At around 8:15 p.m., as we got into bed, I almost joked, “My membranes released!”—but held back, thinking it would be a cruel tease. Not even 30 minutes later, I felt a small ‘pop’. I was excited and hopeful—was labor starting? Brennan, ever the realist, promptly fell asleep saying, “If this is really happening, I need to be rested!”

When I stood up expecting a gush of fluid, nothing happened. Disappointed, I went back to coloring.

Since I was approaching 42 weeks, I’d planned to try the midwives’ brew the next morning. So, as advised by my midwife, I took some medication around 9:00 p.m. to get a good night’s rest beforehand. About 20 minutes later, I felt light cramping—chalked it up to pizza—and decided to listen to the Rainbow Relaxation hypnobirthing track, something that had become a regular part of my prep.

Out of curiosity, I began timing the sensations. Every 5.5 to 6 minutes—consistent. Looking back, they were definitely surges. I stopped timing and tried to rest, but lying down was impossible.

At 11:40 p.m., I called Carol. We chatted, but I soon had to pause to breathe through a surge. She was supporting another birth about an hour away and began arranging backup. She suggested I get in the bath to relax.

By 11:55 p.m., I woke Brennan and asked him to start the bath. At 12:04 a.m., I got in, but within a minute, I was right back out. I couldn’t sit due to the pressure. I began timing again and surges were now just a minute apart. The denial lifted. I texted Carol and told her I needed her. I moved downstairs and leaned over the ottoman, letting my body do what it needed to do. 

At 12:31 a.m., we called my midwife, Krista, who confirmed I was in active labor.