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When did you realize you were really in labor?
My water broke at 2am (the one way I did NOT want to go into labor!) and about an hour and a half later I was feeling mild contractions. I tried sleeping through them but they were just uncomfortable enough that I needed to be up and moving. I ended up spending the rest of the morning in my living room, watching movies as the contractions slowly progressed. I didn't realize my labor was progressing much because my contraction stayed short (only about 40 seconds long) but they started getting closer and stronger. At 2 to 3 minutes apart they were still short, but I was feeling it wouldn't be much longer!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Transition. I handled the contractions fine until the last hour. I didn't realize my labor was progressing as quickly as it was so my midwife didn't leave her house until about 7 am. At that point I was feeling some pressure on my cervix and a short while later I was getting the slightest urge to push. My husband called my midwife and she wanted me on my side and to hold off on pushing for as long as I could. I resisted pushing through several very strong, long contractions. At that point I almost started crying and screaming from the pain, but my aunt, who is a chiropractor and had had 2 home birth herself, was there reminding me to keep my noises low and to focus them through my pelvis. It gave me just enough control to get through a really rough contraction and after that one I said "I HAVE to start pushing!" With the next contraction I was pushing, with my midwife on speakerphone by my head!
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Alice-BW7
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Honestly, I thought I was going into it very unprepared. I did very little practice of pain management techniques, but when it came down to it, I was amazed at how well I handled the contractions by just instinctively moving and moaning through them. It wasn't until the end that I felt like I wouldn't make it, but i did!
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What surprised you about your birth?
My contractions stayed consistently short until transition. My labor was only 5 hours which I was very grateful for. The pushing stage was amazing! With my first, I had pain meds in a hospital and pretty much just did what the nurses told me. This time I could feel the contractions, when to push hard, when to hold back, it was amazing! I felt so in control!
And also my midwife didn't arrive until 10 minutes after my daughter was born. I wasn't expecting to not have her there in time, but we had discussed what to do in that situation and I felt prepared for it and I didn't have any anxiety about it. I knew my baby was healthy, I was capable and I had my husband and aunt there to support me. It ended up being wonderful! And I didn't get to use the birthing tub for a water birth like I planned!
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You CAN do it! It will be hard, but it's so rewarding! Do what your body tells you to do and have good support through your pregnancy and delivery.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Varying movements. Leaning against my birthing ball and swaying my hips back and forth worked for a while. Towards the end I almost had to try something different with every contraction. What would work for one wouldn't work for the next. Also allowing myself low moans through the contractions seemed to help too.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Laying on my side, one person supporting my top leg.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Relieving. I couldn't believe it was over and that we had a little girl! (We had kept the sex a surprise) I also loved how she didn't cry, but after a minute opened her eyes and started looking around at everything, just quiet and observant. It was a very sweet time!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
You CAN do it! It will be hard, but it's so rewarding! Do what your body tells you to do and have good support through your pregnancy and delivery.
