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[11/25 (Tue) D+4 Past My Due Date — Sudden Natural Labor]
At 7 a.m., the morning after scheduling my induction, I woke up with a strange sensation. I went to the bathroom and noticed bleeding — definitely not the same as post-exam spotting. The contractions felt stronger and more distinct. I told my husband, who was getting ready for work, “I think the baby might come today,” and kept the contraction-timing app open to track the intervals.
Contractions began coming every 5–10 minutes. A notification popped up advising me to finish packing my hospital bag, take a quick shower if possible, have a light breakfast, and head to the hospital. After my husband left for work, I showered and ate a steamed bun and banana milk I had bought the night before.
Around 8:40 a.m., I called a taxi, but none were available. After four attempts, I finally got one around 9:10. On the way to the hospital, I felt the contractions growing stronger. Checking the app again, the intervals had shortened to under 5 minutes.
I arrived at the hospital a little after 9:40. After explaining my symptoms and waiting briefly, I was examined. My cervix was dilated about 1 cm. Since our home was quite far from the hospital, they recommended admitting me right away and starting the induction medication. I messaged my husband at about 10:00 to let him know what was going on.
After a quick explanation of the admission process, I headed to the delivery room. I changed out of my clothes and into the hospital gown. The prep steps — shaving, enema, and all the other awkward procedures — passed quickly. I expected to feel embarrassed, but between pain and nervousness, it all passed in a blur.
Around 10:30 a.m., they started an IV in my left arm with a solution to speed the labor process. At about the same time, my husband messaged me to let me know he was outside waiting to be let in, and he arrived a little later. He looked half worried, half excited — maybe even a bit giddy. I was nervous too, but seeing him made me feel calmer. We took a few photos and talked about what our baby might look like.
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| View from the delivery bed (1) |
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| View from the delivery bed (2) |
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| View from the delivery bed (3) (with induction meds) |
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| A “commemorative” photo with my husband in the delivery room |
By 11 a.m., the contractions were growing steadily stronger and more frequent. I couldn’t really process what my husband was saying anymore. I closed my eyes and focused only on breathing — in for 3 seconds, out for 6. Three deep breaths carried me through each contraction.
By noon, the pain intensified. I could still endure it silently, but barely. An exam showed I was 2–3 cm dilated. I remembered hearing that things really begin at 4 cm, and thought, “If it's already this bad, how much worse is it going to get?”
By 12:30, the pain had grown so much that small groans began escaping. I don’t think I’d groaned from pain like that since my early twenties — if ever. It was unbelievably painful.
A little after 1 p.m., I was checked again. I was at 4 cm. As a first-time mom, I had heard it could still take hours from this point… and that thought alone was dizzying. The pain was too intense to maintain steady breathing. They told me to relax my body through each contraction, but my body tensed on its own. My husband holding my hand helped so much, especially when I started shivering from pain and cold — his warm hand kept me grounded.
After 1 p.m., I was in so much pain I couldn’t even check the time. All I could do was endure one contraction after another, wishing each one would be the last. At some point, my groans turned into full cries — “Ahhhhh!” I think this was around 2:30 or 3 p.m. A nurse rushed in, checked me, and said I was at 9 cm. Then she said, “Don’t push anymore.” I wanted to cry — “I’m not pushing on purpose… it’s happening on its own…”
Soon after, preparations for delivery began. Two nurses moved swiftly in and out of the room, and shortly after, my doctor arrived. They positioned my legs for pushing. I was told to inhale deeply and then push downward in a long, controlled exhale — like directing strength toward my lower abdomen.
But the pain was overwhelming. I groaned, tensed my face, and struggled to control my breath. The staff kept telling me, “Relax your face,” “Don’t make noise,” “Push longer.” My mind said, “I know… but I can’t...” But I kept trying anyway.
After a few more pushes, they said the baby was almost out. With my whole body trembling, I gathered every last bit of strength and pushed with everything I had. Then — a sudden release. Something slipped out of me.
A moment later, a strong cry filled the room. My legs shook uncontrollably as the tension drained out of my body. I felt the doctor stitching my perineum — it stung a little, but I barely noticed. All I could think was how relieved I was to hear that powerful cry. Maybe I’m biased, but it felt louder than any other newborn I’d heard.
Once the stitching was done, I lay back down, and shortly after, the nurse placed my baby in my arms. Even though he had just been born, he was unbelievably beautiful. Tiny, warm, crying — perfect. A minute ago I felt like I was dying from pain; the moment he arrived, I felt awake and overflowing with energy. How could this small baby be ours? It was surreal and overwhelmingly joyful.
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| Holding my newborn baby for the first time |
Because newborns can’t regulate their temperature well, he was taken to the nursery to be dressed. My husband and I stayed in the delivery room processing the incredible experience we had just shared. We congratulated each other on becoming Mom and Dad. It felt so strange — and so wonderful. Unlike pregnancy, this was a whole new kind of feeling. Our family of three had finally begun.
After a while, our baby came back, swaddled snugly. Even though he had just been born, he stared at my husband with wide, curious eyes. His expressions changed as if everything was strange and new. How could someone so tiny already have such a face? His warm little body felt both fragile and strong in my arms. The nurse explained several things, but honestly, I don’t remember them well — all my attention was on him. Thankfully, she gave us printed instructions to read later.
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| Our very first photo as a family of three |
After our baby was taken back to the nursery, I realized I was starving. I had only eaten a steamed bun and a banana milk all morning. Thankfully, when I was moved to my room at 5 p.m., dinner was served right away — seaweed soup, rice, white kimchi, and other side dishes. I ate everything, and it all tasted amazing. Later, I also finished the pumpkin porridge they brought as a night snack, plus some of the bread my husband had bought ahead of time at a bakery he passed on his way to the hospital. I finally felt alive again.
At 7 p.m., we visited the nursery. Four babies were born that day. We were the only couple who came together; the others were all fathers waiting, since the mothers were recovering from C-sections. People often say natural birth is prepaid and C-section is postpaid — and it felt true. I had heard babies crying all day, but I was the only mother who had cried out loud during labor. Strangely, despite all that pain earlier, I felt perfectly fine now. The human body is amazing.
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| Meeting our baby in the nursery |
That night, the stitched area hurt and I had trouble sleeping. I thought I’d be fine without painkillers, but I overestimated myself. I ended up going down at 2 a.m. for an injection, and only then managed to fall asleep.
That’s the story of our first child's birth. November 25, 2025 — a day our family will never forget.
🍼 Parenting Journal | Baby Journal
This post is part of the “Parenting Journal” series,
documenting late pregnancy, birth preparation, and the emotional moments leading up to meeting our baby.
It continues into newborn days and beyond — a keepsake of our early family journey.
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