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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I experienced prodromal labor for 24 hours and then the “real” surges hit. They made the prodromal surges feel like nothing. I also had some bloody show and started losing my mucus plug. That was when I knew ? was getting real!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Pregnancy-wise: telling people about planning a home birth. most people didn’t understand or would outright tell us we were crazy. I remember taking a “safe baby academy” class and the instructor, who was a certified EMT, asked if we had already toured the hospital... We answered, “nope, we are having a home birth”, to that he responded, “well, you know our number”.
Birth-wise: coping with surges, do yourself a favor and have a doula on your team!!! best decision we ever made.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
RESEARCH EVERYTHING! I felt very unsure in the beginning but the more I learned the more confident I am. I also made sure I surrounded myself with a great team. My husband, my midwife, my doula, my chiropractor, my acupuncturist. We all knew what the goal was and worked towards it every day.
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What surprised you about your birth?
The whole birth process. the surges and pushing. You get in a zone. I don’t remember thinking about anything other than getting through the surges. and the power of the pushing surges. it felt so primal. It took me four pushes to birth my baby boy and I use the word “push” loosely, my body took over. It felt like I was no longer in control of what I was doing and it was the most amazing feeling I have ever felt.
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It was a tremendous help! the practical parts of the class came up daily during my pregnancy, it helped me feel empowered and confident, I recommend it to everyone I know that is pregnant.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Water! The shower for surges and the birthing tub for pushing.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
All fours in the birth tub, it felt natural and comfortable.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Words can not describe it, happy, relieved and scared all wrapped up in one moment. When I saw him under the water, his eyes and arms wide open... Then I pulled him out of the water, he was safe, healthy and didn’t cry at all, he was so content. I will never forget that moment for the rest of my life.
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How did the Mama Natural Birth Class help you in your childbirth?
It was a tremendous help! the practical parts of the class came up daily during my pregnancy, it helped me feel empowered and confident, I recommend it to everyone I know that is pregnant.
