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When did you realize you were really in labor?
About 24 hours in contractions shifted from interesting to "Holy Wow, I need someone to Help me".
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The complete unknown of going natural, at home, as a first-time mom. You truly have to have faith in yourself, your baby and your birth team.
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Jdtu
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I immersed myself in natural birth culture. I listened to birth stories, read Ina May Gaskins books repeatedly and attended a natural birth class. Choosing a Great midwife was crucial too.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I expected that at the peak of labor I would get feral and bitchy... apparently even in transition when my body was fighting & my daughter was a bit stuck I still said Please and was polite to my birth team.
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Have people you trust you and don't be afraid to embrace your raw power, the loved ones supporting you will be 100% ok with however that looks for you.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I Loved the birth pool, hot shower and my husbands loving support.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Hands and knees with my right leg up kind of in a lunge to open my pelvis. Our little girl was a bit stuck and that gave me a better angle to Roar her out into the world.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
There are no words... Epic, Life changing, Raw, Emotional, So Wonderful...
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Have Options, you will need different things at different times and birth is Wonderfully unpredictable. I thought I would labor and birth in the pool but our little Aislinn needed help finding her way out so we moved to the bed where my midwife could coach me through position changes and that's ultimately where we birthed her.
Rest as much as possible in early labor and Eat what you can, when you can, as long as you can. Have people you trust you and don't be afraid to embrace your raw power, the loved ones supporting you will be 100% ok with however that looks for you.
