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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I was 42 weeks pregnant and finally gave in to getting a sweep from my midwife at noon and she suggested that I take the midwives cocktail. I took the cocktail at 2:30 and started having some cramping about a half an hour later. Around 5pm I realized that my "cramps" were 30-45 seconds long coming every 2 and a half minutes. My midwife that would be leading my home birth called me at that point and said to call her when they got more intense which happened an hour and a half later. The midwife team arrived at 8pm and my baby was born at 11:03pm!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The anticipation. I doubted myself so many times before the birth and I wasn't sure I could do it as my first 2 were medically induced and I had epidurals. My first 2 were also both approximately 9 pounds and I had 3 and 4 degree tears.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
We did Hypnobabies which helped a lot. I only used the tracks for part of the time but when I did they were very helpful. I wish I would have used them more but I was actually distracted when other people were around.
I also read and watched a ton of positive birth stories which helped.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How hard the pushing was! It wasn't painful but I couldn't believe how hard I had to push. I did so much to prepare for this birth but I really didn't think a lot about the pushing part. My first two babies I pushed with epidurals and didn't feel a thing and I don't remember it being that hard but this time I really felt like I had to use everything I had to push him out. My husband who was sitting behind me in the bath said he felt like I could have lifted a bus!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
The bath took the edge off but I really only felt pain once I got close to transition. Everything else leading up to transition was more like intense pressure that I just surrendered myself to. I had to stay very focused to do this and needed quiet and nothing else.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Sitting in the bath with my husband behind me and holding my knees to my chest.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Surreal. I was in disbelief that i did it and after being pregnant for 42 weeks I couldn't believe that I finally had my baby in my arms.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Try to prepare mentally as much as you can. I loved Ina May Gaskin's books as well as Supernatural Childbirth even though I am very spiritual but not religious this book still spoke to me.
If I had given into the fear, my birth would not have been as easy as it was
