Doing Guided Meditation Helped Emily During Her Hospital Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

When we got to the hospital. I had been having contractions on and off for days. On my due date I had an appointment where my midwife announced that I was 1cm dilated and did a membrane sweep. After that, I got a massage with acupressure and then went on a long walk with my husband and dog. With all of this, I started having contractions around 5:30pm. I started timing them but they were never regular. At around 10pm I called my midwife and she suggested distraction and relaxation. I tried the tub but that did not help so instead we put on a movie. By the end of the movie I could not talk through contractions anymore. We decided to go to the hospital but because they were so irregular I thought for sure they were going to send me home. At triage they checked me and I was 5cm dilated. They started getting ready to check us in and that’s when I realized it was really happening.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

Mentally getting through it. There were multiple times when I was certain I was not going to be able to do it. I was exhausted and in pain and wanted it to just stop. I had to focus on staying present in the moment instead of thinking about how much longer I had to go.

What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?

I started doing guided meditation halfway through my second trimester and it helped me stay focused on both the present and my breathing. I also wanted to be as informed as possible so I read everything I could about childbirth. Reading Mama Natural and a book called Made for This helped convince me that my body could handle this.

What surprised you about your birth?

Honestly, that I did it. I was not completely opposed to interventions I just wanted to see what I could do on my own. By the time I wanted to “give up” I was ready to push and the only way to end it was to go through it.

Make sure to surround yourself with a supportive team. My midwife, nurse and husband were completely on board with letting me decide what I needed and when.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

Three major things come to mind. My husband did a really good job of supporting me and helping me relax in between contractions I even nodded off between a few as they started spacing out after transition. My midwife also helped with counter-pressure during some back labor and helped me move my hips to flip him into a good position. Finally, I went through transition on the toilet which totally helped me relax the rest of my body.

How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?

It was a blur. I ended up hemorrhaging so it went from “Oh my gosh here he is.” to a million people in the room and some chaos. Through it all I was able to keep holding him though and it helped ground me in the midst of some of that pain and fear.

What did you name your baby, and why?

We named him Samuel Andrew. Samuel because he is the child we prayed unceasingly for and Andrew after my husband’s cousin.

What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?

Make sure to surround yourself with a supportive team. My midwife, nurse and husband were completely on board with letting me decide what I needed and when. My hospital also had a “low stim high touch” room designed to help moms looking for a more natural birth experience. It was awesome and empowering to know it was all about listening to my body and my wants.