Studying God's Word Helped Carah Achieve a Natural Hospital Birth

When did you realize you were really in labor?

I realized I was in labor about ten minutes after I woke up that morning. I had very little Braxton Hicks contractions throughout the previous 9 months, so it was like someone flipped a switch and I knew I was meeting my baby that very day!

What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

Going natural means you have to put in place a strong mindset for yourself, because no one else will do it for you. When that pain comes, it is nothing but your own mental diligence telling you "Yes! You CAN do this! Even though you feel like you can't!" At the very end when I was pushing my baby's head out I remember feeling like I was climbing Mt. Everest and was ready to give up and tell everyone just to leave me on the mountain. Then my midwife said the baby's heart rate was dropping and it was important to get her out NOW. Then suddenly I had all this energy I didn't know I had! With my renewed mental state, she came out with just one final push!

What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?

Through studying God's word and truly gaining a testimony of God's plan for me as a woman, I can say we were so protected from fear and doubt during my daughter's birth. I let God turn my birth story into a testimony of my faith in Him and His power. I felt closer to God than I ever knew was possible. Labor is hard, but God is so real.

What surprised you about your birth?

I was very surprised at how quickly time passed! I thought it would feel like just the opposite! Although it was the hardest thing I've ever done, it was just 12 hours! And hey, I got a baby out of it! I will take 12 hours of just about anything for my sweet little girl!

Going natural means you have to put in place a strong mindset for yourself, because no one else will do it for you. When that pain comes, it is nothing but your own mental diligence telling you "Yes! You CAN do this! Even though you feel like you can't!"

What pain relief strategies worked best?

Visualizing my baby and all I would do with her worked best for me. I thought hard about snuggling her on the porch at sunset, feeling her soft hair against my face, smelling that newborn scent. Even imagining scenarios where she was taken to the other side of the country and I pictured how I would walk barefoot to go get her. I just let the love I feel so deeply for my baby pull me through each contraction!

What position did you end up delivering in?

I delivered laying upright on a hospital bed playing a sort of tug-of-war with a sheet in my hands as my husband pulled the opposite direction at my feet. When just holding onto my inner thigh wasn't giving any results, my midwife suggested pulling on a knotted sheet and it worked MIRACLES!

How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?

Holding my baby girl for the first time felt like holding a miracle. She looked into my eyes and it was like there was an unspoken promise that she knew I was her mother and would do anything for her!

What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?

Study, stay firm in your convictions, and keep a positive frame of mind even through the hardest parts of labor!