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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I had to be induced. We started the process the night before at 10 pm with a foley catheter and the ob broke my water at 7:30 am the next morning.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Unfortunately, my cervix wouldn't start dilating naturally. In fact, I never got past 5 cm and we ended up making the decision to have a cesarean when mine and baby's blood pressures started dropping.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Keeping my mind focused on the end result (I.E: my beautiful son!) really helped me during the last weeks and during the labor itself.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How immediately life changing my son was. He was born and mine and his daddy's world view changed to center on him completely.
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Follow and stick with your birth plan, as much as you possibly can, but prepare for anything that may unexpectedly come up. Remember that the most important thing is a healthy baby (and mommy) at the end of it all.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Deep, measured breathing helped, but I did have an epidural.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
We had a c-section.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Mind blowing. So hard to believe that I was finally holding this tiny little life in my arms, after carrying him and worrying about him for 10 months. He is our rainbow baby, which makes his life doubly miraculous.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Follow and stick with your birth plan, as much as you possibly can, but prepare for anything that may unexpectedly come up. Remember that the most important thing is a healthy baby (and mommy) at the end of it all.