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When did you realize you were really in labor?
After having fairly consistent contractions starting at around 10pm, I could no longer sleep through them by 2am. I still wasn't sure, but by 5am I was starting to have considerable pain, so I finally thought it may be the real thing. Good thing I did because he was born less than an hour after I arrived at the hospital!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The hardest part was not knowing how much longer it would last. I held out going to the hospital as long as possible, so I didn't know how much progress I had made. Luckily I went when I did, because by the time I was all checked in I was already at 8cm and he was born less than an hour later!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Hired a doula and attended Lamaze classes. Having someone knowledgeable to answer my questions with out having to decipher all the information online was really helpful.
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What surprised you about your birth?
He was 3 weeks early! No one was expecting that.
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Don't doubt yourself! You can do it, so don't try to talk yourself out of it.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Counting and breathing. I labored alone for almost the whole time because it was over night and I thought that my husband and I were still going to work the next day, so I didn't want us both to be exhausted! It really wasn't that bad until the last few hours and those were mostly spent getting ready to go, driving to the hospital and checking in to labor and delivery.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my back holding my thighs back. I barely had time to be checked and for baby's heart rate to be monitored before it was time to push, so I didn't have a whole lot of opportunity to move around a whole lot.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Unreal. I still couldn't believe he was actually born so early!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Don't doubt yourself! You can do it, so don't try to talk yourself out of it.
