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When did you realize you were really in labor?
Funny story.... I woke up around 2 a.m. and thought I had leaked in my underwear since I had been using Evening Primrose Oil at night. I waited 30 minutes and still wasn't really convinced since it was such a little amount. I woke up my husband and told him I was driving myself to the hospital to get checked out (we have 3 other children and I didn't want to wake them up and then the hospital send us all home). Once I arrived to the hospital and got out of the car, I realized that I was there to stay when I gushed a good amount in the parking lot!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging thing would be that my contractions continued to stay irregular hours after my water broke and I had to have Pitocin to help things along (which they stayed irregular the whole time up until I delivered). The most important thing to remember is to be flexible and do whatever is best for you and the baby.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
The most helpful thing I did was to educate myself on delayed cord clamping, skin to skin contact, delayed bathing, and breastfeeding. There is soo much more information out there about all of these topics than there were 8 years ago when I had my first baby girl. All of that research, as well as talking to other moms, made me feel more confident about the decisions I was making.
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What surprised you about your birth?
What surprised me most was the fact that the labor lasted so long with this one. I guess I was hoping for the old wive's tale of the second baby being quicker than the first!!
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There is nothing quite like holding your baby for the first time! An array of emotions slam into you at the same time...relief that it was over and the baby was okay, exhaustion mentally from a difficult labor, being in awe at the miracle I was blessed to have, and joy...pure joy!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I would say the best would be distraction. I had a couple of people in the room that kept up lively conversations that helped keep my mind off of the pain.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
My daughter's heart rate kept dropping with every contraction and the first time I pushed while laying back was not working. The midwife had me lay on my side and let my body do the work before I finally was able to push while still on my side.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
There is nothing quite like holding your baby for the first time! An array of emotions slam into you at the same time...relief that it was over and the baby was okay, exhaustion mentally from a difficult labor, being in awe at the miracle I was blessed to have, and joy...pure joy!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
If going natural is your route, there are a couple of things I would recommend. 1) Having an easy but laid out birthing plan about your wishes that EVERY nurse that comes into your room is aware of 2) Having a strong support system from your spouse or whomever you have there in the room with you 3) Be okay about being flexible when things may not be going the way you have planned 4) Don't be too hard on yourself...labor isn't always easy and remembering that the blessing that follows is all worth it!!
