A Doula Helped Rosie During Her First Hospital Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

I realized I was in labor while I was out to dinner, 5 days post due date. I ate my entire meal while silently feeling the contractions, I didn't want to tell anyone for fear that it might make them stop. It wasn't until the ride home that I told my husband that I thought I was in true labor.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

The most challenging thing about having a drug free birth was the feedback that I got from others when I would share my plan. Even the first nurse I encountered when arriving at the hospital assumed that I wanted narcotics immediately. When I told her I didn't want to take any drugs she responded with, "well you're here awfully early to do this without drugs, you're only two centimeters dilated". We ended up leaving the hospital for me to labor in my home before returning hours later for the delivery. Ultimately, I turned any negative feedback into motivation in order to reach my goal.

What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?

The most helpful thing I did in order to prepare for childbirth was to read read read. I read so many drug free birth stories and watched live births on YouTube. I became obsessed with learning every little detail of friend's births and I envisioned my birth the way I wanted it to be. I spoke with my husband, mother, and Doula and made sure they were all aware of my plans for birth.

What surprised you about your birth?

I was most surprised by the difficulty of pushing. Once I got through the long, hard hours of labor, my nurse told me that the pushing would give me "relief", well, that's not how it happened for me. I found pushing to be the most difficult part of birthing my daughter. Maybe it was because of the sheer exhaustion I felt, maybe it was because I hadn't though it would be so hard, but for whatever reason, it was. I was surprised by that.

Ultimately, I turned any negative feedback into motivation in order to reach my goal.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

The best pain relief strategies I used were the shower on my lower back, birthing tub with the retractable shower head hitting my lower back and sides, and pressure holds from my Doula. The best pressure hold for me was the hip squeeze. During a contraction my Doula would squeeze my hips together and this eliminated a lot of the pain during each contraction. Afterwards I remember thinking what a workout that was for my Doula!

What position did you end up delivering in?

I ended up delivering on my back on the hospital bed.

How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?

I think I was in shock when she finally came out. I couldn't believe that she was finally here and that I had accomplished my goal. I felt satisfied and proud, and like I could set my mind to and achieve any goal because nothing could ever be as hard as what I had just endured. I also felt a strong connection to my mother and grandmother, and all the women who preceded me and had done the same thing.

What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?

My advice would be to go into your birth with a plan, but also to be open minded. I was lucky enough to face zero complications with my birth which made my birth plan achievable. I am fully aware that if I had had complications, an alternate path may have been taken. Stay positive, stay focused, and feel proud of yourself no matter the outcome.