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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I had Braxton Hicks starting the morning of January 1st. They did not go away so I stayed alert. At 9 p.m. I started feeling very crampy and they were happening every 7-10 minutes. I knew active labor was starting at that point. It was just so different from the Braxton Hicks and I just knew that it was labor. My biggest fear was that I wouldn't know if I was in labor or not but I did without a doubt!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
For me the most challenging thing about going natural was the crap I got from other people. They all had an opinion about my pregnancy and birth and they were appalled that I was going natural. It was really hard to just shut my mouth and to stay kind and positive through everyone's opinions.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Pray! The biggest thing that helped me prepare for birth was prayer. Also, taking a childbirth class helped my husband and I tremendously. I highly recommend finding a natural birthing class.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I was told by my midwife (and almost everyone I know) that usually first time moms will be in labor for a very long time. My midwife told me she usually plans for a minimum of 24 hours for first time moms. Well.... my entire birth was 5.5 hours. I knew I was in labor starting around 9. It got extremely intense and 5 minutes apart at 10:30. I showed up the birthing center at 11:30 dilated at a 2. My midwife got me set up in a room and got everything ready and then went to take a nap because she thought it would be a while. I labored in the shower for a while, then I walked around, then at about 1:30 I got in the tub. I got out of the tub at 2 a.m. and started bleeding so my husband woke the midwife up. She checked me thinking I wouldn't have changed much, if any. To everyone's surprise I was dilated at a 9.5 and ready to push. I pushed for 16 minutes and my little girl came out. I laugh now because I heard the midwife say, look daddy she's crowning and then "oh sh$^#%^t" and she came out all in one push, with her hand on her head (so yeah, mommy tore). It was so fast but so beautiful and not what I had expected at all!
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When you get to the other side you feel the strongest you will ever feel. Natural birth was the best thing I have ever done.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
The shower and a warm bath. Also walking around and squatting when contractions would occur.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I delivered on all fours.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was love at first sight and I didn't even feel much when I was getting stitched up because I was in awe.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
That you can do it. God gives us the strength to birth our babies. Yes it does hurt but its a beautiful hurt and you just can't understand that until you experience it yourself. When you get to the other side you feel the strongest you will ever feel. Natural birth was the best thing I have ever done.
