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When did you realize you were really in labor?
When the midwives checked me and told me I was fully dilated- all she could feel was a full head of hair! I had been in denial all morning, but finally agreed to go to the birth center when my symptoms matched those of transition (vomiting, hot/cold, shaking)- but the whole time I kept saying "it's too early for transition!"
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Well I have nothing to compare it to, and honestly I can't imagine doing it any other way.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Prenatal yoga, chiropractic adjustments, creating birth affirmations and reading birth stories to help me see birth as a positive experience that my body is perfectly capable of!
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What surprised you about your birth?
How fast it was (or seemed to go)...and the fact that my baby was 10lbs 2oz! (Didn't even tear, thanks to a very slow crowning and a water birth!)
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You can totally do it- your body was made for this and it knows what to do. You just have to have the right mindset going into it, and a birth team that supports your decision. It's very important to trust and feel comfortable around your birth team and in your place of birth so that you can stay focused on laboring, not what's going on around you.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Relaxing and breathing through contractions (although that was harder than I imagined), heating pad, getting in the tub
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What position did you end up delivering in?
In the water- I tried several positions, but squatting was the most effective.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Like a relief- he was finally out! He also felt a lot bigger/heavier than I was expecting, which I later found out he was :)
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
You can totally do it- your body was made for this and it knows what to do. You just have to have the right mindset going into it, and a birth team that supports your decision. It's very important to trust and feel comfortable around your birth team and in your place of birth so that you can stay focused on laboring, not what's going on around you.
