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When did you realize you were really in labor?
My first early sign of labor was prodromal at 11:40 PM, followed by timetable and consistent contractions at 2 AM.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Overall, but not specific to the actual birth, the MOST challenging thing about going natural was the negativity and unsolicited advice from others.
Specific to labor and delivery, the greatest challenge was simply the great unknown of the experience (ftm). If you want to run a marathon you can prepare by running and then on race day, you run. But, in preparing for a natural birth, you can do a variety of things to prepare, but you cannot simulate or practice the actual experience of a natural birth before it is happening.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Mental Prep: A LOT of research - Mama Natural Birth Course, Mama Natural Book and online articles, reading the Ina May's Guide to Childbirth book, and positive thinking and self-talk.
Physical Prep: Consistent Nutrition and Exercise - Healthy eating, RRLT, Gentle Birth Supplement, Cardio (stairmaster and walking), Flexibility - yoga, foam rolling, hip opening stretches, stability ball sitting and bouncing, prenatal exercises
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What surprised you about your birth?
How fast it was!
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All of the information and education it gave helped to prepare me. The comfort measures and videos of positive natural birth experiences were especially helpful.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Breathing, relaxed jaw and open hands, hip squeezes and counter pressure on lower back, and warm bath
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Seated and leaned back in a bathtub
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
There are no words to describe such a feeling. But if there is anything that can be said about it, we waited to name our baby girl until after we met her and we named her "Nora", meaning 'God is Awesome' in the Hebrew text.
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How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
All of the information and education it gave helped to prepare me. The comfort measures and videos of positive natural birth experiences were especially helpful.
