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When did you realize you were really in labor?
After my contractions started the morning of and they weren't going away. They weren't very consistent at first but that quickly changed.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Not knowing how long the pain was going to last. I was 4.5 cm and 60% effaced when my midwife checked me the first time. She told me that I still had a lot of work to do. With the contractions that followed, I didn't know how I was going to be able to continue with the intense pain. She was born 26 minutes after my midwife checked me! So luckily I didn't have to deal with the pain for too long.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I made sure to have all the supplies my midwife would need in one central location. It was also helpful that my mom was here when I went into labor. I was able to focus on my contractions while she looked after our 3 kids that were at home. She fed them lunch and then laid them down for a nap just in time for the baby to be born.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How fast it went! I wanted to have a water birth but my husband didn't have enough time to get the tub set up and filled up. So she ended up being born on our bedroom floor. My labor was less than 3 hours long from start to finish!!
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Relief, disbelief that I just gave birth at home naturally, overwhelming love and peace!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Since everything went so fast, we didn't have much of an opportunity to try different pain strategies. But I sat on my birthing ball some; which helped a little. I also took a shower before my midwife checked me. During the really strong contractions I stood up and tried to slow my breathing and not focus on the pain.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Hands and knees
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Relief, disbelief that I just gave birth at home naturally, overwhelming love and peace!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
You can do this! Your body was made to give birth. I was anxious wondering how in was going to be able to handle the pain and deliver at home since I had never experienced either of these. (This was baby number 5) My labor and delivery were wonderful and I would do it all over again if my husband and I weren't done having babies. ;)
