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When did you realize you were really in labor?
Even though this was my 4th baby this was the hard part for me. When I woke up I felt like there was a shift in the atmosphere. Something about this day was different but because my pain tolerance is high and I'd been having weeks of prodromal labor it took me hours of active contractions to call my husband to come home from work. When I had to stop and breathe through them, I knew. This was really it!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
I am lucky and have fairly easy labors until passing through transition and into the pushing stage. The pushing while it doesn't last long for me, just around 20 minutes, is very painful. It must be pay back for the easy active labor. Lol
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Stayed fit and exercised throughout my entire pregnancy.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How painful pushing was but how well I was able to handle it through focused breathing.
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Believe in yourself, you can do it!
Don't be afraid to let your birth team know what you need to be comfortable.
And of course study up, if you don't know your options, you don't have any.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Hydrotherapy! The birth pool was amazing during transition and pushing.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Squatted in the birth pool with my husband to lean on.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Like magic! It was so incredible to finally meet our newest child and to find out our baby's sex.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Believe in yourself, you can do it!
Don't be afraid to let your birth team know what you need to be comfortable.
And of course study up, if you dont know your options, you don't have any.
