Mama Mosaic

My birth journey wasn’t overly complicated, but it came with its own set of unexpected turns. My baby had been measuring big, but my OB estimated he’d be around 8 pounds—nothing too alarming. Since he wasn’t in a rush to arrive on his own, we scheduled my induction the day after his due date so I could be with my OB, someone I trusted fully.

As soon as I shared my decision, I was met with plenty of opinions. Some warned me that induction would make labor unbearably painful. Others cautioned me about potential risks. It seemed like everywhere I turned, there was an unsolicited perspective on my choice. But at the end of the day, I knew I had to do what felt right for me and my baby.

Why I Chose Induction

This was my first pregnancy, and my body showed absolutely no signs of getting things going on its own. Even leading up to my due date, there were no promising contractions or signs of labor naturally beginning. And while my baby had been estimated at 8 pounds, he was actually larger than we expected (9 pounds 10 ounces and 21.75 inches long).

On top of that, being a first-time and older mom came with its own anxieties. Having control over the timing of delivery helped ease some of that. I also lived far enough from the hospital that the unpredictability of spontaneous labor made me uneasy—I didn’t want to be caught in a long drive while in active labor, especially if I wanted an epidural. Induction gave me the peace of mind of knowing when and how things would unfold, at least to some degree.

What I Didn’t Know About Getting Induced

Induction isn’t just a one-size-fits-all method, and I quickly learned there’s more than one way to get things started. Often, people associate induction with Pitocin, but that’s not always utilized.

In my case, I received three doses of misoprostol, and from there, my body took over. I had mild contractions through the night, but it wasn’t until about 12 hours after my first dose that the contractions ramped up enough for me to need an epidural. I wouldn’t have anticipated how gradual, yet effective, this approach was for me.

Why I Got an Epidural—And Why I’d Do It Again

My son was born 14 hours after I received my epidural—26 hours after my first dose of misoprostol. That alone was a long journey, but what followed made me even more grateful for my decision.

I ended up pushing for four hours—longer than the average for first-time moms, which is typically between one and three hours. My son also had a larger-than-expected head, and my pelvic bone sat in a way that made things more complicated.

The epidural gave me the ability to rest when I needed to. I actually napped for about three hours after it was administered—something I know would’ve been impossible without pain relief. It also allowed me to work on repositioning my baby without exhaustion taking over. I slept on my side with one leg up, helping him shift into a better position for birth. Had I been struggling through intense pain, I doubt I could have focused as much on doing what was needed for a smoother delivery.

A few things I wish I had known beforehand:

• Eat before the epidural! Once it’s administered, you’re limited to clear liquids.
• The catheter really isn’t that bad. In fact, having one meant I had one less thing to worry about.

Not Everything Goes According to Plan

Throughout my pregnancy, people constantly asked me about my birth plan. And as someone who prides herself on being a Type A planner, you might assume I had a detailed strategy. But the truth is—I didn’t.

I accepted early on that this was the one thing I truly couldn’t control. I set simple, realistic goals: I wanted to avoid a C-section if possible, have a healthy baby, and stay healthy myself.

And while those goals were met, the process wasn’t without surprises. In the final moments of labor, my son needed extra help to make his entrance—we had to use suction assistance. That was, without a doubt, the most painful part of the experience. The epidural doesn’t help with that.

I also had some internal bleeding post-delivery. Fortunately, my OB was incredibly attentive and didn’t rush off to the next patient, even though there was practically a line of mothers ready to deliver after me.

If there’s one piece of advice I’d offer, it’s this: keep your birth plan simple and realistic. Nothing ever goes exactly as expected, and having an open mind can make all the difference.

But the Result Is Amazing

No matter what your birth looks like—epidural, no epidural, C-section, vaginal delivery—there’s nothing quite like the arrival of your little one.

Stay in the moment. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Yes, it’s all cheesy advice, but it’s absolutely true.

This will likely be one of the hardest things you ever go through, physically and emotionally. But at the end of it, the love you feel will make it all worth it. So, give yourself grace—you deserve it.