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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I had been in early labor since Friday, contractions had been less than 5 minutes apart for days but I was having no cervical change. Tuesday evening, contractions because much more intense, about 2 minutes apart, I lost my mucus plug, and I couldn’t talk through contractions. That’s when I knew it was time to go!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
I had horrible back labor even tho I had done spinning babies (I have some lumbar problems because of a birth defect). My labor was extremely intense. Contractions were 2 minutes apart lasting a minute and a half the entire time I was at the hospital (no, there was no Pitocin involved). I just didn’t get a break! Then when it was finally time to push, my cervix had swollen so baby’s head could not pass. My doctor had to manually push my cervix over baby’s head and that’s when I literally felt like I was going to die. After the cervix was moved, 3 pushes later and my baby boy was here.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I took so many classes, read so many books, and listened to so many natural childbirth stories. I think if I had not had the “complications” I had, it would have been a better experience. But as prepared as I was, that pain, nothing you can do can prepare you for your first time.
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What surprised you about your birth?
Once he was finally born, all the pain was instantly gone. Like, for days I had been writing in pain and then all of the sudden, BAM, it was over. Adrenaline was through the roof!
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You can do it. Stick to your guns and have labor support that understand how you want it and why you want it that way!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Nothing really helped with my pain levels. It was too intense and I just couldn’t get myself to focus. Having my mom and my nurse to literally get in my face and make me focus on them and remind me to “breathe for the baby” was the only way I made it through.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I delivered in a semi-reclined position.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Absolutely magical. He is my rainbow baby. I tried for almost 4 years and had two miscarriages and a year of fertility treatments to get pregnant and stay pregnant. He made it all worth it.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
DO YOUR RESEARCH! You can do it. Stick to your guns and have labor support that understand how you want it and why you want it that way!
