Red Raspberry Leaf Tea, Primrose Oil And Dates Helped Emily During Her Hospital Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

I was 39 weeks exactly, stood up from eating dinner and my water broke.

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

Every contraction! It was very hard to talk myself out of an epidural once the contractions intensified. But I did it!

What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?

I believe 3 things really helped prep my body for natural childbirth. Raspberry leaf tea, evening primrose oil and dates!

What surprised you about your birth?

Going in to labor at 39 weeks!

Just try your best to tell yourself repeatedly, you can do it and it will all be worth it in the end! Good luck!

What pain relief strategies worked best?

I tried my best to remain moving I also used the medicine ball once they started to get really intense. I tried not to just lay in bed because they tend to be worse that way.

What position did you end up delivering in?

I delivered on my back.

How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?

It was amazing holding him after doing it naturally. I had an epidural with my first born and felt very foggy afterwards and I don't remember it very clearly. This time I was fully with it and just had adrenaline pumping through me. I was very chatty! Haha. It was great to be so alert afterwards because that's not what I experienced with my first born.

What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?

You really have to want it in my opinion. It is so hard once you're having those very intense contractions to not get an epidural (if you're at a hospital.) Just try your best to tell yourself repeatedly, you can do it and it will all be worth it in the end! Good luck!