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When did you realize you were really in labor?
Around 9 am my contractions had become painful but were probably every 20 mins or so. It wasn't until noon that my contractions became 2-3 mins apart and lasted for about 30 seconds. Then I knew it was the real deal.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
I had two home births previously and would have gone that route again but my midwives retired and there aren't a lot of home birth midwife options where I live. My midwives at the hospital were great but the staff upon my arrival tried to push things on me and weren't very supportive.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Talk to my husband about our wishes and made sure he knew when to advocate against certain things so that I didn't have to while in labor.
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What surprised you about your birth?
My son was born only twenty minutes after arriving at the hospital! I was glad to have labored at home for most of the time but didn't realize that I was that close to delivering when we got there!
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I was so relieved that he was finally here and that everything had gone well! We didn't know the gender before the birth, so it was special to finally know that he was a boy.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Breathing through the pain of contractions.
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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?
I was so relieved that he was finally here and that everything had gone well! We didn't know the gender before the birth, so it was special to finally know that he was a boy.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Find a provider that is an advocate for natural birth and be prepared to have an uphill battle when delivering at a hospital. Don't be afraid to say no to staff. Do your research and make sure you and your partner are on the same page. Believe that natural birth is totally doable and in the end, a special experience.
