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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I noticed bloody show had started late Thursday night and starting having "cramps" early Friday morning. It took me a few hours to realize my "cramps" were actually contractions.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The transitional part of labor was definitely the most challenging, but I kept expecting it to get worse that it did (pleasant surprise!). I thought I was going to reach a point where the pain was unbearable and I never did. Before I knew it it was time to start pushing.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Educating myself about my body, the process, and what to expect from the hospital staff during and after my baby's delivery was the best way for my husband and myself to prepare. Transition was really hard, but knowing how long to expect each contraction was going to last - and knowing that I'd get a BREAK - really helped me push through and take each contraction one at a time.
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What surprised you about your birth?
It never got as painful as I thought it would. I was really surprised by how well my body handled it. I was able to sit in the shower for over an hour, which probably played a great hand in helping me "relax" as much as I could.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Vocalizing / low moans, how shower, and breathing (blowing steady air as long as I could)
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Reclined in a hospital bed.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Holding my baby for the first time was completely surreal. I thought I would cry and be overwhelmed with emotions, but my mind was so focused on my mission of pushing her out that it was a little hard to shift gears. I couldn't believe she was mine.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Educate yourself as much as you can about your body and what to expect in the place where you're going to deliver. Be willing to be flexible. I walked into the hospital with every intention of giving my body a fair shake at what it is built to do, I worked hard to do it, and I DID do it! But I also kept in mind the possibility that things could go south no matter how well I prepared and worked, and that there was a team of medical professionals who wanted the same outcome as me - healthy mom, healthy baby.
