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When did you realize you were really in labor?
I had worked from home the day I went into labor because we had our 38 week appointment that day. I had been experiencing bloody show for the previous two days. I started to experience cramping starting in the morning and continued to work on my computer throughout the day. To me it felt like very strong menstrual cramps so I thought nothing of them. We were taught in our birthing class to ignore contractions until you can't ignore them anymore. I started to poop a ton the day I went into labor! By the afternoon, I was starting to throw up, started to play Ray LaMontagne station on pandora, lighting a rose scented candle, and I was rubbing my lower back with a tennis ball against a heating pad on the wall. I still didn't think I was in labor and tried to work through all of the cramping, but by 2:00 p.m. I had to stop working because I couldn't concentrate anymore. When I was on my side laying in my bed right before our 38 week appointment and starting to dread the "cramps" coming that is when I knew I could be in labor. I was in denial the whole day that I was in labor since this was a first time pregnancy and we were told first time mom's tend to go "late" and have longer labors. I also didn't realize that my cramps were actually contractions so I never timed them. By the time my husband came home to meet me for our appointment just before 4:00 p.m., he had to slowly walk me to the car from the bed. When we got to the doctor's office, the nurse practitioner asked if she could check me since we had been avoiding cervical exams and then asked if I wanted to know how dilated I was. I said, "sure" hesitantly because I didn't want to be disappointed. When she said you are between 6-7 cm and said you're having this baby tonight, I was shocked I had labored all day by myself!
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What was the most challenging thing about going natural?
It's not as bad as I thought it would be and it's totally doable. I was so fearful of having a natural birth mainly because of all of the "what-ifs" and the unknown pain. However, I wanted a natural birth so badly because my mom had natural births and I knew it was the healthiest and best decision for myself and baby. If I had to pinpoint what the hardest part was, it would probably be transition! We were driving on our way to the hospital during rush hour while I was 6-7 cm dilated and I was in the stinkbug position in the backseat the whole 40 minutes there feeling the pressure and contractions build on top of each other. The stinkbug position was what we were taught to get in if the baby is coming fast. It was also the only position that felt tolerable on the ride to the hospital. People driving next to us probably thought we looked crazy with my husband driving and me in the backseat, but you gotta do what you gotta do! We had just enough time for my husband to go back home get our bags and drive to the hospital. By the time we got to the hospital and were getting checked into the ER, I could feel the amniotic sac coming out and I told the lady checking me in I need a room now! All of a sudden a bunch of nurses came flooding in and rushed me onto the elevator. When we got into the room, I stood up from the wheelchair, my water broke as I started walking towards the hospital bed and I was ready to start pushing. The burning sensation with pushing is real, but so short-lived. I just tried to breathe through it, and do my own controlled pushing.
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jude
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What was the most helpful thing you did to prepare for childbirth?
Taking a natural childbirth class Birth Boot Camp and educating ourselves on childbirth is the best thing you can do! Watching videos of women having natural births, knowing the different stages of birth, knowing the hospital interventions, picking a pro-natural childbirth doctor and hospital was crucial. We would go to our appointments and grill our doctors on questions and circumstances that may come up in labor to make sure she would be on the same page as us. Ultimately, the doctors at the clinic we we went to were not on call the day I went into labor, so their backup was a OBGYN/Midwifery practice and they had asked if we preferred to have an OB or Midwife deliver our baby. I immediately said midwife!
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What surprised you about your birth?
How quickly everything progressed and how it is not that painful! Pushing and feeling the burn was the most pain I felt, but it didn't last long and I slowly pushed at my control to ease the burning sensation.
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Not over-analyzing my labor. Letting things progress and naively thinking I wasn't in labor yet helped! I think the more you analyze every little thing, the slower your labor progresses.
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What pain relief strategies worked best?
Not over-analyzing my labor. Letting things progress and naively thinking I wasn't in labor yet helped! I think the more you analyze every little thing, the slower your labor progresses. I focused on trying to work through my contractions that I think it allowed my labor to progress pretty quickly. I also was in the comfort of laboring at home by myself so I was able to be at ease. Even though we hired an awesome doula! I didn't call her in time because I didn't think I was in true labor. We were able to utilize her a ton for postpartum care, but I think I preferred laboring by myself without my husband or doula because I didn't have anyone in my head or thoughts.
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What position did you end up delivering in?
Initially, I tried the side-lying position with my husband supporting one leg but I didn't feel like I had enough leverage so I instinctively got on all fours on the hospital bed and starting pushing.
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How did it feel to hold your baby for the first time?
Amazing! I couldn't believe I pushed him out all by myself. We were also both shocked our baby was a boy because everyone thought it would be a girl.
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What advice can you give to other mamas who want to go natural?
At least try it! There is no harm in attempting something and giving it your best shot. It is totally possible and not as painful as you think. Don't listen to doomsayers. My doula said for every horror story you hear there is at least one positive story to counter it. She said our culture tends to hear more horror stories on birth and the women who have had wonderful childbirth experiences tend to not share because they don't want the women who had negative experiences to feel bad. You can do it if you have educated yourself and have a great doctor or midwife on board.
