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When did you realize you were really in labor?
After having contractions at home on and off for almost 24 hours, my contractions never got closer together than 3 minutes and I never got into a real pattern. It wasn't until I actually felt an urge to push while laying on my couch that I knew it was real. Even then, I had my doubts that it would be any time soon! I was convinced my contractions weren't strong enough to be active labor. When I got to the hospital, I was complete and had to actually fight the urge to push until the midwife got there--it was about 5 minutes and 3 pushes after the midwife walked in that baby was born.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
I knew I wanted to be in the hospital to have a peace of mind with my first baby but I also knew it would be super tempting because I'd have access to interventions readily available. When I would tell someone I was going to have an unmedicated birth, they would sometimes make me feel like I would ask for an epidural as soon as I got to the hospital so I had a fear throughout pregnancy that I wouldn't have enough will power to refuse pain relief! The biggest battle was getting in the right mindset and actually believing I'd be able to do it!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Getting in the right mindset is what really helped. I listened to birth stories of other women which helped me realize all births are different and it's okay if my plans don't pan out exactly--as long as everyone is safe in the end. I also read and relaxed and imagined my birth and played out positive scenarios in my head. Exercises to position baby were also something that helped my labor go smoothly. I would do inversions and spinning babies to encourage her to stay head down and face down! My husband and I also practiced coping mechanisms like counter pressure and deep breathing--he was as prepared as I was and that ended up being all the pain relief I needed!
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What surprised you about your birth?
It was actually peaceful and enjoyable. Being able to work through contractions at home and take naps and get my mind off of things made for a day that I look back on as one of my favorite days with my husband. It doesn't have to be a scary, medical procedure--it can be beautiful and enjoyable. I waited for the pain to become unbearable and for me to become miserable but it never happened. Everyone's experiences are so different but I never imagined such an enjoyable one was possible.
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Don't just focus on the physical aspects of having a smooth labor, really focus on being positive and relaxing. Have fun in the days leading up to your due date instead of just waiting--go on dates and hang out with family and friends. Be positive and know that everything you're going to go through is what your body was made to do and be in awe of that fact!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Even with the less powerful contractions, I made a somewhat obnoxious ghost-like moaning noise as I exhaled. My husband still makes fun of me for it but it helped open me up and relax more than I could have imagined. I would often lean over my birth ball and moan while my husband would use a scarf and apply pressure to my lower back.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was on my back when my midwife walked in the room and she asked if I wanted to change positions. At that point I had been wanting to push so badly that I could have pushed anywhere. She mentioned moving to my side and I rolled to the right without a second thought. I'm not sure if it's because it was the first thing she suggested or if my body was doing what was best, but it ended up being perfect.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
My labor was so quick that I was in disbelief for a while. She screamed and screamed louder than I'd ever heard a baby scream and my husband and I just laughed at her for a minute until she calmed down and we got to look at her full head of hair and sweet little face and just stared in awe at how we created such a perfect little human. You wait so long to see them and it takes a while to sink in that they've actually arrived.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Don't just focus on the physical aspects of having a smooth labor, really focus on being positive and relaxing. Have fun in the days leading up to your due date instead of just waiting--go on dates and hang out with family and friends. Be positive and know that everything you're going to go through is what your body was made to do and be in awe of that fact!
