“It started like any other doctor’s appointment and I ended up with my baby girl in my arms.” From the surprise, scary contractions at Dunkin’s inducing labor pains at Costco, read this beautiful birth story- raw, real and unforgettable!
It all started on December 27th during my routine weekly doctor’s appointment. My husband and family accompanied me, and during the check-up, I was told I was already 3 centimeters dilated. On the way from the doctor’s office to the parking garage, I suddenly felt my first real contractions. They were intense—I could barely make it to the car.
Despite the contractions, we decided to run a few errands. First, we stopped at Dunkin’ Donuts to satisfy my coffee craving, but they were out of decaf. From there, we headed to the Indian store to stock up on essentials before making another stop at Starbucks, where I finally got my coffee. By then, my contractions had slowed, giving me a brief moment of relief. Our next stop was Costco. As soon as we arrived, my contractions started again, stronger and closer together. I found myself making frequent trips to the restroom, and after my third visit, the pain became unbearable. I called my husband, urging him to check out quickly—I was in tears.
At that moment, we weren’t sure whether to head straight to the hospital or go home first. I didn’t have my hospital bag with me, and I wanted to freshen up before going in. Summoning all my strength, I decided to go home. By the time we arrived, I was in no condition to eat. I quickly changed, grabbed my hospital bag, and we rushed to the hospital, arriving at 8:30 PM.
After an initial examination, I was told I was 4.5 centimeters dilated and needed to be observed for two hours before they could officially admit me. Since my contractions were intensifying in a steady rhythm, I was admitted by 10:30 PM.I held off on the epidural for as long as I could, but by 2 AM, the pain became unbearable. I finally gave in and got the epidural. Relief washed over me, and I was able to sleep through the night.
The next morning, around 9 AM, the nurses woke me up to break my water. As the epidural started wearing off, I could feel each contraction deep in my bones. The pain was unlike anything I had ever experienced, but I knew I was getting closer to meeting my baby.
By 11:15 AM, my cervix was fully dilated—it was time to push. With my husband by my side, encouraging me through every push, I gave it everything I had. After an hour of pushing, the most incredible moment of my life arrived—my baby girl was finally in my arms.
In that instant, all the pain, exhaustion, and struggle faded away. The moment I held her, my heart was full. She was perfect, and my journey into motherhood had officially begun.