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When did you realize you were really in labor?
4am. After weeks of prodromal labor & about 5 days of early labor I finally lost my mucus plug. That's always been my sign that baby will arrive soon.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Around 11 am labor contractions got really intense. At noon my water broke & I was 9.5 cm. Contractions were right on top of each other & I baby wouldn't move past that last cervical lip. We had to wait for my body to open up.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Follow your instinct & have a good support team.
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What surprised you about your birth?
The contractions were high intensity for much longer than my other births. No matter how many times you Labor & birth, this was my 9th, you just never know what to expect.
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So much of labor is mental. Speak affirmations & find your focus to resist clenching up. Let your body open downward. Let gravity work with you.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Resting while I could in early labor. Eating to keep up my strength. Standing & rocking. Having my husband close & leaning on him.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I delivered the head lying down. All at once it's as if my contractions pushed him down through the birth canal on their own as I was trying to rest a few minutes. I had shoulder dystocia & flipped onto all fours while my midwife used the wood screw method to free his shoulders.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Amazing. I worked so hard for that moment & he was so worth it!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
So much of labor is mental. Speak affirmations & find your focus to resist clenching up. Let your body open downward. Let gravity work with you.
