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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I was in latent labor since week 36 with frequent contractions, dilation and effacement progressing very slowly (of course the night I go to the emergency room I am informed that my doctor is on vacation for 2 weeks). I had a persistent backache lasting for 36 hours and getting worse so I recognized that as possible labor.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
I was induced with cytotec but decided against pitocin or an epidural. All of my labor pain was in my back. I think the hardest thing was not being able to relieve my back pain no matter what I tried, I just had to push through each contraction as it came and know the pain meant progression and the whole labor would be over soon.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I took childbirth classes that went in detail about the stages of labor and provided pain management techniques.
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What surprised you about your birth?
My pain was surprisingly manageable the entire time. There was not a time when I ever thought that I could not get through it, no matter how miserable the pain was. The hard part came after she was born and I started to hemorrhage and they had to massage my fundus for 15 minutes. That pain was the absolute worst, so much worse than the labor pain was.
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Have your birth plan ready and discuss your wishes upfront, but keep an open mind as things almost never go as planned. Decide what you are flexible on and what you are not before labor begins. Above all, know that you can do it!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I used dim lighting and aromatherapy in the early stages and in the later stages I chose a focal point and controlled breathing with low moaning to manage the pain.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was mostly sitting upright but I was leaning against the bed on my back.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was an incredibly intense joy and relief to hold her even though it was a short time I got to because I was very weak from blood loss.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Have your birth plan ready and discuss your wishes upfront, but keep an open mind as things almost never go as planned. Decide what you are flexible on and what you are not before labor begins. Above all, know that you can do it!