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When did you realize you were really in labor?
Around 3 AM the morning of June 5th, my contractions were already forming a pattern, a little unsteady but I knew it was the beginning. They were coming every 8-10-12 minutes apart. I didn’t get any sleep that night, the pain mixed with anxiety was too much!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Knowing the pain I had to endure as it only got stronger and stronger and time seemed to pass so slow!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Childbirth classes. I had a Doula and Midwife with me for Labor Sitting at home. We only got to the hospital at the very end. All the knowledge I gathered from these brilliant women truly helped me be fully in charge of my process. I gave birth at 41 weeks and 4 days on Tuesday, June 5th at 11:48 pm. My Dr wanted to induce labor on Monday but I told him I wanted to wait a bit more. I knew everything was ok with my baby and my body would do its job when it was time and it was ready, and so it did...
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What surprised you about your birth?
That even though it took me 18 hours to dilate from 1-6, it only took 1h from 6-10 and I pushed for 30minutes and he was out!
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You can do this, your body was created to do this, the stronger the pain the closer you are to seeing your baby. You may want to break down at some point, do so, cry it out, recompose and go back to thinking “I’m a strong woman, I can do this, let’s do this! Bring it on contractions!”
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Accepting the pain, not fighting it, letting it take over your body as you breathe through it.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Laying down on the hospital bed.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Surreal, otherworldly, as if I was living in some alternate reality, so many feelings running through your body you go in a state of shock, your processing it all as you stare in awe at what you just did and your beautiful child in your hands.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Read, learn, take classes, be empowered of your process. Affirmations are key, prepare mentally for the wild ride your body is about to take you in, labor will be the most intense day of your life, but you have to keep your thinking on a “game on” state of mind. You can do this, your body was created to do this, the stronger the pain the closer you are to seeing your baby. You may want to break down at some point, do so, cry it out,
recompose and go back to thinking “I’m a strong woman, I can do this, let’s do this! Bring it on contractions!”
Birth Photographer: Marisol Pesquera- @marisol.pesquera
