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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I lay down for bed at about 10:30 and immediately started having cramps, I complained to my SO and he asked if it was labor. I called my mom because I didn't think it could be since I wasn't due for another week and a half, and two hours, many glasses of water, and a bath later I decided I definitely was in labor
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
I didn't feel as though it was a challenge because to me there really was no other option in my mind for anything but a natural home birth. I am terrified of hospitals and having my baby there wasn't an option I'd allow unless it was life or death.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Keep working until I went into labor, that and exercising. I think my labor went a lot faster because of it.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How much contractions hurt and how strange it feels for my body to be pushing without me having any control over it. Just how much my body is able to do in general was shocking
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Being able to recover without any pain management meds has made me feel like a superhuman. I feel amazing for going old school natural.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Walking and holding onto my fiance. I labored on my feet to keep the pressure off my hips and I almost brought my fiance to his knees while holding onto him during contractions.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my knees in my birthing tub.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Like nothing I could imagine....it felt impossible that she was real and here finally. It felt like the biggest relief after all the pain.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Do it! My recovery has been so smooth. I am glad I knew what my body was doing everytime anything changed. I was able to tell my midwife everytime something happened because I could feel it. Being able to recover without any pain management meds has made me feel like a superhuman. I feel amazing for going old school natural.
