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When did you realize you were really in labor?
Tuesday, June 27th - at 42 weeks and 3 days - right after a 3rd acupuncture treatment to induce.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Trying all the tricks in the book, yet labor was stalling (prodromal)
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Hypnobirthing, research using Google, Pinterest, & Mama Natural, watching The Business of Being Born with husband, and support from midwives, friends, & family.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I ended up with an emergency c-section after 61.5 hours of labor. I tried everything I knew about to have him natural. In the end we found his head was too large for my pelvis and was also tangled in the cord with it around his neck, arm, and body.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Breathing, birth ball, but most of all acupuncture. Something always kick started when I had a treatment.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Lying on my back on the operating table.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Very surreal and unfortunately I was under the influence of epidural and other hospital drugs so it's a fuzzy memory. :(
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Don't allow my story to feed the fire of fear regarding natural birth. I actually enjoyed 90% of the entire laboring experience until I had exhausted myself and realized natural birth was not in my cards for this baby. In my case, it was unable to be done but for most it's totally probable. I didn't allow the end of my birth story saturate my heart with resentment or regret. I knew I did everything in my power to have my little one naturally. I'm immensely grateful for conventional medicine being a back up plan and yet still hold the highest regard for natural birth, just as I had while being pregnant. I still have hope of getting a second chance at it. ;)
