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When did you realize you were really in labor?
The night before my husband said "I think labor will start tomorrow at 3pm". The next day I felt a light contraction - looked at the clock and it was 3:01pm. We all got a good laugh put of it and then after an hour of time-able contractions I started to think... "this may be the real thing". But really it wasn't until a couple hours jn that I was mostly convinced.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
With this birth... I really don't know (it was so quick I most likely would have had her in the car if we were trying to have her at a hospital. .. which we weren't. She was a planned home birth). Maybe it was the last hour of contractions as they grew so strong I couldn't relax through them any more and I was starting to loose my cool. With my first it was the 25 hours of debilitating "charlie horse" cramps in my hips with every contraction.
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Hailey-2
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Stretching.
6 dates a day from 36 weeks on.
1 cup of red raspberry leaf tea every day 2nd and 3rd trimesters and then 3 stronger cups a day for the last 2 weeks (40 and 41... she was late).
Reading Husband Coached Childbirth - The Bradley Method.
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What surprised you about your birth?
My last labor was 25 hours (with pushing)... so when this one was 5 hours I was in complete shock. And I was certain my LO was going to be "big", but it turned out she was only 7lbs - surprise!
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Eat your 6 dates a day (36 weeks on)! Drink your red raspberry leaf tea! Use your essential oils! Massage a little coconut oil a around your lady parts. Watch "the Business if being born". Surround yourself with people who support your decision and will help you as much as possible.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
We used peppermint oil on my back for the back labor - that was amazing!
I also spent my contractions laying on my side (once they got a little stronger) focusing on relaxing each muscle group and breathing. It seemed to help a good deal.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
My contractions pushed her out for me... so I was grappling with allowing my body to do it's thing and it happened so quick I ended up just in a mostly sitting position on our bed.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
I was still in shock... she was wet... warm... slippery and on a serious note... wonderful. She was just the most perfect little miracle number 2 and my mother's heart melted.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Eat your 6 dates a day (36 weeks on)! Drink your red raspberry leaf tea! Use your essential oils! Massage a little coconut oil a around your lady parts. Watch "the Business if being born". Surround yourself with people who support your decision and will help you as much as possible.
