfortable, and very ready to be done. I had already gone to the hospital twice that week. Once because I thought my water broke (it didn't) and once because my blood pressure was high at home but completely normal at the hospital. Both times we left feeling embarrassed, discouraged, and very aware of how expensive hospital visits were. So on what turned out to be my final day of pregnancy, I tried to take matters into my own hands. I curb walked, did workouts, bounced, stretched, moved. All the things the internet tells you will get you into labor, and nothing. No contractions, no signs. 

By that night, I was so frustrated and defeated, so I decided to soothe myself with an ice cream bar. Now I am very lactose intolerant. Dairy and I do not get along, but at almost 40 weeks with no dilation and 0% effaced, I didn't care. I just wanted comfort. 

Not long after my stomach started hurting. At first I thought, typical lactose intolerance discomfort, but the pain kept getting worse and worse. So much that I was bent over in our closet in pain. It was late and my husband was asleep. I didn't want to wake him up for a third false alarm, but the pain was so strong. I finally woke him up and told him we had to go to the hospital. We both thought we might be sent home again but we didn't, I was in labor. 

My contractions weren't consistent so they decided to induce me at 5am Monday morning. I labored all day then around 7pm, my water broke on its own which felt like a small win since I had doubted my body's ability for so long. After that, I got the epidural and finally was able to rest though the nurses came in every hour to rotate me to progress labor.

At 11am the next morning, I woke up with a ton of pressure. The room was empty which scared me because I knew deep down that my baby would be arriving soon. I called my husband and the nurse. When the nurse checked me I was 9.5cm. She said "okay, time to prep the room for delivery" and my husband and I shared a look like "oh my gosh. It's happening" 9 months of waiting to hear those words and finally it was time. I pushed for 30 min and at 12:30pm my daughter was born.

The same body I doubted for so long had carried her and brought a perfect little baby girl into the world.