-
When did you realize you were really in labor?
At 38 weeks in my pregnancy I made the decision that I wanted to have a home birth instead of at the hospital I had been going to for all my pre-natal care.
At the hospital I had been going to, I had been feeling pressured to do procedures that I wasn't comfortable with, and didn't feel that my desires were being respected. It felt like what I wanted was consistently over-looked and all that mattered was their "standard of care" that I needed to comply with. Essentially, I started realizing that if I was going to deliver my baby at this hospital I would have little-to-no control over my body, and that felt very scary to me.
So a few weeks before my due date I started researching local midwives and it didn't take me too long to find one! I remember going to that first appointment just praying that the midwife would be able to take me on as her client, and she did!! I only had 3 weeks of pre-natal care with her, but it didn't matter because I felt so unbelievably comfortable with her.
My husband who had been so picky about choosing a doula, absolutely loved her from the moment we all met. He hadn't really been on board with having a home birth, but was willing to comply because it was a huge desire of mine. After that first appointment with the midwife he had a completely different attitude about having a home birth. He was so confident that we could do it!
The day my labor started I was 11 days past my due date and I was definitely feeling the stress of being over-due. On a Sunday afternoon, I told my husband that I was determined to do anything I could to get the labor started. We spent 30 minutes walking up and down three flights of stairs as fast as I could. That night at 10pm I started to feel "menstrual cramping" and was hopeful that it meant my labor was starting. I started cleaning up the house and took a nice long shower, shaved and got myself ready! As the night went on, I knew that I was in labor because the cramping was getting stronger and I spent half the night awake dealing with the "cramps". At 6:30am my husbands alarm went off for work, and he found me in the bathroom rocking back and forth on the toilet moaning.
He quickly called into work to let them know he would not be in that day!
-
What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging part of a natural childbirth is the pain. It hurts! But after it was all said and done, the pain was the most rewarding part of going natural.
I felt like a warrior, like I could conquer anything and everything after being able to conquer childbirth. It gave me such so much respect for myself and for all other women who go through this process, whether it be natural or not. Women are so strong!
-
38
-
What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Avoiding ANY and ALL negativity regarding childbirth. Whether it was from the TV, internet, social media, books, friends, or family... I avoided the horror stories or the negative comments. Instead, I gravitated towards the empowering stories and positive vibes.
In fact, only 3 people knew I was going to have a home birth because I did not want to risk hearing a negative comment that may affect my mind.
-
What surprised you about your birth?
How incredible a woman's body was made. My body did EVERYTHING. Of course I knew this, but I didn't KNOW it until I went through the natural childbirth experience. The respect and absolute awe I have for God's creation of my body is beyond what any words can express.
I was also surprised I did it without pain relief because I am such a wuss when it comes to pain - I once fainted from a small paper cut, haha. I got through 19 hours of labor without screaming or getting upset/angry!
-
Go with your gut! If you feel you want to have your baby at home, in a birthing center or in a hospital then do it and don't listen to what anyone else has to say about it.
-
What pain relief strategies worked best?
My doula. She was my epidural!!! She was the single most important person during my labor because of how much she was able to help me get through each and every contraction. WORTH EVERY PENNY!
-
What position did you end up delivering in?
It took me 2.5 hours to push my baby out and my midwife never once made me feel rushed. Instead, she was so encouraging, and just let me go at the pace my body wanted to go.
I was in a birthing tub located in my living room during pushing. I was positioned on my knees with my body hanging over the side of the pool when I pushed my baby's head out. My baby's body wasn't coming out after I pushed out her head, so my midwife asked me to turn around and sit in the pool, and then I pushed her body right out!
*My baby's head was under water for 5 minutes before I pushed her body out!
-
How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
I don't think anything can explain that feeling, but something close to an Overwhelming joy... and relief!
-
What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Go with your gut! If you feel you want to have your baby at home, in a birthing center or in a hospital then do it and don't listen to what anyone else has to say about it.
Our experience was the most beautiful, incredible, joyful day of me and my husbands life.
My husband was so amazed at the experience and he said that he hopes we will have all of our baby's at home now! And that is the plan :)
