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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I woke up to pee at 5:00 a.m. and saw my "bloody show". I got really excited!! I texted my doulas and went back to bed. Then, at 7:30 a.m. went to the bathroom again (boy, I don't miss the endless peeing) and lost my mucus plug! Contractions started coming slowly. I happened to have an appointment at my doctor that morning, so I waited to go in. Contractions continued, doctor confirmed I was 2 cm dilated and in early labor.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Fighting the urge to push. When I was around 4 cm, I felt an intense urge to push. We thought I was in transition, but I definitely wasn't yet. I kind of got stuck at 4 cm, but then finally made it to 6 cm. At that point, everyone told me to fight the urge to push in order to avoid swelling my cervix. It was immensely difficult, with some contractions lasting very long with multiple peaks. About 15 minutes after they told me I was at 6 cm, I REALLY couldn't fight it anymore. I almost cracked and wanted something to take the edge off and then told my doulas that something is definitely different and that I felt like the baby had descended. They called the nurse, who checked me, and found that I had FULLY dilated in 15 minutes! It was time to push and it felt amazing to be able to release that energy.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I practiced hypnobabies, which definitely helped! I can't say I was in total hypnosis the entire time, but it definitely helped keep me focused and thinking about my happy place, rather than the contractions. I did a TON of research and knew what I wanted to get out of my birth. Hiring doulas was the BEST decision ever; everyone should have one, especially for your first birth. Know what you want, stand for it, do your homework, and be flexible just in case. I'm over the moon with how my birth went and I worked hard for it.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How good it felt to push and that I thought about everything as it was happening. I don't even think I really felt the "ring of fire" either, because I was so in the moment and just was SO relieved to finally be able to push. My goal was to deliver in a squat, but it hurt SO much attempting to be laying down in any way, that I stayed on my feet for most of labor and didn't get any rest, so by pushing time I was too tired. I ended up delivering on my side, which was still great! Delivering the placenta was a bit tough because of the "massages", but the most surprising was how after birth, my uterus was so high up and bladder was in its place and it was definitely painful when nurses would have to push down to check to see if everything was slowly going back to normal. Also, the hour long pee I took after delivering- haha. In the end, it was still all awesome.
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Believe and stand up for yourself. Hire a doula. Do your homework. Be flexible, if needed. You CAN do it. Your body can do it. Labor is temporary and it will pass. Your baby deserves to be born without any interventions. Practice and go to your happy place and before you know it, you'll have your little baby in your arms.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Picturing my happy place and affirmations from my doulas/husband. Water in the shower also felt amazing.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my side.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Weird, but amazing. It was crazy to meet the person that had been kicking me from the inside! He looked at me and it was instant love.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Believe and stand up for yourself. Hire a doula. Do your homework. Be flexible, if needed. You CAN do it. Your body can do it. Labor is temporary and it will pass. Your baby deserves to be born without any interventions. Practice and go to your happy place and before you know it, you'll have your little baby in your arms.
