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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I didn't go into labor until 42.5 weeks. My husband and I strongly wanted a natural birth but were experiencing a lot of pressure from our midwifery team to induce. They conducted two cervical exams and each time informed that my cervix was tight and closed and that his head hadn't fully engaged (which was discouraging and unnecessary). From that point forward I refused cervical exams. Regardless, I was not experiencing any Braxton Hicks contractions or even remote signs that labor was near.
Once we hit the 42nd week they were pushing harder for induction and I requested that we wait until the end of the week. They scheduled an induction for that Thursday and then my husband and I went home and tried every trick in the book to get labor started-- castor oil, long walks, spicy foods. Nothing worked.
That Thursday I woke up and noticed some spotting. I knew that things were starting to move forward naturally and that he was coming soon! We arrived at the hospital later that evening and they gave me Cervadil to prepare my cervix for induction the next morning. At 1 AM I woke up to the feeling of the bed shaking. I searched for a button to turn off the "vibrate" function on the hospital bed and realized that it was my body that was shaking. I tried to go back to sleep but my lower back was in pain and I realized that I was experiencing contractions every 5-7 minutes. I woke up husband up and informed him that he wouldn't be sleeping that night!
My water did not break until I reached the transition point of my labor (right before pushing!) but my contractions were strong enough and consistent enough that I knew we were in full labor.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging part about going natural was convincing our family and friends to be on board! My family was concerned for my wellbeing, my husband's parents were skeptical and thought it was an outdated approach to childbirth and our friends had plenty of horror stories to share.
Near the end of my pregnancy, I became firm about not wanting to hear negative stories thinking but was disappointed when each appointment with my midwifery team became centered around how "overdue" our baby was. I knew that first-time pregnancies often went over and that we were safe to wait (based on my health and the health of the baby), but the midwives increased their pressure and urgency each time we spoke.
At the beginning of the 42nd week I got a stern, "we will go to 42.5 and no later." Additionally, the ultrasound technician gave the old "you have a large baby" and the midwife said, "you may not be able to birth this child-- his size may be why he's not engaging." Regaining the trust in my body and my baby was a *big* challenge but I felt certain that he was not too large.
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august
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
The most helpful things I did to prepare for childbirth were:
- Read positive birth stories, watch positive birth stories and think positively about labor
- Walk (a lot!).
- Research natural birthing and prepare for how and when interventions might arise and how to decline them
- Attend a Hypnobirthing class (this truly gave me the breathing techniques and mindfulness to manage the contractions)
- Include my partner in each stage of pregnancy and prepare him for the labor
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What surprised you about your birth?
The most surprising part of birth was how challenging I found the pushing stage to be. The laboring was hard but I felt that I could manage each contraction with deep focus and breathing. By the time I reached the pushing stage I was exhausted and I remember saying to the midwife, "I don't know how to push. What do I do?" She encouraged me to find a comfortable position and to just follow my instincts.
I'd always heard that your body will naturally push and that you don't need to force it-- but I was surprised by just how true this was. I was able to rest and semi-nap between contractions and when each contraction came, my body would naturally bring him down.
I'd also heard that pushing was a relief for many laboring mamas-- but I found it to be the most challenging part of birthing.
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Trust your body! Bring an advocate to your appointments and don't give in to scare tactics that aren't based in your reality.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
The most effective pain relief strategies for me were:
- Walking! It was very important for me to be able to move around without being hooked up to monitors or an IV. I paced around the birthing suite for a majority of the labor
- Hypnobirthing breathing techniques. I recalled my hypnobirthing instructor telling us that each contraction only lasted approximately 4 deep breaths. I found this to be true and it made the contractions feel surmountable. I also imagined myself climbing over a large boulder and coming down the other side as each contraction subsided.
- I saved the bathtub until I was reaching transition. I wasn't aware that I was entering into transition but my midwife could tell by my behavior and encouraged me to give it a try. It was the first time I was able to get little bits of rest and was very therapeutic and calming.
- It was important for me to be left relatively alone during the birthing process. My husband and birth team respected my personal bubble and were there to give me occasional verbal support.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I ended up delivering on my back with my legs up and my arms pulling on a cloth hanging from above. I tried squatting but my legs turned purple and they had to reposition me. I pushed for about 45 minutes to 1 hour on my back.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It felt completely euphoric and magical to hold him for the first time! I remember just feeling him against me and knowing that he was completely healthy and strong-- I didn't feel the need to look him over; it was just his presence against me. There has never been a more beautiful moment in my life.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Trust your body! Bring an advocate to your appointments and don't give in to scare tactics that aren't based in your reality.
