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When did you realize you were really in labor?
Sometimes things don't go perfectly as planned. I woke up in the middle of the night at 31 weeks pregnant with my membranes ruptured.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging thing was when things didn't go as expected, and I needed medical interventions. I had planned on touring a birth center and taking my breastfeeding class the same week that my son was born.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
The most helpful thing was taking hypnobirthing, especially since it ended up being an atypical experience.
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What surprised you about your birth?
That my son was born prematurely but luckily healthy.
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You can make the best natural plans but also educate yourself on atypical births, not to scare yourself, but to educate yourself on the possibility things may not go as planned.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Turning into myself. Having a only few support people in my room. Having someone talk and help me breathe through the surges.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my back, I barely needed push as my body naturally expelled him. I felt very comfortable on my back surprisingly.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Unfortunately, I didn't get to hold my son, or do my planned skin to skin since he was premature but as soon as he was cleared, I did skin to skin. It was magical. Every time I kissed him, my lips tingled. Pure magic.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
You can make the best natural plans but also educate yourself on atypical births, not to scare yourself, but to educate yourself on the possibility things may not go as planned.
