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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I woke up around 3 in the morning having some soft contractions that were about a minute long and 5 minutes apart. When I got up to call the midwife they became way more sporadic, but I knew I was was in labor.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The intensity!! It is so overwhelming, and there is a moment during each birth that I have felt like I just couldn't do it any more, but I always do
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
During my first 2 pregnancies I took classes. The Bradley Method with one and Hypnobabies with the other. I felt like a slacker during this pregnancy because I didn't take any classes, but I feel like the things I learned in those classes really helped me this time too, especially the relaxation and using low tones when I felt like I needed to make noise.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I had a very sporadic early labor and a very fast active labor.
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It was so amazing!! I hadn't felt the rush people talk about getting the moment the baby is born, but I really felt it this time! And it seemed to last for days.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
1. Water
2. My midwife put a ton of pressure on my knees during contractions.
3. Using my voice. Low tones and singing
4. Cool pack on my back
5. Later in labor I used nitrous oxide
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Semi sitting with my husband sitting behind me.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was so amazing!! I hadn't felt the rush people talk about getting the moment the baby is born, but I really felt it this time! And it seemed to last for days.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Find a Midwife or Doctor that you trust to help you have the birth you want. I feel like the reason this birth was so amazing was that I had total trust in my midwives and they had total trust in my body.
