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When did you realize you were really in labor?
6 am. I suddenly woke up in an intense contraction. I got up and found a contraction timing app. My contractions started at 3 min apart. I called my husband to come home from work RIGHT AWAY (he works nights) and called the in laws to come watch the other kids.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Working through the pain of the contractions. I had hard and fast labor. My contractions lasted forever ( the nurse commented on how sustained they were). Each contraction would build and build and plateau for a couple minutes. So intense compared to my 1st labor that was over a longer period of time and the contractions slowly did their job.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
It was a mental thing for me. I kept telling myself "I can do this. Women have been doing this forever with out medication, so can I!" Also, since my labor was going fast, I would look at the clock and say "By 10, this will be done. I can go 2 more hours".
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What surprised you about your birth?
I didn't want anyone touching or talking to me. I went into my zone and any touch or talk would interrupt me and the pain would be more intense. If I needed something I would just ask "I need ice chips". Also, when I walked in to the hospital, I told my nurse "I don't like being touched, I will let you know when I need something". She was amazing! When I was walking the halls, I paused to hold onto the wall and rock and sway my way through a contraction. Another nurse (a neighbor of mine) walked by and started to rub my lower back. My nurse says "She doesn't want to be touched during a contraction"! I was like "THANK YOU". You need people to support your wishes.
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Know what you want. Be confident in what you want. Don't be afraid to state your needs and wants.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Breathing, and holding tight to the railing of the bed.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my back. 3 pushes and done.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Emotional! I had suddenly lost my mother 3 years before. To be holding my daughter, named for my mom, and know my mom wouldn't know this child and my child wouldn't know her grandma...so much emotion. I was crying so hard, the Dr. stopped what he was doing to check and see what was wrong.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Know what you want. Be confident in what you want. Don't be afraid to state your needs and wants. I felt the more confident I was, the easier the whole process was.