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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I was induced due to 2 high blood pressure readings at 40 weeks, 4 days
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
I really did try to go as "natural" as possible...my whole birth plan was about being intervention free. But when you have a high blood pressure reading (something I had never had before or since, I'm a very healthy, fit person), the hospital insists on induction. With induction, eventually comes pitocin, and once they really ramped it up I found it very painful and asked for an epidural.
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IMG_4897
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
A lot of research and yoga.
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What surprised you about your birth?
That pushing went fairly quickly considering I had an epidural (took about 1 hour, 15 mins)
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At the end of the day, if you're healthy and your baby is healthy, it really doesn't matter how you get there. Be grateful for all of the people who supported you along the way and during labor- they're working hard too!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Sitting on the edge of the bed and squeezing my husbands leg.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On My back with legs up
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Really really wonderful. I was so happy the labor was over with and that he was healthy.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
You can plan all you want, but ultimately you can't control everything. Even with the best intentions, and against everything I had previously believed in, I ended up being induced. Thankfully I rolled with it and didn't think twice about putting my baby's life in jeopardy by refusing induction. At the end of the day, if you're healthy and your baby is healthy, it really doesn't matter how you get there. Be grateful for all of the people who supported you along the way and during labor- they're working hard too!
