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When did you realize you were really in labor?
Contractions started around 3pm on Wednesday afternoon, though we were already scheduled to go in to the hospital at 7pm that night to start an induction.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
I didn't expect how "empty" I would feel with no sleep or food...like I just couldn't go on. Making extremely slow progress, I doubted myself a lot and considered an epidural many times. It was only because of my amazing support team (husband, doula, nurse, and midwife) that I was able to keep going. I didn't expect to be as emotional as I was either, sobbing at points with pain and doubting myself.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I did a lot of mental preparation with natural affirmations& Bible verses, which helped a lot. I also had two amazing playlists of music that I had put together which was a big comfort!
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What surprised you about your birth?
How fast & furious labor came on, but also how long it lasted. I expected a much more gradual increase in contractions and pain, but by 10pm things were already intense (5 min apart contractions) and stayed that way till baby girl was born at 2:45pm the next day! Also - definitely how much I relied on my husband and doula to carry my through the pain & exhaustion.
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GET A GREAT TEAM! Be selfish with who will be most helpful for you, even if it hurts someone's feelings (my mom).
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Sitting on a ball with counterpressure on my back (posterior baby) and listening to music.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I wanted to be hands & knees, but at the last minute, the midwife had me turn over to a sitting/semi-squat.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Extremely surreal and just grateful that the birth part was done. I couldn't believe I had done it!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
GET A GREAT TEAM! Be selfish with who will be most helpful for you, even if it hurts someone's feelings (my mom). My husband and doula carried most of the weight, but I also am friends with the nurse at the hospital and we picked a midwife we knew was pro-natural birth and wouldn't rush us. I literally cannot say enough about the importance of the people supporting you. I would have given up at 3cm otherwise, no kidding.
