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When did you realize you were really in labor?
At 2:15am when I was having cramps like I needed to poop and stood up to go to the bathroom and felt a small gush of fluid! My water had started to break but would end up needing to be completely ruptured by hospital staff many hours later.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The mental game. The physical pain/pressure was intense and I was more exhausted than I thought I'd be but the emotional and mental roller coaster was somewhat surprising. I would cry or sob intermittently and was really grumpy several times. Definitely didn't have a filter lol.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Educating myself thoroughly on all stages of labor, knowing what was normal and what wasn't, and knowing how to advocate for myself.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How long labor ended up being from start to finish - 33hrs!
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I really feel like Mama Natural gave me the strength and clarity to question the staff, understand what was happening, and make the decisions necessary for a safe, vaginal delivery.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Vocalizing wasn't something I thought I'd do but it helped a lot. It helped give me something to focus on during contractions and kept me from holding my breath.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my back but sort of in a crunch position - pulling myself up by grabbing my thighs.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Incredible! I couldn't believe I was finally done and that we had a baby girl. We chose not to know the sex until delivery so it was a fun surprise once she came out to finally know!
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How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
Mama Natural really gave me the strength to ask questions and be open with the birthing staff. Our birth didn't go as planned - after hours and hours, the rest of my membranes needed to be ruptured by the midwife and when that happened, the baby moved into a sunny side up position. They continued to let me push because I'd made it clear that I wanted a natural vaginal birth. Eventually, in order to fulfill that wish, I had to receive an epidural so that the baby could be turned manually. While my husband and I felt that defeat and definitely grieved it right there on the table as everything was being prepped, I really feel like Mama Natural gave me the strength and clarity to question the staff, understand what was happening, and make the decisions necessary for a safe, vaginal delivery.
