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When did you realize you were really in labor?
My contractions started on a Wednesday evening. By about midnight that night, they had become strong enough and close enough together to head to the birthing center.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
I had every intention of going natural like I had with my first son. I was even going to give birth at a birthing center and spent about 5 hours laboring there first before I got transferred to the hospital for further screening because they thought there was a possibity I had vasa previa. So, this time around, letting go of my dream of having a natural birth was the most challenging.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I read a lot of birth stories and watched a lot of natural birthing videos. I also reflected a lot on how my natural labor and delivery went with my first son and tried to learn from that experience.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I was shocked at how quickly my experience went from laboring peacefully in a birthing center tub to having a C-section two hours later. When my midwife checked to see how far I was dilated at the birthing center, she felt a texture on my membranes that she didn't recognize. After having another midwife check me, they decided it would be best to have a doctor check me at the hospital. After the doctor checked me and did a vaginal ultrasound, I was informed that they were worried that I potentially had vasa previa. My first option was to have my water broke and If I did have vasa previa and the baby began to bleed out, I would have to have an emergency C-section within a matter of minutes to save the baby. My Second option was to just go ahead and have a C-section which is what my husband and I chose to do. The whole situation was just so surprising and unexpected.
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Have a plan and believe in yourself. Go into the experience well-informed and knowing that you can do anything you put your mind to.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
For the few hours I labored at The birthing center, laboring in the tub was the most relaxing pain relief ever. I was very much considering a water birth at that point in time, that was how much I enjoyed being in the water.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
My original plan was to try delivering on all fours but I ended up having a C-section.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was surreal. I had suffered a miscarriage before becoming pregnant with this baby, so I was always afraid that something would happen during my pregnancy. After the scare of vasa previa and my baby potentialy bleeding out if my water broke, I was just so happy to see him alive and healthy after my C-section that I cried tears of joy.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Have a plan and believe in yourself. Go into the experience well-informed and knowing that you can do anything you put your mind to. That's what helped with my first birth. But also be prepared for the unknown. Anything can happen. Surround yourself with people Who support you and will support any difficult decisions you have to make.
