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When did you realize you were really in labor?
My water broke at 11 AM but contractions didn’t start until the midwife came over and did a membrane sweep at 2 PM and also had me take castor oil. California law says at 42 weeks midwives are not legally allowed to attend me at home birth and we were pushing that deadline so needed to help the baby along.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The intensity of going through transition and an extremely fast escalating birth required mental toughness. From the early contractions until my son was born the total labor was only 2 hours. Despite the intensity; it was vastly preferable (had a hospital unmedicated birth with my daughter previously which was also a positive birth story) to complete this experience from the comfort of our home with full control over my birth from the atmosphere to labor positions to pushing him out in the tub, and then enjoying all the post-op and recovery from the comfort of our bed with no machines, bright lights or IV. The midwife pretty much left my husband and me alone to labor per my request and was just there when we needed her which made the birth intimate, empowering, and enjoyable. After researching the benefits for the baby and myself of a natural vs medicated birth I knew that was the path for both my births and it was worth the challenge hands down.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Definitely research and preparation. I educated myself on what to expect for every detail of the birth process, success strategies for natural/optimal birth, and post-partum/newborn decision-making during my pregnancy both times. The Mama Natural Birth Course course was a great education for both my husband and I during our first pregnancy two years ago and I reviewed the course material and everything on the Mama Natural website again this time and followed all the advice to a tee. From red raspberry leaf tea and dates to strategies for natural induction and all the positive birth stories I’m sure that employing all the education led to an extremely fast intervention, tearing and complication free birth! It was empowering to feel a cause-and-effect relationship between preparation and result. I also used Spinning Babies exercises and education to optimize baby and pelvic positioning and did third-trimester visits to a pregnancy-centric chiropractor and acupuncturist. Finally, I spent significant time spiritually preparing for the mental side of birth (which was huge for me) and made a birth affirmations poster with mostly Bible verses for my husband to read me during labor. That was clutch and kept my mind resolved during the most challenging points such as transition.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How enjoyable and predictable it all was according to my vision for the birth! Women today are always trained to have low expectations about birth and be flexible to avoid disappointment, so for our birth story to follow my heart's desire down to each detail was such a gift from God.
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Research, prepare, and be determined! You must believe you have the strength to make a decision to go natural and resolve to stick to it. Home birth obviously makes the sticking to it part easier for a variety of reasons :).
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Breathing, visualization, smart body positioning like using gravity, reading birth affirmations, and bathtub for transition and pushing. Also sharing the experience with my husband and drawing on his strength and belief in me.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Incredible! It was only 5 minutes of pushing before he was born in the water and peacefully came to my chest and he and I instantly connected.
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What did you name your baby, and why?
Jeremiah William based on the legacy of the prophet Jeremiah in the Bible. William is my husband’s middle name.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Research, prepare, and be determined! You must believe you have the strength to make a decision to go natural and resolve to stick to it. Home birth obviously makes the sticking to it part easier for a variety of reasons :). Understanding the connection between fear and speed of dilation was a light bulb moment for me as a lengthy birth would make it a lot harder to stick with nature I would imagine.
