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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I had contractions every 10 minutes for 24 hours. MY body stopped contracting for about 4 hours; in that time I slept: and then contractions started again but this time they were every 4 minutes apart. This started around 8 pm. My midnight contractions picked up to 2 minutes apart. and continuously grew stronger and closer together before being on top of each other at 1:00 am. By this time I was roaring. My body took over and I started roaring without the control of being able to stop. Somehow with all of this noise my 6 and 3 year old stayed asleep the whole time while being less than 10 feet away from me! I was still breathing through the intensity of the contractions, but roaring at the same time. The whole time my husband brings my water every time I asked and even when I didn't ask. By 1:08 my body started pushing baby down. By 1:15 am our baby made his arrival during the lunar eclipse on August 7th.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging thing about going natural was keeping my mind positive. My husband was amazing. He kept me positive and showed me my affirmations. Without him everything would have been so much harder. I truly understand a woman's need for a doula or support person.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
The most helpful thing I did to prepare for childbirth was staying calm and preparing our home for baby. I cleaned up and had everything in one place for my husband to be able to go to when I asked. We also had food prepared for our two older children so when the time came they could just run to the fridge and grab what they wanted.
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What surprised you about your birth?
What surprised me the most about my birth was how helpful my husband was. I truly needed him through the whole process. I am so thankful to have him by my side. I was so surprised how easy the pushing was once my body went to do it itself. the contractions at the end were more hard than anything. Everything else was easy. The healing afterwards was also incredibly easy. There was no swelling, no soreness. There was only the normal bleeding. I felt like I could go running afterwards. Everything so was so easy compared to my hospital births.
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It was complete bliss, joy, and love. The best feeling of my life.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
The pain relief that worked best for me was my husband pushing and rubbing my lower back while I was on my hands and knees. I also used clary sage to help myself stay calm and work through the pain.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was on my hands and knees the whole time of labor except when I had to go to the bathroom. It was the best position for me and gave me the least amount of pain.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was complete bliss, joy, and love. The best feeling of my life.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Stay calm, use affirmations. If you have someone you trust use them. It helped me tremendously to have someone talking to me through the contractions.
