Physical and Mental Preparation Helped Melanie Achieve A Quick and Natural First Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

I was 40 weeks and 3 days and during my 40 week appointment and cervical check, my midwife predicted that when labour did come on that it would likely be intense but that it should go very quickly (she was right). This both reassured and scared the crap out of me. I realized I was in labour within 1 hour of my first, real, painful contraction. I knew that it was really labour when the contractions made me stop what I was doing, concentrate on the pain, and were coming regularly.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

I suppose the most challenging thing about going natural were the opinions of friends and family when I told them my plan. I found that their reactions were discouraging and added to my self-doubt. We live in a time where having a natural birth is rare and many of my family members and friends may not have even known someone who had had a natural birth, or came from a time where they had no choice and couldn't understand why I would choose to go through that. At first I found this discouraging but I chose to turn this into motivation to prove them wrong and do what I knew was best for me and my baby.

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

Physically and mentally, I did several things to prepare for childbirth that I think contributed to my quick and natural first birth. Firstly, I remained quite active during my pregnancy, walking, spinning, and yoga. I got some scrutiny for this, but I knew that staying active would give me that best chances of a natural childbirth. Secondly I drank red raspberry leaf tea, a lot of it, from week 36 on, I think that this must have been what helped my uterus contract so effectively for a first birth. Lastly, I prepared mentally, my plan from the beginning was to have a natural birth and I did not sway. I did as much research as I could and visualized my birthing experience in my head.

What surprised you about your birth?

So many things surprised me about birth. I was surprised that I did not have a pain free rest period between contractions shortly into labour, I felt like it went from painful to very painful without a break until the pushing stage where I had a couple of pain free breaks. I was also surprised by pushing, I had heard over and over again that when you get to pushing, you are able to do something with the pain and it makes it more bearable. Pushing for me was the worst part (aside from knowing that it was almost over), and I only pushed when my body made me, until I realized that I unless I want to do this forever, I am gong to have to really push, and I did. I pushed for an hour, and I was surprised that it took that long. I feel like we hear so many stories of women pushing 3 times and delivering their baby, so I really didn't think that it would take so long. The last thing that surprised me about childbirth was how long it took me to deliver the placenta (they never talk about that part on TV). After about 30-45 min of waiting for another contraction, encouraging baby to breast feed, and gentle traction, it took a dose of oxytocin to encourage that last contraction to deliver the placenta.

It felt totally surreal to hold my baby for the first time. I couldn't believe that this little person was who was growing inside me, moving around, and kicking me. I was proud of myself for delivering him naturally, the whole experience was overwhelming.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

In the early stages of labour walking worked best for pain relief (about 2-5cm dilated). When we go to the hospital I found that walking, rubbing my belly, and deep breathing was what I needed to do to get through (about 5-7 cm dilated). As things started to really pick up I found that leaning over the bed or being on hands and knees, with my husband rubbing and applying pressure to my lower back worked well enough to get me through transition, pushing and delivery.

What position did you end up delivering in?

I ended up delivering my baby in the hands and knees position, on the hospital bed, with the head of the bed up as far as it goes and my arms and arms resting on top. I found that being on my back for any amount of time made the pain so much worse and I could not stand it.

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

It felt totally surreal to hold my baby for the first time. I couldn't believe that this little person was who was growing inside me, moving around, and kicking me. I was proud of myself for delivering him naturally, the whole experience was overwhelming.

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

That it can be done, and has been for hundreds and hundreds of years. It doesn't matter if your mother had a C-section (mine had 3 and tried twice for natural), it doesn't matter what other people think. Have a plan, and several ideas and other plans before turning to an epidural, C-section or other intervention you don't want. Do your research and fill you mind with successful natural birth stories. Lastly find a way to be okay if everything doesn't go to plan, know that the number 1 priority is a healthy baby and a healthy mama.