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When did you realize you were really in labor?
My water broke as I was lying in bed falling asleep. It was 10:50pm.
I heard a pop! and the water proceeded to streamed out.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Probably figuring out when was the best time to go to the hospital. I didn't want to go to early and have them try to give me interventions.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Researching a lot about natural childbirth through websites, I watched a tone of youtube videos on natural childbirth. I meditated frequently as bedtime to connect with baby. Weekly yoga in my last trimester was so soothing and empowering. Being amount like women was an uplifting beautiful experience.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How quickly it all happened! From the time my water broke to the time Dylan came out was 3 hours. They had listed my labour as "spontaneous" on my discharge paperwork because I was 9.4 cm when I got to the triage. I felt like a natural at natural childbirth.
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I visualized the baby's desire to be born and embraced that process. Also being upfront and communicating with my husband about my expectations from him.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Staying still and breathing with the contractions. I visualized the baby's desire to be born and embraced that process. Also being upfront and communicating with my husband about my expectations from him. Ie: Hunnie I need stillness, and quiet when a contraction comes on. So he knew to stop what he was doing (this included driving on the way to the hospital) and not talk during a contraction. Using his arm as a crutch also helped!
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Lying down with my legs up. He was out in 5 pushes. I could feel the ring of fire as his head crowned, but I worked through that discomfort because we were so close to the finish line!
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Incredible! I felt so instantly connected to Dylan because I feel like we had worked together so harmoniously to give birth. He is 4 weeks old, at the time of this post, and we have continued to be in sync with each other. He is my dream baby, cute, calm, responsive, thoughtful and co-operative.
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How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
I learned so much about possible "interventions" and how to combat them. The printable birth plan was a great tool to prepare for the expectations I had with my dr. and husband. I didn't end up having to hand it out because everything happened so fast, but it was a great tool. Overall I feel that mama natural's episodes aligned with my desire to give birth naturally.
