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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I realized I was in Labour about 5 hours before Finley's birth when our midwife arrived and assured me I wasn't just having period cramps! I didn't feel the tightening sensations that I'd been expecting from the contractions and I didn't know what it would be like because of not having any Braxton Hicks.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
My intention was always to give birth without any pain relief but the most challenging thing about going natural was that it was more intense than I was expecting!
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Emily-Lewis-and-Finley
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
My husband and I attended a hypno-birthing course, which was great - during the birth I remembered some(!) of the breathing techniques. Also, YOGA!
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What surprised you about your birth?
Finley's umbilical cord was attached to the membrane instead of the placenta, so it was extremely lucky for the both of us that we had a natural birth, as it could have been fatal had we been induced.
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It was magical - I felt like I already knew him. I was absolutely exhausted but remember feeling so relieved that I had managed to give birth
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
The birthing pool was the only pain relief I had and it was lovely!
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was on my knees in the pool, leaning against the side.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was magical - I felt like I already knew him. I was absolutely exhausted but remember feeling so relieved that I had managed to give birth and that Finley was okay. There was still a chance he could be a girl, but in the very early days of pregnancy, (before my husband and I took a test), we had been told by a lovely astrologer in a cafe that we were pregnant and having a boy, so it wasn't too much of a surprise!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
You can do it! Your body and your baby knows what to do. If you can, join a pregnancy yoga class, a hypnobirthing course and if you like water, get a birthing pool!
