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When did you realize you were really in labor?
After sleeping through the night as much as possible with contractions. I woke up to a strong contraction at 5:30 am. The baby kicked me hard and I felt a pop and some fluid leak. My water had broke!!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The anticipation was hard for me. My first 2 labors and births were very difficult and long-I was mentally preparing for labor. I worried about it way more than I should have. The physical challenge was transition but it was manageable because everything happened so fast.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I stayed as active as possible by continuing to attend group fitness classes (especially throughout my second trimester when I felt the best). I did squats and spinning babies exercises. I drank red raspberry leaf tea starting in my second trimester and ate 6 dates everyday starting at 36 weeks. I also practiced breathing techniques to use when labor started, I did this by practicing yoga.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I was so surprised how fast and dare I say "easy" the baby came. I was prepared for 10 plus hours of labor and could not believe he was in the world just 2.5 hours after my water broke.
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It sounds so cliche, but trust your body. When things get hard you are usually so close to meeting your beautiful baby.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
For me when labor becomes really tough the only thing that gets me through is focused breathing. From our house to the birth center we had an hour and half drive. I spent the drive in transition listening to a birthing CD we thankfully had in the car from the birth center water birth class. I was able to breath through contractions and almost "sing" with the music as contractions became closer together and stronger.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
We arrived at the birth center at about 7:40 am. The midwife and nurses were waiting in the parking lot for us to arrive and listen to baby. Between the car and the doors to the building I had 2 contractions. I delivered the baby at 8:00 am. I delivered him on all fours. I could not imagine laying down through contractions or to push. My midwife was amazing about coaching me through the delivery, she really helped me to make the most out of each contraction. I only pushed about 4 or 5 times before he was born.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
I was so grateful and totally in love!! We had made it to the birth center just in time to deliver a perfect baby. I was also relieved that he came so fast and could not believe that he was here already.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
It sounds so cliche, but trust your body. When things get hard you are usually so close to meeting your beautiful baby. I just focused on meeting our baby and the end result is so worth the struggle and pain. We were made for this!
