Marleigh’s Birth Story

I can't believe we've finally welcomed our baby girl, Marleigh Jade Grant. She made her grand entrance into the world on May 17, 2019 at 6:06pm weighing 7lbs 13 oz. I know am biased, but she is the perfect babe!

Birth Story

I'm going to try to keep this short but my labor + delivery was a little bit traumatic of a process. I feel like writing about it and talking to my friends about it helps me 'get over it' - don't they say we all get amnesia? :) ha!

I was induced on a Thursday at 5:00pm via Cervadil gel. I went into the hospital only 1cm dilated so this was supposed to help 'soften' me up, not neccessarily dilate me. The gel would bring on strong contractions (I wasn't prepared for!). I was still in so much pain even with just a normal pain medication IV drip so they decided to give me an epidural at midnight on Thursday so I could actually sleep before they broke my water in the morning.

The next day, Friday, they broke my water at 6:00am (still have my epidural going strong!) but I could still feel every time I dilated. There were a few stretches I was relaxed enough to sleep but then 8cm came around....

The nurse said at 4:00pm, you're at 10cm dilated you're ready to push I am going to get the doctor! My feet are up, I'm ready to go (at this point I can feel my legs and every pain). Doctor comes in and says, oh no you're actually still at an 8! I was so defeated! She let me start pushing an hour later but I don't think I was necessarily at 10cm.

After 1.5 hours of pushing, I wasn't having any success. AND I was feeling everything! I told the doctor, I shouldn't be feeling this much pain like you said. They checked my epidural IV and guys....IT WAS BROKEN! The port that was connected to my IV in my back had come off and was no longer puting the medicine in my body. I said several choice words. In short, I had been going the past few hours with NO epidural (au natural pushing)! I almost fell off the table, everyone's face was so sad for me!

The doctor was able to give me a 30 minute booster epidural (as in it was going to wear off quick so this baby needed to come now or I'd feel it all again). After 1 more hour of pushing, the doctor used the vacuum to speed things up. 4 pushes later, and we welcomed baby at 6:06pm!

She held her up, put her facing me so I could see if it was a boy or girl - everyone yelled 'IT'S A GIRL!' it was the most beautiful, euphoric feeling in the world. I couldn't believe it was a) a girl and b) finally over!

Tyler went out to the waiting room a few hours later to tell everyone the news of what the gender was - see video.

All of that being said, I have so much respect and love for moms who bring babies into the world - God gives you this strength you literally don't know you have. Sure, there's some things I would do differently if I could control the labor process - but you really can't! I am just so happy she is perfect and healthy.

Dedicating this post to my awesome labor team: my husband, Tyler, my mom, Christine, and my mom-in-law, Angie. I wanted to give up so many times but you guys kept me going!

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