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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I'd had prodromal labor for over a month, but when my water broke, I knew it was time.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Remembering not to tense up during contractions. The more relaxed I stay, the more manageable the contractions are and the faster labor progresses.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Reading "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way" was the best thing I've ever done to prepare for childbirth. It taught me the importance of "relaxing" during contractions as well as how to do it. It also taught both my husband (my midwife this pregnancy) and myself some things to look for during labor. Most importantly, it taught me how to STOP pushing, which was needed both this pregnancy and my last one.
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What surprised you about your birth?
That it was a boy! I was so sure this baby would be a girl, but it turns out it was our sixth baby boy! So I'm now the mother of six boys and one girl!
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Be completely settled in your mind about why you want to go natural. If you aren't 100% convinced of your reasons, when labor starts to really get tough, it'll be nearly impossible to stick to your plans of going natural.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Staying relaxed and repeating out loud that the discomfort is temporary and is bringing a new life into the world, counter-pressure on my lower back, and some essential oils.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Hands and knees.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Amazing. Words cannot truly or accurately describe the feeling you have when you hold your baby for the first time. I had 4 c sections, then two home births with a midwife, and this last birth was a "freebirth". I didn't get to hold my babies the first 4 times due to the c sections, so I really cherish that moment. It's the best feeling in the world.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Be completely settled in your mind about why you want to go natural. If you aren't 100% convinced of your reasons, when labor starts to really get tough, it'll be nearly impossible to stick to your plans of going natural. I've had three home births now, my first labor lasted 93 hours, so trust me when I tell you that I've considered giving up and transferring for a c section just to end the pain...but knowing why I chose to home birth and having my husband there to remind me why we chose it, too, really is the only thing keeping me from going to the hospital during that last stretch of labor. We were made for this, we can do this, it is worth it!
