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When did you realize you were really in labor?
When I couldn't talk or think about anything except getting to the hospital. My husband didn't believe I was in labor either until we got to the birthing center and I was 7cm when they first checked me!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
I had back labor so the most challenging thing was the overwhelming pain in my back that never seemed to go away. My husband said he was pushing so hard on my back he thought he was hurting me, in my mind he could have pushed 10 times as hard and it still wouldn't have been enough!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
MENTAL PREPARATION! The pain is like nothing you can even explain, but it is going to hurt only as much as you let it hurt. The pain is going to be there no matter what, fighting it will only make it worse. You have to fully surrender to the pain and let the contractions take over your body. If you resist, labor will only be that much longer.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How fast it was. I was only in labor for 7 hours. I truly believe that you can train your body to progress your labor strictly by your thoughts. Every contraction I stayed loose, I only tightened my hand to squeeze my hubbys! My jaw stayed loose, my hips stayed loose, I did not tighten up and resist the pain. I fully surrendered to it and visualized my cervix opening with each contraction. I may just be lucky, but for my first birth only being 7 hours I believe it worked! And my baby boy was big...9lb 1oz with a 15 inch head! Best thing I have ever done was give birth to my son naturally.
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You're in it or you're not. The pain is inevitable, but you have the power to make it worse or make it better. You can be physically tough but that won't mean anything if you're not mentally tough enough for the journey!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
To be honest nothing relieved the pain, the only thing that slightly minimized it was getting in the bathtub. Again, you have to just surrender to the pain and keep reminding yourself that this will not last forever! "This too shall pass"
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my back in the tub
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Such a relief! Relief that the pain was over and relief that he was ok. I felt every emotion all at once. It was so amazing to just see him for the first time after imagining what he was going to look like for 9 long months!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Read as many books as you can on natural childbirth. You have to physically and mentally prepare for natural childbirth. It can't be something you "want to try". You're in it or you're not. The pain is inevitable, but you have the power to make it worse or make it better. You can be physically tough but that won't mean anything if you're not mentally tough enough for the journey!
