-
When did you realize you were really in labor?
It was 7:30 pm and we had just finished dinner. I was having contractions but I wasn't timing them because I didn't think it was anything just yet. At 9:30 pm I said "well, we may be heading to the hospital tonight. I'm still having contractions." At 9:43pm I went to the bathroom to go pee and right after I finished peeing my water broke. I felt a pop and then a huge gush so I called out "my water just broke, it's time to go".
-
What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging thing about going natural is finding a way of handling the intensity that works for you. Every person handles it differently.
-
image
-
What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
This being my third childbirth, I can honestly say the only thing that helped me prepare was actually having gone through labor before. Each childbirth has gotten better for me with the third being the absolute best and better than I could have imagined.
-
What surprised you about your birth?
What surprised me about my birth was quite a few things. The first being my water broke naturally, this is the first time that has happened for me. The second being that I went from being dilated to a 4 to delivering my baby in less than an hour with very minimal pain. The last thing that surprised me about my birth was that I was able to deliver his head completely by myself because the doctor didn't arrive in time and my body just knew what to do. It truly was an amazing birth.
-
There is no wrong way to labor. Just do whatever works for you to handle the pain. I had one epidural birth, one natural birth, and a natural water birth now. Also, do your best to trust that your body knows what it is doing and don't try to resist any of those feelings.
-
What pain relief strategies worked best?
For me sitting in the tub of warm water and talking through my contractions is what worked for me.
-
What position did you end up delivering in?
I delivered my baby's head while on my knees in the bathtub then the rest of him was delivered while standing.
-
How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Holding my baby for the first time was such a feeling of pure bliss and adrenaline yet peace at the same time. It's the most amazing feeling in the world that can't be explained until it is experienced
-
What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
The best advice I can give to other mamas who want to go natural is that there is no wrong way to labor. Just do whatever works for you to handle the pain. I had one epidural birth, one natural birth, and a natural water birth now. Also, do your best to trust that your body knows what it is doing and don't try to resist any of those feelings.
