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When did you realize you were really in labor?
Friday, February 10 in the afternoon.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
All seven of my babies, except my twins, were delivered naturally. The hardest part of it all is the dilating, when my body is busy doing its thing, and I'm just a passenger along for the painful ride. Learning to breathe through the contractions has made it more manageable.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Pray for peace during labor, and something I did this time that was helpful was to make some art work with encouraging words on them like: "this will not last forever" and "I breathe my baby to me, wave after wave bringing him closer to me."
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What surprised you about your birth?
My midwives came when I was dilated to about three and 100% effaced. Things were moving along kind of slowly, so they suggested that they head back to the birth center for some rest, and I should try to rest between contractions. So that's what we did. I woke up every ten minutes for gnarly contractions until about 12:30 AM, and suddenly they went from ten minutes to three minutes apart and a huge desire to push. The midwives barely got back in time to catch him. THAT was a big surprise!
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Your body was made to do this, and you can. When you get to the point where you start thinking, "I can't do this any more!" then you are likely almost there, and if you just hang on, your baby will be in your arms before you know it! You've got this, mama!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Using my yoga breath to breathe through contractions and through the ring of fire to minimize tearing. Boy that's hard to do when all you want to do is push that head out!
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What position did you end up delivering in?
On my side. Maybe not the "best" position, but that's where I was when he started crowning, so that's how I delivered.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Like an enormous relief and unadulterated joy!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Your body was made to do this, and you can. When you get to the point where you start thinking, "I can't do this any more!" then you are likely almost there, and if you just hang on, your baby will be in your arms before you know it! You've got this, mama!
