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When did you realize you were really in labor?
When contractions were getting strong enough to wrap around to my back.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Waiting for my body to get things started. I had contractions on and off for 2 weeks before I went into active labor at 5 cm.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Listening to other women's natural birth stories. I prayed, breathed, made low noises, and visualized a wave during contractions.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How quick and relatively painless it was! It was only 3 hours long from when I was having regular contractions to when she was born. Contractions in the tub were so much more manageable.
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To believe in your body. It also really helped me to think of contractions as pain with a purpose.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Breathing through contractions, making low noises, moving throughout, praying, laboring in the tub, soft touch, and visualizing a wave cresting and going down.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Sitting in the tub.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Unreal.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
To believe in your body. It also really helped me to think of contractions as pain with a purpose.
