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When did you realize you were really in labor?
The doctor insisted I be induced because I was very close to 42 weeks, so I tried every natural way I could find to help labor come on, but unfortunately, nothing seemed to work. I went to the hospital late Friday night and they induced me with Pitocin at 2 am Saturday.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Keeping an open mind and staying positive was difficult at times. Nothing went as planned, except for not taking pain medicine. First I had to be induced, which meant being connected to monitors, then after 12 hours of pitocin and contractions every 2 minutes, they realized it wasn't working and I was just as far along as I was when I arrived. So we started over. Then I only dialated 2cm in 3 hours. It didn't take a lot for me to calculate how much longer this could take. I felt defeated at that moment. I stuck with it though. An additional 14 hours later, plus 15 minute push time, pre-eclampsia, some tearing and almost bleeding out, I delivered a healthy 9 pound 8 once baby girl. Not a lot went as planned and it was a challenge at times to stay positive.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Including my husband in everything was the best thing I could have done. He went to all my appointments. He watched every video. He read all the books. We decided that he should be as involved as possible and that was the best thing we could have done. He was my rock in the delivery room. He encouraged me when I felt like I couldn't do it. I leaned on him and squeezed him when I had the worst contractions. He stayed up with me 26+ hours. He held me up when I insisted on standing, even though I was extremely over tired. He stuck to our plan the best we could, even when nurses and doctors were trying to convince us otherwise. And he fed me coffee m&ms even though I wasn't allowed to have any food. Allowing him to be apart of this experience and having us prep together was the most helpful thing we could have done.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How large my baby was and how much pain I could tolerate surprised me a lot! Naomi was 9lbs 8oz. After being induced, laboring for so many hours, pushing that big baby out, and having that bleeding/clotting issue (clots had to be cleared out from my uterus 9 times by hand), I could not believe how much I was willing to take. I did it for my baby girl and myself. I wanted to remember they experience and make sure I could be there for her as soon as possible.
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He was my rock in the delivery room. He encouraged me when I felt like I couldn't do it.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Standing and doing a mild squat, while squeezing my husband helped. I also used a heating pad.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I ended up on my back in the bed with my legs/feet being held by a nurse and my husband. I pushed when I felt contractions. This was they only part I felt like I had some control of. I got to decided when and how hard to push. She was out in 15 minutes.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Relief and great joy. I was so happy it was done and it felt wonderful to hold a beautiful and alert little girl.
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How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
It helped me see the importance of having support in the room with me. It helped me stick to what I wanted, it helped me understand all the stages I would go though and it encouraged me to do what so many others have done before.
