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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I had prodromal labor for a couple of days after my waters broke so I knew then on that it began. We had to naturally induce my labor because my contractions were irregular and not intensifying. Shortly after, my contractions got intense and got closer together.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Not knowing how the pain was going to feel and if I can handle it or not.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Over all, keeping my faith in God that He made me capable of delivering my little one naturally. I wrote out a lot of bible scriptures that I wanted to remember. I drew them out as well and pinned them on my walls of my bedroom. My husband and I were constantly praying about the birth and all the it entailed. We talked about what he can do to help me during the birth, which helped a lot when it all went down. Read my bible, a lot of Psalms :) We also attended a childbirth class that was informational and loads of fun. Read some birth books. Watched A LOT of birth videos :) Asked a lot of mamas about the experienced with childbirth. My (amazing!) birth team answered a lot of questions that both my husband and I had.
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What surprised you about your birth?
Well first all, we didn't know what the gender of the baby was. So that certainly was a surprise:) I thought it was going to be a boy ;) What also surprised me was how natural it was for my body to work with baby to birth her. We baked two cakes for baby's birth day. One blue one and a pink one. We ate the pink one ;)
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It was amazing! All I could say when she came out was, "Praise God, thank you God!"
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Deep breathing through my contractions. Praying in the midst of the pain. My husband was constantly in prayer while helping through the pain. He read me the bible scriptures I wrote down and that helped distract me from the pain. Utilizing the techniques we learned in our childbirth class. My birth team (shout out to Amy, Makenna and Carly!) also helped with talking me through the pain.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was trying to deliver on my hand and knees with my birth ball. I kept switching from that position to squatting to lying down. I delivered in a in between of side-lying and on my back .
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was amazing! All I could say when she came out was, "Praise God, thank you God!". The little one that I conversed with in the womb, that I constantly was praying for was here. Wondering with my husband and with God how he or she would be like. She was finally in my arms. It was perfect!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
You are capable of doing this! Do not doubt yourself. I really believe the comfort of the Holy Spirit comes when you choose to trust in Him and His promises. The pain we feel is a part of each of us, our bodies working to birth our little ones. Trust in God that He will supply the strength and wisdom you need for this amazing experience. Believe that your body can do it! One scripture we all should know is John 16:21, "Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world."
