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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I got up to go to the bathroom around 4 am and got back in bed and felt a “pop” and a few seconds later my water broke!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
It was so mental!! I prepared myself by reading books and stories galore the few months leading up to birth and I felt a little anxious but very confident in my body!
It got pregnant without help, grew this sweet baby without help, and went into labor without help, I just knew it could birth without much help too. My mantra was “pain with a purpose” and I knew every contraction was one step closer to meeting my baby. This mentality was what got me through the harder parts of active labor & I knew there was an end in sight!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I checked out a few child birthing books from the library but my favorite one was “giving birth with confidence” it explained how birth is such a beautiful orchestra of hormones that feed off one another and create this buildup to birth. It talked about how women for thousands of years have done this and paved the way for us and how modern medicine is so new to the birthing world on a scale! It just made so much sense and It really changed my mind frame about birth! It wasn’t something to be feared but something to power through!
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What surprised you about your birth?
How beautifully it all played out! My first birth was very long and drawn out and I had a lot of fear and was fighting the pain. With this one, I embraced the contractions and just rode them out through walking and breathing and humming. During transition, a cold wet rag on my forehead and personal fan was my lifesaver! Of course, having an incredible midwife I trusted and my hubs right beside me made me feel confident and I pushed my sweet girl out on 4 big pushes! It was the most surreal moment of my life. I just gave birth naturally!! I kept saying over and over “I can’t believe I just did that!!”
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We can 100% do it!! Be confident in your body and what it can do and know that the pain is just temporary and is serving a beautiful purpose or bringing your little one right into your arms. Women are SO so strong!! You got this mama
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I labored at home until my contractions picked up and got a little closer together. They weren’t intense yet but getting closer so we headed to the hospital. Once I got checked in me and my husband walked the labor and delivery floor about 100 times! I never sat or lay down I just kept walking walking walking! I would stop and sway through a bad contraction and keep on walking! I did this until the pressure down below got too much and then lay in the bed, at that point I was 9.5cm and almost ready to push! My husband kept a cool rag on my forehead and little fan we brought blowing on me. It was my saving grace during transition!
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Absolutely unreal!! It all happened so fast and I was so in love with how tiny and perfect she was. It was all worth it
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What did you name your baby, and why?
Emily Frances.
After my older sister who's my best friend and such a wonderful role model & my great grandmother who was a strong woman! I loved having a meaningful family name!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
We can 100% do it!! Be confident in your body and what it can do and know that the pain is just temporary and is serving a beautiful purpose or bringing your little one right into your arms. Women are SO so strong!! You got this mama
