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When did you realize you were really in labor?
When I was no longer comfortable changing positions and my husband was booking the hotel. It was early in the morning.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Trusting and believing in myself that I could do it.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Hire midwife that is not affiliated with a hospital. That's the key to being prepared. They will give you information you never knew and options you didn't think were possible.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How quickly everything went. We arrived at our hotel room at 11:30 am and Leopold was born at 1:38 pm. I also was sure the hotel staff would be pounding on the door and ready to kick us out, but they didn't. And my husband even called down for 20 towels and they were delivered, no questions asked--even though I was screaming. I also really appreciated how long my midwife stayed with us. She asked me all the right questions and this is when we learned what a lotus birth was. We really felt educated and cared for and as a result, our son has seen the benefit from such care. Lastly, his birth certificate says Hospital: The Nines Luxury Hotel. We think that will make for a great story for him some day. :-)
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To remember that large institutions, like hospitals, have raised us as women to believe we can't do it ourselves. Buck the system, nobody knows your needs like you do. Giving birth is a powerful and moving experience that should not be handed over.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Breathing and the distraction of being able to labor and look out a window from the top floor and watch all the people shop for christmas down below.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Squatting in a birthing tub. You can watch my labor on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6BQMurIGHE or do a search on YouTube for Hotel water birth.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It felt like I was exactly where I needed to be. Pure bliss <3
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
To remember that large institutions, like hospitals, have raised us as women to believe we can't do it ourselves. Buck the system, nobody knows your needs like you do. Giving birth is a powerful and moving experience that should not be handed over.
