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When did you realize you were really in labor?
14 days after my due date I woke up at 11pm to a painful contraction and some of my mucus plug coming out. I went back to sleep and woke up again at 1am with more painful contractions that were too uncomfortable to lie down, so I got out of bed. At 2:30am I woke my husband up to tell him I might be in labor, but that I didn’t need him yet, so he should go back to sleep. He was too excited to fall back asleep, so he got up and set up the birth tub and cleaned up the house. At 3:30am we shared a bowl of chocolate ice cream and were finally able to fall asleep from 4-6am. The contractions returned in the morning, but were not very regular or painful. At 4pm the next day (15 days post dates) the contractions became more painful again and I had to focus on breathing to get through them, so I think this was the actual onset of labor.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Not knowing how long labor would last and if I could continue to manage the contractions with being very tired and without interventions.
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5
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Read Ina May Gaskin's books, read natural birth stories such as birthwithoutfear and watch youtube videos of natural birth.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How quickly all the pain went away. It was instantly gone as soon as her head came out.
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I focused mentally on trusting in my body’s ability to give birth. I stopped timing the contractions and just tried to relax as much as possible. Through each contraction I focused on my breathing and on the words "loose and open".
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
My husband massaged my back and I focused mentally on trusting in my body’s ability to give birth. I stopped timing the contractions and just tried to relax as much as possible. I moved from the recliner, to the exercise ball, to the couch, to the toilet and to the shower. Every time I tried to lie down the contractions were much more intense. Eventually I got into the birth tub and that relieved pain very well also. Through each contraction I focused on my breathing and on the words "loose and open".
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Sitting/reclining in a birth pool
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Absolutely amazing!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Do your research on actual risks of interventions and read / watch everything you can about methods to manage pain then on the day of the birth just relax and try to listen to your body about what feels best and go with it.
