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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I actually didn't! I was fine all day on December 10th. I was getting ready for bed around 10pm and there was a lot of blood when I went to the bathroom. We freaked. Later on, we realized that it may have been my mucus plug, but I've always been told blood more than a regular period was never a good thing. So, off to the hospital we went!
Getting there, they couldn't locate the source of the bleeding and it had slowed down by then. After an ultrasound, they realized I had a small amniotic fluid leak and they admitted us right then to be induced.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Trying to channel my thoughts elsewhere besides the pain. I have a very low pain tolerance so I knew this would be challenging. Luckily, my cousin shared her hypnobirth recording with me and it put me in a very zen trance during the first 20 hours of labor.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Eat chocolate. Seriously! I knew it would bring on labor in some way. And also using the rainbow hypnobirth recording. Extremely soothing and centering.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How strong I was. My little man ended up being 8lbs, 15oz, and 21.5 in long! They were estimating between 7-8lbs. Boy were they wrong. While labor took 30 hrs and 4 hours of pushing (yikes), surprisingly I'd do it again. He's our whole world.
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It's not easy. People sugarcoat this all the time saying it's beautiful and rewarding. It absolutely is! But it's also scary and difficult. And I think if you go into labor knowing that, you can train your mind to push past it.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
The hypnobirth tapes. As a former athlete and marathon runner, mind over matter is real my friends!
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was on my back using a birthing bar with a sheet tied to it.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
So surreal. I still feel this way even though he's now a month old!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
It's not easy. People sugarcoat this all the time saying it's beautiful and rewarding. It absolutely is! But it's also scary and difficult. And I think if you go into labor knowing that, you can train your mind to push past it.
