Being Accepting Of Whatever Outcome Helped Franzi During Her Hospital Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

I was actually induced so the labor progressed very fast, every stage was quite short. When I thought I was getting into proper labor and finally got into the head space of working through the contractions, with dimmed lights and back rubs by my husband and midwife, it suddenly got very intense very fast. I was kneeling on the floor at the time but started feeling very lightheaded, probably from the pressure on my cervix, so had to lie down on the bed on my side instead. I started pushing not long after!

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

Standing my ground to actually have a natural birth! This was my 3rd child and 4th pregnancy - after a miscarriage at 20 weeks, a Cesarean section due to breech presentation at 2 weeks overdue, and a vaginal birth of a preemie at 27 weeks, I was considered high risk and had quite a lot of medical supervision during this pregnancy. Everything went really well but the baby was breech again and just wouldn't turn. The conventional path in this case would have been an elective cesearian, but I was very passionate about finding a way to have a natural birth and was lucky enough to have an amazing supportive midwife, and an obstetrician who understood how much I wanted this. He suggested doing an ECV, rupturing the membrane and inducing, hoping to turn the baby head down externally and for the head to advance into the pelvis far enough for me to then have a vaginal birth. It worked!!

What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?

Being accepting of whatever outcome. I really wanted a natural birth and took every step possible to achieve it, but also had to let go of too high expectations in case it didn't work out and I ended up in theater again. Acceptance made me feel a lot less stressed.

What surprised you about your birth?

Everything actually worked out as we had planned!

Don't be afraid, our bodies are amazing and we are much stronger than we think.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

Breathing through the pain, squeezing my husband's hands

What position did you end up delivering in?

Lying slightly on my side in bed

How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?

AMAZING!!!!!!!!! A total miracle, out of my body and straight onto my skin. We were never separated.

What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?

Don't be afraid, our bodies are amazing and we are much stronger than we think.