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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I was having birthing waves (contractions) for about four days leading up to my son's birth. I kept in contact with my midwife about their duration, frequency, and intensity and once they were four minutes apart lasting a minute I realized that this was it, and phoned my midwife and my birthing team to head over.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging thing about going natural wasn't really even the birth itself it was leading up to the birth and people's comments about my plans for a natural birth and their lack of faith in me which did cause me to doubt myself for a brief moment during labor which I hate to admit. But luckily I have such a supportive partner who talked me out of that negativity and helped me to clearly see that this was a goal of mine and I was already on my way to accomplishing it all I needed to do was stay on the path I was on not just for my sake, but because it was the start in life I wanted our child to have.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
The most helpful thing I did to prepare for childbirth was practice self hypnosis. I used the hypnobabies method which really helped me stay relaxed and strangely comfortable through the intense roller coaster of childbirth. Not to mention I was wonderfully calm and relaxed throughout my pregnancy. The audio tapes really helped me get to sleep at night even in the final days before the birth. I practiced yoga as well to help in the physical aspect, and did some soul searching and regularly prayed to prepare in the spiritual aspect.
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What surprised you about your birth?
What surprised me about my son's birth was that it didn't end up being a water birth as I had planned. But that was totally okay the water wasn't helping my son come out. My midwife later told me my son was giving me the furthest back part of his head near the nape of his neck and he had his hand up by his ear too! So I really needed the help of gravity to get my baby out quickly especially since I was in labor for 48 hours and getting pretty exhausted.
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It was such a surreal experience to finally hold the precious little life that you carried inside your tummy for all those months! It was a blend of shock, disbelief, euphoria, and most of all LOVE swelling and spilling out of me and directing it to the little baby in my arms. It's really the most fulfilling feeling I've ever experienced.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
What definitely helped with pain relief was implementing the hypnobabies program, sitting in the birthing tub and the bathtub, acupressure in the feet, some massage with essential oils on the lower back, using crystals rose and clear quartz, and prayers.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I ended up birthing my son in a squatting position at the edge of my bed with my partner holding me up under my armpits.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was such a surreal experience to finally hold the precious little life that you carried inside your tummy for all those months! It was a blend of shock, disbelief, euphoria, and most of all LOVE swelling and spilling out of me and directing it to the little baby in my arms. It's really the most fulfilling feeling I've ever experienced.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
My advice to other mamas who want to go natural is go for it and with all your heart and soul know that you can and will do it! Don't sweat what others might negatively comment or listen to their horrible stories. Know that it is an intense experience. Your body is acting as a portal with this life force energy running through and out of you to bring a new life into the world. Prepare not only physically but more importantly mentally and most importantly spiritually.
