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When did you realize you were really in labor?
We had 2 false labors where labor started and stopped... Thursday before Holland was born, I went in for my weekly check up and they told me I was 3 cm dilated and having contractions but then they stopped on Friday. My husband wanted me to be prepared that it could go on like this for weeks but luckily on the last and hottest day of July my water broke at 7 pm as soon as I walked in the door and I knew it was go time.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
I pushed for 4 hours before Holland came out so I found the pushing part to be the hardest. It took me a while to give into the contractions and find a pushing rhythm. They think because my bladder was full that's why it took him so long to get around it and I really felt bad for him that he was in the birthing canal for so long. They gave me a mirror so I could see his head and with every contraction it would come out a little but go back up more. I found that to be discouraging and I just wanted him to be out!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
My husband, God bless him, and I too went for a 12 week Bradley class. The birthing techniques we learned were helpful but even more so was everything else we learned about the birthing experience. We were prepared to make quick and educated decisions in the hospital that led us to the exact birthing experience we wanted!
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What surprised you about your birth?
How loud I was! Ha! It was intense and I didn't expect to be so vocal but I think anyone within 50 yards of our delivery room heard my yells. But it was what I had to do to get my baby here! Also, I was pleasantly surprised that the staff at the hospital never even mentioned pain relief to me ONCE! I was so grateful for that (I had written that as a requirement in my birth values) because I'm not sure if the outcome would have been the same had anyone in our delivery room mentioned an epidural during my toughest moments!
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It's totally worth it and you can do it!! Nothing beats that feeling of empowerment and I hope that every female gets to experience it! We were made for this sisters!!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Vocalization! I never thought I would have liked grunting or screaming through the pain but I'm glad we knew it was an option because that's what ended up working for me!
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was in every position possible, except squatting, but when his head was almost out I turned on my back because I wanted them to put him on my chest immediately after and I wanted to see him! My plan was to pull him out myself but his chord was around his neck so they had to cut it.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Sounds cliche but so surreal. I was in astonishment that I had grew this perfect human inside me and pushed him out all on my own. I was so proud and amazed!!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
It's totally worth it and you can do it!! Nothing beats that feeling of empowerment and I hope that every female gets to experience it! We were made for this sisters!! All of it is hard work! From maintaining a healthy pregnancy for 9 months, the dedication to spending your sundays taking birthing class, and of course the labor itself was the hardest thing I had ever done and I thought it would be like competing in a triathlon but it was so much more intense than I ever expected. But, ALL WORTH IT! Our son is now 5 weeks old, breastfeeding like a pro, sleeping through the night and the only time we hear him fuss is when he's hungry. I wouldn't say we got lucky, we worked hard for this! We believe the way he was brought into this work plays a huge role in his content and happy demeanor. So for 9 months and 12 hours of hard work, the reward is so much greater!!
