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When did you realize you were really in labor?
Around 4 am I woke up with back cramps, a little worse than period cramps. At first I got scared thinking I was getting my period (pregnancy brain combined with lack of sleep ha), but then realized it must be labor starting.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
I had back labor, and was not prepared for it. I didn't know what things would help, and my midwives had been up the entire previous day with another labor, so they were fried by the time I was really in active labor. It was hard because my husband wasn't sure what to do and I kept telling him I needed to go to the hospital, and the midwives were not in the room most of this time. Thankfully a new team of midwives arrived shortly after this, and they were able to massage my back, show me different positions to alleviate pressure, and offer the kind of one on one support we had been counting on.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Chiropractic! Getting adjusted regularly my entire pregnancy helped keep my body in good shape and alleviate any uncomfortable pregnancy backaches & pelvic pain, and even helped my leg cramps with certain vitamins.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How long it was. I knew first time mom's usually go 24 hour or so, but I kept thinking it couldn't get any more intense, then it would, and I just could not wait until I was able to push. I had bad back labor the entire time, so when I was finally ready to push it felt so good to finally do something about the back pain. Pushing was my favorite part of labor, and I thought it would be the most difficult. I pushed for 1.5 hours that only seemed to last a few minutes. Then my beautiful baby girl landed earth side.
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You can do it! It certainly gets intense, but having a great support team (midwife, doula, partner) can make all the difference. Your body is built for birth, and knows just how to do it. Have faith in your body's ability.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Having my husband or midwife press my hips together, hard, during contractions. Also a tens unit on my low back helped for awhile, but not once it got really intense at the end.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Laying on my back. I was planning to birth upright, but when I tried the birthing stool it was really uncomfortable, and standing up got way too intense. I was surprised, but it worked out for us.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Amazing, shocking, I was just in awe of everything that had just occurred. It still felt surreal that this tiny human had been inside of me.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
You can do it! It certainly gets intense, but having a great support team (midwife, doula, partner) can make all the difference. Your body is built for birth, and knows just how to do it. Have faith in your body's ability.
