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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I sensed I was about to begin labor at 9pm, I went to bed then woke up at midnight with light, infrequent contractions. By 3 am They were strong enough to get me out of bed and onto my birthing ball!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging part was taking labor one contraction at a time and staying confident and positive when the rushes got really intense.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I read Mama Natural positive birth affirmation cards each night to prepare for the birth. I fell asleep picturing my ideal labor and birth each night, focusing on a specific aspect of the birth each night.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I was surprised how fast I dilated with my second labor. By the time I went in to the birthing center after laboring 5 hours at home I was 8 cm dilated- and feeling energized! I focused on telling my body "open and relax" over and over. I guess I was surprised how well it worked!
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Holding my sweet baby after carrying him for 9 months was surreal. I will never forget that moment! It feels safe, exhausting, exhilarating and sacred.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Positive affirmations worked well for me
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was transferred from the birth center to the hospital. It was determined that my posterior baby could not safely be flipped in this VBAC trial of labor and I delivered via c-section after exhausting all other options.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
There is no feeling like finally meeting a person you already know so intimately. It is the best moment I can dream up. Holding my sweet baby after carrying him for 9 months was surreal. I will never forget that moment! It feels safe, exhausting, exhilarating and sacred.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Read positive natural birth stories. Picture your labor over and over in your head the way you want it to go- decide how you will handle different challenges should they arise. I went natural for 15 hours before it was determined to be an unsafe trial of labor. It was an empowering experience to trust my body, to let it do what it was designed to do. Even though this birth ended in a c-section, I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to experience natural labor as long as it was safe. I will certainly try for a VBA2C next time!
