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When did you realize you were really in labor?
Late at night after a day at the zoo with our 5 other children. I took a bath with epsom salt like every night, and my contractions just kept coming and I knew that I was making progress. We called the midwife who came over and sure enough I was at 4-5 cm. The contractions spaced out enough that I was able to rest through the night. When we got up the next morning, the contractions picked back up and the midwife came back.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
This was my 3rd home birth and the fact that my labor was moving slow was the hardest part. I'd have strong contractions, but they were spaced about 5 minutes apart until my water was broke and I immediately hit transition and my contractions moved to about every minute.
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jesse-birth
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I just prayed a lot. My last home birth of baby 5 had been a traumatic birth and I had to pray and release all of my fears so I would be ready for the task of bringing our sweet new little one into the world.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How peaceful and calm this birth was and how quickly the midwives cleaned our house.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I managed mostly on my own until the last few contractions when I was sure my back and hips were breaking....my two midwives and the student midwife applied counter pressure- one on each hip and one on my back.... that was amazing at helping!
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
So much joy and relief! We had an amazing, healthy, healing, peaceful home birth!
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What did you name your baby, and why?
Jesse Warren. We give all of our boys J Bible themed names and Jesse means "Gift". Warren is after my dad who passed away a few years prior.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
You can do it! There will be a time in each birth that you think "I can't do this anymore, what did I do?", but that is just about the time baby will be ready and be born. It is so rewarding to look down at your sweet little one and know that your body is made to birth your baby! Pray and read all you can, watch birth videos from a natural, peaceful perspective, and don't listen to the "birth horror stories" people like to tell.
