Letting Her Body Do What It Was Made To Do Helped Sarah During Her Birth Center Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

It was the day after I lost my mucus plug when the menstrual-type cramping turned into regular 1-minute contractions that I had to stop and breathe through.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

Information overload. It's so easy to let all the advice out there, both from personal and professional sources, cloud your judgment. They mean well, but honestly, it boiled down to making up my own mind to go natural and not letting anything persuade me otherwise unless it was medically necessary.

What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?

Getting out of my own way. Mindset is everything and letting my body do what it was made to do ended up being the most important decision I could make.

What surprised you about your birth?

By far, the intensity of the contractions once I hit active labor and the pushing stage. The pain didn't surprise me near as much as the intensity of my body taking control to get the baby out. I also didn't expect I'd be one of those mamas to not have the water break until right before baby was born. I kept waiting for it to happen during the first stage of labor, and I thought at one point I may have missed it. Once the midwife examined me and noticed it was bulging at the edge of my cervix, I felt better knowing I didn't miss something. It broke on its own when I pushed on the next contraction and that "pop" literally felt like a balloon.

Fear is a normal part of the process, but you are capable of conquering that fear. Set your mind to do this "your" way and put in the work to prepare for it as best you can. Your body and baby will thank you for it.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

For me, it was the low-tone moaning coupled with breathing techniques to get through each contraction. As labor progressed, it was more moaning than breathing, and the pushing stage was straight-up primal, guttural noises. I'm sure I annoyed everyone in the room, but making noise is what worked for me, and the doula was a great help in reminding me to keep it all low-tone.

How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?

I delivered her on all fours and when they passed her through my legs, I remember thinking, "Woah this came out of me??" I couldn't get over how beautiful she was. Throughout the pregnancy, I was worried she'd be small and scrawny. Although she only weighed 5lb 14oz being born at 38 weeks, she definitely wasn't scrawny. Plenty of baby fat and perfectly healthy. And of course, the wave of oxytocin was an out-of-this-world experience.

What did you name your baby, and why?

We named her Diana Renae, which means a "divine rebirth." It was perfect for the day she was born, which was the first day of Spring.

What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?

Fear is a normal part of the process, but you are capable of conquering that fear. Set your mind to do this "your" way and put in the work to prepare for it as best you can. Your body and baby will thank you for it.