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When did you realize you were really in labor?
On the 9th of August I just had this urge to rock on my birthing ball. I had bloody show off and on all that day after using the ball. The next day I did the same and told my husband when he left for work to be prepared to leave work early if he had to. That whole day I had more bloody ahownbit no contractions or anything. We went to bed around 9:30/10pm and I got up a few times feeling a little crampy. I had a few contractions lasting about a min around 4-6 mins apart. At midnight I felt a pop and got out of bed quick. my water broke and contractions started immediate at 2 mins apart. I called my sister who decided to come over right away and she also contacted my midwife for me as my contractions got pretty intense pretty quickly.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging thing for me with going natural was concern about having to transfer to a hospital. If we would have for some reason needed to transfer, we do not live close to any hospitals.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I read many books, watched lots of birth videos, tried to stay active and ate healthy throughout the pregnancy.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How quickly it went! Labor lasted an hour and 57 minutes
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Do your research, find qualified experienced providers you trust with yours and your baby's life. Surround yourself with a good support system. Trust your body, and have plan in place in case a transfer is needed. After delivery of the placenta I started to hemorrhage and we did end up needing to transfer. Without a backup plan in place it would have been far more chaotic then it was. I'm so grateful for a midwife who knew what she was doing and was able to make the call to go when it became necessary.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I utilized my birthing pool. Being in the water and able to move around helped a lot.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I labored on all fours and squatting... but flipped over to a laid back seated position right before I delivered.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
I was experiencing all sorts of emotions holding this sweet boy for the first time! My husband and I had been trying to have another child after our daughter for quite sometime. We experienced 2 losses before conceiving our little rainbow boy. To be able to hold him and finally have him here safe and sound was amazing and very overwhelming.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Do your research, find qualified experienced providers you trust with yours and your baby's life. Surround yourself with a good support system. Trust your body, and have plan in place in case a transfer is needed. After delivery of the placenta I started to hemorrhage and we did end up needing to transfer. Without a backup plan in place it would have been far more chaotic then it was. I'm so grateful for a midwife who knew what she was doing and was able to make the call to go when it became necessary.
