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When did you realize you were really in labor?
It was Saturday night, as we were finishing dinner when the contractions started. They continued through the night, and I was not able to sleep. The midwife dropped by in the morning, and suggested we try to rest, as I was only 2cm dilated. We Reyes as much as we could through the day and tried to rest through the night. Unfortunately, the contractions were getting stronger and I did not get much rest. By the time the midwife returned middle of the next morning, I was in active labor - finally reached 7cm dilation. The midwife broke my water by accident, and I could feel the intensity of the contractions after that. Thankfully, active labor was short and sweet compared to the lead up.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Keeping focus during active labor.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
We took a birthing class locally, as well as a natural pain management class, and we read as much as we could about having a home and water birth in advance so we could prepare ourselves for the opportunity.
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What surprised you about your birth?
That my husband and I managed to have a natural birth at home, with a birthing tub and that both me and baby were able to keep calm during labor.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I found that keeping my focus on breathing during a contraction really helped - all the while having my partner run my back or put pressure on my lower back.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I started to push in a sitting position in the birthing tub, but switched to my hands and knees when our baby was delivered.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
I held our baby for the first time in the birthing tub while the midwife and my partner looked after cutting of the cord and delivery of the placenta. I was so ecstatic that our baby was finally here. I felt no pain from the moment he arrived - it must have been the adrenaline from the lead up of events to that point.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
If it is something you are interested in doing, my advice is to prepare yourself with the knowledge and tools in advance. It was very important to me to go natural for my baby's sake and in hopes of keeping the epidural out of his system. I really couldn't have done it on my own - so having a supportive partner who knew what his role was during labor was critical.
