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When did you realize you were really in labor?
When my water broke at 6 AM and my contractions started at 7 AM. I thought I was going to be able to go back to bed and sleep but I wasn't sleeping through those!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
Staying present in the moment for each contraction. I would have thoughts like, "I can't do this for another 6 hours... How do women do this?". But my doula was great at bringing me back to the moment. And I didn't have to do it for six more hours; my whole labor experience was less than that!
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Surrounded myself with people who had positive and empowering messages or experiences about the type of birth that we chose to pursue.
I didn't need to have people second guessing our choices or putting doubt into my head that I couldn't do it.
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What surprised you about your birth?
How surreal it was! It was a fairly quick labor (my water broke at 6 AM and I was pushing at 11:30 AM and she had arrived by 11:45 AM). When they put her on my chest I couldn't believer that my body had grown this little person and that I just brought her into the world! Try to remember that first time you see your babe because your body does a pretty good job at trying to help you forget the details of labor.
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Trust yourself and your body. There will be a moment where you think you can't do it anymore and my midwife told me that's when you know you are close to having that babe in your arms.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Water! I spent most of my active labor and transition in the tub with the shower head on my lower back.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Laying on my left side.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Surreal! It was a very proud moment for me!
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
Trust yourself and your body. There will be a moment where you think you can't do it anymore and my midwife told me that's when you know you are close to having that babe in your arms.
