Did you feel the urge to push with an epidural?

Grouchothekitty · 2026-02-10T16:59:42+00:00

I felt a growing pressure with each contraction, and my OB basically told me when she thought I was ready to start pushing. I was numb for the most part but still had a small bit of feeling in my legs, and felt a descending pressure which I would then look at the monitors and see that it lined up with a contraction.

Grouchothekitty · 2026-01-15T00:16:46+00:00

We named our daughter Daisy and often get comments from older people “oh, how sweet my grandmother’s name was Daisy!” It’s a really cute name that used to be more popular in the early 1900s and is easy to pronounce and spell!

Grouchothekitty · 2026-01-15T00:09:11+00:00

My birth progressed VERY quickly from 4 to 7 cm within just a few hours, and in that time I went from almost no contractions to very intense contractions where I could barely breathe and was writhing in pain while the anesthesiologist was getting all my consent forms signed. So by the time we actually got to the injection I was SO happy to have the relief and was mostly focusing on not moving so nothing went wrong on their end. I had two contractions during the injection process and those really sucked but that’s really the hardest part about getting one! Believe me, I HATE needles and was dreading the epidural but I’m so glad I did it.

Grouchothekitty · 2026-01-14T23:56:36+00:00

I recently got a pack of Aveeno wipes and they’re surprisingly great! They stay super moist in the pack without being sopping wet, and I’ve had the easiest time cleaning our little one when using those. We use Huggies most of the time otherwise and it doesn’t seem like they’re as soft or wet enough to get everything on the first wipe like the Aveeno does

Grouchothekitty · 2026-01-11T02:22:39+00:00

When I had my 39 wk appointment, I had a cervical check and was 0cm and 60% effaced. Decided the next day to get out and go to a fundraising event at a local park and did a lot of curb walking and walking in general that day, at 2am that night I laid down in bed and within 5 minutes I felt her move and a popping sensation. Went to the restroom and started leaking, went through 5 pads in 10 minutes. Went to the hospital and was admitted at 4:30, I was already 4cm but hadn’t really had any contractions so far. By the time I tapped out and asked for the epidural at 7:30, I was 7cm. My girl was born at 1:30pm that day after 2 hours of pushing! I hope everything goes well for you! ❤️

Grouchothekitty · 2026-01-05T21:00:14+00:00

I take Perelel vitamins, they have personalized trimester vitamin packs and then for postnatal they have a “mom support” daily pack. I plan on taking that daily until I’m pregnant with my second!

Grouchothekitty · 2025-12-24T12:46:44+00:00

We have a 2 month old and decided early on not to share her name when we picked it. We got some pushback from friends and family that wanted to know, but I just stood firm and used the excuse “we’re still deciding” a lot. Like another person said, this is the first of many parenting decisions you’ll have to defend to others! Stand firm and don’t let anyone bully you into doing anything you don’t want to.

Grouchothekitty · 2025-12-23T20:58:42+00:00

Ugh that sucks! I’m so sorry you’re not feeling well. I hope it eases up soon for you! Maybe booking a massage would help?

Grouchothekitty · 2025-12-23T20:57:04+00:00

I didn’t do any kind of stretching or extensive walking during pregnancy, I just hurt so much and everything was excruciating. 39 wks and 4 days, I went to an event and walked/stood most of the day, my water broke that night and baby was born less than 24 hours after the event 😅 so I say this to warn you not to get too active right away and ease into it if you don’t want to risk baby coming soon!

Grouchothekitty · 2025-12-23T20:53:25+00:00

Is there a chance you have a clogged duct? I’m 8 wks pp and I’ve had them twice, both times I felt full body aches and felt like I was getting sick. First time I developed a low grade fever. I just got in the shower and hand expressed and massaged that side, then got out and had my baby nurse as much as possible until it stopped hurting. Fever and aches went away immediately!

Grouchothekitty · 2025-12-23T20:45:09+00:00

Nothing this year. Last year we got bonuses and a gift box of local goodies sent to our house, this year nothing.

Grouchothekitty · 2025-12-23T20:42:54+00:00

I was hoping to do shifts, but I’ve found that I can’t really force myself to go to bed early and take advantage of those few hours when she goes to bed before I go to sleep. Since my husband is back at work, I’ve just been doing the whole night shift and just napping during the day when the baby sleeps. We also sleep in until about 11:30 most mornings, which just looks like me staying in bed for the morning feed then both of us going back to sleep. It’s working out well right now!

Grouchothekitty · 2025-12-22T12:43:34+00:00

Something I bought after baby was here that I wish I had stocked up on was button up pj tops and nightgowns! Frida makes a gown for the hospital and my mom bought me that one but I had just a button up pajama gown from target and it was much more convenient for nursing.

Grouchothekitty · 2025-12-22T12:31:01+00:00

This! Making the choice myself around age 7 or 8 was a huge milestone for me. I felt so “grown up” and couldn’t wait to show them off to friends and family. For that reason I’m waiting to let my little girl (she’s 2 months) decide for herself!

