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When did you realize you were really in labor?
When I couldn't sleep through the contractions anymore. I'd been having small contractions since the afternoon, but they weren't getting more intense or closer together, so I took a bath and went to bed. I woke up two hours after that with very intense contractions and called my midwife at that point, and my Mom to come stay with my daughter.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
After my first natural birth with intense back labor for 25 hours I was a little nervous about having another long, intense labor. Reading positive natural birth stories and focusing on positive mantras before and during labor helped my motivation.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Reading positive natural child birth stories and reminding myself of all the ways natural childbirth benefits mom and baby helped me stay committed to a second natural birth. I also stayed much more active this time, and saw my chiropractor weekly throughout pregnancy. That kept my pelvis in a good birthing position and I think is why baby was head down so early. Sitting on a birth ball instead of my reclining sofa in the third trimester helped strengthen my core and keep baby in optimal position as well.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How fast it was! We arrived st the birth center at 2:30 am, and after a quick exam my midwife said I was only 3cm dilated. I felt shocked after how intense my contractions were feeling, and kept thinking I can't do this for another twenty hours! 2.5 hours later I was fully dilated and began pushing. Baby boy landed earth side just twenty min after that. He came so quickly that the nurse didn't arrive until shortly after he was born.
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Exhilarated and in complete awe. I remember I kept saying wow, that was crazy, wow. It was very different from my first birth and I was so grateful for that. I couldn't stop staring at my little wrinkled miracle.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Counter pressure on my hips helped with the back labor and deep breaths with loud horse breath exhales during transition and pushing. My husband read out my mantras when I felt like I couldn't do it anymore and helped keep me positive.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Started in the birth tub, but the midwife couldn't find baby's heartbeat so we moved to the bed. I delivered in the hands and knees position, and was able to scoop my baby right into my arms after he was caught by the midwife. I loved that seconds after he was born I was holding him close.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Exhilarated and in complete awe. I remember I kept saying wow, that was crazy, wow. It was very different from my first birth and I was so grateful for that. I couldn't stop staring at my little wrinkled miracle
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Preparation is key. I did a lot more this time to get my body and mind prepared for the intense journey of labor. Having a strong support person in labor who can remind you to breathe, stay positive, and assure you that you absolutely can do it is essential. Believe in yourself and your body's ability to birth. You're stronger than you would have believed possible.
