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When did you realize you were really in labor?
As with my first 2 I always question if I'm really in labor until it's confirmed. So I pretty much knew I was when I was up for a few hours with contractions but really realized it once I was checked at the hospital.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
This birth was challenging because my son was posterior and, once he was born we realized, he had a very big head! So I had a lot of back labor with this birth. That and the hospital didn't allow birthing in the tub, only laboring. I had given birth to my second in water and knew how much it had helped, so I think having that lingering thought that just when the "hard" part came they were going to take me out of the water kind of messed up my mental focus. That, and I had chosen two doulas that were in my mom's group. Having women I knew, who had both had many rock star natural home births by the way, but wasn't all that close or comfortable with almost made me feel like I was having to perform almost. I would recommend if you have doulas either have people you don't know at all outside of being your doula, or someone you really feel comfortable around.
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Richbirth_150
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I used hypnobirthing and I swear by it! I also did do some Bradley exercises which I think really helped.
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What surprised you about your birth?
The pain of back labor! I had never had it before and it really was grueling! That and when I felt the urge to push I could tell it was "different" than my last two because I could feel that it was going to hurt worse. He was 9 lbs. 8 oz. and had a very large head, so that was why!
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Definitely choose who you have in the room wisely. It's hard to keep your concentration in the moment when you have people in there you are not fully comfortable around!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
The doulas applied pressure to my hips and back which helped the back labor a lot. Being in water was also very helpful.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was on my knees.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
SO amazing! This birth was so anticipated by everyone in our family and to finally hold my little boy was just surreal.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Definitely choose who you have in the room wisely. It's hard to keep concentration in the moment when you have people in there you are not fully comfortable around!
