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When did you realize you were really in labor?
My water broke at 6:30 am and my contractions were very fast, long and strong.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The hardest part during labor was when the midwife made me get out of the tub to stretch out and use the restroom. I never want to see that restroom again! Some of the most intense contractions happened there! I needed my soothing water tub!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Learning about the stages of labor so I wouldn't be afraid when they happened. Also, planning for the unexpected helped me a lot when we had to go to the hospital. My husband wasn't as mentally prepared and it threw him for a loop. Poor guy.
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What surprised you about your birth?
My baby had HAIR! Both my husband and I were baldies for a few years.
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My family was in the room and I woke up and my husband was handing me the most gorgeous baby.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
The tub was amazing. Also, we had the TV on in the living room so I could watch that and not just sit and worry about when the next contraction was coming.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
The babe flipped breech and posterior during hour 7 of my 12 hour labor. We realized it at hour 10 and went to a nearby hospital. They were extremely supportive of the natural way my midwife and I chose to do things (up until that point). I was grateful to not have any push back when I went in for a c-section.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Unreal. My family was in the room and I woke up and my husband was handing me the most gorgeous baby. I was worried about getting her to latch right away so we both got right to work. She knew exactly what to do, thankfully.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
It's so doable. I feel like I got my home birth AND my hospital birth (because I labored at home naturally and was 100% effaced and dilated when I went into surgery). Your body was made for this so don't be afraid!
