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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I wasn't able to have a natural childbirth because my little one was breech. I ended up having to have a c-section and come to find out, the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Since I can't answer about going natural, I will say that the most difficult thing about having an unplanned c section is that I prepared the entire pregnancy to go natural. It was super disappointing after trying every possible thing to get her to turn and still ending up in the hospital. But after the doc told us that the cord was around her neck, I felt more at ease for going that route. I declined the ECV because my gut told me not to do it. I'm so grateful that my doula and midwife had my back and didn't pressure me to get it. I would have ended up with an emergency c section and wouldn't have been able to at least do a few things on my birth plan like immediate skin on skin.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
The most helpful thing I did was entrust the help of a midwife and doula. They not only helped me during my pregnancy but were at the hospital before and after she was born and have made several house calls to make sure we are doing well.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I didn't think that I would be so out of it during the surgery and even the rest of that day. The spinal made me feel like I wasn't breathing and the anesthesiologist had to keep telling me that I was ok. It was an out of body experience that I never want to have again.
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The Facebook groups have given me so much support through this transition that I don't know what I would do without it.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Since I wasn't able to go medicine free, I wasn't able to rely on the strategies that I was taught and wanted to use.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
C-Section
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was super intense but also very blurry because I was still feeling spinal. I really couldn't believe that she was here and in my arms. My Son was crying and I wasn't able to fully experience the emotions due to the meds.
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How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
Even though things didn't go accordingly to plan, the classes prepared me for all possible outcomes and even now, the Facebook groups have given me so much support through this transition that I don't know what I would do without it.
