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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I started laboring at about 10 a.m. on a Thursday and I knew it was the real thing when the contractions hadn't stopped that evening -- in fact, they were picking up speed and intensity. We called the Doula at 7:30 p.m. & I was pretty darn confident at that point.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Nobody can prepare you for intense pain of contractions, and nobody can prepare you for how long they might continue! When we first went to the birth center I had already been having contractions for 12 hours & was only dilated 2.5 cm -- they sent us home. When we went to the birth center the second time I had been laboring for over 24 hours & I was still only 3 cm dilated! I was so discouraged and wondered how I could handle the pain without an epidural for much longer. This continued until 6 p.m. on Friday, which was about 32 hours into labor. I would say the most challenging thing is mentally & emotionally coping with a long labor during the intense pain.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I rested a lot in the days leading up to my son's birth, and at the time I felt very lazy, but I was grateful for the extra strength when the long labor began.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I ended up having to have a c-section. After so much preparation and studying on medical interventions (and not wanting to go that route) and after 32 hours of natural/un-medicated labor, they realized that my son's face was looking straight down the birth canal (hence the reason why I had been laboring for so long but not making progress in dilating) and he was stuck -- the midwife and doctor both agreed that it would be physically impossible to have the birth vaginally. I was heartbroken, but all I cared about was getting this little boy out safely, and I trusted my midwife very much. After all of the planning and mental prepping to have an un-medicated birth, I ended up having to have the most intensive kind of intervention, and I had no choice. At the end of the day, things happen that are out of our hands, and sometimes things don't go according to our "birth plan." I'm grateful and happy to say that both myself and baby boy Louis were a-ok. I do pray to have many vaginal births in the future, God-willing.
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You will need to be stubborn about wanting an un-medicated birth. Even with a birth plan that CLEARLY stated my desires, I was still offered epidurals and pitocin many, many times. As labor continues and you're repeatedly offered these drugs, you'll need to be stubborn & set in your decision :)
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Breathing! Turns out that breathing deeply is really difficult when you're in that much pain. Having my partner breath with me was beyond helpful, because it surely is hard to remember when you are trying to get through that contraction.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Delivery was a c-section. But before that: laying on my side proved to offer the most intense contractions.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
So surreal! The most overwhelming and unreal feeling. Such joy and pride!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
You will need to be stubborn about wanting an un-medicated birth. Even with a birth plan that CLEARLY stated my desires, I was still offered epidurals and pitocin many, many times. As labor continues and you're repeatedly offered these drugs, you'll need to be stubborn & set in your decision :)
