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When did you realize you were really in labor?
When my contractions went from 7 to 5 to 2 minutes a part in the span of about 60 minutes.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging part was deciding to have a home birth and mentally preparing for that. Once labor started I knew it was the big day/event I had prepared for and all I needed to do was breathe, let go, and let my body get to work.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Prepare my birth space with items for me, my baby, and my birth team and select a midwife team that I was comfortable with and trusted fully.
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What surprised you about your birth?
A few things surprised me about my birth; one was how much I threw up, two was how quick I went from contractions every 2-3 minutes to transition to my body pushing, three was how short of a time transition and pushing actually were (30 minutes total), four was that the only time where the pain really felt almost unbearable was transition (not pushing or actual delivery), and five was how incredible I felt after delivery... nothing compares to that true oxytocin high.
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Believe you can do it and surround yourself with people who will tell you how strong and capable you are, and enjoy the incredible experience that birth is!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Bouncing on a birth ball, swaying back and forth while leaning forward pressing on the wall while my husband squeeze my hips with counter pressure, getting in the birth tub was heavenly.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Frog position in the birth tub leaning forward onto my husband's shoulders.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It felt like pure magical relief and euphoria.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Breathe nice and slow, believe you can do it and surround yourself with people who will tell you how strong and capable you are, and enjoy the incredible experience that birth is!
