Attending a Birthing Class Helped Chelsea During Her Home Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

About 11 pm the night before I gave birth. My baby was born 12 hours later!

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

Working through the pain of contractions. The pain was as intense as everyone said, but knowing that the more painful it got the closer my baby was to being born helped me keep going.

What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?

Birthing class! I went to a class based off the book " Birthing from Within" and my instructor was amazing. When my midwife came to my house she got another call that someone went into labor and checked my dilation to see if she should stay. After hours of labor I was only 2 cm dilated and instead of being discouraged I heard my instructors voice saying 2 cm could mean you're halfway there! Sure enough my baby was born only a few hours later. And when the pain got the most intense I remembered this from class, "when the pain becomes so much you want to give up, and it will happen, you're almost there!". Those words were my mantra.

What surprised you about your birth?

How natural it felt and how my body knew exactly what to do. All I had to do was surrender.

Words can't describe the love that abounded, and the pride I felt.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

Screaming and moaning unabashedly.

What position did you end up delivering in?

I was on my hands and knees in the bathtub.

How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?

Words can't describe the love that abounded, and the pride I felt.