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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I was in church when the contractions started and after days of contractions that would disappear after 10-15 minutes, these ones were not going away and were growing with intensity...and I remember thinking "this is it, it's finally happening".
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
We actually didn't go completely natural. We wanted to but it just didn't work out..after 10 hrs of laboring naturally I was effaced 100% and dilated to an 8 (almost ready to push) but baby's head was not in my pelvis AT ALL -instead it was floating on my waters, apparently I had an unusually large amount of amniotic fluid and his heart rate was acting funny leading my midwife to believe that his cord was going to prolapse if I continued to labor.
She came in the room gave me a big hug, told me how strong I was, that I was strong enough for natural labor and had basically already done almost the whole labor but that baby was not cooperating and that she thought we needed a c-section.
After talking and praying my husband and I agreed and we had a epidural and a c-section and got to meet our baby boy an hr later.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Natural child birthing classes!!!! Our instructor made me feel so educated and empowered and gave my husband confidence in his role as a labor partner.
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What surprised you about your birth?
Besides the c-section? How much peace I had. Leading up to our BIRTHday I had prayed a lot and come to this place where I felt like I didn't need to control my Birth. I had my birth plan, I felt educated and empowered enough to advocate for myself and my baby but I also knew that at the end of the day I had limited control and if nothing turned out how I planned I was going to meet my baby and as long as he was healthy I was happy.
So, when nothing went as planned for us, despite our best attempts...I felt like God really gave me peace.
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Take a good class beforehand, educate yourself on labor and what your options are, learn and practice pain management techniques, have a good midwife you can trust and most importantly...hand the birth over to God - it's ultimately outside your control anyways so trust Him with it and experience peace.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Water! I couldn't get in the tub like we had hoped because of baby's heart rate...but I spent a lot of time in the bathroom standing at the sink with water running over my hands which felt good. Also, good and deep breathing made my contractions more productive and less painful. Pressing my feet into the floor and squeezing my hands gave me relief and moving! Contractions are more painful when you lay down - at least in my opinion.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
C-section.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Amazing! I felt so much love and such a desire to nurture him even though we had just met.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Take a good class beforehand, educate yourself on labor and what your options are, learn and practice pain management techniques, have a good midwife you can trust and most importantly...hand the birth over to God - it's ultimately outside your control anyways so trust Him with it and experience peace.
