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When did you realize you were really in labor?
On a Wednesday morning, two weeks before my due date, I went in for a regular check-up with my OBGYN. All seemed routine and normal, until my blood pressure was taken--it was higher than normal. My doctor told me that I would have to be induced two days later if the blood pressure did not go down... he also gave me the news that I was 3 cm dilated, 80% effaced. With the first news, I panicked! I wanted the extra time, and I did not want to be induced. With the second news, I was excited (and I thanked the red raspberry leaf tea!), and hoped that this trend could continue if I did have to have my baby two weeks early. Well, on Friday, the blood pressure remained the same: high. And my doctor was out of town. Oh no. Nurses kept encouraging me to take the pitocin, but I kept asking to wait and requested that gels be used instead. I couldn't feel my contractions until near the end of labor, and my water did not break until moments before my daughter arrived. But, the good news was that I powered through without needing pitocin or an epidural (when they offered the latter, it was (9:45 at night; my daughter came at 10:30--there was no time for that, even if I wanted it!)
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Because of my high blood pressure, I could not move. I had it all planned out how I wanted to move in my labor--but that just couldn't happen. The birth affirmations made such all the difference here because I had to give all of my mental energy to the birth process--that was mostly all I could give without using my body as I wanted to!
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me-and-g
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Having a doula was by far the most helpful thing! She was the one who encouraged me to read birth stories with Ina May, to read through your book, and to practice hypnobirthing. My husband and I had been on the fence about hiring a doula, but I know that I would have gone into this birth unprepared for what my body needed had I not had her.
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What surprised you about your birth?
That it was one of the best experiences of my life! Even though I didn't get my perfect birth plan (with the high blood pressure, without my doctor), I still received the gift of a perfect birth. I am grateful that I chose not to listen to all the negative stories and advice ("You'll be begging for that epidural!" or "Childbirth is THE worst!") that friends and relatives share and instead embraced each moment of the birth calmly. (A more practical note--those final contractions hurt more than pushing, and that was motivation enough to start pushing!)
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Beautiful childbirths SHOULD BE the norm.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Prayer, the birth affirmations, certain handholds recommended by my doula, a dual heating/cooling pad, the peanut ball (which my doula advocated for when I was told I couldn't move) and my husband pushing on my legs during those last contractions.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was in the hospital bed, but they were able to position it so that it looked like a throne. I was able to squat, which I would not have seen coming until the hour before I gave birth to my baby.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was the most surreal experience of my life. We had skin to skin for over an hour, but it felt like mere moments. I had second-degree tearing (pushing took less than 20 minutes), and my husband said that the doctor was giving all kinds of gnarly stitches that looked like it hurt--but nothing could have distracted me from meeting and holding my little girl.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
I would not consider myself to be the most natural mama out there. I try to shop organic, I care about what goes into my body, but I am not a die-hard. I had grown up in a culture that told me I would likely have a c-section and want to formula feed--all out of convenience. Some women have no choice with having a C-section or formula feeding, but that's the distinction: I had a choice. And with that choice, I was able to educate myself, prepare my body, and have a birth I could never have imagined. I told my doula that I felt guilty about telling my friends and family how much I enjoyed childbirth, but she had such a good point: beautiful childbirths SHOULD BE the norm.
