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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I had been experiencing light contractions all evening, but when I tried to go to bed and rest, they had strengthened to the point where I couldn’t fall asleep. After laboring by myself for a few hours, still unsure of where this was going, I tried to take a bath. The contractions were too fast and uncomfortable for me to relax in the tub, and I wanted my husband awake with me. From that point on, things progressed quickly.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Not knowing how long labor would last and fighting off doubt that I wouldn’t be able to withstand the pain the entire time. My first labor was 48 hours, and I had fears that I wouldn’t be able to handle that again.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Preparing myself mentally and remaining optimistic—listening to The Birth Hour podcast, talking to other experienced moms, reading Mama Natural’s birth affirmations, and praying a lot! Also, I tried to encourage the baby into an optimal birthing position by going to the chiropractor regularly and doing exercises from Spinning Babies.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How quickly it progressed! After a few hours of light contractions and then a few more of more significant contractions, I went into transition. We started driving to the hospital right away, which happened to be about 30 minutes and in morning rush hour traffic. I started feeling like I needed to push but tried to hold on until we made it into the hospital. We skipped right past triage and thankfully my midwife was there waiting for me and I was able to start pushing right away. It was very fast and intense. The nurses were trying to get me to tell them my name in between pushes! Thankfully I hadn’t wanted an IV or medications anyway, because there was no time for them!
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Natural birth is tough, but women are tough too.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I took advantage of my birth ball more than I did with my first labor. I sat on it for a couple hours during my hardest contractions, being sure to bounce and move in circles and back and forth as much as possible. My husband also rubbed my back a lot which was great!
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Amazing! It was such a relief to finally be done and to see his face, even though this labor was much shorter than my first.
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What did you name your baby, and why?
Micah Harvey. Micah means “who is like God?” And Harvey means “warrior, ready for battle”. We want to raise our son to be strong and ready to take on the world around him, however ugly it may be. And we pray he grows to love and honor God with his life.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Believe in your natural abilities, listen to your body, and seek wisdom from trusted and experienced members of your birth team. Natural birth is tough, but women are tough too.
