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When did you realize you were really in labor?
My water broke like a balloon popping (I actually felt like I heard it pop) about 4 pm while I was taking a nap, which woke me up and by 4:45, I was having contractions 1 to 3 minutes apart. I thought I'd shower and finish getting ready for the hospital, but I progressed extremely quickly and we ended up calling an ambulance because we live in a very rural area.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging thing was overcoming the pain mentally. I had a lot of great support in the room with me constantly talking to me and reminding me to breath and to slow down my breathing. Since my labor started and progressed so quickly, we ended up going to a hospital 30 minutes away instead of our chosen hospital over an hour away. I didn't think I could handle the drive and I was afraid she was coming too quickly, which I was correct. We got to the hospital by ambulance at 6:20 and I was 4 cm and then within 45 minutes I was at 10 cm and ready to push. They couldn't get an IV in me (even though they tried many times). My doula finally talked the doctor into just letting me push and get the baby out because the doctor was so intent on getting an IV in, but the baby was ready to come out!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I read only Ina May, Mama Natural and Supernatural Childbirth books so that I had positive information and reinforcement that my body was made for this. I prayed for God to guide me and to guide my body to do what it needed. I drank red raspberry leaf tea and ate dates. I walked and I rested as much as possible.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I was surprised by how quickly it progressed for me. My water broke at 4 pm and she was born at 8:28 pm. I actually couldn't believe I didn't pass out or puke from the pain, both of which I had myself prepared for. (I know stupid, but it's true) I really wanted some pain medicine or an epidural when it came right down to it because I was in a lot of pain, but that wasn't an option because of how fast it happened. I believe that God did that to me because that's what I needed to actually do it naturally!! And, you really do forget pretty quickly how painful those few moments really are. I had severe tearing and getting stitched up after birth was more uncomfortable to me than the birth. Maybe because the birth came so naturally...like you just know what to do and you can feel what your body needs, but getting stitched up after was not natural!
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Your body was made for this, so believe in yourself and surround yourself with a good support team that will help guide you and advise you. It's so worth being totally cognoscente of what's going on!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I didn't have a lot of time to explore all I had read about, nor was I able to get out of my bed. Unfortunately I was laying on my back and super uncomfortable. My sister-in-law rubbed my lower back/hip area as she could and that helped a ton during the contractions. The doctor also had asked me to get more on my right hip because of the baby's heart rate improving in that position, so that made the hips hurt worse.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my back holding my legs myself is how she finally came out.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was so overwhelming to hold her for the first time. I look at the pictures from delivery and I can't believe I did it and I can see the pain and the relief/exhaustion on my face throughout the experience.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Your body was made for this, so believe in yourself and surround yourself with a good support team that will help guide you and advise you. It's so worth being totally cognoscente of what's going on!
