Reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth Helped Shay During Her Hospital Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

I was induced at 42 weeks, although I had been having mild contractions the whole week leading up to it. So I realized I was in labor after the balloon was inserted in my uterus/cervix and contractions began.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

Since I was being induced, the hardest part about going natural and dealing with strong pitocin induced contractions was the mind game. I had planned on labor beginning naturally and trusting that my body could still handle an artificial induction of labor successfully was hard to overcome. I made it to 7.5 cm naturally before baby's heart rate dropped and I opted for an epidural to help me relax enough to safely deliver her vaginally.

What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?

I read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth which was incredibly inspiring - I recommend it to women in general (not just during pregnancy). I also took Birth Boot Camp classes and read Mama Natural blogs and birth stories on an almost daily basis. My only complaint about the classes (and even this blog) was that there was not much about what to do mentally if complications arise or you had to be induced.

What surprised you about your birth?

I was surprised and shocked that I made it so far without pain medications. I got to experience different stages of labor (possibly even the beginning of transition) without the epidural and as a first time mom, I now know what labor feels like for next time. I was also shocked by how big she was (9 pounds 4 ounces). At 40 weeks, I was told she was probably in the 7 pound range so her size was a shock - to the doctor as well! And back to the pain medications, I kind of blocked out any stories that included unnatural tools when I was preparing my mind for a natural labor. However, in the end, I consider it divine intervention that I decided to get the epidural when I did because the delivery part (I pushed for 2 hours and then thought I was choosing the easy way out by requesting the vacuum - it still took a while because she was huge) would probably have been much more traumatic it i had felt everything and I may not have been able to relax enough to deliver her vaginally.

Be confident! God made our bodies to birth babies! He also created the medical world to help out when needed.

What pain relief strategies worked best?

My husband was amazing at helping employ the strategies we learned in our class. As it turned out, most of them felt comfortable at different stages and not others. Having him massage my shoulders and just be close by helped me relax and handle the contractions. I had a lot of lower back pain and at one point he even climbed in the bed with me to give better support than the pillow could. So somewhere around 5 cm, I managed to sleep for an hour (miraculously). It also helped to sit on the toilet, and move around. Of course, after my doctor broke my water due to the baby's distress, the epidural was a life saver even though it didn't kick in until the middle of transition.

What position did you end up delivering in?

I delivered semi reclined on my back with my legs held up by my husband and our amazing nurse.

How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?

I'll never forget how she looked when they finally pulled her out - a huge purplish gray baby with her umbilical cord still connecting her to me. I wish I had a picture, but we forgot in all the craziness. I got to hold her almost immediately for skin to skin and I just couldn't believe she was ours. And holding her while covered in amniotic fluid was not nearly as gross as I had imagined. I just felt relieved that my difficult pregnancy was over and that my baby was finally here, alive and safe.

What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?

Definitely plan for it. Read birth stories, birth affirmations, and Ina May's books. Just be prepared for your birth plan to possibly not go the way you want. In the end, I had to throw out most of mine. I do believe it is possible to labor naturally through induction even with constant monitoring - I just couldn't make it all the way because of the baby's heart rate drop. And be confident! God made our bodies to birth babies! He also created the medical world to help out when needed. Choose a doctor who believes in natural birth so that if complications arise, you know he/she has your best interests in mind and will still help you achieve what you want, even if what you want changes in labor. And just remember that at the end of the day, it really is about your safety and the baby's.