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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I was 40 weeks 4 days and when I went to bed I had very mild lower belly pain, similar to period cramps. I woke up around midnight and decided to go lay on the couch because I was tossing and turning in bed. As I was laying in the couch the pain was getting slightly worse and I finally realized it might be contractions, so I timed a few and sure enough they started to get closer together and more intense. I finally woke my husband up at 4:00 am and told him I was pretty sure we were going to have a baby that day!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging part was definitely the pain of the contractions, just before getting ready to push. This was my first baby, so I had no idea what to expect. Luckily, things went quick. We checked into the hospital at 7:30am and our baby boy was born at 10:57 am, after 10 minutes of pushing. I was worried about giving birth in the hospital, but The hospital staff was supportive of me going natural without any meds.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I did a lot of research and we took several childbirth classes, so I had a lot of information. I also tried to stay active throughout my pregnancy. The last couple of weeks I only had energy to walk and do squats, but I think even that helped my labor.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I was very surprised how quickly everything went. I was shocked I only had to push for 10 minutes!
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Be committed and have a good birth partner. There were several times during labor I didn't think I could physically continue. My husband reminded me what I wanted and I didn't let myself even entertain the idea of getting pain meds, otherwise I could have easily given in to getting some relief.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
My nurse suggested I use the jet tub in my hospital room. I hadn't even considered using it but it was the best decision! When I was in the tub I could actually relax between contractions, rather than staying tense. I spent most of my labor in the tub.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Laying on the bed, with my back semi-inclined.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was amazing, of course. I also remember telling my husband, " I did it! Our baby is finally here!" All the pain went away almost immediately.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Be committed and have a good birth partner. There were several times during labor I didn't think I could physically continue. My husband reminded me what I wanted and I didn't let myself even entertain the idea of getting pain meds, otherwise I could have easily given in to getting some relief.
