-
When did you realize you were really in labor?
After an early labor false alarm at 36 weeks and 4 days (due to uterine irritability), I went in a second time, at 37 weeks and 1 day, and my contractions halted right when I got to the hospital. I was considered high risk because I tested positive for Sjögrens (SSA anti-body) at 22 weeks when they found a strange variation in my baby's heart beat. So my midwife told me to come in as soon as I had consistent contractions. They had me on monitors and said my baby's heart was accelerating for too long and decided to induce with cervidal to be safe. After the first round of cervidal, they broke my water and that's when the real labor started. I went from 1cm to complete in two hours.
-
What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Originally, I planned on using a birthing center but by my second or third appointment, it closed. Then my midwife left her practice and relocated. I planned on following her and delivering at a pretty liberal hospital that offered a water birth. Unfortunately, I went into labor the weekend she left her old practice and wasn't yet established at the new practice. So I ended up at a pretty conservative hospital (as one of the nurses put it). It was a challenge to get the nurses to accept my birth plan. I made compromises, but only to the method of delivery. I was able to make sure I didn't have any medicine in me other than the cervidal (no epidural) and antibiotics for strep b. They delayed clamping the cord and bathing and agreed to not give my baby the hep b shot. But they did give me grief about not doing things their way.
It was hard to get through the pain without being able to move or switch positions due to the monitoring equipment. Also with a rapid, induced labor, I sort of lost focus of my Bradley Method breathing techniques. I will say too, it's hard to get in the zone and focus on the task when you have nurses asking about your pain level every 10 minutes. But somehow with all these factors kind of working against me, I still managed to keep things natural, and I survived.
-
IMG_7456
-
What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I made homemade aromatherapy spray and a calming spa playlist. And my partner and I both read books on natural childbirth. It helped that he really wanted to be informed, too. The doctor that delivered arrived just in time for the last two pushes, but was absent for everything from breaking the water up til then. Having my husband as my advocate was a huge help. He made sure everything went the way we had discussed.
-
What surprised you about your birth?
I was surprised that I was able to stick to my guns and avoid pain medicine with how intense and rapid the labor was.
-
Really educate yourself on what is best for your baby and for yourself. Don't give up on yourself. Your body was built to handle this and you are extremely capable of going natural.
-
What pain relief strategies worked best?
I thought back to everything I learned from studying my natural birth books and did my best to just stay calm and let my body do what it had to do. There was moaning and terrible back labor but having my husband use all his strength to press against my back during contractions really helped.
-
What position did you end up delivering in?
Because of my restrictions with non-wireless monitors I had to be in the bed for 3 days leading up to delivery. I wasn't able to utilize any techniques I practiced. So I ended up on my left side until I was complete, then they switched me to my back.
-
How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was the most incredible indescribable feeling. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. In that moment, I was overcome with joy.
-
What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Really educate yourself on what is best for your baby and for yourself. Don't give up on yourself. Your body was built to handle this and you are extremely capable of going natural. Don't let the naysayers convince you of anything else. You and only you can determine what is best for yourself. Also, creating a birth plan is a huge motivator. Having your goals of a natural birth, in writing, makes them a lot easier to achieve.
