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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I was induced. Had my membranes ruptured, but it wasn't for another 3 hours that contractions came at regular intervals
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Coping with the intensity, my labor was fast and it got more and more intense with every subsequent contraction. I went from 3-4cms to baby in 2 hours. So it seemed like my entire labor was transition, where nothing helped. My husbandamn definitely pulled out all the tricks he had learned from the class and reading The Birth Partner. The midwives at the hospital were also EXTREMELY helpful.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Previous experience and knowing that it is going to be painful, but coming to accept that. The class helped my husband more than me as when the going got tough he was the one having to calm me down.
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What surprised you about your birth?
The speed and how well we advocated for the birth we wanted even under the circumstances we were facedoing with. I was 42 weeks and had to be induced, I was lucky enough to have dilated enough for a membrane rupture to get things started. The day before induction I was only 1cm so we went and climbed a set of outdoor stairs and I'm convinced that helped me dilate more. After the membrane rupture we were given an hour to see if things picked up, I had a few contractions but nothing significant enough. All this time I was sitting in bed. I kept telling my husband I want to get up and walk. The midwives came back and that's what we asked for. They said they could give us 2 more hours to see if things would pick up. So we did just that. Next time they checked I was having contractions fairly regularly, but most importantly I was a 3-4cms, enough of a change that the midwives were happy and let us continue. After that we went for a walk again and it was 2 laps in when I was having to stop and breath through contractions. Then 2.5 hours later baby was here.
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In the end it helped us be better advocate for the birth we wanted, even under the medical interventions we were facing.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
At first it was hip squeeze and counter pressure with tennis balls in panty hose. But in the end it was my husband and midwives having me copy their breathing.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my back.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Relief and disbelief.
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How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
In the end it helped us be better advocate for the birth we wanted, even under the medical interventions we were facing.
