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When did you realize you were really in labor?
My labor was hard to recognize because I had so much prodromal labor before my daughter was born. We realized that we were finally in full labor at my ob appointment that morning, about 20 minutes before she was born.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging thing about going natural was getting full support & then trying to plan out the details.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I would say hands down the most helpful things were drinking red raspberry leaf tea consistently in the third trimester, hydrating well, and sitting on my ball to open up my pelvis. I wasn't always good at exercising or eating the right diet but I did try to always do those 3 things.
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What surprised you about your birth?
Everything - from the long prodromal labor, to the appointment when I was told I was at 6-7cm already, and finally her dramatic entrance in our car about 15 minutes after my appointment ended.
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It was pure magic. I was exhilarated from her birth, my first time going natural.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I found movement worked well, turning up the water temp on my shower that morning, and my husband putting counter-pressure on my lower back. We had hired a doula & her information was helpful but my daughter was born so fast that she missed the delivery.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was half reclined, with my back on the center console of the car, hand gripping the driver's side headrest, bottom on the front passenger seat, and feet braced on the door frame. And our car is a Pontiac vibe - not a lot of space for delivery!
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was pure magic. I was exhilarated from her birth, my first time going natural. The EMT in the ambulance helped me take off my shirt so that I could hold her skin to skin & she latched immediately. The bond between us was huge & continues to be strong, despite a poor latch & tongue tie affecting breastfeeding for the first 3 weeks.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Do what you can to prepare but if you don't complete your list or do well with some things but not with others, don't stress about it. When the time comes, your body and your baby's body know what to do.
