Hiring A Doula, Mama Natural Pregnancy Book And Hypnobirthing Helped Amanda Achieve Natural Hospital Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

I went to the hospital after having pretty intense contractions but to my disappointment I was only 1 cm dilated and unfortunately my bag had a slow leak. As a result of the leak, they told me I had to be admitted. I knew I was really in labor hours later when we had to kick-start things by doing nipple stimulation in order for me to progress from 1 cm - 3 cm. That’s when things turned up a notch!

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

The most challenging part was the combination of exhaustion and the intense pain of the contractions without any drugs.

What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?

The most helpful thing I did was hire a doula, along with continually reading my Mama Natural Pregnancy book along with my Hypnobirhting book. All of these sources provided me with the tools I needed in order to prepare for a natural child birth!

What surprised you about your birth?

How intense the labor pains were!! I think I underestimated them ; )

Expect the unexpected and to breath through each contraction. Once I started breathing through the contractions rather than tensing up during them (which I was going initially) things went a little smoother.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

For pain relief, my doula would apply pressure to my lower back and legs during intense contractions. That seemed to provided a little relief.

What position did you end up delivering in?

Surprisingly, I ended up giving birth on my back.

How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?

It was a euphoric feeling. I remember feeling both a sense of shock and a sense of comfort when they placed my beautiful baby boy on my chest for the first time.

What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?

Expect the unexpected and to breath through each contraction. Once I started breathing through the contractions rather than tensing up during them (which I was going initially) things went a little smoother.