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Video Interview With Sarah
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When did you realize you were really in labor?
In the morning after spending 2 and half hours trying to rest through what I thought were strong period cramps. They immediately became 5-7 minutes apart and I couldn't rest through them. Also, I had bloody show that morning.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
I was unable to rest at all through contractions. I always heard try to sleep through them in early labor or rest when you can but mine were so consistent and similar in intensity until the end, so rest was very hard.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Mama Natural Childbirth Course was so helpful with knowing techniques to use in labor. Also, my midwife provided great educational articles and discussions to prepare my body naturally for birth.
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What surprised you about your birth?
Labor land is real. I had no sense of time or people coming in and out of the house. I was totally focused on squeezing my comb, my husband's hand, and breathing the baby down taking it one contraction at a time listening to my body on what felt best and most effective to move labor along.
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Labor land is real. I had no sense of time!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I was lucky not to have back labor at all, so hip squeezes and the Elle Tens didn't seem to provide the most relief for me. I found walking around, and taking a hot shower standing to be helpful for a bit of relief when I was getting tired, but not the most effective to progressing labor along. The comb stayed with me the whole time, just having something to hold while breathing and relaxing as best as possible through them.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It felt unreal. I naturally whipped around from being on my knees and hanging over the birth pool and grabbed her instantly. I felt so relieved, overwhelmed, and joyful.
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What did you name your baby, and why?
Evelyn Natalia. My husband and I both loved Evelyn and Natalia was chosen based on my Russian ancestry, as I was adopted from Russia and we wanted to keep that tradition or a name in our new family line.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
YOU CAN DO IT! It was so empowering to trust your body that it could do it! The benefits of going natural are SO WORTH it! Pick a mantra and stick with it. Have some affirmations. Mine was "This too shall pass" (2 Cor 4:17-18) remembering these (surges) are only temporary, remembering they serve a bigger purpose.
