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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I had to be induced at 39 W 6 D despite my plan for an all natural birth. I went in for my 40 week checkup and was hooked up to the fetal monitor and they also performed an ultrasound to check my amniotic fluid. The Doc said my fluid was low at only 2 cm when she would have liked to see 5 and that the baby's heart rate was fluctuating. She then told me she was sending us to Labor and Delivery.
PS I was leaking fluid when I was laying on the table with the monitor on. I mentioned to the doctor and she had told me it was just blood and the jelly from the ultrasound. (BTW this was not my typical doctor. I was meeting with one of the other docs from the group as they advised us to meet everyone to get to know them before delivery since they all work on call)
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The fear of the unknown. I wasn't afraid of the pain. I was actually more afraid of the drugs and what they would do to my baby and my body. So when they told me I had to be induced and I automatically went into panic mode.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Prenatal Yoga, Meditation, MamaNatural affirmation cards, MamaNatural online Birth classes.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How hard it really was! So many mothers do this and they do it again and again! I didn't expect it to be so hard but if it wasn't then the reward would not be as great.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I was able to labor naturally for a few hours after getting to the hospital. It turns out my water had already broke and I believe it happened at the doctors office just a few hours before (even though I was told it was blood and jelly) I was hesitant then because it wasn't bloody! It had looked more like my mucus plug which I lost just 2 days before and even that wasn't bloody. Anyways... breath work was the best relief for me! Granted I was still hooked up to an IV and was wearing a fetal monitor because baby's heart was still fluctuating I still moved around but was limited. I tried the birthing ball which helped a bit too.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Emergency C section
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Like the most natural feeling in the world.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Follow MamaNatural! Trust your instincts. Stay strong. Lean on your partner. Hire a doula you love. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
