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When did you realize you were really in labor?
This was actually the tricky part for me. My previous labors started, progressed, and ended with a baby. This time I had 2 weeks of contractions that would start, go on for a couple of hours and then stop. Although that is common and perfectly normal (as my books reminded me) it totally threw me off! At 8 days "overdue" I was in a hospital for a non-stress test (which was a huge debacle of inexperienced nurses and took way too long!), and I knew the contractions were not stopping this time. We had to request to leave in the middle of it so I could drive 40 minutes to the birth center. Did I mention my contractions were 2 minutes apart? They were. Oh the irony of LEAVING a hospital to have a baby! The doctor allowed it, in a most patronizing way. We later found out he called the birth center and asked my midwife to rule out labor and send me back to the hospital! Idiot.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Hmmmm....I really don't know how to answer this. I've never experienced anything different. For me it is a very natural progression that is manageable. I find myself thinking about what my body is doing (layers of uterine and abdominal muscles contracting to bring the baby out) and just going with it. Plus, I feel like a total rock star after pushing a human out of my body. For the record I believe that all mothers are rock stars, natural birth or not.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Bradley birth classes and The Birth Book by Dr. Sears. Invaluable!!!!
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What surprised you about your birth?
I experienced more discomfort while pushing this baby out. I learned later it was because his fist was right up next to his ginormous head. Awesome.
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Educate yourself (read good books, take good classes) so that you know what is happening and what to expect. This should help to eliminate fear, and keep you from being trapped in the fear-tension-pain cycle (it's a real thing! Look it up.). Relax. Your body was designed to do this. As long as there aren't any complications, you can totally do it! And if there are complications, be thankful that we have doctors and procedures to save the day. You can still have a satisfying birth even if it doesn't end up being natural.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Staying relaxed. For me this goes back to remembering what my body is doing (even visualizing the muscles contacting), accepting it, and not interfering with the process. Also, I like to do water births. The warm water is very relaxing.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Well, I was in a tub, so semi-reclined I guess.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Amazing! I didn't even ask the gender right away, I was too busy crying tears of joy and relief. Actually, I asked a friend to photograph the birth, which I had never done before, because I wanted her to capture this moment. I imagined it to be the Pinterest shot of when the midwife brings the baby up to your chest. I know how I feel in that moment, but I wanted to see it. Lets just say some things should be left unseen and undocumented. I didn't just cry, I sobbed! And it was ugly. I do have some other really great pictures from the day, so it was worth it.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Educate yourself (read good books, take good classes) so that you know what is happening and what to expect. This should help to eliminate fear, and keep you from being trapped in the fear-tension-pain cycle (it's a real thing! Look it up.). Relax. Your body was designed to do this. As long as there aren't any complications, you can totally do it! And if there are complications, be thankful that we have doctors and procedures to save the day. You can still have a satisfying birth even if it doesn't end up being natural.
