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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I actually had prodromal labor for about 5 weeks before actually going in labor. They got so intense at times that I didn't realize I was in labor until I was about to go into transition. They started feeling different not incredibly painful yet they were 1.5 - 2.5 minutes apart and I went to check my cervix to see if there had been any changes before I called my midwife. My cervix had been long and thick the day before at my appointment and was completely effaced when I checked during a shower. When I got out of the shower contractions felt much stronger and I knew it was time to head to the birth center.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Transition was definitely the most challenging part at one point I stated I can't, which I promptly got (gently) reprimanded by my midwife and told I wasn't allowed to say that! Baby was caught on my pelvic bone so during the contractions I felt like my pelvis was going to break if it hadn't been for that I feel it would have been much more manageable.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
I think staying active played a big part in helping me get thru labor. I only sat on my birth ball while at home the entire month leading up to delivery I made sure to try to keep my pelvis as open as possible.
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What surprised you about your birth?
My birth was extremely fast! It was my fourth birth but first natural. I realized I was in labor and called my midwife around 4:30 PM. We arrived at the birth center at 5:15 I was only dilated to a 4 and contractions were still pretty manageable but coming 1-2 minutes apart. I figured I had a while to go still. But 13 contractions later I hit transition wide open and got into the birth pool. After only at handful of contractions in the pool my water broke at 6:18, I felt up inside and her head was still not in the canal yet but the next contraction I had the ejection reflex and her head came all the way out at 6:22 at 6:24 I was holding my beautiful baby girl! Less than 2 hours from when I realized it might be the real thing!
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It was not nearly as bad as I had made it out to be. I wish I could go back and birth all my children naturally. It is the most empowering thing a woman could ever do. It has changed my life.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I liked moving as much as possible keep changing it up. Really concentrating on breathing and low vocalization during the peak of transition. But most of all the water!!! The water was amazing!!!!
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I was on my knees in the birth pool they were spread a little more than shoulder length apart and I was bent over slightly so I could feel her head coming out
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
It was amazing and the relief and pride I felt was just euphoric. I did it.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
You can do it!!! It's not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I knew it's what I wanted but I had it worked up in my head that it was going to be so much worse than it was. When I hit transition I thought I had just started active labor. I thought it was going to get so much worse than it was and I was actually shocked when my midwife told me I was in transition and about to be holding my baby. It was not nearly as bad as I had made it out to be. I wish I could go back and birth all my children naturally. It is the most empowering thing a woman could ever do. It has changed my life.
