-
When did you realize you were really in labor?
After about 4 hours of really easy early labor, something in me just finally *knew*. I'd had several round of prodromal labor, which is essentially real labor that actually starts and stops. I was 41 weeks and 4 days and had just been into the OB's office that morning for my third round of NST/BPP testing. My amniotic fluid was lower than they wanted and he was all of a sudden far less active that morning that he had been, so they decided to bring me in the next morning for more testing, and if things hadn't improved they'd decided to induce me- which honestly at that point I was ready for! I went to breakfast immediately following the appointment, and that's when my contractions began. Because I'd had so much prodromal labor, it took me a good 4 hours of labor pattern contractions to finally realize that this was the real deal!
-
What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The mental game beforehand was honestly the toughest challenge for me. Sorting through all the "what if"s and wondering if I *really* had what it takes; battling those fears and doubts before hand were much more taxing for me than the actual labor process itself. This was my second birth, my first I was all about the drugs- 14 hours after my water had broken with my first I got plugged into an epidural, got the pitocin flowing, took a 3-hour nap and woke up and pushed that baby out. I doubted my own willpower to resist such an easy route. I am so insanely glad I did, though, I can't begin to describe how worth it all was. I *remember* this birth in ways I don't with my first. It was visceral and untouched- and I have a confidence in myself and my family I wouldn't have ever had without this experience. My husband was such an incredible coach, and my mother such an essential support piece to my labor, it bonded us in a truly irreplaceable way.
-
15780795_10211955330708163_3631577493520324180_n
-
What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Without a doubt it was finding a supportive and educated birth team. My husband and I took the Mama natural birth class that really helped round out all of the reading we'd done and gave us a lot of other supplementary resources. Myself, my husband, and my mom all read The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin, which really gave us the confidence to feel like we could DO this. Reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth really helped form my thoughts about childbirth and my body- "The Sphincter Law" chapter along with all the birth stories were indispensable to the psychological aspect of my birth experience! When I wasn't eating optimally or exercising regularly enough, having a support team to lovingly encourage me was essential. And just having the two people I undoubtedly trust with my whole life there alongside me gave me everything I needed to get through the hard parts. When I felt as though I had no capacity to continue, one of them would say or do something that was enough to get me through the next contraction. That's all I needed- to take each contraction as it came, and with my team, that was easy!
-
What surprised you about your birth?
The SPEED. This was my second birth, so I expected a fast labor, but not exactly a fast *birth*. The morning before my labor began I had a cervical check at my OB's office and was between 4 and 5 centimeters dilated and 90% effaced, so I knew that whenever labor did start I already had a lot of the work done. I had really easy early labor contractions for 4 hours and wasn't even sure it was real labor until active labor began and the real discomfort started. Once active labor hit things just FLEW by. My plan was to wait at home until I hit transition (we live under 5 minutes away from our hospital), but because I knew how far along I already was early that morning, my husband and I decided to head that direction as soon as he got home from work. When we checked in I was still between 5 and 6 centimeters dilated, and got ready for the "hard part", expecting that to last at least several hours. I was having some pretty intense back labor, and the nurse helped me to labor on all fours for a few contractions until it subsided, and then helped me get into the shower for some hydrotherapy and told us she'd be back to check on us in an hour. Three contractions later I started feeling pushy and started to lose my rhythm a little, so we called her back in while my husband helped me recenter myself. A couple of contractions later my water broke, and WOAH that kicked things up! Two contractions later I was crowning- and in ONE contraction I pushed out my entire baby- head, shoulders, knees and toes- everything! He came *shooting* out of me- my nurse literally caught him! In all the birth videos I'd watched, I'd never seen THAT happen- and I just couldn't believe it! He was out! I went from feeling like I could pass out and having to focus so intensely just to breathe to holding my sweet baby in my arms. The overwhelming sense of, "We DID this!" rushed over me and this pride in myself and my team just consumed me. I doubted the worth of natural childbirth for a while, and doubted my own capacity for it. Having actually birthed my baby with nothing more than the help of my birth team has become one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, and I'm so grateful to all of those that were a part of this journey!
-
I also used the mantra, "My body opens, My mind quiets, My baby descends" and the visualization of those actions to help focus my mind so my body could "do it's thang", and that helped immensely. When I would notice tension, repeating that mantra and having my husband speak affirming directions, "let go of the pain, let go of the tension, release your muscles, etc.' helped to distract myself from the intensity and let my body work with the rushes, and not against them.
-
What pain relief strategies worked best?
Laboring in the right position was the best pain relief throughout my labor! Whether that meant bouncing on the ball leaning over, or laboring on all fours, having a birth team and providers knowledgeable about laboring positions and offering suggestions helped more than anything else. We also used a sock with some tennis balls and sacral pressure, along with hydrotherapy in the beginning of active labor and during transition that really helped with the pain! I also used the mantra, "My body opens, My mind quiets, My baby descends" and the visualization of those actions to help focus my mind so my body could "do it's thang", and that helped immensely. When I would notice tension, repeating that mantra and having my husband speak affirming directions, "let go of the pain, let go of the tension, release your muscles, etc.' helped to distract myself from the intensity and let my body work with the rushes, and not against them.
-
What position did you end up delivering in?
Surprisingly to myself, I delivered on my back! It's not what I had originally wanted, but when I started feeling pushy in the shower, I rushed to the bed (as quickly as was safe/possible), and didn't really have the time to cognitively think about what position to get into, I just landed on my back and pushed my baby out! Not sure whether that was primal and instinctual or whether it was just ingrained in me socially, but that's what I did! The hospital is thankfully *very* contemporary and up to date, and they encourage mothers to birth in whatever position feels best, so it definitely wasn't the staff's suggestion that caused that response.
-
How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
I felt like anything was possible- that I was capable of anything. I was shocked that he came out as quickly as he did, and felt this greatest sense of pride in my birthing team. I kept saying "We did it! We did it!", and felt an overwhelming sense of, "If we can weather this together, we can get through anything!" I was so in love with my baby, and with my husband, and so very relieved that the hard part was OVER.
-
How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
Taking this class really gave me and my team the confidence we needed to have a natural birth. My body knew what it was doing- I didn't really have to help it much, other than eating right and exercising well before hand. But psychologically both the preparation and even short duration of labor was the toughest- and taking a course such as this really gave me and my team exactly what was necessary to know that we have what it takes to do this- and we did!
