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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I had been having contractions for days, but they kept fading. I had woken up around 2:30am with painful contractions, but was able to go back to sleep. By 4am they had gotten more intense, so I knew it was the real thing. They were getting closer together and more regular, so we called our midwife.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Not being able to predict what will help you manage the pain during contractions. I had planned on moving around a lot more, but when a contraction started I had to be very still and breathe through it. I didn't want to move at all.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Prenatal yoga. It helped me tune into my body and know what I was feeling, and I felt very connected to my baby.
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What surprised you about your birth?
It was quick! This was my second child, and I think I pushed 4 times to birth her.
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I was leaning back onto my husband on the hospital bed, and when I had to push he helped hold me up a little. It was amazing!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Breathing. Also, I had an excellent doula who applied pressure and helped me position myself so that the pain was less intense. I highly recommend a doula.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Squatting! It was a thousand times better than lying down. I was leaning back onto my husband on the hospital bed, and when I had to push he helped hold me up a little. It was amazing!
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was really powerful. I nursed her right away and she latched on. It was such a beautiful experience.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Take the Bradley classes. Hire a doula if you can. Make sure you feel comfortable with your doctor or midwife, and go over the kind of birth you would like to have way before your due date. I have had two empowering natural births and I would not do it any other way! Trust your body, you can do it!
