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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I had gotten home from a long day of shopping with my mother in law, wanting to take a nap and relax before my husband got home from golf. I felt an urge to go to the bathroom and as I stood up from the couch, whoosh! My water broke with one huge gush. Contractions started about 20 minutes later, coming ever 2 and a half minutes.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
How close my contractions were. When I got to the hospital, they were every 2 minutes apart. Within an hour they were every minute. Within two hours they were coming every 30 seconds. I remember the nurse coming in saying "Wow! You're really popping them off in here!" She was right! I barely got time to rest between contractions so staying focused and relaxed as possible was a must during my labor.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I researched as much as I possibly could on natural childbirth. My city did not offer any classes on the Bradley Method so I bought books on my own and taught myself along with my husband and researched different blogs of women who were successful with that method. I watched hours of YouTube videos gaining insight on other women's techniques by actually seeing it in action and read story after story. From there, I feel like I was able to personalize my birth plan by what I knew would work for me.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How quick it went. When you are so focused and working through each contraction, time just ticked on by. I felt like every time I looked at the clock, a whole hour had passed. I was also very fortunate in the fact from my water breaking until my daughter was born was a total of 6 and a half hours. Super quick for a first time delivery!
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You CAN do it! We were designed to give birth. Trust yourself and your ability because you will question it once or twice, but know you are strong and the end prize is beyond worth it.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Breathing techniques and resting in the right position. When labor was in the early stages, resting for the marathon helped me handle the pain a lot easier when it came to the intense part. When the intense part hit, it was all about focusing on my breathing, mostly imagining a pinwheel was in front of my face and making it move for as long as I could with every breath. The best help with my breathing was what I had learned from previously practicing yoga.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
The traditional position hospitals love, woman on her back. I chose this position not because that's what they wanted for me, but because that's what was comfortable for me. I ended up slightly tilted to my right side but delivered within 10 minutes.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
I felt like I was going to explode from so much love.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
You CAN do it! We were designed to give birth. Trust yourself and your ability because you will question it once or twice, but know you are strong and the end prize is beyond worth it.
