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When did you realize you were really in labor?
My water broke way before any active labor. I had planned a home birth, but after almost 2 days of broken water and eventually heart deceleration, we transferred to the hospital.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The length of my labor was the biggest challenge. We went through every technique to kick start active labor: miles circuit, walking the neighborhood, rounds of yoga, rebozo, walking my stairs, herbal tinctures, homeopathy, acupressure, aromatherapy, and eventually, castor oil. The castor oil kicked in after the transfer to the hospital so throughout active labor the castor oil, let's just say, did its job! Eventually, I did need interventions such as pitocin and an epidural due to the complications of my labor.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Hiring a supportive birth team (midwives and doula) to help me through the disappointment of the loss of my birth plan. They held my hand and prayed over me and my baby many times throughout labor. Also, pre-natal yoga and chiropractic work to get my body ready to deal with a long labor.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I have two. The first was that a baby can "bungee jump" during labor. The biggest surprise though was after getting an epidural at hour 46 of labor due to exhaustion, my son was born less than an hour later! It gave my body the ability to relax to bring my son earth side.
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Prepare yourself physically and mentally. But also be prepared for complications so you're not caught off guard.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Pitocin contractions are no joke! My doula applied counter pressure during most contractions. I was also able to labor in a tub in a deep squat while she poured water on my back. The support of other women is invaluable.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my back since I had an epidural.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Exhilarating after such a disappointing labor. We waited until the birth to find out the sex of our child, and we were thrilled to find out we had a son. My doula leaned in to me after he was born to tell me that my voice is the first voice my son ever heard in this world. I'll remember that moment the rest of my life.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Prepare yourself physically and mentally. But also be prepared for complications so you're not caught off guard. Interventions have their time and place though and I believe in my case that the interventions we chose and consented to preserved a vaginal birth.
