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When did you realize you were really in labor?
When I was in the shower and contractions suddenly got very intense and I could feel the baby coming. I had been experiencing sporadic tightenings/contractions for a day and a half and had visited the hospital where I was booked to deliver but was sent home in early labor only hours before giving birth at home.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
The most challenging thing for me was the unknown, after experiencing only inductions previously I never realized just how managed birth is in that situation.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Staying active and practicing meditation/hypnobirthing. It helped me have the strength and mental clarity I needed.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How fast it was, going from sporadic contractions to baby crowing within minutes was a huge surprise. Not making it to the hospital and just how amazing our bodies are, we underestimated just how capable and strong we actually are.
Birth doesn’t have to be a huge scary painful ordeal.
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Know your options, research and educate yourself, have great support, know things don’t always go to plan, trust and believe in yourself and your body.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
TENS machine and breathing exercises from hypnobirthing
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Kneeling/squatting position in the shower
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It felt absolutely amazing and surreal to catch my baby myself and her in my arms
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Know your options, research and educate yourself, have great support, know things don’t always go to plan, trust and believe in yourself and your body.
