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When did you realize you were really in labor?
At about 3:15 am on June 3 I woke up to use the bathroom and realized I was having contractions. I started timing them, they were close but not super strong.
We went to my midwife appointment at 10 and came back home to nap. My water broke about 5 min into laying down.
I was GBS positive so I went straight to the hospital, and the contractions started picking up so I was officially in labor.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Really in the 35 hours I spent laboring naturally the contractions themselves were not the hardest thing, I got very tired later on in my labor so that made everything harder.
My husband and doula were amazing help in keeping my contractions manageable, and of course the tennis balls!!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I practiced hypnobirthing, it helped me to stay calm and happy and, the hypnobabies birth affirmation cd was amazing once the contractions got to be more intense.
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What surprised you about your birth?
That I could go that long! (I was in labor for a total of 45 hours. About 35 of which were naturally managed and 10 that I had an epidural)
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Amazing!! She was away from me for close to 10 min which felt like an eternity! So when I got her I was so happy I cried!!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Tennis balls used for counter pressure by my very strong husband helped so much to manage my back labor! Once the back pain was covered I could totally handle the pain in the front.
I ended up getting an epidural after 35 hours of awake labor so that I could sleep.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was partially sitting up with my bottom on the edge of the lowered foot part of the bed. My less were brought up in a squatting position. This position was easier for me with the epidural.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Amazing!! She had meconium in her water so she had to be auctioned and helped to start breathing. She was away from me for close to 10 min which felt like an eternity! So when I got her I was so happy I cried!!
