We welcomed our sweet baby boy, Henry, July of 2024! I thought I’d share my labor & delivery story with you & for me to have to look back on.

Friday July 12th was a typical day. I was still working (remotely) at this point & planned to do so until I went to labor. I was due on 7/17. I had no signs of labor at all and I was certain I would go past my due date being that this was my first baby.

After working all day, Grayson and I met up with some friends for dinner. We went to a restaurant called Shore here in Austin. As we were on our way to dinner, I reminded Grayson that we ate at Shore right before I was hospitalized last time (for MS) & said how funny it would be if I went into labor and was admitted again after eating there. Again, I had NO signs of labor at this point.

Toward the end of dinner (around 9pm), I started to feel what I thought might be early contractions. I didn’t say anything to anyone because I knew we were about to head home anyway. We had just paid & everyone was finishing their drinks.

As we headed home, I started timing the contractions. My doctor told me to go in when they were 1 min long, 5 min apart. Well, they already were. When we got home, I used the restroom and noticed a little blood. At that point, I figured it was best to go in. I called ahead & the charge nurse advised I labor at home until I can no longer talk thru the contractions. 20 minutes later…. I could no longer talk thru them!

At 11pm, we arrived at the hospital. The nurse checked me and I was only 1.5cm dilated. I was told that I could not be admitted unless I was actively progressing and they’d check me again in an hour. An hour later, I was still 1.5cm. The doctor the nurse spoke with advised that they send me home (even though I was in a ton of pain & my contractions were close together). I told the nurse I would not be going home and would labor in the waiting room if they discharged me 😅. After she spoke again with the doctor, they agreed to check me again in 2 more hours. At 4am, they checked me and I had progressed to a 3! They finally admitted me and ordered the epidural. I do not know how women labor naturally… that pain was the worst!!

At 6am I was 4cm & I finally received the epidural. Around 9am, the doctor broke my water and I was almost 6cm dilated. At noon, I was still at 6cm and not making any progress, so they started me on a small dose of Pitocin. At 2pm, I had finally progressed to 7cm. & then things stopped…

I was 100% effaced and 7cm dilated for several hours. The nurses had me try every position possible to help progress labor, and they increased my Pitocin. After almost 7 hours of no progress, the doctor asked if I wanted to move forward with a C-section. I was hesitant (so was Grayson). She told me we could wait 2 more hours, but if no progress was made by that point, they would have to move forward with the surgery. After talking it over with Grayson, we decided to just go ahead and proceed with the C-section.

At 9:18pm, Henry Wayne Hogue arrived at 8lbs 5oz and 21 inches long!