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When did you realize you were really in labor?
At about 10 pm I realized I was having pretty severe contractions. I had been having very light contractions all day, so I didn't think anything of it until my hubby saw a pained look on my face and asked if I was alright.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging thing about going natural was making it through transition. The last 15 minutes or so were killer! Thankfully it didn't last long before our little girl was in my arms.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Research, research, research! I also mentally envisioned how things would go, and I would play out different scenarios in my head, so I could plan out different things I might need to do. But, visualizing how I wanted things to go made me feel so calm about everything.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I was so surprised at how fast active labor was. It was about an hour and a half from the first painful contraction to the birth. We had originally planned a home birth, but every midwife in the area was delivering a baby (9 babies were born that night!). Luckily my midwife was already at the birth center. I had to navigate to my husband how to get there. We made it there just in time!
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Get together a support system! You will want people on your side encouraging you and building you up! Also, do your research, and envision how you want your labor and delivery to go. Trust your body and trust yourself to know what is best for you and your little bundle.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Water was definitely the best pain management I could ever hope for. The warm water was so relaxing and made the contractions so much more bearable.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I ended up delivering sitting in the tub, with my back leaned up against one end.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
When I held her for the first time, I felt a huge rush or relief and triumph! It was so empowering to know my body and I knew just what to do!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
My advice is to get together a support system! You will want people on your side encouraging you and building you up! Also, do your research, and envision how you want your labor and delivery to go. Trust your body and trust yourself to know what is best for you and your little bundle.
