My little April baby has finally arrived 🥰

Little baby girl Lily felt too comfortable, so I was induced (only waters broken, nothing else was necessary) at 41 weeks. Everything else followed very rapidly and 7h later she was here, on the early morning of 26 of April. It was not the easiest of births, but it was what it was and gave me my baby. Giving birth is something else and everyone who gets to go through it - you are the strongest and most powerful person on earth. Period. As a first time mom, who was also just a couple of days ago anxious before the set induction due date, and reading feverishly others comments and experiences, who already had had their babies, here is my experience and answers i'd give to myself now (yes, everybody's experience is still different): - Waters breaking (even when broken) - you WILL know. Liquid is constantly dripping out (gushing or slowly). It's not discharge or anything mucousy, it's liquid. - Contractions - you WILL know. It's pain, so much pain. It's not just tightness of stomach, it's actual pain, and it only gets stronger and stronger as dilation increases. Use the pain relief available that you like, it really does make a difference. - Dates, pineapple, raspberry leaf tea, walking/hiking, exercises etc. - it's just a 'fun' pass time activity. I tried it all, nothing worked in terms of 'natural' induction. So don't worry too much and do or don't do what feels right for you. They will help with you feeling in control, though, as in 'doing something to try to get things started'. - Giving birth is hard, painful, but you can do this and the only way is through - you just have to go through it and in the end there's the most rewarding award. I blasted Birthbox's labour and delivery track throughout the process, which helped me anchor myself in and keep on going during the hardest of times. - If you choose to breastfeed - it's also a hard journey, at least in the beginning. If you're struggling, there is help available (lactation consultants: https://lcgb.org/find-an-ibclc-map/#!directory/map/ord=rnd/zip=NW11%207JH/rad=005), don't push it alone, and don't listen to the 'breastfeeding comes/should come naturally' - it doesn't, it's a learned skill and sometimes requires only a few technical tweaks for it to feel comfortable and doable. And it can still be hard. That's okay. - Trust yourself and your instincts in everything that comes to your baby. The instincts are there, just believe in yourself, you have all of the answers or the possibility to get them from trustworthy sources. - You've got this. You really do. Good luck to everyone still waiting for their babies ♥️