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When did you realize you were really in labor?
Probably around 5 - 5:30 pm. I had had gas cramps throughout the previous night which are extremely uncomfortable when your 9 months pregnant. They stopped in the morning and we went to church but kinda seemed to start up again when I laid down for a nap. I got up from a not extremely productive nap time with my two year old and we both took a long long shower. The cramps started getting stronger in certain positions and after I got out of the shower they started being strong enough that a could mark a start and end to them. I never really got to track the time because I was distracted with my two year old daughter, but I knew I was having at least one every 10 min. I finally called my daughters aunt who was planning to watch Esther for the birth so I wouldn't have to send my daughter out in the middle of the night and she picked her up around 6.
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
it's hard for me to think what's the hardest about having a baby natural because that's all I've done. This is my second birth though and it's definitely boosted my confidence in Gods design for my body to give birth. It's still mind blowing when I think about what it does.
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Stayed in shape/stayed active throughout. Already having a two year old and living on a farm helped tremendously with this! I was constantly caring stuff, walking a ton and even some running as I played with my two year old and also our new puppy we got this summer!
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What surprised you about your birth?
How fast it went. He was born two hours after I decided labor was starting. I figured it would be late that night or early the next morning-but he evidently was just ready to come now!
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Just let your body do what it's made to do.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
I had asked my midwife to help me remember to pace my breathing so I didn't push too hard in hopes to reduce tearing. I hardly tore at all-so it was extremely
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What position did you end up delivering in?
I delivered on my hands and knees. I've thought both times that I'd like to catch my baby but I just don't think of it when I'm delivering. But that's ok. My first was a water birth and I thought that was what made it soo wonderful, but now with a different second birth I think it's just about what your body feels like doing.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Incredible to hold the little one who had grown inside me and I had felt for 5 months. The biggest feeling was surprise and excitement that I was already done and able to hold this treasure of a gift in my arms already. Two hours of active labor and only 10 min of pushing felt just two easy and I was suprised to find how much energy I still had after delivering my baby!!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Just let your body do what it's made to do. I love that my midwife can take care of everything and make sure all is well while I can just focus on letting my body labor and giving birth. I feel sooo blessed for how well my births have gone, and confident that no matter how different they are future pregnancies and deliveries will go well too -because God designed my body to do this!!
