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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I woke up in the middle of the night with very bad contractions, I got out of bed and took a warm bath and they didn't go away.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
I was very worried the whole time that I would have to fight each step to go natural in the hospital, it gave me a lot of unnecessary anxiety.
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294bw
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Reading the mama natural week-by-week guide to pregnancy and listening to other women's birth stories on podcasts.
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What surprised you about your birth?
I was so surprised afterwards how quickly my body forgot all the pain and hard times. It was like as soon as that little babe was on my chest and nursing, I forgot all the pain. I didn't know many women around me who had done a natural birth so most of what I knew was reading and listening to other natural mommas stories. I had heard and read so many times that our bodies have all these mechanisms that help us with the pain of childbirth but I didn't realize really how true that would be. The whole 30 hours of labor was such a lie changing experience, and I cannot wait to shout it from the rooftops to every pregnant lady in my life.
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YOU GOT THIS!! I truly believe the strength is in all of us, we just have to tap into it. do lots of research and practice techniques so that when the time comes you have multiple ways to get through labor so if one doesn't work another one might.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
First and foremost having a supportive husband to help me with the pain was the most important. He helped me with all the pain management I used. I had a whole bag of essential oils and premade oil rollers. I talked with him beforehand about what each of them were for, so he would know what I needed. I also loved the Birth ball, throughout my third trimester and during birth. I didn't use any hypnobirthing or anything but I did practice finding my inner focus and that was so helpful. When I was during transition it really helped me to relax when my husband would talk me through breathing.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I pushed in three different positions. All fours on the bed draped over the back of the bed. Then I squatted on the bed with the squat bar. And I ended up on my back holding my legs for the last three pushes.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was the most insane adrenaline rush I have ever felt. I pushed for a little over three hours and I was beyond exhaustion. As soon as they laid him on my chest and he started nursing it was like my whole view on the world changed in one second. I had all these questions about how to do things, and for him to just latch on and start nursing felt like the most natural thing in the world, like I had a whole new purpose in life and it was all surrounding this beautiful little boy.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
YOU GOT THIS!! I truly believe the strength is in all of us, we just have to tap into it. do lots of research and practice techniques so that when the time comes you have multiple ways to get through labor so if one doesn't work another one might. I think its important to know that things may not always go as planned, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't go in with the mindset and focus to have the birth you want. Have grace for yourself, if things don't go as planned.
