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When did you realize you were really in labor?
Unfortunately I never went into labor on my own and had to be induced. I went in on 9/20 at 6 pm and got the first round of cervadil at 8 and the second at 12 am. My water broke at 1:50 am and the contractions started from there.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
My contractions were 1-2 minutes apart for a long time. I was mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted. It ended up being 17 hours drug free, but my little one was sunny side and I was stuck at 3 cm. I had to get an epidural, after 3 more hours of labor I had to get an unplanned almost an emergency c-sectioncesarean.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I read a ton of books, watched a lot of YouTube videos, went to several birth classes. I really enjoyed the baby center app and just talking to other mom friends to get real insight.
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What surprised you about your birth?
That nothing went according to my perfect natural plan! I tried for a very long time drug free doing everything I could to get him to come out but he was just not having it. The epidural was scary, and a cesarean was my absolute last resort. When I went back to the OR, I was shaking so bad from a combination of nerves and drugs. I'm very thankful for my supportive husband who kept a strong face the whole time while I cried like crazy.
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Even though you may have this perfect plan sometimes things don't go your way. It does not mean you are failure in any way, sometimes you have to flexible in going a different route that's the safest method to ultimately getting the same result-a healthy baby and a healthy you.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
During the drug free part of my labor I used a combination of deep breathing, rolling on the yoga ball, sitting on the toilet, and leaning against the sink. I had some major back labor so the best pain relief was a heat pack and massage, I had my support people alternate between both of those. I actually had quite a few people in my labor room (my husband, my mom, my dad, my grandma, my mother in law, and my doula) I found it super comforting to have them there supporting me, they would tell me stories and keep me laughing, it kept my mind off things especially towards the end when nothing was going my way and I felt like a failure, they were all there to support me and show me love.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I ended up having to get an unplanned almost emergency cesarean. Although during labor I found the two best positions were making the bed look like a chair (dropping the front, raising the back-it gave the feeling of sitting on the ball but with back support) and leaning over the back of the bed in a kneeling position.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It felt completly unreal! I had so many emotions. I felt exhausted, sore, drained, and joyful. I was still shaking from the drugs. I was in a type of euphoria, i couldn't believe it was done, I was finally holding my precious little boy after a very exhausting 24 hours.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
I may not have gotten the complete natural birth but i did labor natural for a very long time. My best advice would be that even though you may have this perfect plan sometimes things don't go your way. It does not mean you are failure in any way, sometimes you have to flexible in going a different route that's the safest method to ultimately getting the same result-a healthy baby and a healthy you.
