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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I didn’t show any signs of labor until 44 weeks and 2 days. I started to lose my mucus plug on a Friday and for the next two days had contractions that never got less than 10 minutes apart.. suddenly Monday morning I had several very painful ones right on top of each other and when I stood my bag of waters was bulging out of me
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The challenge was ignoring the post-date propaganda you read everywhere. I cried a lot after 42 weeks but knew in my heart she was going to be fine.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I read everything, I mean everything. I watched videos I bought an entire arsenal of birth supplies. And at the moment it happened so fast that I ended up throwing a pile of towels on my bedroom floor instead.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How much less it hurt than my two prior hospital births. I even had epidurals and this, my first unassisted birth at 39 years old was painless aside from the afterpains they were pretty brutal
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Trust your body. Do what it tells you.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Classical music was all I had. I also supported my vagina during birth resulting in zero tears. Oh and to my surprise, I roared like a tiger the hour I pushed
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was amazing, I kept saying “I did it! I did it!” We were certain it was a boy but she wasn’t that was very surprising
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What did you name your baby, and why?
Aberdeen Judith. Aberdeen is from a song and Judith for my grandma
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Trust your body. Do what it tells you. I thought I’d want a tub and my husband holding my hand but instead, I closed my bedroom door and took all my clothes off, and just followed my instincts. I had a wild pregnancy, I was sure she was laying transverse I was so worried. But she wasn’t. She’s two months old now and perfect. She’s so smart she already rolls over. You can do it if you were made to. God Bless.
