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When did you realize you were really in labor?
Even though I had been feeling contractions starting around noon that day, and I thought maybe my water had broken (it was only a very slow trickle), I didn't really believe I was in labor until about 5:30 as I was driving my 3 year old and I to a birthday dinner for my grandfather and contractions were really picking up.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Getting the nursing staff on board so we could work as a team. At first it felt like I was managing my pain while also trying to manage some of the nurses' fears of a natural birth.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Read about the birth process from a scientific standpoint. It helped me to know what my body was doing and assign meaning to the pains I felt. I also read a lot of other women's stories which helped me gain insight to different pain management techniques.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How few pushes were needed to get him out!
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Read about the birth process from a scientific standpoint. It helped me to know what my body was doing and assign meaning to the pains I felt. I also read a lot of other women's stories which helped me gain insight to different pain management techniques.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Sitting on a birthing ball and having my husband remind me to relax my shoulders during contractions. I believe this relaxing helped my body move things along rather than fight against the process.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Sitting at an angle on the hospital bed with legs up
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Perfect! Even though this was our second, it was still amazing to finally feel his warm skin against mine.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
If you are planning on having a natural birth in the hospital, go in with a team attitude. I found that the more I asked the nurses to work with me the more willing they were to be excited about a natural birth. Finally, educate yourself about different procedures. It's hard to advocate for yourself if you don't know what the hospital staff is talking about.
