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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I went in for a prenatal visit at 41 weeks and the midwife found that my blood pressure was a little high, which had been recurring towards the end of my pregnancy. So she checked my cervix and found that I was still high and tight. So we decided it was best to head to the hospital where we would start some meds to help start my cervix thinning. She wanted to do three rounds of the med but after just two I was dilating and having regular and strong contractions. So then we stopped all interventions and let labor go as planned.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
For me it’s focusing on something other than the pain. I have trouble remembering to think of the contractions as waves or even breathing through them. But my husband is an awesome help and has done this once before with me and knows how to keep me going strong.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Just watching videos and reading birth stories is a huge help. Knowing what to expect and preparing for it makes the whole thing less of a scary event and more of a wonderful and enjoyable time, even with the pain. I go into birth making sure that I know pain meds aren’t even an option.
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What surprised you about your birth?
The end of birth was a shock this time. I was laboring in the tub and felt my water break, which had never happened naturally for me. Within 20 minutes I felt him coming out. There was no stopping. My midwife wasn’t there yet and the nurses said not to push because I wasn’t fully dilated. I kept telling them that he was coming whether I pushed or not. They all started panicking and pulled me out of the tub and into the bed where he was born 5 minutes later with one push. I pushed him out at 8 centimeters dilated and had no tears. He was ready to get out of there after spending 41 long weeks inside.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
My husband applying pressure to my hips, the labor tub, and deep moaning sounds during contractions.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my back but sitting up a little
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Magic. There’s no other way to describe having a baby. It is literally magic. After all the time you spend wondering who they’ll be and what they’ll look like, and then they’re on your chest and they’re perfect and lovely. It’s magic.
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How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
The best part for me was letting me know the options for after the birth. Things like deciding on circumcision, vitamin k, and eye ointment. Knowing that hat you can decline or postpone was helpful. Also the birth videos and stories.
