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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I was going to have the baby in a birthing center with a midwife but due to complications on the last weeks of pregnancy (higher blood pressure with low platelets) my labor had to be induced.
I went to the hospital because I had a mild headache caused by my blood pressure and stayed there to be induced. It was the day I turned 39 weeks. Since this was my third baby and I was 4cm dialated and 60% effaced we decided that the best option for us was to be induced.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Since I was induced I was on pitocin which creates very strong contractions. I was determined to keeping my birth as natural as possible so I declined all pain medications. I used my birth affirmations, which I had printed (thanks to pinterest!) and had all over the room. My husband read them to me during the very challenging contractions, which helped a lot!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
To prepare for childbirth I practiced my breathing and repeated various pregnancy and birth affirmations constantly.
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What surprised you about your birth?
This was my third birth. The previous ones labor had started on its own and gradually progressed. For this one I was induced, so once the contractions began It went pretty quickly. It only took 3 hours from my first contraction to having baby on my arms.
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Practiced breathing and affirmations! It really works. Also, to have a person with you that supports your wishes and that is willing to help you attain them.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Birth affirmations, breathing techniques from hypnobirthing, walking and being off my back during contractions. And finally, the support of my husband! He was there to hold me, breathe with me and remind me of how powerful and how strong I was!
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was reclined in the hospital bed.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was amazing! It is the most intense and wonderful feeling I will ever have in my life!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Get prepared. For my first one, I wanted to go natural buy I didn't prepared myself so I didn't have the tools to handle the contractions.
For my second, I had a doula (they are amazing) and had read the hypnobirthing book.
For this one, my last baby, I read the book again. Practiced breathing and affirmations! It really works. Also, to have a person with you that supports your wishes and that is willing to help you attain them.
