-
When did you realize you were really in labor?
At 5:15 AM I just had that “feeling” of today is the day I’m going to have my baby, but my first contractions didn’t start until 8:30 AM, but they weren’t painful and 10-15 minutes apart. So really when it truly hit me that I was in labor was about 3:00 PM when the contractions all of a sudden jumped to being 4 minutes apart and me having the need to focus breathing through them.
-
What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Really for me, since it was my second baby that I planned on going natural, I knew it was really mentally challenging and so to me the most challenging part is mentally telling yourself that you are strong and that you can do it!
-
9DC73E60-20FC-4239-A435-F371BC371776
-
What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I was faithful on drinking Red Raspberry Leaf tea, starting at 32 weeks and then drinking the “Labor Day” tea for 6 days straight (starting 2 days before due date and ending on the day I was in labor) I really believe that helped in a quick delivery.
-
What surprised you about your birth?
How fast it went, at 3:45 PM my contractions got intense (yet not really painful) and jumped to 2 minutes apart. By time my husband and I got to the hospital, we checked in at 4:25 PM and our midwife got us in a room and my water broke and our son was born at 5:00 PM!
-
You’ve totally got this, find an awesome person to encourage you (for me it was my husband) and just know that you were made to have a baby, trust your instincts, find a breathing pattern and focus on that and just know that it’s totally worth it.
-
What pain relief strategies worked best?
Constant breathing and telling myself that this is temporary, and it’s all worth it in the end. Plus after going through a natural birth, you kinda feel like Superwoman!
-
What position did you end up delivering in?
I started on my knees, but after my water broke I moved to laying on my right side to deliver our baby!!
-
How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Unbelievable, I’m pretty certain I cried out of joy for the first 5 minutes, but it was definitely love at first sight!
-
What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
You’ve totally got this, find an awesome person to encourage you (for me it was my husband) and just know that you were made to have a baby, trust your instincts, find a breathing pattern and focus on that and just know that it’s totally worth it.
