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When did you realize you were really in labor?
When my water broke I knew we would be having a baby sooner rather than later! My water broke at 4:30 pm and contractions came to a stand still. I tried to rest as much as possible through the night and at 4:30 am very strong contractions started out of nowhere 1-2 minutes apart.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Exhaustion! I had to be moving and swaying through each contraction and at 1-2 minutes apart I was quickly drained. I eventually ended up laying my head down between contractions and would actually fall asleep!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Reading! I read so many natural birth stories and researched the benefits to the baby of going natural so there was no doubt in my mind that I would have a natural birth. Also, my mom had 4 natural births so she was a wonderful resource and support!
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What surprised you about your birth?
I was surprised the most by how short it was! I was expecting the worst in that regard especially being my first and I was very pleasantly surprised by only 7 hours from first contraction to holding baby in my arms!
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The pain is but for a moment and it is such an amazing and rewarding experience to actually FEEL every sensation in the process from the tightening of the contractions to your body involuntarily pushing your baby out.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Moving and breathing! I would lean and prop myself on either the table or the bed and sway back and forth, breathing slowly and counting through every contraction.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I delivered semi reclined with my feet in stirrups. This is how I started out pushing and it just worked for me!
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Surreal. I couldn't believe that after all of the planning, preparing and talking about it that I had actually done it, it was over and was holding our beautiful baby girl!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
You can do it! Our bodies were created to do this! The pain is but for a moment and it is such an amazing and rewarding experience to actually FEEL every sensation in the process from the tightening of the contractions to your body involuntarily pushing your baby out. Don't go into labor saying "I hope I can have a natural birth" or "I want to have a natural birth". Go into it saying "I WILL have a natural birth." You can do this, mama!
