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When did you realize you were really in labor?
My labor started on a Tuesday morning, and my contractions began around 9am. I realized I was truly in labor as my contractions continued to get stronger and closer together throughout the day. I left work around 4 PM and called my doula on the way home, she met me at my house around 5:30 PM and I was definitely having consistent intense contractions about 5-8 min. apart. I labored at home all night and went to the hospital around 11 am on Wednesday morning. When I got to the hospital I was 5 cm dialated, 0% effaced, and the baby was in position 0. I then labored in the tub for about an hour and a half 7 cm and then she was born about 2 hours later.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging part about going natural for me was the intense pain as I went through transition right before I started pushing. Labor up until that point had been intense but definitely bearable. I never felt overwhelmed or as if I couldn't do it, until I hit transition. That is when I wanted pain meds, but I am so thankful I was able to push through and give birth naturally!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
The most helpful thing I did to prepare for childbirth was take the Mama Natural Birth Course, I read the book "Natural Hospital Birth: The best of both worlds" by Cynthia Gabriel, I read lots of child birth stories, and we hired a doula who helped us prepare for the birth of our baby.
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What surprised you about your birth?
We were surprised by the gender of our baby! That was the biggest surprise and a moment I will never forget. We had a girl!!
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Hire a Doula!! She made all the difference in how smoothly my labor went. She was worth her wait in gold as far as the support she provided for me and my husband. Her advice and wisdom enabled me to endure the pain and give birth naturally!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
My husband and my doula were amazing and helped in so many ways to help me with pain relief. I had some painful back labor for most of the night and my doula kept heating up a rice sock and putting it on my back which was amazing and really helped to relieve some of the pain. Also, squeezing my hips through contractions helped with the pain especially during my most intense contractions, and then laboring in the tub near the end was wonderful and really reduced my pain especially in an intense part of labor.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I ended up delivering while lying on my back, It was the position my midwife recommended so I stayed in that position to deliver. I had been laboring on all fours, and I feel like I may have preferred to deliver in that position, but overall, delivery went well while I was on my back and pushing wasn't too painful.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was so surreal to hold my little girl for the first time. Giving birth to her was the hardest thing I had ever done in my life, and she was absolutely perfect. It was such a special moment, I just held her, overwhelmed by the an indescribable love for this perfect gift from God.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Hire a Doula!! Honestly, that was the best decision we made as far as preparing for birth, especially if you are giving birth in a hospital.I do believe that she made all the difference in how smoothly my labor went. She was worth her wait in gold as far as the support she provided for me and my husband. Her advice and wisdom enabled me to endure the pain and give birth naturally!
