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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I realized I was really in labor when my contractions woke me in the middle of the night. I knew these were different than the Braxton Hicks contractions I had been having. I laid in bed after the first one, and the second came about 5 minutes later. I got in the bathtub to see if that would slow things down, but they continued to get more and more intense. There was no stopping it at that point! I knew it was go time because I had to make low-pitched noises to get through the contractions.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging thing about going natural was waiting for baby to come on her own time. Many of my friends scheduled their C-sections or inductions weeks before their due dates, and I completely understand why! Waiting is the hardest part, especially at the end when you feel like you can't be pregnant for one more minute! I knew she would come when she was ready, but it didn't stop me from trying to naturally bring her into the world with numerous squats, walks, Red raspberry leaf tea, etc.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
The most helpful thing I did to prepare for childbirth was take classes, specifically the Birthing from Within class. When birth came, I felt so prepared and not at all afraid of what was to come. I was confident in my pain coping techniques that I had practiced and was ready to tackle birth head on. I cannot stress enough how vital preparation is to having the best birth experience possible. Preparation physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. You cannot prepare enough in my opinion. There will always be surprises in birth, sometimes good and sometimes not so good, but you can prepare yourself to be ready for whatever comes your way.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I was most surprised by how fast our birth was. We were told that first-time births are 19 hours long on average, but our little girl was born within 5 hours of the first contraction. I'm aware that this is not normal, but it was shocking to me. I was also surprised that when it was all over, I would not have changed one thing about the course of events. I was so blessed to have what was to me the perfect birth and perfect baby girl.
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If you tell yourself (and others) the whole pregnancy that you are going to "try" to go natural, you will most likely give up when it gets hard. There is a point in labor where every mama says she can't do it anymore. You will think it's too hard and that you may die trying to get your baby out. Push through those thoughts because most likely, you are in transition and will be meeting your sweet baby so soon! Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
For me, the most effective pain relief strategies were low-pitched moans, squeezing my husband's hand, closing my eyes, and being in the tub. I didn't have much time to use many other strategies, and these came so naturally to me that I didn't even think about them. Throughout all of my labor, I also focused on my breathing. I never held my breath and always kept my mouth open when I breathed so that I could also imagine everything else opening for baby to pass through.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I delivered in the tub sitting down with my legs out in front of me and the bottoms of my feet together like an open clam shell. I had my arms on the sides of the tub that I used to help hold my weight up when a contraction came, and I needed to push. I was also able to squeeze my husband's hand in this position as he sat behind me, which helped me work through my contractions.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Getting to hold my baby girl was the best feeling in the entire world. I have never in my life experienced anything better. We did not know the gender of our baby before she was born, so it was even more exciting when the midwife handed her to me! I got to announce to the room that we had a baby girl! I still get teary eyed thinking about that moment. The first time you hold your baby in your arms, you will forget every bit of pain you went through. It is so worth it. I would labor a million times over for this sweet girl.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
The best piece of advice I can give other mamas who want to go natural is to really commit to it. If you tell yourself (and others) the whole pregnancy that you are going to "try" to go natural, you will most likely give up when it gets hard. There is a point in labor where every mama says she can't do it anymore. You will think it's too hard and that you may die trying to get your baby out. Push through those thoughts because most likely, you are in transition and will be meeting your sweet baby so soon! Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. Expect the unexpected. Know your birth story will never be the exact same as someone else's, so do not compare yourself to someone else. Millions of women have given birth before you and hundreds of thousands are giving birth at the same time as you. You're not alone. You can do anything you set your mind to do. If giving birth naturally is what you want, go out there and make it happen. Don't give up, but also, don't feel bad if you do have to have some sort of interventions. That doesn't make you a bad mama. You will not ruin your child! At the end of the day, you will be holding your sweet baby, and that is truly all that matters.
