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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I woke up at 1am with a single very strong contraction. I got out of bed and did some meaningless activities to try and distract myself. I realized I was in active labor when the contractions came every 10 minutes and were increasing in strength. Also, real contractions felt very different than my Braxton-Hicks. They were stronger, more painful, and spread through my whole torso, not just in my abdomen.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The temptation to get the epidural! I gave birth in a hospital, and they are very quick to hand out those epidurals. It probably would have been easier if the option was less available (like it would be with a midwife).
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Hired a doula! I could not have done it without her. She kept both my husband and I calm, and kept me focused on what I had to do.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How hard pushing would be. I know that sounds a little silly, but I had it in my head that once I got past the contractions and made it to the actual pushing, the hardest part would be behind me. I was very wrong! Pushing my 9lb baby out was by far the hardest part of labor.
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Get a really good coach. I would have never survived with just my husband because as sweet and loving as he is, he was just as clueless and scared as I was. If your husband is a great coach, that's wonderful. But, if he's not going to be able to be that person for you, find someone who can. A doula, your mom, your sister, a friend, whoever. You need someone you can trust to be steadfast when you hit your weakest moments.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Breathing mostly. I was able to cope with the pain best just by focusing on taking deep breaths and by counting while breathing. It also helped to focus on relaxing my shoulders and face. My doula had to remind me pretty often to relax, but when I focused on that my pain seemed to lessen.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
The traditional on my back with my legs in the air. This was not really my preferred position, but it's what ended up happening.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
For me, it was incredibly surreal. I had a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that the tiny screaming person they just handed me was MY baby. And that he had just exited my body. I don't know that I felt a rush of love that some people describe right away because it didn't feel real to me. Kind of like an out of body experience.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Get a really good coach. I would have never survived with just my husband because as sweet and loving as he is, he was just as clueless and scared as I was. If your husband is a great coach, that's wonderful. But, if he's not going to be able to be that person for you, find someone who can. A doula, your mom, your sister, a friend, whoever. You need someone you can trust to be steadfast when you hit your weakest moments.