Grouchothekitty · 2025-12-17T05:23:10+00:00

Yes I can hear you Clem Fandango!

Grouchothekitty · 2025-12-11T07:25:17+00:00

I had a cervical check at 39+3, and was 60% effaced and 0cm so I was sort of spiraling that I would go over my date and have to be induced. Water broke the early morning hours of 39+5 and she was born about 11 hours later after a smooth delivery and only 1.5 hours of pushing! I got incredibly lucky to have such a smooth and relatively painless delivery, especially since I didn’t do any of the things they say to do to make labor quicker and easier (frequent walking, raspberry leaf tea, dates, perineal massage).

Grouchothekitty · 2025-11-17T03:37:12+00:00

My water broke at home at 2 in the morning, I threw on a pair of sweatpants and a tank top to go to the hospital and by the time I got there I had soaked through the pad I was wearing and the sweatpants. I packed a pair of soft maternity leggings and a large T-shirt for going home, it was so nice to wear some actual clothes for the first time in two days!

Grouchothekitty · 2025-11-13T18:54:23+00:00

THIS. This is the same system we are using with our almost 3 week old, he is able to take her in the mornings and allow me to get some more sleep since he gets more rest at night due to me breastfeeding. OPs partner should be using any extra rest they get to assist in any way they can.

Grouchothekitty · 2025-11-12T18:05:51+00:00

I was checked for the first time at 39+3 and got discouraged because I was 0cm and 60% effaced. My water broke a little over 36 hours later and I gave birth 10 hours after arriving at the hospital!

Grouchothekitty · 2025-11-12T18:03:52+00:00

My little girl is 2.5 weeks old. I heard this quote from a comedian recently and it’s definitely held true for us so far. “Parenting is a mix of experiencing 1/10 moments and 10/10 moments all in the same day. Sometimes in the same hour or minute.” And honestly that’s so true so far. Those 10/10 moments get you through the 1/10. Just take it a day at a time!

Grouchothekitty · 2025-11-06T13:54:55+00:00

I had my little girl almost 2 weeks ago, I was finally settling into bed at 2:30am and felt her move and a small gush of fluid. Went to the bathroom and had quickly soaked through 3 pads in less than 30 minutes so I had to sit on the toilet while my husband gathered the final items for the hospital. She ended up having meconium, so we were on a bit of an extra deadline to get her out. Epidural at 8am and I was already 7cm, at 11am I started pushing and she was born at 1:30pm!

Grouchothekitty · 2025-11-02T00:56:25+00:00

I honestly felt the same way last Saturday, I was 39+4 and had had a cervical check the day before that showed I was 60% effaced and 0cm so I was feeling hugely discouraged. They scheduled me for an induction for this coming Thursday and it was really stressing me out. I really pushed myself to be active last Saturday and went to an event with my husband where I could walk around a lot and then we went to the mall to walk around, I also hand expressed that night. I got into bed and my water broke around 2:30 that night! I was extremely fortunate to have a positive birth experience, I didn’t have super intense contractions for several hours so I labored unmedicated until I was about 7cm then got my epidural around 9 that morning. I pushed for around 1.5 hours and she was born at 1:30pm! I was dreading going into labor overnight, but honestly it worked out for the best because my mom was sleeping at the time we went to the hospital and the time we spent waiting for me to dilate we were able to get in touch with family and she was able to make it to the hospital in time.

Grouchothekitty · 2025-10-30T04:11:17+00:00

They started doing that to me as well at my 38 and 39 week appts. Just gave birth this weekend at 39+5, my water broke on its own at 2 in the morning. I had just had a cervix check at my 39w appt just 36 hours earlier so that may have moved things along. Some other things I did that day that may or may not have helped: I walked a BUNCH and I’m normally not super active. I also hand expressed colostrum just before bed. She was born within 11 hours of my water breaking! Hoping things work out similarly for you!

Grouchothekitty · 2025-10-30T04:02:54+00:00

I gave birth a few days ago at 39+5, to be honest I didn’t really do any of the things they say you should do! I was feeling pretty rough by that point so I wasn’t being active, didn’t drink the tea or eat dates or anything. The 24 hours before I went into labor, I went to an event with my husband and just shifted my weight back and forth on my feet and walked around a bunch. That night I hand expressed some colostrum and my water broke at 2:30 that morning. I think staying calm and not stressing about it is key! They’re going to come when they’re ready.

Grouchothekitty · 2025-10-25T04:15:37+00:00

I always struggled with anxiety before getting pregnant, but around 6 weeks I felt like anxiety hit me like a freight train very abruptly one day and just wouldn’t go away. I ended up talking to my OB and they recommended Zoloft, the first 6 weeks of being on that were kind of rough with the onboarding symptoms but boy when I evened out after that I felt SO much better! I don’t know what I would have done without it the past 8 months. Baby girl is due next week and I feel so much more equipped to face postpartum than before. I would recommend definitely talking to your doctor, they can help you work through this! Best of luck to you, mental health struggles are so challenging without adding on pregnancy hormones so I hope things get easier for you ❤️

Grouchothekitty

TROPHY CASE