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When did you realize you were really in labor?
4:30 am on a Sunday morning I woke up with mild contractions and pretty bad back pain. I told my husband I was going to take a shower to see if it would offer me any relief. If not, I told him we should head to the hospital so I could be checked. By 7:00 I was having contractions that were 4 min apart lasting 60-90 seconds. I woke my husband up and told him we needed to head to the hospital.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
At the time, the fact that I had to push more than a handful of times made me think my pushes were weak. Looking back though it was really a good thing, it allowed my daughter to stretch me and prevented me from tearing like I did with my first pregnancy.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Reading other natural birth stories, and LOTS of prayer!
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What surprised you about your birth?
How much easier natural birth was. I was induced with our first and had an epidural and it was SO HARD! My natural birth was so much easier. I walked, laughed and even messaged my 2 closest friends up until my water broke, then my daughter was born 40 minutes later
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You can totally do it! You are so much stronger than you know or believe. Just remember that God created your body for this! When you start to doubt yourself, just remember that it's pain with a gain. Each contractions getting you that much closer to meeting you baby!
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
The birthing ball helped a lot, but counter pressure helped me most. Every time my husband or sister could tell I was having a contraction, one of them pushed their knuckles into my lower back.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
In a squat with the support of a bar.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Amazing! She was over a pound bigger than her older sister, and I kept thinking I couldn't believe I was able to have her without and pain meds.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
You can totally do it! You are so much stronger than you know or believe. Just remember that God created your body for this! When you start to doubt yourself, just remember that it's pain with a gain. Each contractions getting you that much closer to meeting you baby!
