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When did you realize you were really in labor?
It didn't hit me that I was truly in labor until the midwife insisted on checking me. (Because everyone was thrown off by my calm, chatty behavior) and I was 7 centimeters.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
My baby kept flipping and it was very unsettling and hard to stay mentally sound. He flipped out of the pelvis and into a frank breech position at 40w4d. I felt it and it was confirmed by an ultrasound. I didn't give birth until 41w4d so my team had to work hard to reassure me I could still birth how I intended.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
What didn't I do? I had a great Chiro who worked with me while my baby continued to flip and an amazing acupuncturist. I also did an EFT tapping session to rid myself of lingering fears, and also a hypnobirthing fear release to flip a breech baby at 41 weeks. It was during the fear release that I felt my baby's head drop Back in the pelvis.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I never confirmed with ultrasound that my baby had flipped back at 41 weeks and was hesitant to believe he actually flipped during my fear release like I felt, so my midwives helped me to focus on trusting him to come out whichever way he chose. As I was pushing they told me it was a head. I was in such disbelief I looked at my hypnobirthing instructor and exclaimed "you did it!" He ended up being 8 lb 6 oz with a 2 foot cord. It still remains a mystery how he flipped so much!
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Surround yourself with a village of support. Eat healthy and exercise. But most importantly trust in the process and know that every birth story is different, and that's what makes them so beautiful.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
With hypnobirthing I didn't feel any pain until the pushing phase when pressure became powerful. I also utilized counterpressure quite a bit.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was on my knees in the birth tub. I flipped over for the final push to allow the shoulders through.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Such a relief! We had been through so much in that third trimester, and to have affirmation that we could do it, it was incredible. Best day of my life.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Surround yourself with a village of support. Don't listen to negative stories. Educate yourself with a supportive birth class. Eat healthy and exercise. But most importantly trust in the process and know that every birth story is different, and that's what makes them so beautiful.
